Day 6 - Cold Spring to Princeton

I was really worried about my knee because I had tweaked it something special on the previous day with all the climbing. (Thanks again for the A535 J. )

Fortunately, it turned out to be better than I expected. The hills were smaller from Cold Springs to Princeton and it was a fun (mostly downhill ) ride through the hilly terrain. It was an easy 70km to Princeton and I finished it off with a burger and beer.

The Riverside campground I stayed at was within short walking distance from downtown and favorite campground so far.

My knee was still in pain but not as bad as I had felt it before.

Thanks Jacques Tami and Cinder! 

Cold Water Springs

Leaving Cold Water (Manning Park)

Beautiful View

Perfect riding weather

Made it to Princeton

Had no lunch-- I needed this!

Princeton Campground

A short walk for second dinner in town

My camp in Princeton

Day 4 - Cultus Lake to Othello

Waking up in Cultus Lake, I felt like my trip had finally started! My destination was Othello, a small area north east of Hope. I continued to take the country roads for the most part ratherthan worry too much on the highway. 

Eventually I did get on the highway, and my brother was kind to get a campsite for me as they passed Othello on their way to their own vacation.

It was a slow start for me but I got to Hope at 5:30, ate some dinner and then got on the Trans Canada Trail.

It was my first time off the road, so I was worried about bears at first.

I remember cycling through with rand's music playing and bells jingling.

The tunnels were a breathtaking experience, certainly worth the experience .

I arrived at the campsite just before dark.

Turning onto the TCT

The Trail

Beautiful view from the trail

Othello Tunnel (Lost my thermos in here)

Posing for tourists

Interesting Campsite

Random hut on the Road

My camp for the night

Day 2 - 3 Vancouver to Cultus Lake

The trip to Vancouver and the previous days were so taxing on me that I took a mulligan on he second day. I slept until 4pm the next day, only taking a break to walk my nephew to school.  

Afterwards, I went to Commercial drive to get last moment items and stretch my legs. Half of  me was doubting my resolve on such a grand uundertaking as this, but I pushed those thoughts aside and continued.  

Day 3 at 7:30am, I caught the skytrain to King George station on the outskirts of Vancouver and rode to Cultus lake via the highway and country roads.  The freeway was so intense that I was stopped by someone who kindly suggested I take an alternative route. I did end up doing exactly that from Abbotsford.

The long-weekend traffic wasn't nearly as bad when I got off the road. I made it to cultus lake without probems-- feeling good in body and mind.

King George Station Ready to Go

At the gate

 Beautiful Country Roads

Almost there!

My home for the night

Special rice

Spicy hotdog soup

Sunset on the lake

Day 1 Victoria to Vancouver

After a lot of build-up to the beginning of he trip, I finally started in earnest. 

I took a lap aroud James Bay and the Parliament Buildings and head out on the lochside trail and caught the ferry.

On the other side of the ferry to tsawassen it was all good-- saw the most eagles i've ever seen near a mill and then saw a beautiful sunset--only I had a problem along the way. Against my better judgement I followed the signs to Vancouver and ended up at the entrance to the Massey tunnel in front of a no-bike sign and no turn around to get back. in order to escape, I took an emergency turn around which was under construction with live electricity and then had to jut out into heavy traffic with my 70kg bike. 

On the positive side, I was able to find the AlexFraser bridge and made it to my brother's house by 11pm.

My adventure has finally started! 

Lochside trail The ferry terminal

Quick selfie at the ferries

Somewhere on tbr way to the Massey tunnel

Sunset in Delta

Ride for Rand

Near the bridge

Send-off Sunday and Monday Departure

DEPARTURE

On Monday May 15th from 7:30am, I will begin my cycling tour across Canada.

Day 1 (May 15th) Route:
https://www.bikemap.net/en/route/3984685-ride-for-rand-day-1/



SUNDAY PRE-CYCLING SEND-OFF
On Sunday the 14th in the  afternoon I'll be doing a tire-dipping picnic and send-off.
It's public, so anyone can join and it will take place from 1-3pm at Gonzalez Beach.
At 3pm I will dip my back tire in the Pacific and take some pictures and then go for a short ride around James Bay to warm my wheels up for the trip.

Anyone is welcome, bring your picnic gear, friends, family and bicycles if you'd like to join me around James Bay.

Pre-Tour James Bay Route:
https://www.bikemap.net/en/route/3984702-ride-for-rand-pre-trip-warm-up-cycle/

Facebook Event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1979822215571278/

If you're in the area, come join!

Accommodation During the Trip

During the trip I have a tight budget for accommodations, and these days camping is more expensive than ever. Last week I went to Goldstream Park here in Victoria BC and it cost $35 dollars for the night, and that kind of cost simply isn't sustainable over the long-run.

Fortunately there are a lot of options for people in my situation.
In addition to popular programs such as:

Couch Surfing (For travelers on a shoestring)
www.couchsurfing.com

Warm Showers (Geared towards cyclists)
www.warmshowers.org

I also read an article which talks about alternatives to paid campsites in Canada and the USA. The end of the article has many links to different websites which were made for finding cheap and free camping accommodation:


https://www.freshoffthegrid.com/how-to-find-free-camping-usa-canada/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialWarfare

Also, I expect to do some wild-camping on the trip as knocking on doors to ask kind people across Canada to let me use their yard.

Next time: I'll explain the route I'll be taking across Canada.

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Rand used to play music to heal and although he never explicitly taught any of us how to play, I think we all saw the value of music and, for me personally, music's ability to heal.

In this YouTube video I play one of the songs he enjoyed playing on his guitar.
I'll take my ukulele on the cycling tour and hope to have a lot of opportunities to play it on my travels.

I hope you like it!

https://youtu.be/QAzKsUpE-WQ