Day 1, May 30th, Vancouver to Hope (144km)

Port Moody: End of the Pacific

Charles Warner once said “There's no delight in any pilgrimage like the beginning of it.” Today was the start of it. My plans are vague and the route is far from certain but I'm ecstatic. For once, time is of no meaning and each fork in the road opens the door to new possibilities. Let's take the road as it comes and see what Canada has to offer.

Farmland Harrison Mills

Port Moody seemed like the logical place to start. Over 100 years ago, Port Moody was the last stop on the railway. Today it's a sleepy little city sandwiched between the mountains and the inlet. Rocky Point Park is where the Pacific ends and the land begins. A quick dip in the ocean and off I went under cloudy skies.

1906 Kilby General Store

Lougheed highway was flat and fast. A modest tail wind and fresh asphalt made the first 55km from Port Moody to Mission a breeze. After 90km, I was ecstatic to see the sign for Harrison Mills. Years ago, I was fortunate enough to get a Co-op job at the FVRD and spent the summer out here. A quick detour to the 1906 Kilby General Store revealed nothing had changed. It was like a time warp. Exactly how I remembered it from 13 years ago.

After climbing Mount Woodside and zooming into Agassiz for lunch, I quickly finished the final 40km into Hope on tired legs. Unfortunately, the library was closed but I was able to leach power for my netbook from a plug outside the building. Tonight I'm camped at Tetle Yet Campsite in Hope along the windy Fraser River.

Swollen Fraser River Near Hope

Tomorrow, B.C.'s coastal mountains should challenge tired legs. The folks in Hope say there's still snow at the summit of Allison Pass in Manning Park.  From Hope, it's almost 50km to the summit.  I'm not too sure whether I'm going to high altitude camp or make a go at Princeton tomorrow.  Hills are the devil's work but a deal with the devil is the quickest way to get in shape.

Sandpiper Golf Course Harrison Mills

Distance: 144km

Average Speed: 22.1km/h

Maximum Speed 62.5km

Time: 6:31

Odometer: 144km