We were away at 8 a.m. today with clouds overhead. We followed undulating and curving roads through beautiful West Kootenay landscape. Several signs along the way suggested that we could cross the border into the US only between 9 and 5. We followed the Kettle River, then Norwegian Creek after Midway. Like all creeks and rivers we've seen so far they were high and fast-flowing.
The first real town we came to was Greenwood, and apparently it is Canada's smallest city. Greenwood had a booming copper mining industry until the end of WW1. Then its population rose again with an influx of Japanese who were relocated during WW2. At one time Greenwood had a population of only 2000 but surprisingly had 14 hotels and an opera house with 1000 seats. We enjoyed cinnamon buns with cream cheese at the Copper Eagle Cappucino and Bakery. I also bought a butter tart for the upcoming summit. A local resident was eager to tell us that he had cycled solo across Canada and he found BC to be the easiest province!!Silly man!
We continued on with hills and slight downhills and were completely taken by surprise when we saw the Elhot Summit 1028 meters sign. We took the mandatory summit photo and I guiltily ate my butter tart. Then we started a 21.5 km downhill ride into Grand Forks.
In Grand Forks we went our separate ways. Some went to find the bike shop, others went to have borscht local style, I went to the library and then we all met to eat lunch in the municipal park and to trade stories.
Then we started another downhill ride, this time the 21.6 km were not so easy as we had a headwind all the way to Christina Lake. The weather is threatening, the campground is not overcrowded and we're all looking forward to the challenge of the Blueberry Paulson on our way to Castlegar. We'll all be sleeping cozy and comfy and hopefully dry in our tents tonight.
report by Yvonne
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