May 18, 2014

If anything is likely to break my spirit this trip, my money is on rain. I’ve dealt with some hills thought the highest is yet to come, I’ve dealt with routing frustrations though I’m certain there will be more but today was the first day of rain. Even a little rain begins to reveal the potential power it possesses for discomfort, especially rain at the end of the day when setting up camp. Regardless of how idyllic rain pattering on the tent may sound, it makes living out of a couple of bicycle bags more frustrating. Fortunately, I brought a spare tarp to give myself a little shelter outside the tent. If occasion called for it, I could cook my dinner underneath there. I’ve become pretty good at making and breaking camp; I’m sure I could learn to do it in the rain too. I hate to think what my stuff would start to smell like. Let’s hope I won’t need to find out. 

And now for something completely different, food. I generally make my own breakfast, snacks, and dinner but try to eat out for lunch. I could very conveniently and cheaply eat at the various fast food chains. However, I’ve intentionally tried to seek out local restaurants. Today, for example, I lunched at a lovely Filipino eatery that was clearly frequented by locals in the know. It was one of those drab buildings, surrounded by too much parking lot but a gem if you know about it. Later in the day I stopped for some bannock at a First Nations flea market. It was my first so have no comparative evaluation but Saskatoon Berry jam on the fried dough was delicious. It was a little roadside stand called something like Cree-ations with a very chatty proprietor. He had more stories about bears than I needed. Altogether a distinct experience.

Road Report: 101km
The route today was primarily along the Okanagan Highway. It’s generally fine but on occasion the shoulder is covered in loose gravel which is frustrating. The highway continues to wind through the valley so beautiful all along. The traffic reduces the further north you go.