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Friday August 9         Cycling Day 31

    Gregg Lake (Alb) to Jasper (Alb)

Distance:  (Km). 98

Time:  3:56

Average Speed: (Km/ hr). 24.7

Ascent:  (m). 603

Heart Rate: (beats / min). 111

Cumulative Distance:   (km). 3423

Cumulative Ascent :  (m). 28,573

Punctures so far : 0

Just got into Jasper and a Rest Day tomorrow, and we need it.

A dry night but spits of rain as we had breakfast, a breakfast of porridge, sausages and scrambled egg. Pity we couldn’t sit down in peace and enjoy it.

Out on the road shortly after 7:30 ( some had left earlier) and all was quiet. It was a bit darker than usual and we all expected rain. 

The surface of Highway 40 for the first 26 km wasn’t the best. Lots of cracks across the road and hard shoulder, caused by the extreme frosts here , I presume. Also quite a few potholes, some filled and some not. One needed to be alert not to hit one of these, especially on the descents and get a flat or worse. Almost all our climbing of today (500 metres) was done during those first 26 km. Scenery along that part was much the same as yesterday ......nothing to write home about.

After those 26 km I came to a T junction with Highway 16 and turned right for Jasper along a divided highway for a period. Plenty of roadside billboards gave the impression I was on the run into town. But another 70 km to go.

But this turn to the right changed everything. Surface was super smooth with no frost cracks. A very wide shoulder from the much busier road, though not a lot of trucks. We were following the river upstream but ever so slightly.  An assisting tailwind thrown into the bargain. And to cap it all some spectacular scenery, though at first cloud was still clinging to the tops. That improved as I got closer to Jasper.

After another 21 km along this road I came to the Park Gate.  Being a National Park ( from here to beyond Banff) everyone has to pay entrance....no way of bypassing it. So I needed a pass for 6 days but at least I got the Seniors rate so came to roughly €35. There can be checkpoints along the road looking for the pass.

From the Gates on the scenery just got better and better, on the left, on the right and straight ahead. And all this to behold as I careered along stress-free at 25+ km/hr. Fabulous.

Shortly after lunch I came across some wildlife, an elk standing on the far side of the road and taking great interest in me but making no moves. Just as I passed he started off also and soon disappeared. Beautiful animal.

And then I spot Jim (the senior of the tour) in trouble just ahead. Rear wheel FHA’s just gone on the rim. I pulled in and we found the hole, apparently caused by a spoke or rim tape. Rectified the tape, inserted a new tube and gave it pounds of air. Jim really appreciated the assistance and he asked me to cycle with him in case the problem re-occurred. I reckoned that it’d be nice to slow down and accompany him. He took off and I was hard-pressed to keep up with him. He slowed down at some construction and told me to go on ahead if I wished. Some chance! Eventually I hauled on to remove the jacket and let him off. But still glad that I was of assistance to him. Two others, Geoff and Dean, who were just ahead of me got flats just as they approached the Park Gates. Some glass on the road they think. Lucky that I missed it.

As I followed Jim the scenery on both side was beautiful. In spite of the pressure of keeping up, I still got a few shots from the saddle. No need for words to describe them.

At 94 km I veered off to the right on Connaught Drive to approach the centre of Jasper. Jasper is quite small and compact and full of tourists and tourist oriented outlets - sidewalk cafes, souvenir shops etc. As someone said ‘ Now, we’re back on the human jungle’. I’ll find out more about Jasper tomorrow.

I arrived in the hotel at 12:30, although I’d be thinking it was late evening! No rooms ready till 3:30 but I had a bit of business to take care of. My phone (fairly basic model with small memory)  says I must upgrade WhatsApp, but to do that I’ll have to ditch all the other apps. Enquiring at the hotel desk, I found there was a phone store almost next door at the rear of a souvenir shop. What luck! So now I’m equipped with a new one with lashings of memory. All that done (data and apps transferred etc) before I checked into Room 225. 

The hotel is right in the centre and the view from my window beats that in Fort St John. I’m looking at the mountains above and O’Shea’s pub just across the way.

I got all the laundry done across the road in a laundromat run by a lady who spent time in Belfast and was enamored with Donegal. All washed and dried for €5.

With Monica.

While the drying was under way, I wandered down the street and spied this busker (violinist) across the street giving a lovely rendering of Danny Boy. I crossed over, made my contribution and commended her on her choice of an Irish air. She then launched into ‘ Tabhair dom laimh ‘.  I asked  if she had any other Irish ones. I mentioned Tipperary. She (Monica) had heard of the song and asked me for the start. I gave her the intro and away the two of us delighting(?) the passers by, me on vocals and she on accompaniment. 

As I was just entering the hotel (Whistlers Hotel) by the rear entrance I spotted the TDA van its claim of not doing your typical bike tour. And beside it a motor bike + that would provide ‘not your typical motor bike tour’ . I know some people who’d like to take off on one of those!

So a lovely finale to a tough 6 day stint. Scenery out of the top drawer. Hope there’s more of that as we move on down towards Banff (3 days)

 

I’ll get some more on Jasper tomorrow once the housework is done.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.