Canada
First impressions
Wednesday, 06/07/2006 to Friday, 06/09/2006
border crossing was on Wednesday morning, after I had 24 km from the border on the "roadside" camped again in the U.S..
Here the wind blows (unexpected) accessible from the front. The ups and downs of nerves, as well mountains and passes, followed by the still. The roads are worse than in Alaska (rough rough asphalt with cracks and holes and many waves).
today (after about 900 miles) I've entered a day of rest, I use to relax, to Radinspektion and cleaning (some passages through slurry road sections under construction) and the free writing on the computer of a hotel. I do not know whether enough of the first 1,000 km, to retract myself, maybe even 1,000 km, but then I'm still in Canada. For my copious spare days on the tour I have some additional optional sections scheduled for this and to visit it. These options can I leave out, if it "go bad" I should or I'm in the delay. It has been personally very difficult, but after 8 days is still "all included" and I am confident that if "down" too many evenings.
So dear readers, hopes to continue to optimistic reports. This is not pessimistic, just a situation report.
On Monday I'm in Whitehorse. Whether I will later visit the Jasper-Banff-NP and NP (additional distance of about 1,000 km), I decide on the shape and timing.
Once again the bottom line: It is an experience, but a very, very stressful.
For all who have written me a comment or sent an e-mail, thank you. Please understand that I can not respond individually to every message. And please excuse if I have not heard from me long and leave you may have looked in vain even if something "in it is from me."
foot problems. Hot sun. Other cyclists
until Saturday, 06/10/2006 Monday, 19/06/2006
If I only have time for a few minutes at the computer, I would like to sign me again. I am in Dease Lake, where I can use but only up to 12 clock the computer in a college.
very briefly to my station and my condition and the many encounters (with cyclists).
After I crossed the border and US-amerik./kanadische during a day of rest, the last report had written, I drove over Haines Junction on the Alaska highway. I was in Haines Junction on Sunday in a church just a part of the Musikfestpiele that had taken place on the weekend. With a stop we went to Whitehorse. Here I had to insert one days forced break because I'm on the left foot sole, a 2-euro coin size bladder / pustule had what hurt incredibly. Medical costs for consultation and eliminate 50 CAD 35 CAD and again of Medicine.
While it is still not over and still hurts (especially when running), but I can biking (better than running). Never thought that the sun can be so hot in these latitudes. In the last few days was good weather and it rolls gradually better.
in Whitehorse at the campground I met Rico and Sandra a couple from Freiberg, who were also traveling with canoe and bike and just finished their tour. They are the tenth time in Canada and want to emigrate to this country SOON. We celebrated the first Chinese with copious food and then at a large jug of beer to their departure (and my good to advance).
Two days later I met the evening on a "wild" campsite (a size without glade Bears) Sylvain, a Frenchman, and Quinn, an American , which were also encountered in only two days ago. Sylvain wants somewhere stop in the U.S., Quinn - drive to Tierra del Fuego - almost in the same way and at the same time as me. Would be really great with him continue, but the next day I notice that both - especially on the mountain - to me are far superior to. We go together only one piece, because I do not want to stop. And yesterday I heard from a couple drivers (German living in Vancouver) , pause briefly and offer me food, that they are behind me. I'm sure, as we meet again.
This morning I met two Swiss cyclists who are traveling from Vancouver to Anchorage. Frank, the world traveler from Schwäbisch Hall, which I mentioned in the previous report - me ja schon einen Kommentar geschrieben. Sind die nicht alle verrueckt, solche Touren zu machen ??
Die Berge sind genau noch so steil und anstrengend, das Gepaeck ist nicht leichter, der Gegenwind immer wieder zum Verzweifeln und heute steht mir noch eine Passueberquerung (zwar nur 1.241 m ü.n.N., aber soll nach Aussagen der Schweizer sehr steil sein) bevor. Die Tour ist also nicht weniger hart als zu Beginn geschildert, allerdings mit fast 2.000 km hab ich schon ein bisschen mehr Training. Ich muss kleinere Broetchen backen, als ich mir vorgestellt hatte. Die schoene Landschaft entschaedigt fuer Manches und das Erlebnis dieser Radtour ist vielleicht die groesste Motivation. Fuer die Berge der Anden muss ich meine Uebersetzungsverhaeltnisse der Schaltung anders gestalten. (Alle, die ich traf, uebersetzen viel kleiner und fahren dadurch die Berge mit weniger Anstrengung hinauf).
Ich werde auch meine Strecke etwas aendern, aber darueber weiter unten.
Es rollt. Bären. Salmon Gletscher. Fähre. VANCOUVER. Tänzerin Marico. Victoria.
Dienstag 19.06.2006 bis Dienstag 04.07.2006
Um ehrlich zu sein, der Tag an dem ich hier die letzte Eintragung vornahm (19.06.2006), war der erste Tag, an dem ich die leise Hoffnung hatte, dass ich die Tour tatsaechlich schaffen kann. Die ersten 18 Tage zweifelte ich daran. Am 25. Tag (25.06.) rollte es then be really good (the first time since Anchorage over 18 km / h), as I had imagined, and in recent days, I found my form again, so I today a successful completion of my "madness tour" - as they describe some - believe. It can, however, many unpredictable things happen that I can not influence, so I was only on 28 speak February 2007 from a successful trip (or not speak) can.
now turn to some of the experiences that build an ever again and have a ride so unique.
Am 19.06. I am moving up a pass, but as it rises evenly, falls it's not that hard if you have to set mentally for a long climb. And then the descent. Through a beautiful area it is in the Stikine River Recreation Area " (Provincial Park) and I see my first bear. 30, 40 meters from me eats away peacefully a grizzly with 2 older boys (2-3 years they remain in the mother), ignores us (have since stopped three cars) and leaving to film and photograph. On the Highway I meet in the coming days to further 9 bears (one black bear and a brown bear with cubs, each with 2 singles and 3).
After a rest day, which I really NECESSARY had, at a campsite in a dream realm I meet the next morning from Wisconsin Quinn (born on Friday, January 13, 1984 - would not honor the Owls membership worth it?) and Sylvain again. As an international team we are now driving a piece together, we look at the evening a "wild" camping, cook, entertain us. A day later we decide to leave your bikes and tents and 64 km to hitchhike in a "dead end" after Stewart (Canada) and Hyder (USA). This is a tourist attraction in July, because you can see there bears with cubs fishing for salmon. Now, unfortunately, not yet. But we have a different experience. Back when hitchhiking - it is now 19 clock - Invites us Steve and asked if we were because at Salmon Glacier (glacier fuenftgroesster North America). "No," our answer. "Then we go back now." It is 30 km. And the sight of the glacier that day still makes us a great experience. When we are back in Stewart - it's now 21 clock - and he understands that we have deployed our bikes and camping out at the 64 km away, "Meziadin Junction", there is only one thing: we sleep in his house (he is from Massachusetts, an avid fisherman and holds in his house in only 6 weeks per year). When it rains in torrents the next morning, he drives us even the 64 km back to our tents. On this day, I separate myself from Sylvain and Quinn, because they take a different route to Vancouver when I and the very same afternoon drive on, while I still tire patches. I am going with constant head wind to the coast (Prince Rupert) and from there by ferry to the northern tip of Vancouver Iceland Port Hardy. I want to meet with Quinn in the U.S. on the west coast or in Mexico again, and then we might want to go on together (if me, his grandfather could be accepted as partners) and celebrate our birthday zusammenn in Chile. On the ferry from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy (18 hours), I Kristy , a young girl from Vancouver, who is also on a bike ride and a few other cyclists from England. Shipping is a unique experience. Picturesque coastline with mountains and narrow channel crossings, whale and dolphin watching, extremely remote areas - just fantastic.
With Kristy I cycle together on Vancouver Iceland. She goes on this day only 40 km with me because she wants to visit friends and I really would like to continue. It awarded rolls with me and I drive 177 km, of which 50 km on gravel. So it's after all. I'm happy.
On 1 July Canada Day (National Holiday) is. A lot of flags and holiday mood. Interestingly, a competition of wood sculptors for producing large wooden sculptures ("carving contest"), which attracts many spectators.
Der naechste Tag sieht mich wieder auf der Faehre nach Horseshoe-Bay 40 km noerdlich von Vancouver. Ich fahr diese kurze Strecke noch und richte mich auf einem RV-Park (Parkplatz fuer grosse - Trailer - busaehnliche Ferienfahrzeuge fuer eine Familie), wo man auch sein Zelt aufstellen kann, "zeltlich" ein. Es ist warm, ein Swimming-Pool reizt und ein warmer Whirlpool. Man muss sich ja auch mal erholen.
Ueber die Lions Gate Bridge in den historischen und wunderbaren Stanley-Park, die Besichtigung Vancouvers von oben (TV-Tower) und eine Fahrt durch down-town Vancouver machen auch diesen Tag zu einem Hoehepunkt. Schliesslich fahr ich noch 50 km bis zur naechsten Faehre, um am naechsten Morning to Vancouver and Victoria impose over Iceland - visit - a wonderful city, the capital of British Columbia.
meet on the ferry I Mariko a young woman of about 25 years (Irish / Japanese parents who want to ride in August 2006 with the tandem of Ireland). She is a dance teacher and came from a workshop in Vancouver. From our landing is just 40 km from Victoria and we decide to ride the route together, although they only wanted to take the bus. After a briefing at a tourist information center (in this work only so-called Volunteers - retirees on a voluntary basis - including Erika, a German woman from Hanover, Canada lives), we use a beautiful bike path and can avoid the busy highway. The accommodation in Victoria is also clarified. I sleep with her (Mariko). With her, this is a residential community of 9 young people (bicycle taxi drivers, teachers, students, educators, open a home for orphans soon) and I can pitch my tent for the overnight stay in the garden. I am an old grandpa of these young people fully accepted and integrated. When I Mariko shows some sights of the city, we visit a church and suddenly hear a bell-clear voice, "Ave Maria" singing. It was Mariko who had satisfied this space with it. Wonderful.
from 1-9. July is Vicotria a cross-cultural music festival, because of course we go in the evening. It occurs where a song and dance group from Rwanda (for which I have by my stay there still a special relationship), which is celebrated enthusiastically. We listen to a rapper from Somalia, a kind of music that I was never torn by chair, inspired me here, despite cold weather is a warm evening. As I Mariko after that to a singing group entrains (If this type of singing, a certain Gewoehnungsbeduerfnis was necessary - everyone sang the same time as something of its own, so it came to me at least before) stayed in this community something special. The next morning I pack my tent early and we adopt a We welcome all. Here I met a community - all the way, playing any musical instrument - that stood out pleasant the rest of society, the kutscht with fat campers through the country. Of course we stay in e-mail contact.
From Victoria, I take the ferry directly to Port Angeles in Washington state in the U.S.
Statistics :
Canada: 2,554 km (+ 67 km), 9120 Hm, 160 : 55 hours (220:25 hr);
19 ½ days, 7 ½ days of rest Navigation Day 1;
132 km / day, 15.9 km / hr, 477 Hm / day, 354 Hm/100 km
Tourverlauf :
Alaska Highway (1), Grenze Alaska/Kanada ueber Whitehorse (Kanada) bis Upper Liard - Abzweig auf den Stewart-Cassier-Highway (37) bis Kitwanga - Highway (16) nach Westen weiter zum Pazifik bis Prince Rupert. Faehre nach Port Hardy (Vancouver Island). Auf Vancouver Island Highway (19) ueber Woss - Golden River (NS) durch den Strathcona Provincial Park (28) nach Nainoma - Faehre nach Horseshoe-Bay - VANCOUVER - Faehre von Tsawwassen nach Swartz Bay - Victoria - Faehre nach Port Angeles (USA).
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