*Written Thursday, July 23, but posted the following day due to lack of cellular reception. Welcome to the wilderness!*
Today we said goodbye. Goodbye to air conditioning and four pillow beds, goodbye to our vehicle and goodbye to Ray Bock.
Before departing from Fort Nelson this morning, we stopped at a car wash to hose down our bikes. We wanted to look our best for our goodbyes.
Upon arriving at yesterday’s stopping point, it took us an hour to unload the van, and secure everything on our bikes. Around 11:30 am, we said our final goodbyes.
The road felt busier today, but we still had ample opportunity to chat while straddling the middle of the road. Burnt out trees, no more than charcoal sticks, pierced the blue heavens behind lush foliage—a testimony to the re-generative nature of God’s incredible creation.
Our dreams of sunny skies last night came true, and much fair skin became pink today (even though sunscreen had been applied!). The day was hot and the uphill climbs were tiresome. Riding fully loaded makes a difference…The one upside: when a bike is weighted down, wanna-be pavement (which we endured for the majority of the day) causes less vibrations!
We were grateful for the downhills (which were throughly enjoyed even though they never lasted long enough). On one particular downhill, Amelia stopped before the bottom and started blowing her whistle. There was a medium-sized furry, black shape near the road that looked way too much like a bear to risk further movement. The shape had moved into the bushes by the time Gerald and Cheryl joined Amelia, but the choir of whistles carried on long after passing the sight of its spotting.
Whistle blowing was practiced a few more times throughout the day. On one occasion Cheryl thought Amelia had started blowing her whistle, so she started blowing hers. Only when Amelia heard Cheryl blowing her whistle did Amelia think Cheryl had seen something and started blowing hers. It was all rather funny after the game of “you started it!” was over (it was a bird with a whistle-like cry that had been the instigator), and the fear of large, carnivorous animals lurking in the bushes had dissipated.
We cycled 91 km in total and had an elevation gain of 600+ meters today. Arriving at our campsite for the night felt like an accomplishment.
Our supper (and general state of well-being) would have been quite poor if it weren’t for the water Ray left us at the entrance to our campground. We are so very grateful!
With gratitude, we will cycle on tomorrow—optimistic that the black flies might be a little less friendly! (We might be stinky, but nothing confirms it more than black flies swarming around you!)
Adventures on a bicycle 