Sore buns, tired legs, happy heart

Our route and stats today.

Day #2 of our ride is now complete. I can tell that I’m still not used to staying in the saddle for extended periods! Tonight, I’m feeling a bit bruised down below, and my legs are tired. Our route was mostly flat, which meant we had to pedal almost continuously. That’s a lot of revolutions for my legs! I’m also still adjusting to carrying the weight of the packs; it always takes a few days to get used to it. Starting off is tougher too—there’s something about that inertia thing!

Mt. Baker in the morning light

The temperature was warm today, reaching 90 degrees F by the time we arrived in Hope, B.C. However, the sun felt good, and the breeze created while riding helped keep us cooler. We stopped a couple of times for Gatorade to stay hydrated, which was a welcome break. As we rode eastward, we followed some busy roads, which surprised us given how congested they were.

A pumpkin patch reminding us it is fall, despite the heat!

Looking west to the mountains we will climb in the next few days.

I guess with the mountains closing in on the Fraser River Valley, there aren’t many roads to get from one place to another. The farther east we traveled, the closer the northernmost Northern Cascades and the southern tip of the British Columbia Coastal Range came to each other. By the time we arrived in Hope, B.C., we found ourselves completely hemmed in by mountains.

Hope is a small town with an almost empty downtown area, featuring several boarded-up buildings. However, we did find a nice cold beer after our ride at the local Mountainview Brewing Co., which made for a great way to end the day! I may be a bit tired and sore, but my heart is happy to be back on the bikes. I love this kind of travel—slow and personal, at the pace of a bike!