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Friday August 16         Cycling Day 36

       Peter Lougheed Park (Alb) to Chain Lakes Park (Alb)

Distance:  (Km) 145

Time:  6:28

Average Speed: (Km/ hr). 22.46

Ascent:  (m). 1266

Heart Rate: (beats / min). 116

Cumulative Distance:   (km) 3989

Cumulative Ascent :  (m). 34,052

Punctures so far : 1

Oh, what a day. A day that had everything......everything you don’t want. All will be revealed as I go through the day.

6 am this morning after a rain-free night, drops began to pitter-patter on the tent. I arose a bit early and packed up with just a light rain. Nothing in the bag got wet, but the flysheet needed to be put in a separate plastic bag again. But it set the tone for the day.For breakfast most stood under the gazebos although only a few drops falling. We hit the road with the wet morning attempting to dampen our enthusiasm. The forecast for the day was for rain from noon on and cold.

First we had to retrace that 6.6 km back to the main road. Even along here the peaks towered with the tops in cloud. 

Swing right and into preparation for an early climb. It was a stiff one lasting for 8 km with an average of 6.5% giving us a lift of 500m. Into the groove and I even passed a few on the way up. Rain had blown off for this ascent which helped. But any feeling of my invincibility was quashed when one of the two joggers also on the way up sailed past me, and I going at 8.8km/hr. I could still admire the hillsides about and the peaks ahead.

Glad to see the top as I reached it just behind Carmel (Aus) one of the new riders. This is a special top, Highwood Pass (2206m), the highest paved pass in all of Canada. Those 24 km from camp to the pass had taken one and a half hours. No wonder I was pleased with myself....on the double. I had climbed this far and we were led to believe that this would account for our climbing for the day.

For the descent and because of the cold I added the padded jacket beneath the rain jacket. A lovely lively descent with a clear cold morning air and the sun breaking through now and again. The riders were now well spread out over the route. Some cycle for speed and some cycle for scenery. Maybe not as spectacular as yesterday but still worthy of a photo.

Matters proceeded pleasantly till I came to 54.7 km where our notes from last evening told us to turn left at a junction. No junction. I went on another bit. Still none. Had I missed something? About 6 other riders came on and all in the same dilemma. I checked Galileo and no sign of a junction. We wasted 15 to 20 minutes debating before just cycling straight on. Such inaccuracies just cheeses people off.

Then at 64 km it happened, it had to happen sometime......my first puncture. On a flat stretch of pleasant road, as I was cycling along a bit behind Dean, I felt the back wheel act funny. Checked the pressure and it was half-flat. Bummer! I pulled up by a barrier and set about removing wheel and tube. I found the hole by eye and checked the corresponding spot in the tyre but could find no wire or thorn. Double checked. Walker arrived and stopped to help. We soon had new tube in and necessary pressure. But had a bit of bother replacing the wheel that held us up for another five minutes. All OK and we agreed to cycle into lunch (at 75km) together. No sooner had we pushed off but bitterly cold rain started and lasted to lunch. Thank heavens we hadn’t that while dealing with the puncture. Walker’s assistance was indeed appreciated.

Those arriving at lunch around the same time were feeling wet and miserable. And here we were given another alteration to the route. Instead of turning into camp at 135.6km, we would be turning in 8.4 km further at 144 km. An extra 8.4 km at the end of a long cold wet day, I could do without.

After lunch there was a change in scenery. We were back into ranches and grassland and hardly a rise in the road. I pedalled along here at 28 or 29 km/hr and was glad of the pedaling in order to warm up. A few oil jumping-jacks appeared as I approached Longview, a small village where we would turn right onto Highway 22.

In Longview, I took a break and got rid of the Canadian coins I had. No point in carrying them around. A few shops and bars in Longview but what pleased me was I was now going to benefit from a tailwind ...and all the climbing of the day done. 

40 km to go on a road that upped and downed adding another 400m ascent to the day. That was draining. Some rain returned on this stretch but not for long.

Now in the prairie country of the foothills of the Rockies. Green ranches on both sides and quite a number of cattle trucks came agains me along here.

Around 140 km the road was actually dry and it pleased me that I’d get the tent up in sunshine. But just as I was about t turn in at 144km down came the rain again, and now it was heavy.

I located our sites and the kitchen building. Dropped all and rushed in (3:45) as the rain pelted down. Some of those in early had tents up and changed. I had to stay in that kitchen for almost an hour before rain eased off. I was wet, weary and on a short fuse.

There was a bit of a lull and I took my chances. Did get a bit wetter but once all up and bag in, down it came heavy again. Changed, but not a hope of drying gear. (I do have a few sets for this 6day stretch)

Dinner again inside and a dash back to the tent for a bit of shelter. I expect we’ll have more rain during the night.

So, tent down in the rain, tent up in the rain, puncture, rain, confusion on the road with directions. Could have done without them all. Possibly tomorrow will be kinder.

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