September 24, 2019
Hope, BC –> Mission, BC

Distance: 110.8km
Ave: 19.3km/h
Max: 56 6km/h

This morning, I took a turn on the Trans Canada Trail and visited the Othello tunnels.

In rebellion for this trip that was not only before 8am, but on The Great Trail AND backtracking, the bolt for my front rack broke. I concocted a temporary zap strap fix, and parked myself outside the bike shop until it opened at 9.

Although busy, Brad of the bike shop lent me tools, helped me remove the broken bolt, found a replacement, and adamantly refused payment. He also stopped the rain and opened a nice blue patch in the sky in the direction I was going. All hail the marvelous Brad!

Today’s ride was mostly flat with the exception of one 11% grade hill.
I made some stops around Agassiz for local cheese, coffee, and pastries (lots of pastries!), and rode out to Harrison Hot Springs. It looks like a touristy place, although not on a windy Tuesday in September. The public pool was not overly hot, but pleasant and relaxing nonetheless.
I watched a wind surfer on the lake and enjoyed one of the better ice creams of the trip (generous portion of chocolate cheesecake and chocolate praline).

My planned campsite was going to cost another 35$ to sit in line with a bunch of RVs. There was another campground on the map only 20min away, so I went on. That one turned out to be closed. I went on again. I stopped and made myself dinner at a community centre picnic area that had potential as a campsite, but a bunch of folks arrived for an AA meeting, and I opted to carry on again.

It was a lovely night for riding. The road surface was good, the wind had died down, and I felt safely decked out with multiple lights and reflective bits. I ended up riding all the way Mission, where I’ve proved to myself I can now set up my entire rig without use of a light.

Tomorrow, on to Vancouver.

Alice