As I began my morning, I was greeted by a beautiful doe outside my motel room. Sort of set the stage for the day.
The first 25 miles or so to Hedley were "pure joy", as my friend Randy Garmon would say. I was off early - before 8 am - on a Saturday morning. So, cool temps and almost no traffic. I had the entire road to myself. While the road was fairly curvy, it was mostly flat, if not a slight downhill the entire way, and ran alongside the Similkameen River. The scenery became more like that I experienced between Mission and Hope - lots of farms and grasslands abutted by huge hills/little mountains. I did see one other woman riding a fully loaded touring bike coming in the opposite direction.
You know how you see something, then it seems to keep popping up everytime you turn around? Well, once again the little marmots popped up perched on a rock as I biked by. They are so darn cute and seem so secure - they stand there and don't run away.
Also came upon some goats and what I think was a baby llama just before Hedley.
I spent a lot of time contemplating why I am doing this ride. In the past, I always seemed to have had a clearly defined purpose or goal. For example, the goal for the 2012 transam was to ride coast to coast, and learn more about living in the present moment. The 2013 ride from Minneapolis to Bar Harbor was about partnering with my former law partner, Del Grosenheider, to make something positive out of his bout with ALS and continue, somewhat, the theme of the first ride. (We ended up raising almost $10,000 for the cause) The 2014 ride in Colorado with LaDonna was to introduce her to the joys of bike touring. I hiked the El Camino de Santiago in 2015 with the express purpose of sharing that bonding experience with my sister. But, this ride? It started as a ride to further explore the northwest with Randy - an area we both have especially loved riding through in the past. We had a loosely formulated itinerary, always subject to change. What seems to have emerged with the unexpected twists and turns of this ride is exactly what I wrote about in my first blog entries - a lesson in letting go and going with the flow. Not knowing where I am going next, and being okay with that uncertainty. Not letting fear take over. Instead, listening and trusting that the boat and river know where they are taking me, and that when I finally land on shore it will be the place I am supposed to be. This all sounds simple and like a great and lofty idea - but in practice it is harder than it appears. That fear factor is ingrained in us all - fear of security, fear of the future, fear of not being good enough, fear of not having a meaningful life... But, in my experience, when I dare to move past my fears, listen and trust, the adventure and payoffs are huge. Again, the key to all this for me is centering through my contemplative prayer practice. Listening for and discernIng God's direction - sometimes I get it right, and sometimes I don't. Not to say that is the way for everyone, but it is central to preparing me to face whatever the day brings. And to being open to whatever adventures the day brings.
The 20 mile or so ride from Hedley to Keremeos was more of the same. Mostly flat or downhill. On the outskirts, there was a rest stop where I briefly stopped to check the map and grab a few nuts to snack on. I noticed a medium sized well-nourished brown and white dog with a nice collar and full set of tags taking a "pit stop", and assumed he belonged to a motorist parked there. However, when I resumed riding the dog was trotting ahead of me along the shoulder of the road. I was concerned that he would veer onto the road and get hit, and that maybe someone had forgotten to get their dog at the rest stop. I passed the dog and as soon as I saw an auto repair shop I stopped to ask someone for help for the dog - maybe call the police or someone to get it, as he clearly belonged to someone. The gentleman I spoke to was unconcerned and somewhat annoyed - told me that this had happened quite a few times as the owner didn't take care to tie the dog up and he would routinely go to the rest stop, then trot back home. The police had intervened in the past and spoken with the owners. As we were having this conversation, the dog trotted with a continued sense of purpose, then turned off into the direction of his home. So, I guess the man knew what he was talking about.
As I neared the town there were more and more orchards and farms. Fruit and farm stands were numerous. I stopped and bought some cherries and apples for lunch. The way out of town was up a short steep hill, and I took a picture at the top.
The next 30 miles to Osoyoos were much different than the first 45 miles. As I moved more into the wine country, I faced a series of rolling hills, some quite steep. The scenery began taking on more of a scruffy look beyond the green vineyards. Those rolling hills were especially hard because I had already ridden 45 miles. Then came several of those long gradual uphill climbs that seem to go on forever, followed by the fast downhill descents. My legs were screaming at this point. On one particularly long climb, a woman on a fast road bike blew past me on my left, shouting "Stay with it - you're almost there!" Encouraging - but wrong. I had a ways to go.
As I neared Osoyoos, I saw my first sign for the USA. Finally, I reached Osoyoos. Coming into the city was especially sweet, given the fast descent coming off the last long slow climb.
Tomorrow I am riding approximately 45 miles to Midway, BC. I have been forewarned that the first 10 miles or so out of Osoyoos are an extreme climb to Anacrist Hill. Trying to prepare myself mentally, and do a lot of that leg massage tonight. They are really sore and tired after today's effort.
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