Day 7 - Awesome Dude!

STATS	DAY	MILES	CLIMBING	CALORIES
DAY	7	84.90	4734	4898
TOTALS		376.99	20,262	22,986

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Morning broke a little later than usual for the boys today.  I guess that we are getting acclimated to the time and efforts required.

Tom fixed another wonderful breakfast of bacon and eggs, and he scored us each a hot buttery bun from the campground hosts.

Direct from the oven at the cinnamon bun headquarters of the galactic cluster.  And yes they are that good!

After we broke camp, we started our journey.  There was BB, the camp dog who played fetch with all night, then, not wanting us to leave chased me on my bike barking and nipped at my ankle and tore a hole in my leg warmers.  Oh well, I expect there will be some possessions that will return home a little worse for wear.

The ride started at the campground with a 16 mile climb to Summit Lake.

Where Tom was waiting with water and a friendly chit chat.  It was a great climb to walk up and warm up.

The Canada department of their Interior is all about preservation and education.  They place important signs in important places.  The descent on the other side can be hazardous, so a visual warning was provided:

Must stay awake, I don't want to fall a-sheep

The descent was steep and windy, we met some friends on the way down who posed for a picture or two.

Ram tough

We saw a lot of these stone sheep all along today's route (and, the wind shifted at one point and these guys STINK).  After paying our respects, we continued the descent stopping for a picture that can best be described as the scenery we saw ALL day

Oh Canada!!

From here, we had a multi-mile descent following the Toad River.  Windy rollers, fast, and fun (though a stiff headwind all day today).

About halfway down we approach a metal grate bridge

Oh boy, a woo bridge!

What perplexed us was this sign just before this bridge:

What does it mean?

We stopped and discussed it a while.  We had all sorts of ideas, but we decided best not to risk it and went we the consensus - we rode the center of the bridge flapping our arms like chickens.  I even clucked like a chicken to be sure.  We made it across safely so we must have guessed right.

The ride continued.  We saw lots of wild life today (a few caribou, birds, etc.) you know basic stuff.  Unfortunately, we did not see the holy grail of wildlife viewing in these parts.  The only wild heard of five legged caribou:

No Five-legged Caribou today, maybe next trip.

Next stop was the Toad River Lodge in Toad River BC by the Toad River for our afternoon cup of coffee.

See Mike, I toad you they would have ice cream.

Inside decor was a sight to be see seen.  All I can say is Hats off to the owners

Over 7000 hats and not one toque

At this point we are getting tired and the head wind would not let up.  We started riding a pace line down the next valley along Folded Mountain.  The scenery was AWESOME - Towering peaks highlighted by the drama of ever changing showdows from clouds, multi thousand foot cliffs up to the side of the road with water falls, the river, and the wind, oh the wind.

Next was the second big climb to our destination, Muncho Lake

A hell of a climb, but an incredible descent to the lake.

We we arrived at the Lodge, Tom was waiting with the cooler open.  We hopped off the bikes, took off the helmets, and immediately toasted the days accomplishment with an ice cold bear.

Glacier Fresh!

And yes, I have developed a permanent case of helmet hair.

We get our cabins, move our stuff in, shower, and take a walk to the lake before dinner, and just a few feet away we see an icon from our animated childhood:

Hey Rocky, watch me pull a camper out of a tent!

Dinner was Wiener Schnitzel and Bumbleberry pie.  Umm-umm good!

Swiss cooking in the Canadian Rockies.

This was probably the hardest day so far physically.  Very hilly, big climbs, un-relenting head wind, but  a totally awesome day in the saddle with two great guys and an ever present host to look after us.  Next will be slumber.



Tail of the tape - be sure and check the elevation profile for today.