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Saturday August 17         Cycling Day 37

      Chain Lakes Park (Alb) to Watertown Lakes Park (Alb)

Distance:  (Km). 153

Time:  7:32

Average Speed: (Km/ hr). 20.37

Ascent:  (m) 1306

Heart Rate: (beats / min). 115

Cumulative Distance:   (km). 4142

Cumulative Ascent :  (m) 35,358

Punctures so far : 1

Well, it rained heavily all night through till 4 am. Then eased off and stopped at 6 just before I got up. But plenty was soaked. Water had seeped under the tent as never before. Nothing from yesterday had dried out. Was just thankful it wasn’t raining as I packed up. What if I had the same again tonight? And it was bitterly cold. A Canadian summer can be like an Irish summer. 

We had breakfast inside in the kitchen and looked out at the fresh snow up in the area where we were yesterday morning, Highwood Pass. We just missed that by a day. Snow in August!

Leaving camp for this long 153 km day it was just 2 deg. Both fingers and toes (shoes hadn’t fully dried out) were frozen. My only hope was to get a road where I could just pedal away and stimulate the circulation. Clouds were hanging low for the first two hours. Sun broke through on a number of occasions and was a tonic. After 1 hour my fingers were coming to life and after 2 hours just my left foot ( on the sunny side of the bike) was beginning to feel comfortable.For the first 50 km it was all prairie in all directions. I did spot a few cattle but not many. And the road just went on and on, twisting into the distance. It was quite a weary stretch- nothing much to look at.

I did cross over Oldman River but I don’t reckon it’s the one In the song. Didn’t look like the inspiring type anyhow. A different river I crossed might definitely inspire lyrics

Lunch was a welcome distraction at 77 km just past the small town of Lundbreak on Highway 3.

From around here it was grain, vast fields of grain at all stages. Some was still getting the benefit of irrigation booms; some ready for cutting (to my expert eye ?) and some already harvested and baled.

After switching to Highway 6 and passing through the sizable town of Pincher Creek, the Rockies came so much closer to us acting as backdrop to the cultivation.

Off in the distance I could pick out the gap in the mountains, the location of Waterton Lakes, our destination. Still a long way to go. And after 130 km from a viewing point on a high point of the road, the gap was so clear. Still 23 km to go and a strong wind was coming at me from that gap. And I only hoping to get into camp in order to dry out the tent+.

To enter Waterton Park I had to pay the daily rate $6.80 at the Park Gate. Not bad, they could have charged for 2 days...we leave tomorrow.

From the Park Gate I took the cycle path closer to the lakes, but it much more a roller coaster than the road, but the views were superior. But the headwind still there.

Waterton is a tourist town, regarded by some as  Canada’s forgotten corner of the Rockies. The main lake is a long narrow one stretching into the US and linked to Glacier Park. Waterton Lake is reputed to be the deepest lake in Canada at 150 metres.

Located the campground just on the edge of town and first job was to remove the tent constituents from the bag and dry them. And they dried very quickly (the end of my sleeping bag had also got wet). All assembled now and hoping for a dry night, our last night in Canada.

Tomorrow morning we cross into the US just as the match in Crowe Park is on. My mind will be there as I turn those pedals.

So, a long tiresome day and dreary enough till the last 30 km. I won’t have another day as long as that.

Up Tipp.

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