03/07/2014 - Cycling the Rockies on a Cheap Bike. Day 3

Distance cycled: 126.8km from Birch Island to somewhere between Blue River and Valemount, BC on highway 5
Average speed: 18.1Km/h
Moving Time: 7h00m
Elevation Ascended: 1655m
Burned Calories: 5146kcal
Burned Fat: 667 g
Total Distance on Current trip: 293km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 12,686km
Money spent: $10

View Rockies Day 3 - 500 in a larger map

I spent a fair amount of time on my bike today but in no way did I push myself , the sun was out for most of the day and the tailwind picked up towards the afternoon so I took advantage of it as sailers would out on open water.  I can't say strong direct tailwind happens often but when it does it's certainly a treat to savor.. Or in my case, make it the first topic of conversation and try not to rub it in with a fellow touring cyclist from Quebec I briefly met in the afternoon.
The scenery today was stunning, surrounded by snow capped mountains, rivers, streams, and valleys; all things I would have rushed by if I was traveling by any other means than my bicycle.
I just said "my bicycle", it seems I'm getting quite fond of this walmart special..
Hmm, anyway, this bike got me up some steep terrain today and although it would be nice to have a dedicated climbing gear I was able to manage the steep ascent.
Nearly 128km in a day... I doubted doing anything like that on this bike through this terrain.
The afternoon the storm clouds moved in and I seeked refuge under my tarp on the side of the highway beside the staging area for helicopters where I pitched my tent and spent the night. Why would you pay $26 for the most basic camping spot at a campground in this country? Especially when you travel with everything you need. It's absurd!
This shift in weather as the sun was setting behind the storm clouds offered a sun shower mixed in with a faint rainbow and an obvious divide between the moist and dry areas amongst the soaring peaks raised up in both the northerly and southerly directions; the change was drastic with lightning striking the mountains around me and bared witness to something I had never seen before: the ignition of a small forest fire due to one of the lightning strikes

Where I camped at the ranch

They anticipated my arrival

The views of Canada from Hwy 5

ARRGGG!!!!

02/07/2014 - Cycling the Rockies on a Cheap Bike. Day 2

Distance cycled: 77.3km Latrempuille lake to Birch Island, British Columbia
Average speed: 18.3Km/h
Moving Time: 4h13m
Elevation Ascended: 875m
Burned Calories: 2853kcal
Burned Fat: 370g
Total Distance on Current trip: 166km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 12,813km
Money spent: $70

View Rockies Day 2 - 500 in a larger map

What a way to start off the morning. Waking up on the water to a bunch of fauna to greet me or maybe eat my crumbled granola that I spilt on the pier.... And to descend the 10km downhill stretch at 50kph to the small one horse town of Little Fort with my front rack held on only by zip ties and duct tape; sketchy, I know but the adrenaline was worthwhile.
Swimming in the lake at Clearwater was certainly a necessity today because the heat of the sun was relentless, obviously a good time to relax as it is what we are suppose to do on these breaks from planting trees, and not to be peddling over the Rocky Mountains...
I spent a bit too much money today but with a positive and negative, the plus side is that I now have 3 days worth of groceries to provide sufficient energy for the trip but have to carry this weight all the way to Jasper which after looking at the terrain profile of the section of the Rockies I'm about to tackle is steadily steep with little to no downhill runs so making my trip a little more tedious.
I also bought myself a security measure, bear spray. On my last trip across Canada I had a close call with a bear walking around my tent due to my stupidity of not hoisting my food up a tree and had this bear sniff around my tent as I was writing this blog. It was a frightening experience and thankfully did not have to use the bear spray I had at the time but as a preventative from getting mauled by a huge mammal it's my best defense if there happens to be a repeat of an encounter.
Thankfully this evening I did not have to pitch my tent in the bush as the alternative dirt road I took running parallel to the highway took me to a ranch offering free camping. Shirley who looked after the ranch by herself hosted many music festivals on her property, Serenity Music which is the name of her land was set up with stages and all the facilities needed for such festivities. Although there was no festival going on at the time of arrival, Shirley, being the sweet soul that she is let me stay for free. www.serenitymusic.ca
Her Irish coffee cheese cake is also amazing!
Early night for me as at the rate I am going I am not going to be able to have a rest day between cycling and starting work again.

Tags: cycle touring, cycle touring on the cheap, walmart bicycle touring, free camping, cycle touring the Rockies, Rocky Mountains bicycle, photography, landscape photography, camping, pop can stove cooking, penny stove cooking, camping on the cheap, serenity music, birch island

 

Cycling down 8% grade with my front rack attached by zip ties and duct tape

What an adrenaline pumping road!

Chilling at a lake in Clearwater, BC

Birch Island

Food for the evening

01/07/2014 - Cycling the Rockies on a Cheap Bike. Day 1

Distance cycled: 88.7km from 100 Mile house to Latremouille lake on Hwy 24
Average speed: 14.3km/h
Moving Time: 6h10m
Elevation Ascended: 1169m
Burned Calories: 4189 kcal
Burned Fat: 543g
Total Distance on Current trip: 88.7km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 12,890km
Money spent: $20

View Rockies Day 1 in a larger map

Is it possible to load up an $165, Walmart bought, 21 speed bicycle for touring 650km over the Rocky Mountains? Well, let's see.

I've spent the last two months working my job here in Canada planting trees and it has been tough, back breaking work; it was about time for some time off. We now have a break between contracts from British Columbia to Alberta for 11 days and whilst on the block planting the other day I had the epiphany/great idea to cycle yet again over the Rockies to cover more kilometers towards my goal of cycling the distance of the circumference of earth.... on a crap bicycle as my normal bicycle had been left in Thailand along with most of my cycling gear.
Using my skills at fashioning up panniers from scrap parts after mounting the racks I performed a quick tune-up on the bicycle to check if everything was in order with the extremely cheap components... At this point I was doubting if this bicycle could make the distance but you know what, it could surprise me.
I started this perhaps lost cause of an adventure from 100 Mile House,  British Columbia in the caribou region and took hwy 24 that linked hwy 97 to hwy 5.
It was an incredibly scenic route with many lakes, near fluorescent trees and sky with plenty of friendly and helpful people. As it was Canada day weekend many people were camping and having a great time of the lake shores.
The handful of people I met and hung out with included a trio of South Africans who offered beer and good laughs. It was funny to hear Eden, Debbie and Patrick's near brash opinion of the Canadian peoples mannerisms and attitudes compared to the South Africans as due to safety concerns people are not nearly as friendly there than hear. Also, even they said traveling there in South Africa ( one place I have been hesitant to travel), whether cycling or backpacking would be incredibly dangerous that was followed up by a plethora of lip biting stories.
After a couple of beers and one for the road I continued in the still scorching afternoon sun on the highway up and over the mountain pass at 1300m and slowly descended down the hilly terrain towards Little Fort but found a turn off to a lame where I spent the evening with a couple from Vancouver.
Jean-mark and Laura were lovely and were cruising about BC finding lakes to canoe and camp. Laura and I got along very well talking all things photography till quite late at night before I needed to rest.

The bicycle held up fine today even over some dirt roads, severe headwinds and the excessive weight of my belongings. It's surprisingly ok albeit very uncomfortable.

Tags:

Here we have it, a $165 bicycle from walmart

 

Not sure if my bike will fair well with bumpy dirt roads but as it turns out, it was just fine

 

Highway 24, what an experience and I made my way out of the Cariboo.

The Safa’s I met

Im getting closer to the Rockies.

I made it to the top of the mountain pass, thumbs up!

The beautiful Lake I camped.. on, I guess as that is my rent pitched on a pier.