July16-17 Nelson M-74.82,T-8:14,AVG-9.08,El-4692.Christina Lake M-51.14,T-5:25:13,AVG-9.43,El-2771 Midway

A lot of climbing today. More than I had realized and roughly 38 miles with no services. The first 3 or 4 miles were some what strenous, 3 to 4 mph and then it tapered off to a 6 mph climb that was manageable and went on forever. I was always anticipating the next corner to be the top for a few hours. The Kettle Valley Trail is underneath this bridge I crossed. That was an option as I was looking into it abit before I got to Castlegar but decided I'll have to come back another time.

July15-Nelson

Nelson's a cool place! A bridge you cross coming from the east after your ferry crossing from Balfour. Nelson and Fargo are my two favorite city's so far on this trip.Interesting places with there own identity which makes for some fun exploring and I could spend more time in both.

Nelson City Campground. 2 blocks from downtown with a view of the lake.

This was my spot as I came in late. The park fills up fast but the friendly park hosts made room. I had my own bench to in case I got some company.

This is a view from Giro Park. You can see the city center to the left nestled against the mountain side and fronted by Lake Kootenay

A wrought iron rail surrounding the viewpoint on Giro park. When I walked up to this park which was above the campground I didn't even notice the rail as I was entranced with the view but soon the rail became the view.

July14 Creston-Nelson M-75.74,T-7:32:50,AVG-10:03,El-3848

Heading north up the valley to Kootenay Lake towards Crawford Bay where I will take the ferry to Nelson. Cascade Bicycle Club happened to be on the same route as I today. Inviting me over for some much needed snacks at a midmorning rest stop along the way. Thanks.

The Glass House built by a Mortician into recycling back in the 50's. Formeldahyde bottles were stacking up and he couldn't stand to see them go to waste and decided to start saving them up and to build a elaborate residence on Lake Kootenay.He also contacted fellow morticians in the interior of BC and got them into recycling cause. Offering to pick them up if they saved them so he could get the house done sooner at his wifes request.                                                                    

Ferry ride to Balfour from Crawford bay then a 20 mile ride to Nelson. With less hills.

  The penny toss as the ferry landed against one of the iron piles. Just out of reach for a free Pint!

                                                           

I had to make one last comment om my ride to Creston. Scotties RV where I stayed happened to be right across the street from the Columbia brewing with tours. Kokanee is there main label and as I was taking the tour and we were  entering the packaging department I noticed the Lucky Lager logo. I can't believe I took a Lucky Lager brewery tour.

July13 Cranbrook-Creston M-69.01,T-6:43:03,AVG-10.27,El-1765

I'm in Creston tonight after a descending ride for most of the way here. It seemed like anyway. The number 3 is a windy road heading west. I've decided to head north up the east side of Kootenay Lake tomorrow and catch the ferry across to Balfour which will then lead me to Nelson and  back down to the #3 again or I might incorporate a railtrail close to Castlegar into this plan. I'll figure it out tomorrow.

I'm a  little anxious to get home being so close but hopefully those feelings should pass by tomorrow and I'll be back to normal in this cozy little tent. Lifes pretty good out here.

July 11-12 Eureka M-83.94,T-8:50:35,AVG-9.48,El-3574 KikomunPark M-40.45,T3:43:23,AVG-10.86,El-1468 Cranbrook

A sunday morning departure from Eureka towards Roosville B.C.

Lake Koocanusa. Which I think stands for Kootenay's Mt. range, Canada,United States of America. A joint venture reservoir lake that pretty much dissapears on the Canadian side in the winter as the water is used for generating. I had tried to take a shortcut through this region via the bridge on Lake Koocanusa but got messed up and ended up back on the border on the westside of the lake. It was nice riding with little traffic but the road ended abruptly to my chagrin. At the end of the road there once was a town,Newgate, before the reservoir was built, and you could cross the river back into the U.S. Anyway it was good riding but didn't get me in the direction I wanted to go. So today I'm in Cranbrook. The long way on 3.

The Turkey Vulture family is patiently waiting this sunday morning for there road side buffet to open.

July 9-10 Rising Sun Park M-67.97,T-7:02,Avg-9.66,El-3416 Whitefish M-62.1,T-5:43:34,AVG-10.84,El-2103 Eureka

                                                                      

July 7-8 Waterton M-56.86,T-6:10:01,AVG-9.21,El-3593 Rising Sun Campground

Chief Mt. I've been looking at Chief Mt. for about 4 days now. It's following me. It always seems to be the pinnacle  of my routes. North,south,east or west. Today I got to see the North side as I was heading towards Glacier from Waterton.

Early risers taking advantage of the morning glow on St.Mary Lake.

A hike I took on the top of Logan's pass. Going To The Sun Road.

A early morning start as I headed over the pass to Whitefish.

July 6 Cardston-Waterton M-36.96,T-4:11:58,AVG-8.8,El-821

Cardston's claim to fame is actress Fay Wray of the original classic, King Kong. She was born just outside of Cardston.

A friendly little bear as I was entering Waterton Provincial Park. He or she ( I didn't get close enough to check) was pretty mellow as tourists got out of there cars to check him out. I wasn't to concerned knowing there only carnivores 10% of the time.

A view of the Lake looking south in to the U.S. from Waterton Park.

July5 Cutbank-Cardston Alberta M-75.12,T-8:44:39,AVG-8.59,El-2213

It was quite a change yesterday going from the plains of Montana to the prairies of Alberta running up against the Rockies. All types of weather as you can see by the photo. Rain,hail,sunny,cool, and to finish the day off rainy and cool 10 miles out of Cardston. I felt good about being a west bounder riding through the prairies alone as usual and seeing 3 east bounders going by in the back of a pickup to escape the rain. Even back in Chester a farmer I met couldn't figure out why I was riding west. I just said "Crazy" and his friend explained seeing I didn't have a explanation.

This was the strangest experience so far. As I was riding  I spotted this Hawk on the pole. Theres a few of them. So I snapped a quick pic. Nothing spectacular. As I road off I could see it was following me and pestering me like crows bother eagles. I let it go till it dived bomb and hit my helmet. Thats it! I got off the bike and started walking as it wasn't safe to ride as I was preoccupied with my rear view mirror watching for it's next tactic. It kept at it.Ducking it's predictable dives as I seen it approach. Finally I needed something for retaliation and used my SeaLine map case on a shock cord to swing at it as it buzzed by. Which worked alright. The hawk out maneuvering the Alberta map in the last seconds to avoid a crash. Then another hawk showed up. Now whats going to happen? Nothing as three old starlings came to the rescue and started harrasing it. Finally it gave up and rested on a pole again down a cross road. Strange experience. I'm just use to dogs.

Dinner time on the prairies.

July4 Chester-Cutbank

I left Chester at the crack of dawn this morning while everyone else was still saw n logs after the fireworks and festivities last night. A clean get away.This was my best riding morning on 2. No traffic and I had the whole Hiway to myself for a couple of hours. The winds woke up around 8:30 or 9:00 and I was hoping they would take the fourth off. But no. They passed by me almost all the way to Cutbank till the rains started. I could tell the rain was from Seattle by the 50 degree temp. The winds let up once the rain started and if I had a choice rain or wind I would pick the rain.

One of the many cars parked at  the Chester Road House Barn & Grill. Original owner.

I sense the trip is starting to wind down as I leave the plains and prairies of North Dakota and Montana and start climbing into the Rockies tomorrow.Also July 4 is the two month mark of my May 4 start with 3429 miles behind me.