Day 9 - Buffalo gals won't you come out tonight

STATS	DAY	MILES	CLIMBING	CALORIES
DAY	8	35.72	1024	1837
TOTALS		412.71	21,286	24,823

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Today we bid farewell to Muncho Lake and the fine Swiss hosts of the Northern Rockies Lodge.  We  have a short day today, only 35 miles.  I am feeling a little better this morning, the antibiotics are kicking in.  We load up, check out of our cabin and hit the road.

At the northern most end of the lake we crest a hill and stop at the lookout for our final view of the lake.

I could live here

We left the lodge before the rain you see made it to the lodge.  (Don’t worry, the rain did find us today)  I must say that this is one of the most beautiful places I have visited. 

The road follows the Trout River, which flows out of Muncho lake and was another awesome downhill run.

Weeeeee!!!!

After the above section, the rain found us and it poured for about 5 minutes.  Just as it was letting up, we happened upon another friend who was about 15 feet from me and posed nicely for this shot.

Be sure and expand this picture and check out the detail in the horns.

A few miles further and we see a sign  for buffalo.  We’ll, we have seen Carabou (4 legged only), Black bears, a grizzley bear, and stone sheep.  All we need are some Bison to complete the keno card.

While watched carefully, we did come across another furry friend

I know you are there taking my picture, I chose to ignore you.

We have seen so many bear now we don’t even slow down to take a picture.

Finally, we spot a group of 4 soaking up some rays.

Seems docile and harmless enough, right?

Joe is our resident expert.  Not only is he Canadian (and can get us out of jail), he has a lifetime of back country backpacking and camping experience, so we take our cues from him.  Joe moves in a little closer for a picture and one of the buffalo jumps up, then we hear the loud noise of branches braking and general mayhem.  A heard of about 30 beasts of all sizes emerges from the brush.

Now I am a little nervous.  A Buffalo’s defense is to run and the herd is nervous.  Just then a travel trailer pulls up on the road and we get the idea that we can put the trailer between us and the herd to get by.  I think the driver of the trailer was thinking: “Oh good, I can put the bikers between me and herd to get by”.  So here we are in the middle of the highway trying to outflank each other when the herd spooks and takes off a runnin’

(I have a video of this but it won't download at the internet speeds I have tonight, so picture a shaky video of a heard of buffalo running across the road and into the grass.)

So the herd moves into the woods, with the sounds of breaking branches and mayhem, the trailer takes off a leaves us standing in the middle of the highway and we begin to ride.  Just as we do this, one of the buffalo veers away from the woods and is running along side the road up ahead of us.  Mike is about 50 feet ahead of Joe and I.  I am not sure what it all means until Joe says, and I quote “Oh SHIT!”  I don’t know what is going on, but when you have given yourself to taking cues from the expert, an “Oh SHIT!” is not a comforting sign.

We slowed down and kept an eye on the beast who eventually crossed the road up ahead of Mike and dove into the woods.  We road by and were safe.  I believe that I would rather encounter bears on the road than buffalo.

About a mile later we see this guy:

Me big, strong like bull

He was a little too close to the road for our comfort, but Joe went ahead while Mike and I stood in the middle of the road deciding what to do.  This guy then takes a giant dump.  The only thought that came to mind was the scene in the Empire Strikes Back when the Imperial cruisers dump their garbage before jumping to light-speed.  Yes, this could only mean that this guy was getting ready to take a run at a couple of slow cyclists.  So we waited a little longer when Mike said “I’m going”.  Not to be left behind, I went, the buffalo snickered, and we all survived to tell the tale.  (Again, I think bears make for better encounters).

We left the Rockies today.  Here were on the northern most edge of the Rockies range that ends at the Liard River.

Bye-bye Rockies, thanks for the nice downhill to say farewell

That’s the MacKenzie range ahead. 

We’re knocking the miles out.

We arrive at our camp, set up and hit the Liard hotsprings.  This is a happening spot for the young wilderness adventurer.  It can best be described as Club Med meets Hedonism in the North woods.

 Lots of women with great gams and plenty of oomph!

The spring enters at one end at 118 degrees (F) and the natural pool runs aroung 104-110 degrees.  Very  nice, especially after a long bike ride (though 35 miles was not too long)

 Life is good

Finally, a chance to relax and enjoy each others company.

Tale of the tape