Epic!**

The thrill of cycling lies in the unexpected, and today was filled with surprises!

We anticipated a challenging day, preparing for anywhere between 7 to 9 hours on the bike. We set the alarm for 6:00 AM, enjoyed a fantastic pancake breakfast at Billy’s Café, and were on our bikes by 8:00 AM. Our plan was to cycle the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, but we quickly realized that after just 10 minutes on the trail—sandy and filled with dips from ATV vehicles—conti

nuing would prevent us from reaching Summerland, our destination, before nightfall. The alternative became clear: we would ride the Princeton-Summerland Highway all the way, despite the fact that the highway would turn to gravel after about 20 miles.

The sign said it all!

As soon as the trail crossed the highway, we jumped on the “highway”, and the absolutely epic ride began. Our first unforgettable encounter was a hill ominously marked “Mother-in-Law Hill.” It was steep, harsh, and painful—the complete opposite of my Mother-in-Law, Lori, who is pure sweetness. This made me realize how lucky I am to have Lori in my life, as I know others might name such a brutal climb after their own Mother-in-Law. Canadian humor is fantastic!

After conquering the hill, we thought we had reached the peak and would begin our descent, but the uphill climb continued, up, up, and up. Thankfully, the pain was dulled by the beauty surrounding us and the almost complete absence of motor vehicles. It was turning into an unexpectedly epic ride, and it truly was.

We took a much-needed break about 20 miles into the ride, where we ate, drank fluids, and fortified ourselves for the remaining 40 miles, mostly on gravel roads. That’s where the real fun began. The road turned to gravel, and we started a long descent into pristine wilderness, followed by scattered ranchland. At one point, we were nearly chased by what looked like an amphetimized dog! I’ve never accelerated so fast. Of course, Molly was cracking up with laughter while I feared the “big dog takedown.” After escaping the dog, Molly encountered a bear that I obliviously passed. The bear bolted up the hill, and the thrill ride continued with a steep climb to the high peaks surrounding Summerland, followed by a long, steep descent to our hotel, where we arrived two hours earlier than expected and enjoyed cold beers and what will surely be a celebratory dinner this evening. An epic ride indeed!

Giant's Head Brewing in Summerland, BC

Until tomorrow…