September 7, 2019
Honeymoon Lake, AB –> Willcox Creek, AB

Distance: 61.7km
Average: 16.4km/h
Max: 56.3km/h

HIGHLIGHTS:

Fresh hot coffee with real cream courtesy of my German RV driving neighbours one over (this also helped me get back on Wilson time as I’d gotten up at 6:30 to watch the sunrise and was in danger of leaving at a reasonable time! By nattering away in German, I didn’t leave until about 10!)

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Beautiful walk/hike at Sunwapta falls – like Athabasca falls, the shortest trails were quite populated, but as soon as I went beyond, there are few people and (in this case better!) views.

Standing on hundreds of years old ice at the Columbia icefield (I know you’re not supposed to without a guide, but the risk management here is overkill)

LOWLIGHTS:

Having trouble getting into first sprocket at the front which I absolutely needed today climbing up towards Sunwapta pass (I don’t actually get there until tomorrow). Chatted to more Germans while waiting for rock scaling related traffic delays.

Riding round and round the campground (very steep!) looking for an available site wishing I’d stopped at the icefield campground (only 1km previous). I’m currently camped in a handicapped spot. I figure I can share it if needed, and that the warden is nicer than the one our family met in similar circumstances in the San Juans.

My lips! They are falling apart – it’s very dry here (no dew to speak of this morning), and having forgotten my lip balm, I’m experimenting with other strategies… Any ideas??