Day 9 - Revelstoke to Canyon Hot Springs

39.8 km - Total so far 779.09 km - http://ridewithgps.com/trips/4844500

A really good start to our day, good coffee and scenery

• Before we update you on today a few items from yesterday. I forgot to tell you that we came across an Eastie-Westie couple who were as loaded as we were. We were coasting down the hill that they were just about to start climbing so there was unfortunately no exchange of pleasantries. Each sporting the knowing smile, we waved to each other. The other item is that I may have confused some of you as to where Roger's Pass is. Roger's Pass is 81 km WEST of Golden and not the other way around as I wrote yesterday. One alert reader, Paul, caught my error. Thanks for keeping me straight!

Our ride out of town was held up by a long train.

• Today was intended as a rest day. Our destination for today was Canyon Hot Springs, located 35 km EAST of Revelstoke. It was a most interesting ride. It seems that since it was not a regular cycling day, we just did not have the usual get up and go. On a normal day, we often pedal 30 km before we stop but today we stopped more often. We experienced the usual breath taking scenery but this time stopped instead of pedaling through as we had done before. We saw today our first sign informing us that we were now in "Avalanche Country". We saw evidence of that yesterday, small signs attached to rock faces but today it was rally in your face. We do not expect avalanches to be an issue on this trip.

Snow capped mountains tops

The snow should all be gone by the end of summer.

• Hélène snapped the picture below at a truck chain up area just before Canyon Hot Springs. Between 01 Oct - 30 Apr, it is mandatory for all trucks to have chains on beyond that point. Cars and other light vehicles must have snow tires. It gives you an idea of the hill climb that is waiting for us tomorrow just as we ride out of the Hot Springs. We don't mind hills once we are warmed up (10 km ride) but this baby is 200 m down the road from where we are. This will most certainly help us get focused for the 110 km ride to Golden.

To give you and idea, 7 % grade would be going up the hill at Rideau and King Edward in Ottawa, except this one goes for 1.5 km

• Well we must head off to ice cream and then supper. Yes we should have supper first but ice cream is between where we are now and where we sleep. 

View form the pool. The 42 degrees hot spring is this side of the pool