Day 6- The Long Haul to Kelowna

I woke up around 7 AM to the chilly morning air in the shadow of the cliffs above. As I cooked breakfast the sun began to rise over the rock face, and with it came heat.

I began my ride through the rolling hills and rivers of the plains, taking in the lovely scenery and and western feel. I saw many animals including deer, eagles, lemmings, and a coyote.

Not long into the ride I began to feel like I was barely moving despite how hard I tried. There was  strong head wind that only got worse, so I blamed that. Kilometers crawled by as I passed through interesting little country towns with a beautiful back drop.

After I while I became very frustrated and angry with my increasingly futile efforts to proceed. I begin to feel defeated, knowing I still had over 120 KM to Kelowna. I kept going however desperate to stop I was. Even once the headwind subsided I still could not move, and the downhills still required work; it must be my bike I thought. I stopped for a late lunch at 1 PM and tinkered with my bike. It seemed as though the resistance disappeared from my upside down bike once I loosened my back break, so I called it a job well down and continued on my way feeling relieved, only to discover nothing had changed. Dismay. 90 KM to go still.

I continue to trudge forward, the terrain gradually changing into a more California like zone around a lake, and quite hot. Suddenly, just before Penticton, the Phantom resistance disappeared, and I could move again! I hit a large downhill section and made tons of progress and suddenly I knew I could make it. I still had so far to go, but I felt I could do it with my renewed confidence.

It was still a hard journey over another 80 KM, but for the first while at least it was mostly downhill and I was making good time. Then I hit the general Kelowna area with 30 KM to go and the hills began again, and in my exhausted state they were quite the ordeal. It was so hot too. I laboured long past the point I would like to have stopped, and eventually made it. At 7 PM, after 11 hours and 162 KM of biking, I rolled onto Mitch's family's driveway, nearly deleriously exhausted from my long trek. I ate tons of food and spent some time getting caught up on all I had missed while I was away from cell/ internet service, including catching up on my blog entries.

Though today could be described as grueling, I am just happy I managed to finish it. The scenery along the way and in Kelowna is fantastic. Mitch's family has  a lovely house with an awesome view of the surrounding area. The sunset is quite nice over their back balcony.