24 July - A change in the weather

Hills to Halcyon Hot Springs 68km (1316km total).

It rained most of the night and was still going strong this morning. Helen and Daniel very kindly said I was welcome to stay as long as I wanted. After some great pancakes with homemade strawberry syrup and a few cups of tea I used the time to check out my back tire which had not been holding its pressure for a couple of days. When I put it in a bowl of water I found a small leak and 5 year old Shia helped to put a 'band aid' over the hole. Although I could quite happily have stayed another night when the rain eased up a little late morning I decided to set off in my rain gear. 

I have to be honest it was not a fun day. It rained constantly and it was quite chilly (around 14C). My legs ached everytime I had to go uphill and I got frustrated at the constantly 'rolling' roads. I really, really want a flat piece of road, just for a few kilometres but it doesn't seem to exist in BC. I thought about sticking my thumb out as I rode along, so many trucks passed me and Bob and my bike could easily have fitted in the back, but I didn't. I have had a pain in my neck since before the rest day in Rossland and it has got steadily worse and I haven't figured out a way to ease or stretch it. I don't know what I am going to do about it as it is really starting to reduce the enjoyment of riding. When the weather is bad everything else seems worse. 

I stopped in Nakusp to find a hot drink and warm up and for half an hour the unpleasantness was forgotten. I also found British McVities Chocolate Digestives in the little local grocery store and decided that with the colder temps would not melt. I wasn't sure how far I was going to get today and when I asked the lady in the Visitor Centre how far to the ferry she said 30mins by car, and then suggested that would probably by 45mins by bike!!! It is 50km, so yes 30mins by car but by bike pulling a trailer more like 2.5hrs. I smiled and thanked her for the advice whilst secretly screaming at her. As I pedaled on in the rain I have to admit to shedding a few tears of frustration, this can be such a slow and painful way of covering such insignificant distances and gradients achieved in a car. 

I stopped at a rest area by the side of the road to have a snack and huddled under a tree for shelter. There was a couple there and he came over to ask me where I was going. He asked me if I had won the lottery so I had the time to do this, I laughed and suggested if I had won the lottery I would definitely be using a different mode of transport!! He shouted at his wife "Hey Karen this lady is cycling to Ottawa!!". After fiddling in the car she came over and gave me a 4 leaf clover and wished me luck. I was genuinely touched and thanked her before they got back in the car and sped off.

After 68km I hit Halcyon Hot Springs, realistically my last non-camping option before Revelstoke. I couldn't bear the thought of camping in the rain with wet gear and remembered reading they had cabins. When they offered me a little cabin for $75 I was so happy. I managed to fit the bike and trailer inside too and after soaking in the hot springs to warm up I cranked the heat to 25C and set about trying to dry everything. It is amazing how dirty a bike can get in the rain and it took quite some time to wipe everything down and lube the chain etc.