Day 3 Hope to Manning Park

We left Hope Secondary around 7:30. The temperature was nice and the first good climb started at k3  and went all the way to k18 where we had our first rest stop by Hope Slide.  So that was a 15k grind and I was usually at 9-10 kph. Took us an hour and a half.

But then we had a glorious downhill for the next 18 k. That was a good reprieve. Then the next 18 k were uphill again.  What I find is that people really get spread out on days like this. At our first stop there were a lot of cyclists,but when we got to the SAG stop at k58 there was no one and even after 5 minutes there were no other cyclists showing up.  We were told there was a dozen ahead of us.

The final part to Manning Park Lodge was fast!  I hit 67 kph and the road was smooth.  As it was only noon I ordered lunch. Chicken salad and apple pie. Albert C (AB) and George vdk (ON) were already there at the restaurant just finishing up. We camped at Lone Duck group camp, a couple  of klm up the hill by Lightning Lake. Basically look around and find a spot to pitch your tent.

After supper I was talking with a younger cyclist who said how much he was enjoying the trip and that he found a great sense of community.  Later I heard that on this tough climbing day he hung back with an older cyclist who was really being challenged by the hills.  Some people walked a bit here and there and the last ones came in around 4.  I'm on supper prep duty all week so started that around then.

People were tired for the most part, but the general vibe was good and some fears were laid to rest as this was one of those "I don't look forward to this" days.  The day wasn't super long distance wise, just intense.

Totals for the day 73 klm, 4:00 cycling time, with a 18.5 kph avg.