30/08/2011 Day 6 Cycling Across Canada

Distance Traveled: 10km outside of Greenwood to rest spot on highway 3 96.5km
Money Spent: $8.50 for a pack of cigarettes
Time cycling: 5 hours 37 minutes
Moving Average: 17.1 km/h
Total Distance Traveled: 457.5km

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I was having an issue with my iPod where the headphone jack was loose making my music crackle when going over bumpy terrain, so this morning I repaired it. Not many people travel with a soldering iron but for me it is indispensable – I have used it on many occasions to fix and build a variety of electrical things for me and for others.
It was another beautiful day, hot and sunny – good thing I brought sunscreen cause I would be cooked by now.
There was a nice decent into Grand Forks and I thought it would be a good opportunity to test out my Dynamo USB Charger I bought for $100 so that I could charge my USB items; my iPod had almost ran outta battery so I hooked it up and let the dynamo run on the wheel, its noisy but because I was listening to music it didnt bother me – the charger worked well too, giving it 50% charge at after 40 minutes.
I stopped at the library in Grand Forks where I updated the last couple days on my blog for all you to read, or for the lazy ones to see the pictures. I know I write a lot of dribble but this journal is mainly for me for future reference.
Just after Christina Lake I hit a difficult pass that ascended to 1528 meters, it took quite a lot of effort but I made it... exhausted, getting cold and close to dark I thought it was time to set up camp, I found another rest stop that would be ideal because I was almost out of water and I knew I could ask caravan-ers passing by. A German couple were kind enough to give me some but they were at first it seemed frightened by me – it was dark and I could understand.
I made another lovely dinner, had my baby-wipe shower and called it a night.

On my way up Bonanza Pass

Quick munchie break, At the top of Bonanza Pass

Dinner for the evening – Parmesan Pesto, Veg and Sardines.

HDR at top of Bonanza Pass. – because this a new blog ill explain why this picture looks so awesome. Its a combination of 3 shots of the same image, HDR stands for High Dynamic Range – you will see lots of these on this journal and ill do my best to make them as pretty as i can. Enjoy

29/08/2011 Day 5 Cycling Across Canada

Distance Traveled: Rest stop on HWY 33 south to 10km outside of Greenwood 106km
Money Spent: $1.20 for chocolate bar and 50 cents for a peach, got 3 apples for free.
Time cycling: 5 hours 29 minutes
Moving Average: 19.2 km/h
Total Distance Traveled: 361km

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The morning was cold, really cold, but the weather for the day again looked sunny.
I found it really difficult to get packed and ready to leave and I didnt get cycling till 11am, I cant be doing this every morning as I need to hit upwards of 100km a day; I suppose it doesnt really matter, but I do have to be in Toronto by the 22^nd of September, at this rate it is impossible but I will be getting a bus over the Prairies where its dead flat and nothing to see.
Whilst making breakfast a couple approached me telling me there was a parallel route to Hwy 33 that was a gravel road that used to be railroad tracks, it would have been nice to get off the hwy but apparently the scenic views were up north that I had already passed, shame.
For the last couple of days I found some parts on the side of the road to make a stand for my bicycle, what I made was quite impressive and worked quite well but somehow today it must have fallen off my bike, I would have heard it fall but I was listening to my music.
There was a crazy headwind today, all the way to the junction at Rock Creek where I started heading east towards the Kootenays and also the foothills of the Rocky mountains.
At Rock Creek I pulled over to a mechanic shop looking for a steel rod to prevent my front pannier racks from breaking under the weight of my bags; all I had to do was bend it correctly and it would keep the racks straight and stable, my idea worked flawlessly.
I continued down highway 3 where the view was spectacular and the road wasnt all that difficult and as I passed a lovely old fashioned town of Greenwood, I was getting tired at this point as the sun was going down, I wasnt going to pay $16 for a camp ground with no showers so I again I renegade camped down beside the highway on a gravel service road.
I made a delicious dinner that Jeff taught me in the US, he was an Aussie guy that I cycled with for part of the way in the states; he called it Bush Laksa, mixing veg with canned fish, noodles, coconut milk and chili powder.
I'm thinking im going to write down these recipes (the good ones) that I make on this trip and perhaps one day put a cookbook together on these one pot wonder dishes.
My left hand over the past couple of days has really been irritating me, after gripping the handlebars all day I can barely grasp things making it very inconvenient to open packages, tightening straps, pushing buttons on my gps etc. I know its the new type of handlebars that I'm getting used to on this bike and I do hope this heals up soon.

Breakfast, On the road again and an old barn that caught my eye

Something…. i dunno what with a bunch of flags on it, And some views around the area.

The steel metal bar that i bent over the wheel to prevent my pannier rack from breaking, and my delicious dinner – Bush Laksa

28/08/2011 Day 4 Cycling Across Canada

Distance Traveled: Downtown Kelowna to a rest stop on HWY 33 76.7km
Money Spent: $35 for groceries, I shouldn’t need to buy much for the next week or more.
Time cycling: 4 hours 33 minutes
Moving Average: 16.8 km/h
Total Distance Traveled: 256km

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Ive noticed something during my time traveling and that is with more bags comes more luggage. I tried my best not to bring much on this trip but I ended up taking more shit than I need, coming back to Kelowna meant that I could drop things off with my other tree planting stuff which I did but today I ended up buying a shitload more food for the trip... to a point where I couldn’t even put it all in my bags. Something needs to be done, my bike now is almost impossible to lift off the ground – and I'm about to cycle over the Rocky Mountains.
I got out of the main part of Kelowna at around midday climbing up the crazy hill toward Big White where I did a winter a few years back. Kelowna from where I started was at 350 meters above sea level, the climb up HWY 33 got me up to 1260m, it was a difficult climb but I made it without incident.
I stopped at the turnoff to Big White to get a photo where I got chatting to some campers who were kind enough to replenish my water bottles (with ice!) and treat me to a few snacks. They told me it was pretty much downhill towards the town of Rock creek 92 km from that point but it was getting late in the afternoon and in no way was I going to make it.
The downhill road was great fun getting some good distance in little time on a ribbon of freshly paved tarmac that I glided over with ease.
I stopped at a rest stop to check it out for a good camping spot and found one right by a creek and toilet facilities just around the corner.
It was a perfect little spot to camp and when I had set up my tent I quickly bathed in the creek and went for a little walk about with my camera where I met a couple, Robby and Jackie who were great people, they both lost a friend a little ways down the road in a motorbike accident a year ago and always stop at this rest stop and add to the memorial devoted to this man. Touching, I know! :(
Jackie and Robby were kind enough to offer me beer, some food and even a costa rican cigar; what a day, filled with adventure, struggle and good generous people. I’m LOVING this trip already.

1000 meters up above sea level, Me exhausted and me at the turn off to Big White.

My Camp sight for the evening

Jackie and Robby, and their memorial to their friend Bob, who died last year

27/08/2011 Day 3 Cycling Across Canada

Distance Traveled: Stayed in Kelowna, but cycled a lot around town
Money Spent: TOO MUCH!

For a hungover day, this was very expensive, I bought some more rain gear for when the weather gets bad at a store that I always stop by because the woman that runs the place (Jewlz) is awesome, also giving me a great discount.
Its fantastically beneficial to be kind – discounts all round, Yay.
A ran a bunch of errands around town also replacing a stripped screw attaching the front rack to the frame of my bike and dropping some things off at Christinas place.
In the evening Carly, Keelan and I went out for dinner at a Mexican place that was very expensive but very good, much much better than the food in Mexico – from what I experienced when I was down there.

Christina’s new kitty.

26/08/2011 Day 2 Cycling Across Canada

Distance Traveled: Just outside Falkland ***N50 27.858 W119 30.846*** to Keelan and Carly's place in Kelowna 100km
Money Spent: $30 for a new tire, plus what ever I spent when drunk in downtown kelowna.
Time cycling: 4 hours 30 minutes
Total Distance Traveled: 180km

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I slept amazingly well last night, I was asleep within seconds, if not before my dreads (that I now use as a pillow) hit my sleeping mat.
I woke up at 7 and packed my things away munching down on a few of my homemade chocolate granola bars for breakfast.
One thing I have learned this morning is to never load up my bike up with all my shit and try and push it up the gravel/dirt berm, my god it was difficult, the berm wasnt very steep but it took a running start and a good five minutes to get up on the road.
The cycle to Vernon was straight forward with no considerable climbs worth mentioning.
I have two complaints with this bike at this point using my cycle trip down through the west coast of the states for comparison; This road/touring bike with the setup that I have is quite unstable, at high speeds obviously going downhill I have to concentrate incredibility hard to stop speed wobbles gripping the handlebars as a frightened child holds on to its mother. The other issue is that there was a constant bump throwing me slightly off balance as im cycling along but this was fixed today when I went to the bike shop in Vernon – it was a bulge in the rear tire causing the bump meaning I had to replace it.
I was more than thankful that Neil who served me at the shop gave me a “riding across Canada discount” saving me about $15, it was a cool shop with great staff and they were more than helpful, giving me directions to avoid the big hill on the highway.
This detour took me by Kalamalka lake where I ate an early lunch and went for a quick dip.
Only a week ago the city had opened a new road with a separate bike and pedestrian path that I took back up to the highway where I continued the trip to Kelowna. On the hwy there was another stop at Oyama where I went for another swim in another lake. Whilst there a French guy offered me a job picking cherries then after some awkward silences and speaking under a whisper tried to sell me weed.
Finally when I made it to Kelowna just after midday I went to Carly and Keelans place and sunk back a beer that hit me incredibly hard and got me going for the afternoon and the evening. I had a few more beers at the hostel where I got to chat to Missy (but on facebook its Felicity – I know she reads this blog and I dont want to make a mistake, correct?).
At the hostel I got chatting to an older Malay/Singaporean couple Don and Godfrey who were awesome, very intrigued about my cycle trip and they were a good laugh – Don actually reminded me of my mum, very out going and fun to be around.
Later I went out to a bar where I got to meet up with Christina where we got pretty hammered at the park where drinks at the liquor store were cheaper.
A couple who just bought some fries handed me them to eat because they had too many but this sparked up a conversation and the couple insisted that they didnt give them to me because I look like a bum, it was just a coincidence that I look like one.
The night was fun and by the end I was tired but hungry so some cheap food at 7 eleven sorted me out.

Kalamalka Lake, Near Vernon, BC

Oyama Lake

Finally reaching Kelowna

25/08/2011 Day 1 Cycling Across Canada

Distance Traveled: Kamloops, Cole's Place to just outside Falkland 79.6km
Money Spent: $6 for a spare tube, and $3 on groceries.
Time cycling: 4 hours 20 minutes
Total Distance Travelled: 79.6km

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I woke up early to finish packing my things onto my bike... I was very worried whether I could fit all of my things into the panniers but thankfully I managed but there was a slight issue... the bike and all my belongings weighed a lot; the scales I borrowed didnt even register the weight of this thing and I could only just lift it off the ground – I suppose all the food I had was contributing to a good proportion of the weight, but I need that so ill have to cope.
Always when I start a journey like this I find it daunting to set off but once im off I dont have an issue; but because of this feeling I hung around coles place chatting to his mum and sister using the amenities of the household as I know its going to be a while before I can relax in a house not having to worry about anything – my tent is going to be my home for the next month,
It wasnt so clever of me to leave the Hoffman's place at midday under the hot midday sun but time was wasting and I needed to make a move.
I cycled a little ways down highway 5 before joining Hwy 1 then 97 but before I left Kamloops I stopped by a bicycle store and picked up a spare tube, just in case; thankfully I did this because 45 minutes down the road it just so happens I got a puncture on the rear tire from a staple sitting on the shoulder of the road, at first I thought that I had too much weight on the bike thinking I bent out the rim but it was just a flat – easily fixed – or so I thought because it took me 45 minutes to repair the thing under the baking 38.5C sun (as shown on my cycle-computer).
The sun was almost too hot today and I drank a lot of water often running out before seeing any type of store to refill, one woman refused me water because she couldnt give me boiled water or something like that so instead I just paid for a bottle... I hope to keep my budget under $15 a day for the rest of the trip, I think its possible, its a personal mission for myself to keep things as cheap as possible.
Anyways I cycled as far as I could handle but I was Nackard, not only from the sun but the last few days have been stressful and lack of sleep was a contributor.
I tried eating as much of the canned food as I could today to bring down the weight of my bike but there are only so many sardines you can eat in one day – and all I can smell when I type this entry is a fishy smell from this food, I hope it dosent atract any bears - dont worry mum, I have a bottle of bear spray :)

I found a nice place beside a river where I renegade camped for the evening and after making the draft copy of this journal entry I crashed out and it was only 7.30... early morning start tomorrow; I should make it to Kelowna.
Oh, the reason why I heading back to Kelowna is because Carly and Keelan suggested not taking Hwy 1 and cycling a more scenic route in the south, one road that I have not seen before, it should be fun.

As you can see here on the Terrain Profile, it was a steep climb 30 km into the trip when i joined HWY 97

Showing off my bike and the equipment on it… its pretty well pimped for the journey

Cole’s Dog and Sister, Lauren.

On my Way!

Getting my first flat, on the first day – God damn Staple

View of mountain side at Falkland and where i renegade camped for the evening.

24/08/2011

Again I got up early to organize the rest of the shit I needed to do including bake off the Jerky at the hostel, cut and wrap up the granola bars and go to the Service Canada office to sort some things out with them enabling me to receive $800 a fortnight through employment insurance, something that is automatically deducted from my cheque when I was working, but now that I am not I can claim these benefits as long as I am in the county (Although I should be in the Provence.)
Carly gave me a ride to the Greyhound where I boarded a bus to Kamloops, honestly I could hitchhike faster than the bus because driving only takes 2 hours but the bus took 4.5 hours... in my experience hitch hiking doesn’t work when you have a time constraint, I dont know why but when I need to get somewhere in a hurry whilst hitching I never make it and have to resort catching the bus.
Cole's Dad Clayton picked me up at the bus depot because unfortunately Cole was on a trip down in Vancouver and Clayton took me home where my bike was waiting along with all the gear I needed to attach to the thing, Clayton helped me out having to adjust some of the panniers and thankfully he had some spare screws, other parts and tools I needed to attach some of the other miscellaneous items to the bike.
Whilst we were working on the bike Valerie (Cole's Mum), Lauren (sister) and Susan (Valerie's Friend) cooked up a lovely steak dinner that was fantastic and not only that Lauren knew I like my steak cold and bleeding – thanks girls the food it was delicious.
I was still working on my bike when it was getting dark and I needed to pack but it was getting too late and I was exhausted so I went to bed

23/08/2011

I slept only for 2 or 3 hours because I had so much shit on my mind that I had to organise, I got up out of bed made breakfast and headed out into the downtown area of Kelowna, I walked to Keelan and Carly's place where only Carly was home, I caught up with her for a little while getting information about her cycle trip across the country and the route her and Keelan took and she was even kind enough to let me use her bicycle for the day so that I could run all my errands around town.
Despite being exhausted I managed to get most of my shit done even dropping by the dollar store to see some women that work there. I see everytime im in Kelowna since I did the winter season at Big White.
Later I prepared the Granola/Muesli bars at the hostel where I got some help from two people in the kitchen.
I stopped by Dico's place and exchanged my treeplanting stuff with some clean and nicer clothes that I had left at her's. It was a shame she wasnt there because it would have been great to see her again as I do fancy her but there will be other opportunities.
Carly cooked up Sweet and sour chicken for dinner and in return for her generosity I bought a bottle of wine and a 6 pack.
In the evening when I was almost getting ready to go to bed I got a message from Kristen who I first met in Columbia inviting me to go out for a beer with some of her friend, of course I had to go and although I had a good time the redbull vodkas were not doing it for me so I went home. Just before leaving the bar I bumped into a guy I planted with this season.

22/08/2011

Time to leave Prince George - That just being a statement and in no way is it upsetting, I really dont like this city.
I waited around midday for JF and Christian who I planted with at the mine who are also cousins to come to the motel where I was staying to pick me up and make our way south to Kelowna where they would drop me off. Unfortunately there were some errands to be run before leaving the smelly city:
- The truck had to be detailed by us that led to accidentally locking the keys in the truck and us having to break in – in the rain no less
- The key for Rhino (the company I worked for) storage warehouse had to be picked up
- All the shit in the truck had to be put in the warehouse which was an ordeal as the Quad in the back would not start and couldnt be pushed because it would not go into neutral
- We had to speak to our foreman Babbs at his place
- the truck being a rental for the company had to be returned to the office
- Christian and JF had to purchase Roxanne's (also planted with us at the mine) old car – Mazda 626 and get the paperwork all signed and new number plates attached.
- this car had to be packed with all of our belongings which was an incredible amount of shit.

All these things and all the driving in between took all afternoon and we didnt end up leaving till 6pm in a completely chock-a-blocked, cramped small sedan.
We arrived in Kelowna at 4am where I grabbed my shit from the car, said my farewells and went into the hostel, I had to pay for the evening which sucked because technically it was the next day. Oh well, I was tired and in dire need of sleep, getting into the top bunk was an ordeal because there was no ladder and there were 6 others sleeping in the room, I managed to get up but somehow managed to break the railing and wake everyone up.

21/08/2011

Being as it is a Sunday and nothing was really open I didnt do much today, just chilled in the hotel room and when I was able to get a ride to Walmart and Canadian Tire I went to buy some things.
While I was at Kemess mine with the limited amount of spare time I did some tinkering with some parts that I had left over from broken ipods and other random electonics to build a portable USB power source to charge my working ipod, iphone, GPS and really anything else that was USB powered... It worked a treat but the first prototype fucked up my recently bought GPS unit.
I bought the GPS in Edmonton at MEC and was not able to return it to the shop, instead I went to Canadian Tire and bought another only to return it (the busted one) 45 minutes later, meaning I ended up with a working unit with no sratch on the screen. :)
In the evening Tom and I joined Paul, Katie and Pauls friend Kathleen for dinner at an Indian restaurant. The food was amazing – much better than the actual food in India (well the street food that I always ate whilst there).

20/08/2011

Last day of the season!!! and one month before I see my folks in Toronto.
After finishing up the trees we packed our things said our farewells to the staff and made way back to Prince George via MacKensie where we pick up some booze for the last leg of the journey. My have I missed beer, after 2 weeks without any it certainly was a treat and a celebratory one at that because I now have 9 months off!!!
We checked into a motel room in downtown PG and quickly got ready to go out. It wasnt my choice but we headed to the gay bar where a bunch of other planters were drinking... Johnny was off his hinges by the time we got there talking complete dribble and acting erratically it was a little strange but it was good to see everyone but the scene wasnt something I enjoyed, I spent most of the evening chatting outside then got bored with the people and went home to bed. I miss the backpacking scene where things are so easy and people are always friendly, here in PG people are trapped in their own little bubble of friends and if your not part of that bubble its so difficult to jump in and have a simple chat. Im sure I have mentioned about the difficulties of meeting people in canada before so I wont go on a rant but maybe its just me.
This will cheer me up - “9 MONTHS OFF!!!!”

19/08/2011

My god is this contract great... im making some great money here, yesterday I planted 3345 trees which isnt only a new personal best for me its also the most money I have ever made in one day – 3345 trees at 15 cents, you do the math.
The land had no vegetation and is just rock and mud, imagine planting trees on the surface of Mars.
The food here has been excellent to, having our lunches pre-made, New York steaks some days, decent fish and a whole lot more – just amazing.
The best part about camp is that there are NO camp costs... EVERYTHING is free. I have been taking advantage of the lunch table and accumulating some things for my bike trip – I hope they dont mind, I managed to aquire an assortment canned fish and a bunch of non-perishable foods that will certainly help me out for my trip.

 

SOme of the Crazy equipment working at the mine B&W HDR

 

A panoramic of my room – looks bigger in the picture than in person.

 

Some amazing lake side views HDR

Just a cool pic :)