Advertisement
Map of Drumheller and Surround Area
A map showing the valley. I rode the Hoodoo Trail to the Hoodoos and then the South Dinosaur Trail to see Orkney viewpoint the one day and then on my way out of the valley (the next day) I took the North Dinosaur Trail to Horsethief Canyon Viewpoint and then the Bleriot Ferry and my last climb and then on my way. Friday July 1, 2011
A Hard Day
I only rode 65 km’s today but it was demanding. I had to ride out of the valley twice today with my full load. Once to get up to Horsethief Canyon Viewpoint then back into the valley to take the Bleriot Ferry across Red Deer River and then back out of the valley again to be on my way. My first climb out of the canyon was tough, didn’t think I could go all the way up, but I did and it pretty much killed me. Problem now is that I am on the North Dinosaur Trail and now I have to go back into the valley, take the ferry across and then another climb to get out of the valley to hook up with the South Dinosaur Trail to exit Drumheller for good. I couldn’t make it all the way up the second climb. Had to walk the bike part way which was probably even harder because I had to push a bike with 80 lbs. of gear attached to it. I had (big) low hills all day long, they went forever. Spending the night in Three Hills completely wiped. Have no
idea how I will ever accomplish the Rockies. I think I need a good two years of solid training for that. Problem is that I will be there in a few days give or take.
Saturday July 2, 2011
A Very Long Day
I got a bit a late start out of Three Hills this morning, but I am restocked with groceries. There were a few big hills and a fair amount of wind to fight. All par for the course. My big goal was to at least reach Hwy 2. Hwy 2 was where I had turned east to reach Drumheller. By getting back to the 2 it would symbolize an end to my first biking goal and the start of my next biking goal – Banff. That evening I reached the 2 and rode into Carstairs a few kilometers west of the 2. I found a place for dinner and then went to find the local camping ground.
They wanted $20 for the night. Way too much, I had been accustomed to paying $15. All these community camp sites are is 3 acres of land, 10 trees with 20 RV trying to fit under them.
The only reason I have been using them was for the showers and the fact that after dinner it was physically impossible for me to ride any further. Not to mention the landscape provided little cover for me to hide in for the night. But $20 was too much and I decided to move on, hoping for a quite spot just outside of town. The only thing is that that little spot never came and I had to ride and ride and it was getting late. I rode almost an extra 30 km’s looking for shelter. I didn’t realize it was in me to keep riding this late into the day, but I knew I would pay for it physically the next day. I was on the verge of giving up, not that I am able to give up because there is nowhere for me to turn to for help but there it was. In the middle of nowhere a church and a big church with a secluded corner with tree’s. Saturday night is not exactly the night to pick a church for a sleeping area. You don’t know who you’re going to meet outside your tent the next day.
Might just scare an old lady into a heart attack. Dark was setting in, I was sleeping here for the night. I rode nearly 80 km’s today. I barely see the Rockies; they are but a distant outline. They look so far away I feel I am looking to Japan.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.277s; Tpl: 0.02s; cc: 12; qc: 61; dbt: 0.233s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb