A hard slog

Hello Everyone,

I've written before about how I don't mind wearing out the equipment I use. To me, it's a sign that I am doing things right, that I am using the things I have to their fullest potential.

This philosophy does not extend to my motorized vehicles though. Auto repair is just too expensive. But don't worry, the truck is fine. I broke my bike today.

On our fourth day of consecutive riding in Fernie, Arthur and I decided (mostly me) to take it a bit easier. That is, until I found a trail that was a 4 mile climb, and that plan went out the window. We were in for a slog.

I figured, if it's 4 miles uphill, there's got to be a good trail on the way down, right? And there was, there usually is. Bikers are weird people, but not that masochistic.

Unfortunately, the trail up was new, so not only was it steep uphill, the earth was loose under my tires. It was definitely the hardest climb I've done here, and it's been mostly climbing.

What made it worse was that it was almost entirely through a cut block, where logging has taken out the forest. They replant it, but the trees were shoulder high. Not much shade to be found, and it was a scorching 30 degrees out.

We made it though, and started out on a brand-new machine groomed flow trail on the way down. It was super fun. For the first couple of hundred yards.

I'm not much of a jumper on my bike, but I enjoy the aerials on a small scale. I was taking a few of these jumps, getting a bit of air, and landing fine. Until my rear derailleur (the thing that changes gears on your rear tire) snapped off on a landing.

Fortunately, it only rubbed against my spokes, and didn't smash into my rear tire completely. With some emergency repairs, I was able to ride it down and back into town. Should be fully repaired by tomorrow.

To cool off, Arthur and I headed out for a gem of a local swimming hole. It was up a logging road, and then you have to hike up a stream for a couple of kilometres, but it as amazing.

The hike takes you to a waterfall that is maybe 20 -30 feet, and with a pool at the bottom that is chilly, but swimmable. I was in awe at this place, but Arthur wasn't into it. He likes a nice calm lake or a fresh stream. The falls made too much noise for him, too much commotion.

We stuck around for a short while, then headed back to the truck and then to dinner. We earned it today.

wes

Photos

Both photos today are of Arthur looking handsome. They are in reverse chronological order. In the first, Arthur stands in the foreground of the waterfall.

The second is from the highest point we reached today. It was at the end of that arduous climb, and just before I broke my derailleur.