Travel blog

July 22: Final day

2007-08-01T22:26:00.000-07:00

Last morning on the road and the last hard wakeup call. Everyone was excited about the ride into Victoria but already sad that it was just about over. We got the ferry in good time had an uneventful crossing. There was a beautiful sight out the window though as a layered mist swirled around the Gulf Islands.

Coming off the ferry, we were thrilled to be met by a large contingent of cyclists who joined us for our ride to the parliament buildings. Marshalling services were provided by people from the Cross Canada Cycle Touring Society (CCCTS) who took us on a slightly modified Lochside Trail route. A lunch stop was made at Mattick’s Farm (Thanks for the ice cream!) where we collected the final kilometres going on the petition log and the kids rehearsed their part of the legislature rally. After setting off again we had one last stop to gather people together before briefly taking over the lane on the Johnson Street Bridge and Wharf Street then circling around the parliament buildings.

The afternoon’s event went well except for the increasing drizzle. The emcee kept things moving along as Celia and Mary made their final speeches,
followed by a song from Robin and the kids. It was then that CO2 Man attempted to hijack things with his call for more greenhouse gas emissions but the kids chased him away. Next, the invited politicians spoke of their concerns about the environment and the need for larger action. It was too bad the Conservative Party declined the opportunity to be present but there were representatives from the Liberal, NDP, and Green Parties. It would be great if everyone made all parties aware that the environment is a top priority for Canadians. Closing out the day was a performance by Daniel Lapp and then short speeches from cycling advocate Todd Litmann and BC Sustainable Energy Association’s Guy Dauncey.

Before the final parting to end the Wheels for Change ride we gathered at the home of Natasha and Mutang for an end party for all the riders and all the Victoria volunteers. Much appreciation was shared around and many expressed the wish to do something together again though we would be happy if there was no more need to demand climate change action. It would be nice to do a tour celebrating actions taken instead of trying to shake off inertia.

Now go make some noise.

July 21: Central Valley Greenway Ride

2007-07-27T17:57:00.000-07:00

Rain threatened all morning and occasionally fell briefly but was never a problem. At John Hendry Park (aka Trout Lake Park) a large contingent of cyclists showed up for the ride along the Central Valley Greenway. It was a ride organized by the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition in conjunction with Wheels for Change so all those hundreds of kilometres ridden joined our call for government action on climate change. Most of the ride was very nice with only a small section on a busy road. The kids joined us at Burnaby Lake for the final 10K, just in time for the big climb up to Moody Park in New Westminster. At the end point there were info booths and a couple of short speeches and some singing.

After most of the local cyclists left, our guide Arno led us out to Ladner for our final night on the road. Crossing the Alex Fraser Bridge was neat because of the view and the separate bike/ped path (though there isn’t room for two way traffic). As we arrived in Ladner we had to detour slightly for a bicycle race. Too bad we didn’t get their kilometres too. One last meeting about the following day’s schedule and most headed off to bed (except our intrepid travel blogger).

Apologies

2007-07-26T22:29:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not updating yet. I am in the unusual situation of working full time this week. I have got some more pictures uploaded
here. Newest pictures are at the bottom. Click on any thumbnail to see a larger version. If you want to comment you can send an email to

July 20: Into the great megalopolis

2007-07-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

Be wary of the leisurely no-rush morning. It will turn into the usual last minute panic. Our planned departure was 2 hours later than usual so we all had a much-deserved sleep-in so that used up all our spare time but then we lingered over breakfast etc and got away half an hour late (as usual). >_< The kids were excited about the chance to do some riding and to add their kilometers to the logbook. The rain had begun by the time the kids were mounted up so we had to fashion some quick garbage bag ‘raincoats’. The wetlands and farms around the dike would have been tranquil if not for the repeated random BOOMs from ‘cannon’ intended to scare off birds from crops. Sigh. After crossing the Pitt River Bridge’s separated ped/bike path the damp kids piled into the van and the adults pedalled on toward Port Moody. At the library there we all sheepishly kept using the hand dryers to warm up and dry off our clothes because we were so cold. Still we pressed on. Beatrice who has met up with us for the last three days was a star giving guidance and remaining enthusiastic despite being quite chilled.

After hitting the road again an hour later, a flat tire split our team of 13 riders into two groups. The lucky ones got led on a lovely bike trail along the shore east of the Second Narrows Bridge. The unlucky ones took a somewhat shorter route due to the delay of a second flat (same wheel) and third flat (different bike) then a slow leak and two dislodged wheels that required unloading and reloading all four panniers. Urgh. At least the rain had let off. Who would have thought it would take us from 10:30am to 6pm to ride a mere 57K? Rain sucks. Yet we bike on for the planet. And really, it wasn’t so bad. It just makes for good dramatic whining. :P

Our evening meeting dealt with some hard issues that had no easy solutions but it was great to see the passion people had and that we were all still moving toward the same target instead of avoiding the issues. Wouldn’t it be nice if more politicians and industries would take initiative on global warming instead of playing a pointless waiting game trying figure out what is the least effort they can get away with?

July 19: Maple Ridge shows off its green side

2007-07-22T06:46:00.000-07:00

Overnight the rain was heavy at times but the day wasn’t too bad. We were surprised at how hilly Abbotsford was despite all the straight lines on the map. Some people hit their peak speed of the whole trip in the ‘flat’ Fraser Valley. Fort Langley was a pretty spot to regather everyone before crossing the Fraser on the Albion Ferry. We were pleased to see anti-idling signs posted in the ferry lineup area although at least three drivers were too blind to see the sign right beside them.

In Maple Ridge we got to participate in the opening of some new bicycle lanes (the lead construction guy even bicycles to work!). We also met a man who retrofitted his bike with an electric motor and it now helps him get more exercise because it has become his primary transport. Later we visited Molly Energy which received a Gold Spoke Award for promoting bicycle commuting and the former lawcourts which have been retrofitted to LEED Silver standard as the new community safety building. In the evening the kids biked around a course to contribute more kilometers and we all finished off with a swim in the local pool.

July 18: Be careful what you assume

2007-07-22T01:06:00.000-07:00

The skies were much darker than yesterday but we had several events which required us to hit the road regardless of weather. First we rode into Chilliwack to meet the mayor and find out what that city is doing to fight climate change. It seems they are making good progress in building eco-density and protecting the local water supply. Some areas need work (e.g. biofuels are not the answer) but not everything can be expected to be perfect at once. We were happy to see a start had been made. Next event was a visit to Yarrow’s Eco-village project. The rain soaked us shortly before arriving there so we skipped an outdoor tour and had an interesting introduction to eco-village principals such as the triple bottom line (sustainable economically, ecologically, and socailly). Afterwards we had another soggy ride to the campground. Blech!

Our final event of the day was a ride around the area with cyclists from Abbotsford (and beyond). After two soaking we weren’t too keen on more and we figured (almost) no one would show up so we pondered cancelling if only a couple of people showed. Much to our surprise we were greeted by a crowd of over 30 cyclists who came out in the rain to ride with us. Wow! We toured past a variety of local crops and then finished with a section of the Trans Canada Trail along the Sumas River dike. Great finish to the day.

July 17:Lions and tigers and bears! Oh my!

2007-07-21T23:11:00.000-07:00

Our expanded core group for the final week of Wheels for Change. (As always, click on pictures to see a larger version with more info.)

One more kick at the internet was squeezed in before departure. Cynthia at First Mud cafe was so helpful to us. After two weeks of steady sunshine we had a cloudy day for riding as we left Hope behind. We headed onto the Lougheed Highway which had a nice wide shoulder and very little traffic. Steve saw a bear cross the road but didn’t get a picture (again). The kids got to ride their bikes for a while on Seabird Island then but had to stop before the bridge which looked a little dodgy even for adults. We gathered together and crossed the bridge critcal mass style by taking over the entire lane. It would not have been safe have for cars to squeeze past because it was too narrow. Cars got backed up quite a bit but it’s worth noting that they would not have been delayed at all if they were on bicycles because there is room for over a dozen bicycles in the space that a single car takes up. After reaching our campsite most of us went to check out Bridal Veil Falls which are the sixth highest in Canada at 122m. As we came back someone told us that we could get into the local amusement park for free during the last half hour of the day. The kids had a blast trying out minigolf, pedal cars, and paddle boats. The only downside to the day was the mass of mozzies attacking us.

July 16: And on the 5th day we didn't rest

2007-07-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

Another productive (un)rest day. Some people who missed the Othello tunnels yesterday went of to see them. Steve and Marguerite saw a bear and had to turn around before reaching the tunnels. Four new riders finished their three day trip from Victoria to meet up with us. Two adults and four childrern were picked up from the ferry. The traffic was terrible. Imagine how good it would be if even 20% of the drivers on the road chose to bike carpool or take transit. In the evening we had a meeting where everyone got to meet each other so it looks like an exciting week ahead.

(Click on the picture below to see all of us. Blogger won't display the picture properly.)

July 15: Downhill

2007-07-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

Early start today to get the climb up to the Coquihalla Summit done before the heat because we all found that really draining yesterday. The climb wasn’t too hard at all and we were at the top ahead of schedule. It was truly a bittersweet moment to know that this was our last climb. We are happy to leave behind all the grind but it also means we are getting very close to the end. Our big safety concern of the day was going through the Great Bear Snowshed so we gathered just before it to go through as a group with our van following us. The looong downhill was marred only by dangerously disappearing shoulders again and some fairly stiff headwinds. Down on the flat we saw a poor deer that had somehow gotten through the fence and now couldn't find its way back through so it was running up and down the fence line with occasional attempts to jump over. It made us very sad. After turning onto Othello Rd we saw a sign for the Othello Tunnels and thought it was worth investigating even if we had a slightly longer ride. It was a good choice because not only was it gorgeous but it cut out a small climb.

Our event in Hope was coinciding with their Music in the Park program so we wanted to get the booth set up during the concert so more people without any special interest in the environment would have a chance to see and hear our message. At the end of a rather good concert the musicians failed to provide any introduction to us so when Celia and Mary got up on stage people were packing up and walking away. Urgh. Robin’s singing performance with drum and the kids caught some people by surprise and they actually came back and sat down which was very exciting. There were several First Nations people among them who sang along. That was a highlight of everyone’s day.

July 14: Nicola to Kingsvale

2007-07-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

(As usual, click on photos to see larger versions and more info.)

The day started off a little cooler and we enjoyed wonderful views of Nicola Lake. Our stop in Merritt coincided with the Mountainfest but we didn’t have an event because it would involve booking an expensive booth on this high profile weekend. By now it was noon and we started the climb out of town. We were on Hwy 5A which had mercifully little traffic and much less climb than going on the Coquihalla. For at least an hour the quiet of thie backroad was disturbed by what appeared to tourist helicopter flights along the valley which came along every 10 minutes or so. Wonder how much fuel that burns up compared to the great views from a bicycle? Grrr! Blame any crankiness on the heat. Maybe it sounds whiny to keep harping on about the heat but it really makes riding a lot harder. Today the air was no longer so dry so the sweat did not evaporate as easily and we felt a little slimier. Blech! Picking saskatoon berries only gave a brief respite. It’s much easier doing a big climb in the morning than in the afternoon sun like today. Eventually most of us dragged into the Warawa family’s ranch for our camping spot. They were so kind to allow a group strangers to stay since their yard is not really a campsite. Foreshadowed by yesterday’s unplanned detour Steve managed to get himself lost again by following an arrow painted on the road toward a ski area waaay up a hill (we use chalk sometimes to mark turns). Our support vehicle driver Robin eventually found him after many worried minutes fearing the worst. All’s well that ends well as we sat around a firepit eating s’mores in the evening.

July 13: Day of the Great Stump Storm

2007-07-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

Reminiscent of so many days last week, we started with a big hill. About 500m climb in only 15K or so. Once we were on top there was no shade for the next 50K. Blazing sun had us guzzling down our copious fluid supplies even before lunch. Mary dropped behind before the summit in order to do a radio interview. She eventually caught up to the front group but our last two members, Steve and Celia, were very late. It turns out the cue sheets we use have a few L/R errors and they went the wrong way all the way down the hill back to Kamloops before realizing their error and climbling back up the hill. >_< Just as we were thinking of hitting the road again it clouded over (yay! cooler!) but a bit of headwind had come up (boo! harder work). Very soon whitecaps were forming and it looked like rain in the distance. Our enthusiasm for getting back on our bikes dwindled. Lightning sealed the deal and we hunkered down in the van to wait out the storm. It was quite the tempest with driving rain and frequent flashes. Soon people were dozing and it turned a very restful siesta. After that the final leg of cycling was a breeze with a tailwind and cooler temperatures all the way to the Nicola Band’s campground where we indulged our cravings for salty food.

July 12:

2007-07-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

(As usual, click on photos to see larger versions and more info.)

The day was forecast to be brutally hot but it can be really hard to get a group of 7 adults and 5 kids all ready to go at the same time so we hit the road a lot later than we would have liked and the day’s heat was already building. Today’s section of Highway 97 was even worse than what we had done before with a very rough edge on a 10-30cm wide shoulder. Fortunately we were able to take a back road for about half the ride into town. Unfortunately Robin, our wonderful support driver, missed the turn and in the hot sun a long time waiting to video us on the road.

In the evening we set up our booth at the Music in the Park event. We met some interesting people there including a couple who were cycling across Canada with a 15 month old baby; local citizens concerned about the city trying to put convention facilities on city park space; a trucker couple who were concerned about the ridiculous amounts of unnecessary shipping; and others.

July 11: Rest day?

2007-07-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

We didn't bike anywhere but everyone seemed to be crazy busy with catching up on contacts for future events, email, pictures, video, family, laundry, bike repairs, etc.

Halfway there video

2007-07-12T00:44:00.000-07:00

We are now about halfway from Nelson to Victoria. This video shows a little of all that we have experienced.

July 10: There was love, not war, in Falkland

2007-07-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

(As usual, click on photos to see larger versions and more info.)

It seems like throughout the Okanagan every day promised to be an ‘easy’ day of relatively flat riding but it usually turned out to be a little tougher than expected (though we were always tough enough) due to headwinds or underestimated hills. Today we finally had a ride that just whizzed by through the Salmon River valley. The scenery was very relaxing and we had some great solidarity riders who were happy to chat about issues including social justice and globalization. The only downside to the day was the last part on Hwy 97 which is very bicycle UNfriendly with some dodgy drivers and disappearing shoulders.

Everyday we see more and more dead trees killed off by pine beetles. The economic impact will be a real hardship for many people. Don't believe John Baird's disingenuous talk about protecting the economy being more important than our legal obligations under the Kyoto protocol.

Falkland is a not as small as expected. We arrived at the stampede grounds to be met by a bunch of people offering us watermelon slices and keen to take action on climate change.

We were disappointed to hear that that Falkland is becoming a bedroom community for people working in Vernon over 40km away. We really have to get away from this sprawling lifestyle of long commutes and inflated land/housing costs. Our host Monique hopes to expand her small parcel of land just to conserve some natural space from development.

We were so tired from our week of non-stop cycling, followed by exciting but tiring community events, that we all took several hours this afternoon to find a spot of shade and nap. The adults cyclists could be seen stretched out dozing all over the place, while the kids raced around exploring the empty grounds.

A few highlights of our later afternoon in Falkland included seeing the kids quite interested in watching the documentary The Corporation, eating gourmet veggie food from the colorful food caravan of Bar Nunn Cappucino and Grill and seeing the kids get really excited about cycling in the bike rally. We thought the children, both the local ones and the ones on our tour, would cycle one lap of the 1 km circuit, but they kept speeding around, completing as much as 25 laps! So great to see happy kids enjoying their bikes.

July 9: Do Salmon even have Arms?

2007-07-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

(Be sure to click on picutres to see larger versions with additional info.)

Can anyone get bored with too many blue sky days? Lots of pretty farm scenes and a mostly flat ride were very pleasant.

Those of us from Vernon found it a bit hard to leave our homes after spending only a night there. Just enough time in the house to notice that the house plants were all dying! We were accompanied by several members of the Vernon Outdoot Club out of Vernon, after which we were met at Hullcar Hall by friends of Mary’s parents with cake and cherries and quite a few Canada World Youth participants who contributed lots of kilometers by riding out from Salmon Arm (Sorry we made you wait >_<). There were also people form the Salmon Arm Outdoors Club. CHBC News found us on Deep Creek Road and did a nice short piece that we hope we further build interest and support.

Lunch, when we arrived at the Peace Park, was provided by CWY host families. Much time was spent lazing on the grass recovering from the day’s exertions.

In the evening we ate a wonderful dinner put on by some wonderful supporters, spearheaded by Joyce Henderson, then had a short but happy bike parade through the town of Salmon Arm, followed by some great music, as well as interesting speeches by local experts, on smart growth and on how Salmon Arm should adapt to (as well as try to prevent) climate change. We then turned in for the night at the Downtown Activity Centre - sleeping scattered around the gymnasium!

July 8th: Heading home! (For some of us.)

2007-07-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

(I'm trying a new system of including photos. If you want to see larger version as well as easily access all the other photos we don't have room for in the blog, click on the photo and you will be taken to the related Flickr photo page.)

We probably had our fastest departure ever because we didn’t have to take down tents (Thanks to the French Cultural Centre for putting us up) and we didn’t have to setup and take down a camp kitchen. We received an invitation to a free breakfast at Cafe Soleil and they were wonderful hosts pleased to support our message. The owner Dennis Perley said our cause is important and we must "never, never, never give up".

We were joined by a good group of Kelowna cyclists who accompanied us for varying distances before heading back. Our numbers never diminished because more riders came out from Vernon including 10 year old Hannah and 6 year Noah. Most of the day was very pleasant riding with stops for saskatoon berries and swimming and many stunning views of Lake Kalamalka.

After one last ripping downhill into Vernon we met up at Polson Park and then dispersed to homes and homestays. For more than half of our core group it a welcome chance to be in a familiar place and leave behind all the things that turned out to be unnecessary like the portable toilet and skateboards. Those of us homestaying took advantage of free showers, laundry, and real beds.

The bike rally in the park was a huge success with about 50 participants. Look out for those Wheels for Change bike flags around town. A fantastic potluck dinner followed with some speeches and and entertainment as people lounged on the grass or checked out the booths with info on creating a sustainable future.

July 7: Day of Many Lakes

2007-07-08T23:08:00.000-07:00

It was the day of the big Live Earth concert and we didn’t have a chance to see it. :( Thank goodness for YouTube. I hope our direct activities will have a bigger impact than if we just sat at home and watched it. Still, the world’s biggest ever concert event probably attracted a lot of viewers who remain ignorant or complacent about global warming so it can have a massive impact overall but only if we continue to talk about the issues and demand action.

Our ride today was both more and less pleasant than the past couple of days. The temperature was noticeably lower and there was less wind and the blue sky and water were stunning but we were on busy Highway 97 with lots of noise and fumes. We had some good company from solidarity riders from Kelowna who came out to meet us including 6 year old Ben who did 50K on a trail-a-bike.

In Kelowna, some of us gratefully accepted an offer of showers and coffee from Grant. Then we had a great event at the Environmental Education Centre of the Okanagan (EECO) with decorated bikes on parade (in a sign of our growing bond many bikes were formally christened with names like Flower Power, Big Red, and Energizer Bunny) then a fantastic potluck and speeches about local efforts to go greener from Mayor Sharon Shepherd and Robert Dixon (of the Okanagan Greens’ Local Food for Local Schools program).

July 6: From O to P

2007-07-08T23:06:00.000-07:00

The forecast was for cooler weather than yesterday but it didn’t really feel like it. Unfortunately a north wind would plague us all the way to Penticton. Mark Weigeldt and his friend from the South Okanagan Cycling Club offered to guide us along a backroads route that would be more pleasant than Hwy 97. Erik Zennstrom from Osoyoos also joined us to contribute his kilometers. It was very nice to be away from traffic but there were more hills and the day was definitely tougher than expected.

The younger kids rode on the KVR from Okanagan Falls to Penticton then had a blast playing in the windy waves at the beach. We had a bike parade event at Okanagan Park guided by Craig Henderson of Naramata. Thanks also to Samarpan Fasse coordinator of Creative Community Week in Penticton that were part of. Later we were thrilled by the generosity of several supporters who made contributions toward our camping costs: the owners of the Wonderful Waterland Campground and Betty a sympathetic camperplus Mary’s friend Daniela Toriola-LaFuente.

As we have traveled around various campgrounds we have noticed varying levels of green practices. Wonderful Waterland stood out for several things such as dual-flush toilets and good recycling facilities. Some of the things we would like to see at more places were faucets and showers that don’t dribble, composting facilities, signs reminding people to switch off their idling engines, less lawn sprinkling, motion detectors for lighting to decrease waste, front loading washers and no dryers (in the dry Okanagan) in the laundry facilities.

July 5: Rest day in Osoyoos

2007-07-08T23:04:00.000-07:00

Time for a lovely sleep-in although sun and heat prevented anything much later than 7:30. For Mary and Celia the day was largely spent doing ‘office’ stuff: catching up on email, organizing pictures, blogging, arranging to media. Thanks to Nk’mip for providing us with internet use. Some others went to the beach or for a bike ride around the area. It was a brutally hot day (as high as 40), and the sun dried our laundry in ten minutes - faster than the coin dryers dried all the other campers’ clothes - and for free! We all were glad we didn’t have to bike any long distance that day - it was enough to lie panting in the shade.

July 4: On to Osoyoos

2007-07-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

As we were packing up a group of four cyclists pulled into the cafe for breakfast. We said Hi and gave them some of our info and postcards. They were headed the same way and said they supported the campaign so they would ride for us for today. Yeah!

Mornings always seem to start with a big hill. That’s probably good because it’s cooler then and there is a chance of shade. Today was pretty hard due to the unrelenting sun. At the top of Anarchist Mountain we took a shelter in a small patch of shade as we waited for others. We headed to the lookout above Osoyoos to meet a reporter. Word is spreading.

Passing through the upper hills there were signs of massive developments going in. Streets with names like Sasquatch Trail, Eagle Ridge, and Cougar Lane had large animal sculptures at each turnoff. This kind of development simply reinforces our current overuse of personal vehicles since there did not appear to be any stores or service nearer than Osoyoos more than 10km away. No one will ever ride a bicycle into town for work, school or errands from so high up. Sigh. Community plans must require developers to include some kind of ‘village’ concept so that people aren’t forced to drive so much. The planet cannot afford it even if the rich home buyers can.

Our stopping point for the night was the Inkameep (Nk’meep) campground so everyone enjoyed a cooling dip in the lake. Much needed after roasting all day.

This evening at 7:00 pm we had a public movie viewing of The Great Warming at the Desert Centre (what a beautiful spot). It was well attended with standing room only, approximately 45 people. Stephen Loo from our group led a discussion afterward.

July 3: On to Rock Creek

2007-07-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

Another big hill first thing in the morning. Urgh.The top near Eholt was a nightmare due to masses of sand all across the road which were whipped up into choking clouds by the busy traffic. All least it marked the end of major climbing. More fun downhill all the way into Greenwood where people had a rest stop at the Copper Eagle cafe and a little walk around the pretty historic town.

The onward trip through Midway to Rock Creek was increasingly hot and no one relished the idea of another 6K steep climb to our intended campsite in Johnstone Creek Park. At one point we couldn’t resist ducking under some sprinklers we saw by the road. Fortunately the folks at Rock Creek Centre gas station and store said we could camp in the picnic ground out back (for a discount - thank you!) so the rest of the afternoon was spent cooling off in the cold creek.

July 2: A Happy Day in Grand Forks

2007-07-05T10:08:00.000-07:00

Everyone was pretty efficient in the morning and we left only a few minutes after planned departure time. We were to meet with members of the Grand Forks Cycling Club somewhere between Paulson Pass and Christina Lake and we didn’t want to make them climb all the way to the top by being late. The weather was perfect and we made good time to the top then got to enjoy the payoff of a long downhill. Gorgeous views and speeds over 50 km/h. Wheee!

Just below the Paulson Bridge a swarm of bumblebees (the Grand Forks cycling group in yellow and black) met up with us and led us to Smoochies cafe in Christina Lake where we were treated to goodies and camaraderie. Brian of Chain Reaction cycle shop gave up part of his day off to help fix up some people’s bikes. Thanks so much, Brian!

The kids are contributing to our cycling kilometers in various ways. The teenage boys are doing it all, the younger kids are usually in the van but today they did a 20 km section of the Trans Canada Trail. and in the evening at the Grand Forks Municipal Park we had a little bike rally where local kids, as well as kids from our group, (and a few enthusiastic adults - including Grand Forks Councilor Chris Moser) could contribute by doing 1 km laps around the campground. It was great to see them keep choosing to do ‘one more lap’...

July 1: The Big Hill

2007-07-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

A fantastic breakfast was put on for us by the Kinnaird Community Church including great vegetarian options. Many thanks to Cyndie and others at the church for their generosity! It was a great way to start a day that we had been dreading a bit, as it involved 26 km of straight uphill to the Nancy Greene Provincial Park.

The local Shaw cable cameraperson leapfrogged ahead of us as we did the big climb. Although the hill appeared daunting to some in advance, everyone remarked on how relatively easy it had been. Fighting climate change can be like that. It looks really difficult before you start but it isn’t so hard when you just go out and do it! I hope we don’t miss the Shaw production because of being on the road.

Our ride was finished by noon so we had plenty of time to relax, explore and chat. By mid-afternoon we were getting worried about the fact that the support vehicles hadn’t shown up yet even though they would only have a short drive after some packing up and shopping. As it turned out we had underestimated the amount of work left to our support drivers and they spent a long time carrying heavy items and looking for assistance.

At the meeting in the evening it was resolved to not let that happen again. The day closed with everyone sharing a rose and a thorn from the day: something good and something not so good (if anything).

June 29-30: And We're Off!

2007-07-03T13:31:00.000-07:00

June 29: Evening Launch in Nelson
We started rainy but ended sunny over the first two days. We arrived in Nelson in the middle of a downpour, and had to try to reorganize our stuff in a friend's carport, barely shielded from the rain. Our spirits were a bit damp! We put our bikes together, loaded our stuff into the van and trailer, and set off for Lakeside Park. Here, in the shelter, we were warmed to be greeted by a group of about 50 supportive people (there despite the rain!), and a wonderful potluck spread out for us. Despite the intermittent rain, all who were there benefited greatly from speeches from a very impressive list of speakers, including Gord McAdams (City Councilor), Andy Shadrock (Regional District), Matt Lowe (Ecosociety) and Herb Hammond (Silva Forest Foundation). Corky Evans (MLA) attended as well, and was persuaded to also say a few words. The informal setting allowed some great discussion to take place as well. We then enjoyed the music of Alan Kirk (folk rock artist).

That night, we cycled on to the Kootenay Akido Dojo, where we were to spend the night. Our nerves were immediately calmed by the peaceful atmosphere of the dojo, with its tatami mats on the floor, and we all set out our sleeping bags and went to sleep.

June 30: Nelson Parade and on to Castlegar
Wheels for Change kicked off our tour in Nelson at 10:00 am with a parade down Baker St through the center of town. Enthusiasm was high in the sun after last night’s dreary weather. Lots of curious looks and smiles from the tourists and relatively patient behaviour from the motorists.

The parade finished at the local Saturday Market in Cottonwood Falls Park. It was a great little place to connect between producer and consumer instead of pursuing more globalization. We had a booth set up and collected sigend postcards addressed to all levels of government demanding action on climate change.

At 11:30 in spitting rain we set off toward Castlegar and enjoyed great views of the Kootenay river. We had a lovely stop in the Evergreen Health Food Store in Crescent Valley, who offered us a delicious lunch at a discount. Further on, we stopped to view a large hydro energy project on the outskirts of Castlegar.

In Castlegar, Mayor Lawrence Chernoff came to welcome us and talk about some innovative projects taking place, including an anti-idling bylaw, water conservation measures, and more. Then, we lounged on the grass at the Castlegar Aquatic Centre and had a dip in the pool before a great pasta dinner.

The last bit of biking for the night up to the Kinnaird Community Church quickly turned into a walk pushing our bikes up an long very steep hill. Our five kids (aged 7 to 12) had begged us to let them bicycle (we don't let them ride on the highways), so we told them they could come with us on this final leg. It turned out to be the hardest part of the day, and they felt tired but triumphant at the top. At the Kinnaird Community Church (converted from an old middle school) we had lots of room to spread out for sleep after a satisfying first day’s ride.