Up, Up and Away

Yesterday was about hope, and today was about discombobulation, challenge, and a genuine sense of freedom.

This morning got off to a rocky start. We awoke early at the Alpine Motel, knowing we were finally heading deep into the North Cascades Mountains, where there would be no water stops, steep climbs, and bears. Our minds were racing with various tasks: finding a place for a solid pancake breakfast, ensuring we had enough water for over five hours of climbing, packing precautionary items for unexpected bear encounters, topping off the air in our tires, and making sure our Zoleo satellite device was fully operational.

Despite a comedy of errors throughout the morning, we finally started riding east toward Manning Park at around 11:00 a.m., a full hour later than we had anticipated.

We began climbing immediately, and just five minutes into the ascent, a truck pulled over and signaled for us to stop. An older gentleman emerged from the truck holding a green device and asked, “Is this yours?” It turned out that when I was putting air in my tire, my Zoleo satellite device had dropped out of my handlebar bag. The owner of the bike shop where we had filled our tires, knowing our destination, had called his father and had him chase us down. We were relieved, as the route ahead would take us through areas with no cell service, making the satellite device essential for our safety.

After that wonderful act of kindness, we were finally on our way, and the 5,000 feet of climbing began. We maintained a focused and steady pace, knowing we would be in the saddle for the next five hours with very few descents or flat roads ahead. We had tackled climbs like this before, but this one was a consistent 7% incline (with a few that got up to 11%). As we found our rhythm, we managed to block out the pain and experience a zen-like state, a relaxation in the climb that led to peace of mind and a true sense of freedom while appreciating the beautiful nature surrounding us.

We made it to Manning Park just in time to watch the sunset over the mountains and enjoy beers and dinner in a spectacular setting. It is indeed a wonderful thing to travel at the pace of a bike.

Until tomorrow…