too bad about all the wildfire smoke.

At Christina Lake I'd found this funky campsite and had the whole place pretty much to myself.

The lake was the perfect way to cool off.

At times it was clear and other times the smoke came in very thick.

A smokey sunset over Christina Lake

eventually it was time to leave Christina Lake, I hope I can come back some time.

Crossing Lake Kootenay again.

I bought some new shoes in Castlegar, they are machine washable so getting them soaked shouldn't be a problem.

Gray Creek pass again, this is my campsite at near the summit.

the water in every lake I've seen in BC is crystal clear.

The rec site has some dedications.

My view for the evening, not too shabby.

my campsite at the summit of Gray Creek pass

walking back to the lake

the sun is getting lower

an idyllic spot

the lake near the summit

rough camping

there's even a privy

several riders pass as the day wears on

some views from along the way over Gray Creek pass

so far so good

I got all the way over the gnarly stuff with no trouble at all, then just as I'm getting out to civilization I hit a patch of gravel just dumped there on the road.

I knew I was going down but I wasn't going very fast. This would have been nothing at all except I fell just at the edge of the road and in that spot the bank was 8 or 10 feet high.

this is how the bike came to rest, I tumbled past it all the way to the bottom but it was super soft and I wasn't hurt.

it was so steep and loose that every time I touched the bike to get some of the gear off it to lighten it up, it slid further down the bank.

I pulled as much weight as I could off the bike.

eventually I got some help and the truck you can see at the edge of the frame towed me up the bank using ratchet straps.

the big swoosh my front wheel made in the loose gravel... yeah, it was raining the whole time I was working at getting the bike up the bank.

some damage to the bike, mostly cosmetic.

this really reminds me of something...

zip ties to the rescue. I rode it like this for several days until I could get a replacement in Calgary.

The forecast was for lots of rain overnight so after a day of breathing thick smoke and fighting the wind I got a cheapish motel in Radium and stayed inside for the evening.

A visit to Olive Lake and the memories it brings.

As I was leaving Radium the rain started up. I needed gas and there was a market so I had a quick snack in a sheltered spot.

It poured all day but let up briefly as I got to Fernie. The skies were really threatening so I hurried to find a spot, I was really rushing and just finished setting up the tent when it started doing this. I got drenched rigging a tarp to sit under but I knew I'd need it.

it was a couple hours of this until the rain stopped for a bit. I was finally able to change out of my riding gear and put my stuff in the tent. It rained on and off all evening and I cooked my supper huddled under the tarp. The whole thing was pretty unpleasent.

the next morning skies were clear but the trees would be dripping for days. The forecast to the south was for lots of steady rain so I decided to head a bit north once I got through the Crowsnest pass.

I took rte. 40 again and was frustrated to see they were doing this on the first 30 km or so. Very tough driving in this.

one of the only creative inukshuks I've ever seen.