Great Divide Mountain Bike Route Day 1 & 2

First a few comments about the train ride. I met a man. His name was Kirk P. (The Tin Man). He is from Ottawa. Very very nice man. He made this train ride more enjoyable than could possibly be imagined. Thanks, Kirk

While in the dinning car at breakfast this morning there was a considerable amount of train travelers who were very upset that Via Rail didn’t offer to transport them to their destinations via a charter bus or other. I left the car because our Taxi was due but tempers were short and voices were getting. loud….

Saturday July 25th 20 miles and 820 accumulated vertical feet up.

The first segment of the GDMBR trail was remarkable and somewhat difficult with a considerable amount of “hike-a-bike”.

Spent the night camping (last minute decision) at Parks Canada Snaring River Campground (overflow), hundreds of sites and it was full, we got one of the last six walk in sites. This was a nice campground but no services. They do have water at spots here and there.

Sunday July 26th 56 miles and 2300 accumulated vertical feet up.

Unfortunately Scott has sustained a slight injury in a very minor slip Saturday and will need to adjust his plan.

I got up & packed & was on the road early. This will be the first full day of the GDMBR riding for me. 56 miles and the first 35 miles to Hinton, Alberta were on the wide paved shoulder of a very busy 2 lane highway, restocked food and other supplies in Hinton, ate 2 Quarter Pounders at McDonalds and on to the last 21 miles on well maintained gravel road. Tonight I’m staying just along the Macleod River in a small quiet provincial park campground— with a campfire, free wood and camper Joe next door from Alberta lent me a hatchet.

Gotta tell you there are a considerable amount of cyclists out here, this morning right off, I crossed paths with Jody from Grand Forks, North Dakota, going west, I was going East, he had peddled from Grand Forks and was heading to Vancouver and then south along the West coast, strange dude but got me laughing several times.

Warning ⚠️ don’t ever come to this part of the world at this time of year without extreme mosquitos protection!!! Had to buy it today and Walmart was the only place out of three places I went that had it—one of the managers showed me where it was and mentioned this store’s claim to fame!! They are the 2nd smallest Walmart in North American!