Let the ride begin! GDR Canada Day 1
GDR Canada Day 1 - Ghost Reservoir To Bow River CG
Start Elevation 3943'
End elevation: 4300
Climbing approx 1100' according to Google Maps
Distance: 41.3 miles
Ride time 4:29
Total time 6:20
Beers 4x 4oz Grizzly Paw Tasting Rm
I have held this day with some trepidation, after nearly 4 weeks of of hiking in colder and mostly rainy weather. Well the weather had been improving the last several days and was just about perfect for the inaugural day of riding. My route eventually takes me through Canmore to Banff, the original starting point for the Great Divide Ride. The starting was extended to Jasper a couple of years ago, and I am catching the tail end of that, adding about 50 miles.
Today was along Canada Hwy 1A, the original roadsparalleling the Bow river into Canmore and Banff. It is paved and rolling terrain. It is , unfortunately a short cut route from northern Alberta like Edmonton to the national parks, with a long stretch sans shoulders. But biking is big in these parts and most all drivers give me wide Bertha. It is nearly prairie where I start, with patches of Aspen's here and there. Quite nice and green.
I pedal along, working on coming to some accord between my bike seat and my behind. At about 8 or 9 miles in I look up, an lo the hills surrounding me have turned into small mountains, long arm teach out from rugged shoulders in the distance, and I am riding up the bow valley into their embrace.
At about 18 mile the shortcut takes a connector to the freeway and the winding hilly road turned downright bucolic for pleasant pedaling.
While the weather was just warm enough, partly sunny and dry, the was a notable headwind to keep one aware of nature embrace, and humble.
After passing the heavy industry zone of rock and gravel quarries and some ore processing (along with the attendant tandem dumptrucks whizzing past,with a shoulder thankfully) I tool into Canmore proper, and decide to give one off the local breweries a try. It is the Grizzly Paw tasting room, and I have a flight of 4.
End up chatting with a couple of other Americans driving up the AlCan Hwy, George and Andy, both retired army helicopter pilots.
They off me another beer, but I decline as I have miles to go. I get lost traversing the downtown, but I happen upon a riverside trail to the one bridge over the Bow and a fine paved bike trail on the far side almost all of the way back down to Bow River CG, where lovely Glenda awaits after dropping Connor of in Calgary.
Start Elevation 3943'
End elevation: 4300
Climbing approx 1100' according to Google Maps
Distance: 41.3 miles
Ride time 4:29
Total time 6:20
Beers 4x 4oz Grizzly Paw Tasting Rm
I have held this day with some trepidation, after nearly 4 weeks of of hiking in colder and mostly rainy weather. Well the weather had been improving the last several days and was just about perfect for the inaugural day of riding. My route eventually takes me through Canmore to Banff, the original starting point for the Great Divide Ride. The starting was extended to Jasper a couple of years ago, and I am catching the tail end of that, adding about 50 miles.
Today was along Canada Hwy 1A, the original roadsparalleling the Bow river into Canmore and Banff. It is paved and rolling terrain. It is , unfortunately a short cut route from northern Alberta like Edmonton to the national parks, with a long stretch sans shoulders. But biking is big in these parts and most all drivers give me wide Bertha. It is nearly prairie where I start, with patches of Aspen's here and there. Quite nice and green.
I pedal along, working on coming to some accord between my bike seat and my behind. At about 8 or 9 miles in I look up, an lo the hills surrounding me have turned into small mountains, long arm teach out from rugged shoulders in the distance, and I am riding up the bow valley into their embrace.
At about 18 mile the shortcut takes a connector to the freeway and the winding hilly road turned downright bucolic for pleasant pedaling.
While the weather was just warm enough, partly sunny and dry, the was a notable headwind to keep one aware of nature embrace, and humble.
After passing the heavy industry zone of rock and gravel quarries and some ore processing (along with the attendant tandem dumptrucks whizzing past,with a shoulder thankfully) I tool into Canmore proper, and decide to give one off the local breweries a try. It is the Grizzly Paw tasting room, and I have a flight of 4.
End up chatting with a couple of other Americans driving up the AlCan Hwy, George and Andy, both retired army helicopter pilots.
They off me another beer, but I decline as I have miles to go. I get lost traversing the downtown, but I happen upon a riverside trail to the one bridge over the Bow and a fine paved bike trail on the far side almost all of the way back down to Bow River CG, where lovely Glenda awaits after dropping Connor of in Calgary.
Thus it begins. Best wishes, glad to see your riding weather good so far. Any smoke up there this year? wOw
ReplyDeleteThanks Dennis, only smoke is from many smoldering campfires in the campgrounds. Set off the trailers fire alarm last evening!
ReplyDeleteCloudy to day,I expect i will get at least some sprinkles
One day one Brewery. Good start and good luck.
ReplyDeleteJust catching up on the trip... I enjoy the effort you put into your scribblings! Ha
ReplyDeleteGlad you are enjoying it, and thanks to traveling along!
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