Cranbrook, BC to Fairmont Hot Springs, BC

riding out with a partner

Merick and I said goodbye to Emmy and her parents, Paul and Debbie.  I was sad to say goodbye, but I was once again well rested and eager to get to Banff and Jasper National Parks.  Debbie filled our stomachs with cereal, and she baked us cookies for our journey.

Merick and I rode out of town north for about 6 miles.  There, we made our split.  He was headed east to do the Trans-Canada tour to Newfoundland…a pretty big bike tour and one that I’m considering doing in the future.  We hugged and held hands before parting ways.

the huntdown

I was cycling hard and fast that day.  I had a tailwind and was averaging 16-17 mph, so I figured I’d be punished for such a fantastic tailwind in the coming days.  I was pushing hard in order to catch Jim and Alex, the two cyclists I ran into with Emmy at the pub in Cranbrook.  Riding with them and camping would be awesome.  I had been riding alone for so long that I was eager to have company while on the saddle.  I knew Jim and Alex had camped the previous night just 30 miles north, so I figured I might have a chance to catch them on the road.

I stopped by campground in the town of Skookumchuck.  Shit.  They had left a few hours ago.  The lady told me they’d be stopping for lunch around 1 PM in an area called Canal Flats.  Off I wet.

I felt like a bounty hunter.  A really slow-moving bounty hunter.  With stupid, tight padded shorts.  Eventually I got to the only restaurant in Canal Flats.  It was 2 PM.  They weren’t there.  They were probably only 10-15 miles ahead, but I was 6 miles from my destination:  Fairmont Hot Springs.  The hunt would have to be finished tomorrow, for a shower and two cyclists were awaiting my visit.

dave and donna

I was excited to meet Dave and Donna.  I had been talking to them through email for a few weeks.  Dave and Donna had done tours of Europe and were really into the outdoors.  They moved to a nice cabin in Fairmont only a few months ago for Donna’s job at the hospital.  Dave worked at a nearby campground called Dry Gulch.

As soon as they opened the door, I was offered me a place to sit, Gatorade, shower, washing machine, and watermelon.  Oh, and the steaks were being marinated.  What a welcome, eh?  It came with a price.  I was riding with this message:

Donna put me to work.  Dave sat on the porch laughing at me sadistically.  They later chained me up and fed me slop.  I begged and pleaded for them to let me go.  I pulled out my only secret weapon.

Yo Dave and Donna…YOU GOT BROWNED!

We took a walk down to Columbia Lake, which was right next to their neighborhood.  It was a romantic evening for Donna and Dave.  The sun was setting on the mountains, and they had an ugly cyclist getting in between the romance of the evening.

After hanging out at the lake, I told Dave about my intent to catch up to Jim and Alex in the morning.  I would have to leave at 6:30 AM to get to Radium Hot Springs, where they were camping that night (Alex had sent me an email informing me of their location).  Dave offered to drop me off at Radium on his way to work the next morning.  Dave was my hero.