The Great Divide (NOBO)

Great Divide (NOBO) - Day #36 July 4 2022 Eureka, MT to Fernie, BC - 78 Miles Start 7:52 AM Finish 6:57 PM Total Duration 11:05 Moving Time 8:21 Stopped Time 2:43 Ascent 4,628 Feet Descent 3,999 Feet Tour Total 2,664 Miles Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/95498863 I slept incredibly well last night in room number 202 at the Silverado Motel in Eureka. My body was completely trashed from yesterday’s ride in the cold rain and I slept hard. I woke up with the light and tried to keep sleeping. I was sore and tired. Friends had shared this story from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/04/sports/tour-divide-race-bikepackers.html . This race is epic and seriously deserves the media attention. I packed up my dry clothing and shaved. All of my devices were charged. The toilet in my room had overflowed, I was a day late on the reports, and I was burning the candle at both ends. I grabbed two blueberry muffins from the hotel reception area and then went across the street ...

Great Divide (NOBO) - Day #37 July 5 2022 Fernie, BC to Elkford, BC - 44 Miles Start 9:13 AM Finish 4:49 PM Total Duration 7:36 Moving Time 5:06 Stopped Time 2:30 Ascent 3,023 Feet Descent 2,005 Feet Tour Total 2,708 Miles Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/95582655 I slept great last night at the Raging Elk Hostel in Fernie. I was in Kodiak pod number four, my first time sleeping in a pod. Traveling is unpredictable. One moment I’m freezing, wet, tired, and contemplating stealth camping under a picnic pavilion. The next moment I’m in a hot shower, and then an hour later I’m in an amazing pub. The bar was hopping last night, and packed full of people enjoying live music. The poutine and beer tide me over. Last night I had forgotten to put my phone in silent mode and I received a bunch of text messages early this morning. Fortunately I was able to roll over and get another hour of sleep. My body was completely exhausted, and it was a slow pack up. Even clipping my fingernails was...

Great Divide (NOBO) - Day #38 July 6 2022 Elkford, BC to Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, AB - 59 Miles Start 8:20 AM Finish 9:01 PM Total Duration 12:41 Moving Time 7:14 Stopped Time 5:27 Ascent 5,264 Feet Descent 3,946 Feet Tour Total 2,767 Miles Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/95763370 I slept great in the Elkford Municipal Campground with the other dividers. It got cold during the night, but I was able to stay warm. I didn’t have a 70+ mile day of riding planned so I slept in and packed up with the other guys. There was a lot of condensation and I packed up a wet tent. I stopped at the Fas Gas and purchased two egg sandwiches, a Starbucks Frapuccino, and an orange juice. It was 51° F and the forecast on one app was rain. I had brushed off my bike last night and cleaned my chain, which was sounding much better today. The Canadian Rockies were striking and on par with the Tetons. I rode out of town and got on a gravel path following Bravin Creek. I was wearing leg-warmers, s...

Great Divide (NOBO) - Day #39 July 7 2022 Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, AB to Banff, AB - 51 Miles Start 8:03 AM Finish 2:09 PM Total Duration 6:06 Moving Time 5:20 Stopped Time :46 Ascent 2,850 Feet Descent 3,764 Feet Tour Total 2,818 Miles Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/95763479 Last night after using the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park visitor center WiFi I decided to stay in the nearby campground. I rode back on the bike path to and selected site number 43. I set up my tent and hung a bear bag ten feet in the air and more than four feet from the nearest tree. I was in my tent studying my maps and planning the next segment when a ranger pulled into my campsite. She wanted a camping fee and made me move my food to a locker down the hill. I complained about the $31 fee and the loud kids in the adjoining campsite. Cyclists shouldn’t have to pay the same as motorists. We have no footprint. I was rattled, and it took me a while to fall asleep. It rained throughout the night a...