Jeremy to the West

June 7 2018 Thurs $41 Day 24

Remember when I stopped for a night in Strathmore because I wouldn't be able to cover the 50km to Calgary in the dark? Turns out my friends weren't long gone when I got there the next day. They'd left only hours before my arrival.

I had a chat with an old woman in the motel dining room this morning. She told me of trips she'd gone on in her youth and applauded me for keeping a travel diary, claiming to be a strong believer in them. But the most notable part of the discussion came when she informed me that the worst the mountains had to offer was behind me. This statement stuck with me all through the day. Even when I climbed for forty straight minutes leading to noon, when I decided to stop for lunch at a rest area atop the incline.

I had an amazing view over glassy blue water from where I sat, but mostly my attention was drawn to two ants on my picnic table, struggling with two pieces of gummy candy stuck to the tabletop. I pried the pieces loose and watched the ants drag them off before I left.

I continued to ride up and down the rolling road, finding it not quite the challenge it once was. It was true, then. The worst really was behind me. Even Mother Nature seemed to be letting up, her wind still not directed to help me, but also not strong enough to hinder. Just a light breeze to cool the sweat on my brow as the mountains put up their last losing battle. She's seen my arm drawing back over the course of this journey. Watched as my projectile hit its mark. And she's grown content with watching her Goliath fall.

At least that's what I thought until she picked up the slack around 16:00, as I reached Cache Creek. I figured heading south would be easy, but the wind ruined that for me. As well as the kilometres of shoulder plagued by bump strips similar to a wire running under carpet. Placed every five to twenty metres apart, these shit looseners became a form of torture very quickly. And I dealt with them for about seven hours before and during the wind, until finally coming to Spences Bridge, where I'm now camped.

My choices are laid out before me.

The left leads to Hwy 5. The right to Hwy 1. Time to make a choice.

Remember when a distance like that terrified me? I'm close now.

My view during lunch.

Closing the gap.

Another white horse. I'll never cure my hiccups.