Vancouver - Calgary 2000

Bicycle trip
Saturday August 12, 2000 Vancouver
9:30 am
Finally started my journey at 9:30 am, when Trevor dropped me o at the North Shore. I was hoping he would drive me
to the end of Vancouver North Shore, but he was too sick to go any further.
My rental bicycle from Simons Bike Shop in downtown Vancouver looked like
this
SADDEL BAGS - REAR
Left - Sleeping bag, towels(2) 4 litre collapsible water bag.
Right - Camel Back water container, clothes - 4 T-shirts, 3 shorts, 2 pants, 3 pairs
socks, 3 underwear, 1 jacket
PANNIER BAGS - FRONT
Left - Tilley Hat, bath room accessories, food.
Right - Camper Stove & Fuel Bottle, pots, pans, utensils, duct tape, sun block lotion.
WAIST BELT
water bottle, pouch for wallet, and knife.

Miscellaneous items on my bike

Also on the back of my bike I installed a bike rack to
carry other items. There was a 2 person tent, sleeping
mat and Joes reflective vest, which he insisted I take
and Im glad I did. I had a tool kit, flash light,
bicycle pump, mirror, Bear spray, and water bottle
also attached to my bike.
5:00 pm
I ended up just north of Squamish, BC and set up
camp for the night, $24 to camp, what a rip-o, but
I was too tired to go any further.
High lights of my day.
Im sure glad mom woo packed me 4 sticky rice. I
stopped at various points of the day and they tasted
even better as the day wore on and gave me energy.
I pushed my bike up the first few hills today and
pretty much had a good day.
I went approximately 70 kms today.
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Monday August 14, 2000 Whistler, BC

9:00 am
Rest and Repair
The sign at the camp oce read There was bear in the campsite this morning, please bring all your
food to the oce and well lock it up. Last night, I made some noodle soup and accidentally spilled
some on the picnic table and ground. I frantically tried to clean it up the best I could, thinking
about this Bears great sense of smell. I laid in my tent that evening with my knife open and my bear
spray not to far. I seen a shadow on my tent wall and some gravel noise, I grabbed my bear scary and
peered out the tent. It was couple of people walking along the pathway. Had a restless night waiting
for that bear to come around. The campsite is nice, although the ground is gravel. Got up early
this morning (6:30 am) and finally went down to the oce. I have no watch so by the time I arrived
it was 7:30 am. I walked to the village (Whistler) with my bicycle (approx. 3 kms) to find a repair
shop for my back rim. I found one called Whistler Riders and was told it would be ready after 1.
Had a Starbucks coee and my headache went away. Went back to camp and did my laundry, made
some calls and arrangement to stay 1 more night. I was expecting my repairs to cost me at least
$60-70. He straightened the rim and tightened all the spokes. To my delight it was only $5.30 and I
immediately went and splurged on a $6.00 Tai Chicken something-something wrap.
Tonights menu
Macaroni with Rague Sauce & 93% (1/2 lb) lean ground fresh beef and peanut butter & jelly
sandwiches.

Tuesday August 15, 2000 Whistler, BC

Day 4 - Quiet Roads
After a short climb out of Whistler, I met another cyclist, who has been on the road since June 1st.
He started from Nova Scotia and was from Austria. Most of the road to Pemberton was downhill so
it didnt take me very long to get there. After a quick coee, I set o again, passing through a
reserve called Mount Currie. There was hardly any trac on the road. When I came to the
bottom of the mountain, there was a gate across the road indicating the road was closed. This was a
very steep road (15% grade) and it took me most of the day to climb. When I arrived at the
Blockade there was a TV crew(s) setting up. I was greeted by Hughie and he said Your late!!!. He
took me up to camp and fed me. They had a big meeting there that night, with about 40 people that
showed up. I met a lot of people there including a couple of local Chiefs. I stayed up late chatting
with the ones that lived at the camp. They gave me an extra piece of foam and I had a great night
and I had a comfortable sleep.
Today was dicult, because of the Mountain I climbed. It was steep and had a lot of switch-backs.
Today I went about 85 kms

Wednesday August 16, 2000 Camp

Melvin, BC
Day 5 Short & Sweet
12:00 noon
For breakfast this morning they made
mush (oatmeal) and topped it o with fresh berries
and brown sugar. They also made fresh fry bread, it
was the best breakfast so far. I
stayed and visited with them
until noon. Just when I was
leaving there was a (RCMP)
helicopter circling the camp.
Most of the day was downhill
with the exception of one big
hill. I decided to stay and rest in Lillooet and save the
next big hill for the next day.
Mileage
50 kms

Thursday August 17, 2000 Lillooet, BC

Melvin Camp - SUTIKALH

Soo-ti-ku
Cindy
Doug and Check Mate
Hughbee
Brian - Alta.
Lawrence
Christa
Darrel - councillor

I started out early this morning so I could do most of

the first hill climb in the shade. I heard a Legend of a
giant snake that lived on the side of the mountain. As
I was pushing my bike up the mountain, I noticed
something move at the corner of my eye. I looked
and Im sure I seen this huge snake slither away. Near
the top a german couple stopped and made sure I was
OK and asked if I needed anything. This was the first
of many nice people I was going to meet today. I
never had breakfast this morning so I pulled over and
had a orange and an energy bar. I was pretty hungry
when I pulled into the Deep Blue Resort, hoping
there would be a restaurant. As luck would have the
local reserve owned this resort and the band sta
decided to have a pot luck lunch there today. They
waved me o the road and invited me to stay. I later
learned it was Ricks idea to make sure I had lunch
with them. I shared my story cont...


with them and they were pretty amazed I was cycling to Saskatchewan (Calgary). I stayed and
rested there for a couple of hours. My next stop was a newly opened store called Butter Fly Store.
They fed me a bowl of Rez soup and as it turned out, the guy I was sitting with was the local
Chief and owned the store. I arrived in Cache Creek early that evening and was
looking forward to sleeping in a bed.
Deep Blue Resort - Dennis, Desmond, Gary and Rick. These were the ones I
remember, although there were many other great people there.
Mileage
87.5 kms

Friday, August 18, 2000 Cache Creek, BC

Day 7 - Kamloops
I slept in till 9:00 am and took my time checking out. I went to the local cafe and had some
oatmeal. My back rim is giving me trouble again, I wasnt sure if I was going to make it to Kamloops
with it. Some of the people that Ive met over the past week went by and waved or honked. I was
going up the hill into Kamloops when Gary (from Deep Blue Resort) stopped to make sure
everything was ok. He gave me his cell phone number in case I didnt make it. I checked into the
Super View Motel, and it had a jacuzzi in the room. I stayed in the jacuzzi for about 2 hours. It was
a good day and I feel good.
Mileage
84kms

Saturday, August 19, 2000 Kamloops, BC

Day 8 - KAMLOOPA!!!!

Another rest and repair day. I took my bicycle into Java Cycle and they fixed the 4 broken spokes
and straightened the rim. I went to the Pow wow last night, I seen Jesse Paddy and Dinnah
Littlechief, I also seen Stacy Littlechief (Wilson) I did my laundry and had a good rest.
I went to Rez Party (49er) last night. The sun came up and a fight broke out. I walked to the
closest gas station and called a cab.
I picked up my bike and took it easy for the rest of the day.
Mileage
o kms

Sunday, August 20, 2000 Salmon Arm

7:00 am:
I checked out early and came down the Number 1
highway. As I entered the highway I seen a sign that
indicated no bicycles were allowed on this road. Blah
Its early, whos gonna notice. About half way
down I met a guy that was
walking up the hill. Must of been
coming from another 49r. Smiled
and waved. I was flying down
down the hill, dont take me long
to get to the bottom. 15 kilometre
east of Kamloops I stopped at a
Fruit stand, it was open. I bought some fresh fruit
and chatted with the owner, turns out they were from
Saskatchewan. As I continued on my day, I was
cycling along when I seen this giant piece of foam in
the ditch. I turned around and picked it up. My
hands were getting sore from leaning on the handle
bars, so I mcgivered a nice foam padding on my
handle bars, wrapped nicely with duct tape. It was a
good riding day, the hills weren't as steep and by this
time I was peddling up most of them. the scenery
was beautiful, it amazed me that the things I came
across. Im traveled this route many times by vehicle
and failed to notice so many great places. By the time
I reached Salmon Arm, my back rim was starting to
break spokes again. I checked into a motel and
looked for a repair shop, no luck.
Mileage
109 kms

Monday 21, 2000 Revelstoke

I had to make the decision today to leave most of
luggage at the motel. I talked to the owner and he
said it ok as long as i picked them up within a week.
My bike felt so light, I was able to peddle faster and
for longer periods of time it seemed.

I passed another cycler going west, he looked like he was collecting bottles. We waved at each other,
there seems to be respectful dialogue that goes on with road warriors. I started to cross some
narrow bridges, I had to make sure there was no semis coming from the other way before I
scampered across the bridge. I ran into some road construction, I pulled up to the front of the line
and talked to the flag person. She let me go ahead of the trac to get a head start. Im glad she did,
because it was dusty. I cruised into Revelstoke in good time today. I checked into a motel
downtown and went out walking around town. I came across this Italian Restaurant and went in. I
ordered spaghetti and meat balls. They bought me out this huge plate of spaghetti, she laughed and
commented Im not sure your gonna be able to eat all that I laughed, I was a bit embarrassed
when she came back later and the plate was cleaned o. I asked her about bicycle shops in town and
she directed me to a couple. I walked down to them knowing that they were closed, but I wanted to
get an idea on their location for the next day.
Mileage
110 kms

Tuesday, August 22 Golden

I checked out early and went down to the Cycle shop I seen last night. I explained my problem with
a young man there and he said No problem, I can fix that. I stayed and watched him for the first
little while, he was good loosened all the spokes and he had it spinning on the table. I left to go find
breakfast, when I came back it was ready. I cycled out of Revelstoke, knowing it had to be a good
day today, after all I had 160 km to ride to get to Golden BC. The ride was going good, about 30
kms east of town I heard something. I stopped peddling and listened. I heard some running in the
trees just below me. Dam!! Cougar!! I was being stalked. I raced across the highway and peddled as
fast and as long as I could. I was nearing the 50km when I noticed my back wheel starting to
wobble. This was definitely not a touring bike!!

I stopped at a rest area and called back to the Cycle Shop, reception was crappy. I had to stand on
the picnic table and try to explain who I was, where I was and my problem wheel. He heard enough
and said he was on his way to pick me up. He arrived and he loaded my bike it the back of his
pickup and we headed back to Revelstoke. He explained that the kid was only in the shop this
morning and it was his day o, he took o with his friend to go mountain biking. He went to work
fixing my rim, he explained that the kid forgot to use lock tight on the spokes and that why they
were coming apart. He didnt charge me anything and gave me a ride back, it fact he dropped me o
about 10km from where he picked me up.
O I go again, what a great ride this road was, I stopped at many streams and filled up my water
bottles. The mountain water was fresh, cold and tasted great. As I peddling I noticed that I was
catching up to another cycler. I finally caught him about 10 km from Rogers Pass. We chatted for a
bit and he told me there was 2 of them cycling and that they were from Lower mainland. he got in
an argument with his friend and his friend turned around and headed back. I told him I seen your
friend going west just before Sicamoose. We said our goodbyes and I continued on. When I
reached Rogers Pass it was late in the afternoon. I broke a spoke and had to undo my back brakes,
nothing new.
I rested and had something to eat, after figuring that I had at least 80 km to Golden, I knew I had to
hustle, besides I had no camping gear. I was cycling pretty fast downhill, I dreaded going through
the tunnels, especially the really long ones. Without the semis, no problem, but when they were
passing me in the tunnels, I had to concentrate on keeping the bike straight and praying I wouldnt
fall. So relieved when I was out of danger. I rode hard with the daylight I had left, I was an hour
and a half from Golden when the last light went out over the mountain. I peddled the rest of the
way in the dark, no lights on the front or back. It was ok when vehicles passed me, I could use their
lights. I finally made it to Golden and checked into a motel.
Mileage
160 kms

Wednesday, August 23 Lake Louis

Today, I knew was going to be a tough ride, I had to climb not less than 3 mountains to get to Lake
Louise. I started the day climbing out of Golden, I rode for a few kms before I started up the next
mountain. I seen mountain sheep along the highway that day. Upon arriving at my next steep climb,
I can across a semi that was stalled on the side of the road, he over heated going up. The roads were
narrow and I hated when a Class A motor home would pass me. Their big mirrors would narrowly
miss me. I finally made it to Field and rested, I was looking forward to one last climb up Kicking
Horse pass and it was all downhill from there, at least thats what I told myself.
I made it to the top of Kicking Horse pass and the water started to flow east, nice!!! As the last
daylight was leaving I rode into Lake Louise and looked for a motel. Everything was booked and the
only possibly was a hostel. I went into the hostel, it looked more like a fancy hotel. They were
booked up too, I explained my situation, telling them that I had to leave my camping gear in
Sicamoose. They conferred among each other and decided I could sleep in the games room. They
bought in a mattress and I was set for the night. I had a shower and fell right asleep.

Thursday, August 24, 2000 Canmore, AB

In the morning, I took my time getting ready. I went into the cafeteria and ordered the best omelet
that I have eaten to date. It was huge, must have been 3-4 eggs with lots of veggies. I hit the

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highway, happy and content, knowing that it was all downhill today. It didnt take me very long to
arrive in Ban. I parked my bicycle and strolled around town. I had a nice big lunch, with a couple
bottles of beer, celebrating sort of. I decided to make it to Canmore that day and when I hopped on
my bike, I was a bit light headed from the beer. I cycled into Canmore and got a room for the night.
Mileage
85 kms

Friday , August 25, 2000 - Calgary AB

My last day of Riding

I was up bright and early, knowing that Calgary was only a hop skip and jump away. I called my wife
and we made arrangements to meet at the McDonalds on the west end of Calgary at 2pm. A couple

of hills and some long stretches, no problem. I was there ahead of time and waited for my ride. Lila
came from Regina with Heather and picked me up, we headed back to Vancouver to drop the bike
o. How was the bike they asked me at Simons. Ohh it was great!!
The following winter I ordered a Cannondale T800 for my next adventure.
Mileage
105 kms

Total time - 2 weeks

Total Milage - 1102 kms
Back rim repaired - 4

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