Days 5-8: Fernie-licious
In the past few days we've traveled from Elkford through Sparwood to Hosmer, through Fernie and Elko to Kikomun Provincial Park on Lake Koocanusa, and through the US-Canada border to Eureka, Montana. For these days, we chose to do the tamer of the two alternatives our ACA maps had to offer - known as the Fernie Alternate because it passes through the cute sporty town of Fernie, BC - but still encountered plenty of surprises, challenges, and delightful trail along the way. We also got some delicious coffee, bagels, and muffins on Fernie's main street. Mmm... But I found myself almost homesick or nostalgic for the more remote and more massive mountains of northern BC, but thoroughly enjoyed the frontcountry riding as well... and we're anticipating that the next few days in MT will be more remote again.
Day 5
I think this was halfway up a 2+ mile climb on a mining road. Not steep just loooong!
We had heard rumors that part of the trail- here an old gravel mining road- had washed out and not been repaired. The rumors were true and we spent about 45 minutes disassembling our gear from our bikes, then individually hauling bikes, then trailers, then panniers, down to the river then up a steep climb back to the road. It was real tiring but at long last we were reassembled and onward.
Late in the day we saw this monster piece of mining equipment at the visitor center in Sparwood, a mining town and proud of it.
Day 6
We camped and woke up in an RV park in Hosmer - a town which primarily consists of the RV park. A family from Sescatchewan let us camp on their site and use their RV bathroom as the park was woefully inequipped for tent campers. On the road the next morning Jonathan discovered Pacific Serviceberries, locally identified to us by a passing cyclist as Saskatoon berries. The berries were edible but not as good as eastern serviceberries in our opinion :) They were much less sweet than blueberries, which they resemble somewhat. Later in the day Jonathan found wild raspberries which were delicious.
We camped that night at Kikomun Provincial Park on Koocanusa Lake in which we took a swim/bath, then enjoyed a great sunset.
Day 7
The next morning we went down then up bizarrely steep hills at the Elk River, on our way towards the US border.
We then navigated off road through some wooded cow pasture park lands, but didn't see any cows!
After lunch by a pasture where the landscape was looking more and more like Montana and less and less like BC...
We made it to the border!
It's Montana!
We spent the night in Eureka, MT in a bed and breakfast that doesn't serve breakfast but does have BEDS! The home was built in 1908 by the man who brought electrification to Eureka. The family that owns it is from Georgia - so we got a little taste of southern hospitality here in the Big Sky state.
Day 8
After a slow morning in Eureka we're planning to stop by the post office to mail some lesser used gear home to lighten the load then resupply on snacks and sharp cheese at the grocery store. We'll be heading south and east into Glacier National Park over the next few days.
I've been reading Psalm 130 and trying to focus on God's provision for my strength. My attitude has a huge impact on my physical ability to make it along hot dusty stretches of road and to make it slowly up hills without getting off to walk. Its crazy that even in the midst of such beautiful places, in the midst of an adventure we got to choose to embark upon, I can get into such funks. Usually because of fear of the unknown and fear of things I can't control: How long is this hill going to last? Will we ever make it into some shade? Will the campground have space for us tonight?
The group Indelible Grace does a great version of Martin Luther's hymn, "From the Depths of Woe" based on Psalm 130. It makes great mental-music to ride to:
Therefore my trust is in the Lord,
And not in mine own merit;
On Him my soul shall rest, His Word
Upholds my fainting spirit;
His promised mercy is my fort,
My comfort and my sweet support;
I wait for it with patience (Wait for it with patience)
I wait for it with patience (Wait for it with patience.
We're excited for the days ahead and hope to continue to grow in physical and mental strength.
Bonus picture - community of the Tabacco Plains Indians in Canada close to the border.
Day 5
I think this was halfway up a 2+ mile climb on a mining road. Not steep just loooong!
We had heard rumors that part of the trail- here an old gravel mining road- had washed out and not been repaired. The rumors were true and we spent about 45 minutes disassembling our gear from our bikes, then individually hauling bikes, then trailers, then panniers, down to the river then up a steep climb back to the road. It was real tiring but at long last we were reassembled and onward.
Late in the day we saw this monster piece of mining equipment at the visitor center in Sparwood, a mining town and proud of it.
Day 6
We camped and woke up in an RV park in Hosmer - a town which primarily consists of the RV park. A family from Sescatchewan let us camp on their site and use their RV bathroom as the park was woefully inequipped for tent campers. On the road the next morning Jonathan discovered Pacific Serviceberries, locally identified to us by a passing cyclist as Saskatoon berries. The berries were edible but not as good as eastern serviceberries in our opinion :) They were much less sweet than blueberries, which they resemble somewhat. Later in the day Jonathan found wild raspberries which were delicious.
We camped that night at Kikomun Provincial Park on Koocanusa Lake in which we took a swim/bath, then enjoyed a great sunset.
Day 7
The next morning we went down then up bizarrely steep hills at the Elk River, on our way towards the US border.
We then navigated off road through some wooded cow pasture park lands, but didn't see any cows!
After lunch by a pasture where the landscape was looking more and more like Montana and less and less like BC...
We made it to the border!
It's Montana!
We spent the night in Eureka, MT in a bed and breakfast that doesn't serve breakfast but does have BEDS! The home was built in 1908 by the man who brought electrification to Eureka. The family that owns it is from Georgia - so we got a little taste of southern hospitality here in the Big Sky state.
Day 8
After a slow morning in Eureka we're planning to stop by the post office to mail some lesser used gear home to lighten the load then resupply on snacks and sharp cheese at the grocery store. We'll be heading south and east into Glacier National Park over the next few days.
I've been reading Psalm 130 and trying to focus on God's provision for my strength. My attitude has a huge impact on my physical ability to make it along hot dusty stretches of road and to make it slowly up hills without getting off to walk. Its crazy that even in the midst of such beautiful places, in the midst of an adventure we got to choose to embark upon, I can get into such funks. Usually because of fear of the unknown and fear of things I can't control: How long is this hill going to last? Will we ever make it into some shade? Will the campground have space for us tonight?
The group Indelible Grace does a great version of Martin Luther's hymn, "From the Depths of Woe" based on Psalm 130. It makes great mental-music to ride to:
Therefore my trust is in the Lord,
And not in mine own merit;
On Him my soul shall rest, His Word
Upholds my fainting spirit;
His promised mercy is my fort,
My comfort and my sweet support;
I wait for it with patience (Wait for it with patience)
I wait for it with patience (Wait for it with patience.
We're excited for the days ahead and hope to continue to grow in physical and mental strength.
Bonus picture - community of the Tabacco Plains Indians in Canada close to the border.
Welcome to the USA. These past few days of your riding seems to have been in isolation (no other cyclists around). I hope that the solitude has done you well.
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