Whitefish 5 Aug 08

Rest day today here in Whitefish, USA.
Beautiful blue sky day, just like yesterday, and nice & warm. Am sure we'll reach 'hot' later in the journey.
Just sifting, eating icecream (Huckleberry & Pecan), yum.
Am a bit unsure about my hi tech water purifier so will buy a different one later (Katadyn Hiker Pro).
The Steripen seems to be OK, but chews batteries a bit fast (likes them fresh and high powered) and am unsure how they will go later on if water is not as clear as currently around here.
Looked into sending my tent back home and buying a new smaller lighter one but at $100nzd to send back is getting a bit pricey. Compared to the others its a mansion, paid for in sweat. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger I guess (hope).
Going to do a couple of day & 1/2's as the distances seem easy enough.

Monday 4 Aug, Upper Whitefish Lake - Whitefish
Nice, still, morning at Upper Whitefish Lake campsite so took a few photo's of the lake.
An easy ride downhill to Whitefish Lake (and some flash houses) then a small climb on tarmac along the lake.
Into Whitefish and to Glacier Cyclery for some info etc.
Icecream !
Opted for CheapSleeps motel but all booked so using the campsite at $24 per night. Still its OK and have shower etc.
Lot of sifting, including a burger for late lunch, beer at the brewery then Mexican diner later.
Blue sky and nice & warm


Sunday 3 Aug, Tuchuck - Upper Whitefish CG
Cold night, and something moved some dishes off the camp table at night (heard it but didn't sound big).
Back to porridge for brekky.
Easy cruise down North Fork Rd etc with a couple of rain showers then a bit of a climb up to Red Meadow lake. All on a good gravel surface.
Had a chat to a guy with a nice strip built canoe he'd made himself (must get my kayak back on track when home).
Then a fast descent to Upper Whitefish Lake. OK, but nothing on Tuchuck.


Saturday 2 Aug, Eureka - Tuchuck Campsite
Had a nice big pancake brekky for a change. Nice. At Jax cafe as per last nights dinner. Great postcards!
Despite the reknown Quilt show, we decided to push on to Tuchuck campsite.
Quite easy (road) riding and then a bit more effort required to get up and over the pass. Then a nice downhill to the campsite.
Great spot by a stream, which Kenneth lost a flipflop in while doing press ups. Remember, he's Welsh.
And the Bristols made it as well (good effort from Grassmere & esp with the border crossing / immigration etc) which made for a crew of six. Cool.
Had a beer around the campfire.
Despite being well into grizzly territory it felt fine.


Friday 1 Aug, Barnes Lake - Eureka
Off along tarmac heading for Grassmere with a couple of direction rethinks along the way.
Not far from Grassmere got caught by 3x guys from Swansea (Kenneth, Howel and Chris) also doing the ride.
I was going to camp with the Bristols at Grassmere but decided to carry on with the Taff's to Eureka in the US to give me a shorter next day.
No probs going through the border.
Bear spray is OK if it has a picture of a bear on it.
Bit of a head wind into Eureka, a wee diversion (right instead of left), and settled into the town park for the night (nice lush grass instead of gravel :)
Groceries, a huckleberry smoothie then dinner. This cycling touring bizzo ain't so hard after all.
A German road tourer ('currious' George) joined us for dinner also. He struggled with my accent and general slang.


Thur 31 Aug, Fernie to Barnes Lake.
Easy day.
Not a flash start as one of my tent poles had fractured (fixed with a pole sleave), and then the ranger lady drove over my tent fly drying on the road as I was moving my bike to give her space. If it had ripped I definitely would not 'get over it'. Crazy - thats my house!
Anyway, a nice cruisey ride down the Elk River. Hat got a bit fast on some pot holes and jettisoned her trailer (its designed to detach when required). I wasn't too far behind her so got more of a shock than her I think. A helmet-cam would have been good.
Great spot at the campsite. Swim in Survey lake (with cycle clothes so laundry done as well) was nice and refreshing.
Saw a turtle.
And some skunks nor far from our camp area.
Rice & chilli for dinner then invited for desert by our RV neighbour and extended family. Just as we were heading off for the dessert the park ranger had us move off the 'endangered' grass/dirt and onto gravel which pissed us off (and I bent 2 more tent pegs). Tosser.
Park rangers 2, Andy 0.
A nice cruisey day anyway.