Boston Bar to Ashcroft

Here are the stats of the day. Lots and lots of climbing. Lots and lots of BIG hills, but all very doable. I am quite happy with how my body is accepting this challenge.

Stats - Day Three



Everyone likes to get an early start. The first riders were out by 7 AM. These guys are focused to say the least and they arrived in camp by NOON. Then they got to sit around all afternoon. I guess if they were blogging they would have LOTS of time to do that.

Anyway we left before 8 AM and had a TAILWIND for most of the day - a STRONG tail wind which was AWESOME and most welcome. We made pretty good time.
I realized with my video camera that I had somehow turned it on and the battery was dead. So after charging it up I THINK I got video today. At one point, I was putting it on my helmet and I stopped to do that and there was a deer in the ditch right beside me. Hmmmmm =- who was going to move first??????   She was VERY close.

Deer in the ditch when I stopped to put my camera on my helmet. I wasn't quick enough to get video of the deer as it crossed the road.

We stopped in Lynton for cinnamon buns. Oh they were delicious - I only had half a one, but it was awesome.

Nice treat and NO GUILT!!!!!  even thought I only had half.

Wher the Fraser River (muddy one in the back) meets the Thompson River (clearer in the front). Apparently the Thompson was quite muddy for this time of year.

Then back on the bike and other than seeing some great country side and a very definite change in the scenery and some amazing trains scenes, it was just another day of cycling through the mountains.

Yes - that is a train right through the middle of the picture. Sorry - but the pictures DO NOT do justice to the scenery.

Here the train is snaking around several bends - look close in the distance - that is the SAME train.




At one point we were riding and you can see these rocky outcrops just hanging!!!!   Actually you hear the small rocks rolling down the hill to the barrier beside the road (just visible in the bottom right). Amazing that those rocky crags stay where they are!!!!   I am sure that they do fall and that is what causes landslides!!!!



Great view of the mountains. Again - camera does NOT do justice!!!!

Diane, Ev, Anna and myself were all escorted by BIG Larry!!!!   But since we all ride somewhat the same - it makes it more interesting to stay together and ride in a group.

However I do ride ahead and then wait for them. I don't mind, although sometimes it is hard to get back on the bike and make those legs work.

We had a decent climb today up Jackass Pass.

Me at the summit at Jackass Pass

Some of the group at the Jackass Pass Lookout

Having lunch by the side of the Thompson River. We chomped down our sandwiches by the side of the road, not realizing that there was a restaurant just 1 K down the road!!!!   We did get to the see the rafters go by though!

Crazy Dave by the Thompson River at lunch

Sign post for the Last Spike. This was up a pass called Oregon Jack. Another decent climb, but only about 7 K long. This sign was half way up - a good place to stop.


Anna and Larry arriving at the top of Oregan Jack pass.

Then we had a wild descent into Ashcroft. Steep, twisting and roads not in the best of shape. While the descent was OK, I was thinking about how we were going to get out of the valley the next morning.



The Thompson River beside our camp ground. Boy this river was moving FAST. In the distance you can see the GRAD signs from the local high school over a number of years.



Close up of Grad signs!!!!!!

Note in the wash room - look at LAST line

View from the women's wash room where the sign in the previous picture was taken. AHA - the sprinklers were NOT on this night!!!!!

Evening Pilates class run by Anna. That is my big butt on the right!!!!!   Those stretches HURT, but we sure feel good in the morning.

Helping hands for Pilates!!!!  Mike is mildly entertained by the event!!!!

Anna stretching!!!!!  And good thing I bought that tarp at Zeller's - it has become our exercise mat!!!!

Big Larry playing horseshoes with the boys.

Travis and Jim doing dishes so our cooks could play horseshoes!!!!   Hey - these guys do dishes at home so no big deal for them!!!!

My camp booties - kept my feet warm on a couple of cool evenings!!!!!   Thanks to Liz who introduced them to me last year.

This is what the back of the van looks like just before they close the doors. Those are the bags that contain our tents!!!!!

Well it is now 5:30 PM and after an amazing descent into Ashcroft which means that we have an AMAZING ascent to start the day - I had better run and get a shower because dinner will be served soon.


Have a great day!!!!!

Ciao!!!!!