26-27 June Clagary - Drumheller - Youngstown

Wednesday 26 June

Breakfast was served at the University at Calgary at 6.30am. Bacon, eggs and fried potato set me up for the day.There was quite a bit of ducking and diving getting out of the city. Once we got going it was a fine sunny day with no clouds. Quite warm. Peter and I made good time doing the 166km in 6 hours and 51 minutes at an average of 25kph.

The farmland is mainly planted out with canola. The route was still quite hilly, the flat bits of the prairies still a few days off. The other aspects of Drumheller that are interesting is the dinosaur museum, and the size of the mosquitoes. The wet spring has made for a bumper crop, so lots of insect repellent is the order of the day.

The campsite was fine with lots of trees providing shade. A fine and breezy night meat for a dry tent in the morning.

Thursday 27 June

Today we rode from Drumheller to Youngstown - 144km. Weather still beautifully clear with deep blue skies and not a cloud in sight.The hills are getting smaller too. The road was good and the traffic ok as well. They have sealed over old concrete roads and the jointing can be a bit hard on the system, but generally a good day with a tail wind. We stopped in Delia for morning tea and in Hanna for lunch at Subway and rested there for a while. Delia was a real hicksville type of place but the Chinese owner of the diner couldn't have been more helpful. He offered blueberry pie with ice cream and other assorted goodies, all welcome on a hot day. Otherwise not much to report - I suspect this may be a feature of prairies reporting.

Now camped outside the Youngstown hall and sending this message from the library across the road. Youngstown has 157 inhabitants according to the young librarian. We have the use of the hall facilities and Shane is busy preparing dinner. I've done the laundry and have my cycling clothes drying on the line.

Calgary

We have had to take the bus to Calgary. They allow buses through but not private vehicles. There is extensive road damage particularly to bridge abutments which have been undermined. I reckon it will a couple more weeks to fix.

The shuttle dropped us at the airport and we took taxis to the university where are staying at the student hostels.

We have a rest day here tomorrow but can't really go anywhere because the downtown is still closed and the campus is well out of town.

Nothing like resting up though for the 6500km still to do.

I've attached a photo of self in Banff in the sun before departure this morning.

Also bought a new sleeping mattress as the old one kept leaking air.

John Climbing Allison Pass 1250m

23 June - Lake Louise to Banff

Lake Louise to Banff - 65km

It rained most of the night at Lake Louise. The tent is holding up well though and doesn't leak. We are at an elevation of 1300m above sea level, so the nights are still cool despite it being summer.

Dinner last night was potato and beef casserole. I am careful not to overeat - the young cool Shane will make us all put weight on if we are not careful.

Everyone had a bit of lie in this morning as it was only 65km or so to Banff. The road we were to take was closed so we rode down the main Trans  Canada Highway. There were no cars on our side because the road is closed past Banff.

Organizers are still trying to get us through from Banff toward Calgary, though I suspect we may not actually go to Calgary, which is the next rest day. I guess it depends whether the road in and out is clear. Downtown Calgary is a disaster zone because of the floods.

The ride to Banff was all downhill with the wind behind us. We set off at 7.45am and were in Banff by 11am.

It's quite the mountain tourist destination, very much like Queenstown.

Our campsite is elevated and about 3km from town.

Main Street Banff

Angela and self in Banff

Entrance to Banff Campground

Saturday 22 June - To Lake Louise

Going up 10 Mile Hill

Had a really good dinner out in town last night and a good nights sleep, so felt good this morning. The hostel owner provided a cooked breakfast of bacon, sausages, eggs and French toast. Delicious!

Peter and I headed out just on 7am and immediately began the 16km climb up the first hill, called 10 Mile Hill . Then about 50km of rolling country.

With a favorable tail wind we made good time and stopped at 55km at a township called Field. This is at the base of Kicking Horse Pass. We had a well deserved coffee and sat talking to some Dutch tourists for 20 minutes.

The main meal of the day was the 1650m Kicking Horse Pass. From Field it was an 800m climb to the summit in the "granny gear". The photo with the lake in the background is the summit. No real trouble as we are all starting to get used to the hills.

Entering Yoho National Park

A familiar "bug"

Summit of Kicking Horse Pass, 1647m

Al Lake Louise

Mountains at Lake Louise

I felt pretty good at the end of the day considering all the climbing. The campsite at Lake Louise is protected by bear proof electric fence.

The scenery around here is beautiful with several peaks around 3600m.

For those interested in the riding stats we rode 858m in 5 hours 9 minutes, at an average speed of 17kph.

Tomorrow we head to Banff.

John's post - Albert Canyon to Golden 115km

Peter, Angela & Linda

Finally the weather has cleared up. We had a fine day to do our ride of 115km. The first 33 km were uphill about 800m to the summit of Rogers Pass.

Then a very steep descent before another equally long climb. The final 40km into golden were largely flat but into a brutal headwind.

Everyone finished the day feeling a bit jaded. The other issue was that there were no stores or petrol stations to get supplies.

We are staying indoors at a lodge in Golden. Kicking Horse Lodge.

At least I finally got to see the Rockies. The rain 2 days ago is causing the organizers issues because the Trans Canada highway is closed between Banff and Calgary.

We have decided to push on to Lake Louise tomorrow and then to Banff. Flooding in Calgary may mean we can't get there. So we may have an alternative rest day. See Google for news on flooding in Calgary - a real disaster.

Now dining out in town on bison and bruschetta.