Day 22 – Friday August 27, 2010
Kilometres: 483.4
Time: seven hours, 15 minutes
Weather:
Tete Jaune Cache: Overcast, 9 C at 8:45 AM (Pacific Time)
Edmonton: Mostly sunny, windy, 18 C at 4:45 PM (Mountain Time)
I started the day with a cup of coffee on the banks of the Fraser River. (I took the picture with coffee in hand.) It was too misty/cloudy to see Mount Sir Wilfred Laurier, but I did manage to catch a glimpse of its high summit last night as the sun went down.
I had a perfect night’s sleep and I highly recommend Teet Jaune Lodge to anyone who is looking for a simple (no TV, radio, alarm clock, telephone or hot food) night’s rest in a picturesque surroundings. If you really want to rough it, you can also sleep in a real tepee, but that is too roughing it for me.
Here's a picture I took of the mist rising from the mountains that were in front of the lodge.
I ate the Campbell’s soup just-nuke-and-eat for breakfast and then rode east towards the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies – Mount Robson.
Before reaching Mount Robson, I stopped to look at Mount Terry Fox. I thought that would be nice to add to the trip as I’d stopped by his monument near Thunder Bay on the way out west. Interestingly, it was exactly 30 years ago that Terry ran the Marathon of Hope. I think (but will have to double check) I will be riding through Thunder Bay the day after the 30th anniversary of the marathon being called off.
I’d seen Mount Robsom 18 years ago on my first trip out west. I was disappointed, but not heartbroken, that the mountain wasn’t visible through the clouds. Through the occasional break in the clouds, I saw the side of the mountain, but not the summit. The Parks people told me that the rain I’d experienced yesterday fell as snow on the mountain. I’m not sure if that means winter is quickly coming or if this is normal all year around. It is, however, above the treeline so there is snow up there all year.
My next stop was Jasper, which to me is a tourist trap. I ate a quick hot meal, filled up the bike with gas and continued on. By this time the weather had turned wet and I was riding through on-again, off-again showers. I don’t mind riding in the rain, but I really hate riding when it’s cold.
As I rode out of Jasper, I looked over towards a valley to the west. It was completely black with rain clouds that had settled in between the mountains. It was also heading very slowly my way. The highways speed is 100 kph, but people tend to drive quicker. Every now and then the speed limit is lowered because the danger of wild animals on the roads.
I was lucky enough to see a big horned sheep perched on a cliff at the side of the road. It was only about 12 metre up on the cliff. The only reason I noticed it is because it’s white backside was pointed towards me. Against the rock, that part really stood out. I wouldn’t have noticed him otherwise because he blends in perfectly with the cliff.
At the same time, I kept an eye on the storm behind me. I really think it was chasing me through the valley.
A little further up the road, the vehicle in front of me slowed down to let a pair of coyotes cross the highway. They didn’t seem to be in hurry, but at least they didn’t get hit, or stop on the road.
I was all too soon out of the mountains and into the foothills. The foothills in this area didn’t seem as extensive as the ones near Rocky Mountain House. By the time I reached Edson, the foothills were behind me and the mountains were gone from sight.
As I slowed down to enter Edson, a deer was grazing at the side of the road just inside the city limits. It certainly was a day full of wildlife
As soon as I was clear of the mountains, the wind really picked up and was at times a bit hazardous. The ride from Hinton (in the foothills) into Edmonton was unpleasant because of high crosswinds and the occasional shower. When I pulled into Edmonton, my thermometer read 18 C, but the wind was from the north and had a strong bight. It really felt closer to 10 C.
I ended the day with a nice piece of salmon, a baked potato, veggies and a beer. The perfect end to a day full of ups and down.
