More cut blocks and coal mines but also glorious sun
With the additional 25 km's we tacked onto yesterday, our ride today to Sparwood was pretty short. We had already booked and paid for a hotel in Sparwood, and the next readily available camping past Sparwood on the route we were taking was another 35 km's away, and would just cut short the next day in domino fashion, we took the opportunity for a leisurely day.
It was still overcast with very low lying clouds when we got up in the morning but the forecast called for the clouds to burn off around mid-day with full sun after that.
We were in no hurry to break camp and we eventually started pedalling away from Elkford around 9 am. The Great Divide trail more or less parallels the main Elk Valley highway, which from here south to Sparwood is paved with quite a bit of traffic (i.e the muffler less trucks from last night). The GD trail started out as a very nice and what looks like a recently built single track section. This ran for a few km's and then transitioned into gravel (and some mud) forestry roads similar to what were were riding yesterday for the next 20km's. The final run into Sparwood was on the very quiet and very nice paved Lower Sparwood Road.
The approach into Sparwood was much more pleasant than we had anticipated, probably helped by the now clear blue sky and mid 20's temperature. Overall, pretty easy and pleasant riding.
We ran across another pair of cyclists who were headed north, Jeremy and Blair from Nelson. They had just started riding in Sparwood and were riding a multiday loop that would bring them back home to Nelson. Their bikes and panniers were spotless! that won't last long :)
Our 'wild life' spotting was all in the first 25 km's of the ride and consisted of a couple of deer on the edge of Elkford, Blue Grouse and from a distance what we though might be a black bear, but turned out to only be one of a herd of Angus cows.
The Lower Elk valley road into Sparwood turned out to be a really pleasant surprise. There was essentially no traffic, lots of interesting a acreages and farms with the requisite dead vehicle graveyards, and somewhat surprising, many pandemic inspired homemade inspirational/ feel-good signs posted along the road.
Once in Sparwood we did what appears to be the mandatory thing for all riders ... we took our pictures by the Worlds Largest Truck, and then headed off to the very plain but functional Valley Motel.
After checking in, getting cleaned up and plugging in our electronics to charge, our focus turned to getting some food and drinks into us. The dining choices in Sparwood are quite limited but there were two places within a short walking distance of the motel. The Arowana, a Chinese restaurant that a few friends recommended and the Silver Fox Pub that looked like it had a checkered past but was now under new management. We figured we'd give both a try, the Fox for a post ride bevy and then the Arowana for dinner.
The Fox turned out to be quite good and a fun atmosphere so we ended up staying there and stuffing ourselves with beer, burgers and fries. Back to K's healthier dried camp meals tomorrow!
All in, an easy and relaxing day of biking with everything from good manageable single track to quiet country roads through farms and acreages.
Jeremy and Blair from Nelson. The only other cyclists we saw today. They had just started their trip in Sparwood and were going a multiday loop back to Nelson.
Classic rural scene. Farm yard with the old vehicle graveyard. There were probably 20 or more old cars, truck and tractors. This one was actually quite neatly arranged!
Ron SuchanekI'm glad I stumbled on your journal here. I'm doing the GDMBR from Banff in June and have been debating the Flathead alternate versus the Fernie route. Reply to this comment 1 year ago
