Day 5 - Saved by Vanna White

STATS	DAY	MILES	CLIMBING	CALORIES
DAY	5	58.46	2156	3194
TOTALS		221.61	11,158	13,615

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The mosquitos at Prophet River started to get ravenous, so we all opted to turn in.  Besides being tired and soiled, there are no showers at this park, so we are truly roughing it.  I get all snug as bug in a rug and I see the shadow of my hat on top of Pumpkins head.  I think I will leave it there and get it in the morning, but then I think, what if the insects decide to take up residence?  So, out of the bag, unzip the door, practice an abridged version of the two-footed lizard move and I retrieve the hat and glasses.

Slumber came quick and several hours later nature called.  As I was in the “can I fall back to sleep or do I need to service this” mode, I started to hear the sound of sprinkles hitting the tent.  Better go now as the sound will not let me forget it.

A few hours later I wake to hear the sound of more than sprinkles, it was raining.  I check the clock it is about 5AM (my body clock is adjusting).  I notice that there is a little amount of moisture soaking onto my my air mattress so I adjust myself and my sleeping bag and try to get back to sleep.  About 7-ish I hear Tom stirring to get the coffee going and the rain is still pouring.  About 7:45, it is still raining and I can hear folks talking so I decide I better get up or I will miss coffee.  I get dressed, do my lizard dance to get out of the tent, don my Gortex jacket and make my way to the canopy where I see Joe and Mike sitting and Tom in the kitchen.  I walk up and say “good morning” and Joe answers “we took a vote” and I interrupted and said “I’m IN!!”  Then I asked “what’s the plan?”.  Answer:  “We’ll have coffee, break camp, drive to Fort Nelson and get breakfast.  If it clears later we will do some miles”.  I say OK.

As we are sitting there drinking coffee I ask:

Having fun Joe?

Oh ya, good times, eh?!

Having fun Mike?

F-You Brad.

So we set  out on this plan.  All three tents were saturated  to the bone, our sleeping bags were starting to find some water, and it was pouring.  We we work to get everything packed.

I am beginning to see the wisdom behind the Dawson Creek Councilman's first question.

We hit the road.  Did I mention it was pouring?

Glad we're not riding in this!

We get to Fort Nelson and find the one and only diner that doubles as a fried chicken restaurant.

 I am beginning to think that grow things big up here so you don't miss them

Don't let the looks deceive you, the breakfast couldn’t be beat.

The Meat selection listed first on each menu item

 Fortunately for us, tonight is our first motel night.  Tom was able to check us in early to our digs for the night, the famous Fort Nelson Hotel.

Tom says:  Wait here guys, I will see if I can get us in early.

Tom, being the ever professional tour guide was able to get our rooms early and talked the manager into allowing us to pitch the tents by the pools in order to dry them out.

Tiki motif straight out of the Seventies and perfectly preserved!

After pitching the tents and getting the sleeping bags opened up, we all showered and caught up on the emails and the "Weather Network".  No Weather Channel up here.  Then a group run to the grocery store where Tom gathered provisions for the next leg, and the remainder of us sought out and bought ourselves the special comfort foods we craved  (it's only been 5 days mind you):  Joe bought donuts,  I bought roasted peanuts in the shell and Tropicana Orange Juice, and Mike bought Cough Medicine and wine (hmmm?),.  A pretty eclectic group to be sure.

The weather never abated.  At 5PM we walked about 8 blocks (i.e. all the way across town) to Dave's to enjoy the best steaks in these parts and sit with a local crowd of Canadian hockey fans watching game 5 of the Stanley cup playoffs.  A very stereotypical crowd and a lot of fun.  The highlight of the game for me was during the last few minutes of the 2nd period (before the Canucks scored), the satellite went out and the entire place fell into dead silence while everyone watched the satellite receiver re-boot and re-acquire a signal.  As soon as the game was back on, everyone started up again.  It was the funniest thing I have ever witnessed (well almost).

The steak and potatoe was so good, I forgot to get a picture, but it was that good.

Back to the room to blog and next is slumber (Mike is snoring as I type - Cough medicine and wine must really work :-))

Tomorrow we have a 71mile trip that takes us into the Canadian Rockies for our fist big climb of the ride.  We may have not riden today, but overall, it was a great day to relax, dry out, and have some fun.

Tail of the tape

It is comforting to know that there are still places like the Fort Nelson Hotel where old values are still held as important consistencies of life.  God Bless Them!

(PS - We were saved today by Tom's White Van(na))