Top 3 things we liked about BC: #1 Scenery, #2 Scenery, #3 Scenery!!! What more can be said. Trying to list the highlights is almost impossible. Each day brought a new experience. Manning Park, though extremely difficult to ride through, was one of the #1 highlights. The Lower Okanagan, Keremeos and Osoyoos sitting in Canada's only desert, ranks high. The numerous river valleys with their ranch land and mountain vistas can only be seen to be appreciated. Then the majestic Rockies (that everyone believes are the only mountains in BC...do we have 'news' for you) have their rock face tops towering over everything. Scenery, scenery, and more scenery!!!
If their is a downside to our experience it was that the provincial park campgrounds have no services a must for touring cyclists!
Riding in BC is difficult but quite nice. Obviously the BC government understands that paving the shoulders of their roads, in the long term, saves money and lives. BC actually promotes cycling on their highways. What is wrong with Ontario? The drivers seem to be much more courteous to bikes and even 'big rigs' give you lots of space. On a scale of 1 to 10; BC drivers rate a 9+.
The people we have met have been extremely friendly and seem to understand what tourism dollars are all about. Highway #3, the Crowsnest Highway, has rest stops every 50 to 70 km. Ontario over the last 25 years has removed all of theirs! BC has been a pleasure to visit and cycle across!
Today we visited the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre. In 1903 the small mining town of Frank was hit by a rock slide when the side of Turtle Mountain let go. 90 people were killed under the rubble. The town was rebuilt and coal was mined until 1960. Well worth the visit!
Daily Distance = 18.50 km. Time on the bikes = 1 hour 26 minutes. Average Speed = 12.66 km. Maximum Speed = 34.21 km. Wildlife Sightings = Red Breasted Nuthatch.
Kevin = 2 Sue = 0.
