We departed from Midway on the nicest day we have had since leaving Rossland. For the first day since then we were not rained or snowed on, and it helped keep morale high. What an amazing ride it was. The climb from Rock Creek to the Anarchist Summit was both challenging and breath taking. Mix that with actual blue skies and we were happy as could be. We still had a solid supply of pizza we made in Grand Forks.
As it was getting later in the day we started our descent into Osoyoos. Making my way down the steep, winding mountain I felt like a formula one racer at times. I learned that I am in desperate need of some new brake pads by the end of it (but really only needed to break once as my adrenaline urged me on down the mountain. The view was spectacular of the desert valley of Osoyoos.
I enjoyed a great ride with Viera and we talked at length about various philosophical things as we rode towards a couchsurfers house named Gordon. We got set up, and watched some planet earth on his tv, while he gave us some cooking tips. He has done much world travelling and is going on a bike trip (motorized kind) to Argentina within the next year.
In the morning Kristi and Garrett went on ahead back into Osoyoos; Keremeos being the goal for the day. Viera, Justin and I rode towards a wine town named Oliver on the hunch of a so called short cut. Viera had gotten much ahead of Justin and I, as the two of us stopped for the pretentious task of trying a wine tasting at a fancy vineyard. We both tried it (Justin the grapes and I a couple thimblefuls of wine) and then were on our way.
As we left Oliver we got onto an old dirt road that seemed to climb and climb and climb. I had wanted to never walk my bike up a single hill on the entire trip and until today I had kept that promise. Unfortunately this logging road was way too steep so Justin and I ended up walking our bikes for the majority of two and a half hours. We did have a great lunch though, stopping on the side of the road and snacking on the contents of our bags. It is a rather fun game to open them up and see what food we have left over. As negative thoughts were starting to brew in my head, a hunter drove up the road in front of us, so I waved him down and he informed us that we were indeed (and thankfully) at the summit.
As we soared down the old road, any feelings of negativity instantly vanished. We were riding down the valley of two mountains, down an arid region of tumbleweeds, old fences and cattle. The dirt road wound like a beautiful snake down into the luscious valley below, and past that stood giant mountains with snow covering their peaks. As we road down we watched the setting sun project shadows taller than our souls along the dirt road behind us.
We arrived in Keremeos at a church called Elim tabernacle, to a friendly pastor named Jason and his amazing family. He had bought us ingredients or dinner (all local and organic) as well as a couple steaks for the meat eaters. He and his family showed us amazing hospitality and we are so thankful for their amazing kindness. We will try for Princeton tomorrow then a night in Manning Park, possibly making it to Chilliwack the next day, so you may not hear from us for a while.
Thanks for reading and take care out there, Lucas and the PEDAL team.
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