Yoghurt with raspberries and nuts, then pancakes started the day. The forecast was for hot and sunny again so I left my chaps and sweater behind as I rode away from camp toward the mining town of Elkford. Its at the end of paved road although there does appear to be a gravel continuation for logging or perhaps another mine. There is a coal mine or maybe many in the area. Coal for making steel according to Google.
Part of the route was back over the route I came to Cranbrook on on Friday but it always looks different from the saddle then the seat. Heading South East on Hwy 3/93 I was admiring a mountain range to my left but couldnt see a place to stop for a picture. Once I got to the bottom of the valley and crossed the river I saw a road that I thought Id just pull onto for a shot and carry on. This road seemed in pretty good shape so I continued on not know where it was going but it was heading back toward the mountains I wanted to shoot anyway. It turned out to
be about 25Km long and joined up with a different highway so I just circled around and started my route over again. The pictures were worth it and I had no timetable anyway.
Back to the chaps and sweater, once I went below the Lizard Range of mountains and started back North toward the town of Fernie the temperature dropped and I was actually a bit cool for most of the day. When I got to Elkford I check the Weather Network and it was 20 degrees Celsius. Its two oclock and its 20 degrees. The expected high in Cranbrook was 34! 20 in the sun sounds great but at 100Km/hr the wind chill is about 13.
When I got back to the highway from the dead end road I stopped at Tim Hortons for a drink, a pee and to warm up a bit in the sun. The Sparwood mine was right across the road. It was obvious the mountain top had been mined as it was now in steps. Suddenly I realized what I had just taken as a smaller hill was actually spoils that were starting to grow vegetation.
return trip too. As soon as I rounded that same mountain range the temperature shot up so fast I wouldnt have believed it had I not experienced it. I got back to camp about five again, went for a walk around the park and then cooked dinner. Another walk and then checked some social media. Once the sun dips behind the mountains it cools off very quickly. Overnights have been about 15 degrees so thats nice for sleeping without the air conditioner roaring all night.
