We got up and had our coffee in front of an amazing view. The reflection in the lake of the mountains behind was just stunning.
About four miles after setting off we came across a lodge that sold us some magic Coke. With a couple of cans of that in our food bag I felt reassured that I had some emergency energy on tap. I did not want to feel like I did the evening before.
We hit the trail and came across a couple that were cycling the GDMBR in reverse so they were near the end of their adventure. The riders that race the trail can get it done in about twelve days. This couple from Belgium took two and a half months and I think that time scale sounds a lot better to me. They told us that we were going to go past a campground that had a store and sold homemade ice cream.
I went for a double scoop dairy free strawberry sorbet in a waffle cone. It was nice, but it was huge. Their scoops were bigger than what I was used to.
We missed an opportunity to have a swim in the beautiful lake (Lower Kananaskis) as we thought we could have a swim at our destination site. As we were making our way to the lake we saw a sign that we were entering a grizzly corridor to the lake. The campsites warden did tell us that the bears like to swim around here but we thought he was just joking. So we were a bit put out when we tried to get to the lake and were turned around because there was a grizzly with her three cubs also having a swim. These bears are so inconsiderate, could they not tell how dusty we were from gravel riding in 35+ degree heat. Anyway after a brief negotiation with the said grizzly I allowed them to have the lake for this evening.
We had to have a dip in a nearby stream, it was clear and beautifully refreshing so I was feeling nice and clean once more.
After getting back to the site I told the campsite warden that we were turned back and he knew straightaway that it was bear 139 as they are tagged. He said 139 comes through the campsite all the time. Just make sure you put all attractants in the bear boxes and if she comes by give her space. I also heard the rangers at the lake refer to her as 139 so the campsite warden was spot on with his evaluation. He said a grizzly is like a tank and you just gotta let it walk where it wants to walk. He said black bears are mischievous and like getting in everything, but you won’t find many black bears around here because the number of grizzly bears chase them out. Not sure if I should have been reassured by that statement or fretting my teeth out. I am sure I will be able to make my own evaluation in four weeks time as to which type of bear I would prefer to be around and share my morning coffee with!
We should and could have done more miles today, but the idea that we could tent nearer a lake was too appealing. But we have left ourselves with a big day tomorrow as we want to try to get to Elkford which is going to be a fifty mile day, but once we get to a high point after about two thousand foot of accent from our starting point of five thousand foot at this site we should hopefully have some downhill miles 🤞🏽.
The scenery today was stunning, it was mountains with snow covering, lakes and rivers.
As we were riding a long I recounted to Rachael the story her brother Ben had told when we were in a car together. Basically he and his wife Jen decided to buy their current beautiful home because they saw a moose in the snow not far from their potential home and they decided there and then that it was the right place for them and their family. We were wanting a name for the tandem and as soon as I finished that story Rachael said Moose is the name. It is perfect as it is big and has large antler handle bars. So we are on the look out to find a moose sticker to officially christen the bike.