24th August: CB Diary extract,
Ate breakfast and was on the road for 7:30am. This was the biggest day of cycling yet, we knew we had over 50 miles to do with lots of hills, one particular big one up to the top of Rogers Pass. The biggest gripe I had today was the weather, where has the sun gone??? It rains 4 days out of 3 in this part of the country, our local guide told us! It was so cold today you could see your breath. As I was begining to sweat it turned so cold and made me shiver loads, I have decided it's better to cycle in the hot rather than the cold.. The hills had gradual inclines so I had to drop to the lowest gear on both handles. (We did have a wide shoulder all the way though.) The most exciting part of the day was when 3 black bears (a mummy and her 2 cubs) ran out across the road, 200 yards in front of us. It migh have been nice to have been a bit closer up but not too close!. Had a break at lunch time in a very nice lodge, with a log fire, this heated up my toes!. We begain again and it was up hill. I have never came across a hill so long and so steep. It was murder and then the rain came on. We only had 12 km to go but it was so hard, we had to stop every 1/2 mile, combined with the rain and the previous 40 miles and sore lges, I was close to tears, WHAT AM I DOING HERE, I thought!!!!!. (I have put a wet picture of me at this point in the photo gallery). I have never know 12 km to pass so slowly. At 69 km on my odometer it seemed to stay there forever but it eventually got to 71km!!!. Then we hit the 'tunnels', avalanche sheds, as they are know here.We cycled through the 1st and 4th and walked through the rest, the longest and darkest!!!! My legs were so tired, I had to stop at the end of each shed, as they where all up hill, apart from the last one!!!. I wish it was not raining.......Eventually, over an hour and a half later and only 6 miles completed, I saw the torquoise roof of our hotel appearing round the corner. FANTASTIC. I was so pleased to be there that when I arrived I collapsed in a chair and started crying tears of joy!!.(and had a few odd looks from other people in the Reception!)