Saturday 13 October
Bankeir to Penticton
A 5am start for our four hour drive to a campsite where we left out car for the start of our 3-day final ride of the year. Logistics meant we had to ride this weekend a little out of order, so we started with the last piece of this leg rather than where we left off near the Coquihalla.
A big day. Mostly on the Kettle Valley Trail – a railway turned trail – today was something of a cruiser. Flat or slightly downhill, the trail was still fairly hard work, including a few washed away pieces and picking our way over a rock slide. Our surroundings were initially yellow with poplars mixed with the ever present firs, then the trail took us through lovely ranch land into scrubby sagebrush and stunted pines above the Okanagan. This part of Canada is semi-desert and completely different to anywhere else. After about 40km we came around a corner near the Summerland Rodeo Grounds and there below us was the Toyland-style patchwork of vineyards and orchards of Summerland and Penticton.
Our first really chilly morning meant Bron rode the initial 20km with her knees around her ears as the hydraulics in her dropper seatpost refused to work until they warmed up. But the great crew at the Bike Barn in Penticton sorted that out at the end of the day – and served us a cappuccino while we waited. Top review for those guys.
Although this was a flat (or even gradual downhill) day we worked quite hard thanks to thick gravel and corrugations on the trail from all-terrain vehicles (quad bikes) bouncing over the dirt. Again we were disappointed in our wildlife tally as we saw signs of moose, bear and deer, but had to be satisfied with the company of inquisitive (and seriously cute) chipmunks and the occasional grouse.
Two big exciting events today – seeing a real-live working cowboy, and meeting up with our old friends Huan and Annalore who have made a home in Summerland on the shores of Okanagan Lake.
Dinner was with this delightful couple at the sublime Vanilla Pod restaurant at Poplar Grove winery. The funky Monster Brute bubbles went down as well as the fantastic food.
Today: 70km
Total distance: 647km
#TransCanadaTrail
#TheGreatTrail
Trans Canada Epic 