Day: May 4, 2015

Day 2 – Hope

Day 2 – Hope, BC (May 3, 2015)

I sent a few text messages to uncle Rich just after 6 am, got packed, had oatmeal, and was on the road by 7:44 am.  The ride was part highway and part road – all had very good and well marked bike lanes (bonus).

I arrived in Chilliwack at about 10:20 am and met up with uncle Rich who came to see me on his road bike.  We were extremely mismatched.  I told him that I would be slow but he didn’t quite get it until he saw my bike – his is only about 18 lb and mine is 80 lb or so.  He didn’t even notice hills that I laboured on.

I noticed that you really can’t perceive hills in BC like you can in ON.  Because of the mountains on either side, your frame of reference of the horizontal gets confused where as in Ontario you seem to always know what ‘flat’ is.

I got a flat (a staple puncture) and soon after, Rich and I stopped for lunch, about 20 km outside of Chilliwack.  Rich accompanied me all the way to Hope before he turned back.

I am camping at Coquihalla Campground in Hope, BC.

Day 1 – Sun Valley

Day 1 – Sun Valley Trout Park, Mission, BC (May 2, 2015)

I arrived in Vancouver this morning with my bike.

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My boxes at YVR (Vancouver International Airport) 7:30 am 2015/05/02.

It took a few hours to put the bike back together.

I forgot what it felt like riding fully loaded.  I had to find a parking lot at the airport to practice before I felt confident.

I had trouble finding my way in Vancouver because my first track started from Stanley Park (dumb).  Stanley Park is 10 km north of the airport and it was pretty hard to work my way to the track without clear directions.  When I finally reached the track I started going the wrong way.  Luckily I happened to stop for lunch and took stock of where I was.  That is when Michelle called and as I answered, the BlackBerry went dead.

Once I was on track (at about 2 pm) it was pretty straightforward.  There were a few turns that slowed me down but I arrive at Sunvalley Trout Farm just about 6pm.  It’s not a bad little private camping spot.  I even saw fish jump.

The tent up at Sunvalley.
The tent up at Sunvalley 7:30 pm 2015/05/02.
Sunvalley Trout Farm. View of the small lake 7:30pm.
Sunvalley Trout Farm. View of the small lake 7:30 pm 2015/05/02.