Crawford Bay to Creston
On the road by 7:10 with rain gear at the ready. Last nights storm did not materialize. Today's ride took us from Kootenay Bay all the way the full length of Lake Kootenay. Lake Kootenay is a real hidden gem. The views today were as magnificent as anything that Lake Louise could offer with less people! It is a tourist area but a very 'sleepy' one. On our right all day was the blue waters of Lake Kootenay with snow capped mountains in the background stretching to the waters edge. Really not describable and photos will never do it justice!
As for riding today it was actually a harder day than we might have expected. It was a winding road with a series of short but steep hills that we continued to face. You were either in 'Granny' or not pedaling at all. We stopped for a late breakfast in Boswell and were treated to a history of the area. It was a fruit growing area until the 1950's when the road came to the area. That spelled the end of apple production. Why? Well, the apples and other fruits used to go to market in Nelson by boat. When the road came through the boats quit running and the roads were so rough that the tender fruit could not make it to market without being crushed. Now isn't that progress!!!
We then stopped for an ice cream at the Sidar General Store, in business since 1913, and some of the stuff was circa 1913. We had our ears talked off by the owner. We then took the lower Wynndel Road to Creston so we could avoid some climbing. As a result, we biked through a hay growing area on reclaimed land at the south end of Lake Kootenay.
We are comfortably set up in a small campground in the middle of an orchard, the Kozy Campground and RV Park in Erikson.
Daily distance=82.84 km. Trip time=6 hours 1 minute. Average speed=13.78 km/hr. Maximum speed=55.56 km/hr. Wildlife sightings=osprey, deer, painted turtles.
Kevin = 2 Sue = 2 stumbles.
