- Thursday, June 4th, 2009-

Today's Trip:  84km
Trip Total:  333km

Another 30+ degree day!  We departed from Lytton, BC at 8:15AM and the country side seemed to transform from a lush forest green to a desert terrain.  Dry, dusty, painfully hot sun and wind was today's story.  I seemed to climb hills all day.  I got stuck in a falling rock and construction zone for 15 minutes which allowed me to rest momentarily.

- Friday, June 5th, 2009 -

Today's Trip:  84km
Total Trip:  417km

Got off to an early start, left our hotel at 8:15AM.  Had a bit of a tail wind behind me today, as I now set course East across British Columbia.  Again, more nauseating hills to climb, and more desert scenery.  

Still having lots of people pass us, honking their horns wishing us good luck.  I rode through a section with loose gravel and did get some rocks projected towards me, bouncing off my windshield and hitting me in the head.  Another reason why helmets are recommended.

- Saturday, June 6th, 2009 -

Today's Trip:  111km
Total Trip:  528km

I left Kamloops, BC at 8:05AM and got off to a good start.  Dan and Jenn were still incoherent.  I ate a granola bar, drank a bottle of water, and a bottle of juice, and took off down Columbia Drive to catch the Trans Canada Highway.  

The highway was busy with lots of traffic today but I did see a squished squirrel on the highway.  By the time Dan and Jenn caught up to me, I had already clocked 35km!  Cars continued to pass with honks and waves of encouragement and a lot of thumbs up from the bikers.  It makes me feel good that they are noticing what we are doing; too bad they weren't throwing $20 bills at me!

- Sunday, June 7th, 2009 -

Today's Trip:  --
Total Trip:  528km

Today was my first scheduled rest day, in Salmon Arm, BC.  Slept in until 10AM this morning and we got up, had lunch at Wendy's, washed the car, did some shopping, and I managed to visit a couple of friends whom I worked with in 1991.

- Monday, June 8th, 2009 -

Today's Trip:  104km
Total Trip:  632km

Today was cooler.  I had to sport a long sleeve jersey under my neon green t-shirt, and I had to wear gloves for part of the way.  I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Best Western for donating one night out of our stay.  I left the hotel at 8AM and climbed the Shuswap Valley out of Salmon Arm, BC for 25 minutes and I cried. 

 

Today I think I saw a Sasquatch.  Urban legend has it that they roam the mountains between Salmon Arm and Banff.  Although it could have been a brown bear, I was not close enough to identify it or take a picture.  I climbed a large hill and a butterfly passed me, laughing.