Day 3 - Hope to Manning Park

66.32 kms - Total so far 258.72 kms - http://ridewithgps.com/trips/4767160

• The bike training is officially over! We are now in the Rocky Mountains having climbed from Hope up to Allison Pass (altitude 1342 m). Loaded as we are it was a tough go. No drafting today but a schedule of 50 minutes cycling and a 10 minute rest on the hour. We did try to keep to the schedule but we also had to find a wall to rest the bicycles on.

  

  Let the cycle touring begin

• Once again at 8 a.m.this morning, we had superb climbing conditions set as overcast and a comfortable 12 degrees. By 8:05 a.m., just like the day before it started to rain. Not as hard as yesterday but that nasty light rain that just won't stop. As long as we were climbing, we were comfortable but it got cold awful quick when we stopped for a break.

• We met up with another cyclist, Millon from Campbell River, BC who was on his way to the Maritimes and plans to cycle the Cabot Trail. He is certainly gonna have the legs for the Cabot Trail but he will find that the climbs although shorter are much steeper. Part of the climb today was 7% for 6 km when on the Cabot Trail it can be 13% over the same distance.

• The picture taking at the Allison Pass sign did not occur as casually as planned. About 200 meters earlier, Hélène spotted a large bear and we had to make a quick get away. We don't as a matter of course just dart across 4 highway lanes to see what is on the other side but we do to get away from a large bear. Hélène was keeping an eye out for Yogi the bear as I snapped the picture.

  

  No time to savor the moment grrrrr darn bear!

• The GPS issue was resolved last night with the help of our Dutch campground neighbors. Over the next three weeks they are driving around BC in an RV. To Lauren s, Walter, Marloes and Joyce we wish you a safe and fulfilling holiday in Canada and should you wish to someday continue your "Canadian Dream" in Central Canada (Ontario/Quebec) email us.

• Some of you might wonder why we put ourselves through this. Touring on bicycles is all about the sights, sounds, smells and yes, sometimes the snacking that you will never experience when inside an automobile. Although it rained and it was tough for most of the day we were entertained by the lovely sound of the mighty Skagit River.  

Skagit River, BC

• BTW, first thing we do in the morning is check your comments.  Thank you keep coming.