Vanderhoof to Hope, BC

7/28/07
I'd thought today would be the day I got out of Canada but I didn't
quite make it. I had a good ride but some roads were slower than I
thought they might be.
To my surprise, I had cellphone reception when I awoke. I didn't last
night but I didn't ask questions, I called Ruth. It was great to hear
her voice.
The sky was clouded as I left. There was a Tim Horton's about 2
blocks from the motel so I had breakfast there. I then got on the
road about 8 AM.
I saw one bear alongside the road on the ride to Prince George. In
Prince George I saw a Canadian Tire where I could get WD40 to clean my
chain and just do some other shopping.
As I was leaving Prince George, the two guys I'd met on the Cassiar
yesterday pulled onto the road with a third bike. We rode together
for about 50 km but they wanted to go faster than me today so I fell
back and rode alone.
In Williams Lake I was able to check email at the vc and headed south.
The road got really interesting from Cache Creek to Hope. Rte 97
there is called Ranchlands and Rivers. It starts being much like the
American west; sagebrush and pretty steep hills. It then turned into
the Fraser Valley with the Fraser River running through it. The
canyon I was in blocked cell phone reception but it was fun to ride
in. The walls were fairly steep, you got glimpses of the river and
there were tunnels. The traffic moved briskly until I got behind an
18 wheeler with a trailer. He made good time on the downhill stuff
but the uphill he slowed way down and I couldn't find a place to pass
with the traffic.
I finally got out of the canyon in Hope, BC and then found a
campground. I set the tent up, called Ruth and then went to a nearby
café for dinner.
On my way here, I noticed the chain making the same sound it did
before I left on the trip. That sound meant I needed a new chain and
I guess because of the gravel, it may mean it again now. I'm going to
give it a good cleaning tomorrow and if it doesn't improve, swap the
chain on Monday. I've got a spare and the chain tool (thanks to the
wisdom of the MTF folks!!) but, I just realized, I'm not certain that
I have the correct wrenches for this. I may have to stop at a
Canadian Tire or Sears to get a couple sockets.

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Todd Ryan; Hudson, MA
Westborough HS Science Teacher
MSF RiderCoach