Day 7: New Key's Place to Yahk Provincial Park

Western Canada tour

looking south down Kootenay Lake

I left myself go back to several times this morning, given the previous day. I rose at 6:45, had packed up camp and was leaving New Key's Place (see photo) in an hour. It was a pleasant ride in the morning, having set off before most of the holiday makers were on the roads. I snapped a couple of pics of Kootenay Lake, which reminded me a little of my ride along the westen edge of Cayuga Lake back in July 06. My memories of that day are more pleasant —most likely as I had had several days rest and was refreshed before setting out.

I stopped in for a 20min break at Lockhart Beach Provincial Park a little after 9am. I was feeling the exertion of the previous day in my Quads and was sensing the heat of the day to come. With the shade provided from the morning sun, I hoped to get a good part of the days riding in before I became exposed to the suns unrelenting. Aside from the shade, again much like my ride along the westen edge of Cayuga Lake, it was quite undulating.

I pushed on the to the store at Sirdar, arriving 57kms and 3hrs after I set out. The store is reminiscent of times before mine, with the store seeming not to have changed at all. I purchased water (for the first time) as that out of the top was not suitable for drinking. The women who ran the store was friendly and we chatted about the heat and a recent slide that had taken the lives of a few locals (and part of the road with it).

I set off from the store, restocked with water and sport drink for the climbs between there and Creston. The first was a little climb and I was happy to peak it, though did not enjoy greatly the bigger one which followed into Wynndel. I had kept my eye out, though not noted, the alternate route to avoid the hills that the women at the store in Sirdar had mentioned. I pushed on towards Creston.

On the western outskirts (semi-industrial sprawl) of Creston, I passed two fully-loaded cycle tourers (heading west). With them seeming to be in their groove, and the road being a busy one, we did not have a chat together. I also did not have the opportunity to snap a pic. I stopped for a sandwich at an organic cafe around 1:15, after 78km and 4hrs of riding. I picked up some supplies a a large supermarket before a second lunch (a salad and samosa) and some internet time at a cafe on the other side of town.

I pushed on from Creston at 3:10pm, with the temperature still hovering in the mid 30ºC’s. The eastern side of the Kootenays were striking as I left ehm behind. My destination was Yahk Provincial Park. A littler over two hours later, I was promptly setting up camp so I could jump in the Moyie river. The water wes quite cool, though I needed the immersion. With the weather still quite warm, I dried off quickly. After a wholesome meal, I retired early.

New Key's Place. I camped out the back
looking north up Kootenay Lake
looking on the Kootenay's(?) leaving Creston