There is only one thing on this trip higher than this waterfall

Well, maybe TWO things.

Today's distance: 482.5 km
Cumulative distance: 844 km
Moving average speed: 84 kph
Maximum speed: 125 kph

We were up early with a goal to be on the road by 8 or 8:30 a.m. It was a very refreshing 2.8 degrees so rather than waiting to get cold, we all put on our woolies and heated vests.

Despite the temperature, we are still excited, and treated to a view of Pyramid Mountain before getting on the road at 8:25 a.m.

By coincidence, the Tour of Alberta road cycling race is occurring one day after our stop in Jasper. This is a big deal because television coverage of the bike race will be watched all around the world and Jasper will be the crown jewel (with no disrespect to Spruce Grove). It would have been fun to be around to witness the cyclers ride from Jasper to Marmot Basin but it will be disruptive to traffic and we have an agenda. But you can watch it on T.V. We keep hearing from people and seeing on the news how the cyclers are getting snow; we are wondering if that is in our future.

Early in the morning and not much activity in Jasper yet.

Despite the termperature, it looks promising ahead. We can see towards BC that there is a break in the clouds so it is hopeful for the day to warm up.

One of my favourite views along Highway 5 is of Mt. Robson. I have read so many times that the peak is almost always enshrouded in cloud and you have to be very lucky to see the peak. However, even today, we are lucky because we get a pretty good view. This shot was taken by Nan at about 100 km/h; I asked her if we should stop and get a really good shot and her response is that we already have a million pictures of Robson. But I whine, "not on THIS blog!"


This bike trip is rapidly degenerating into a food tour. Certain members of this tour with a long and storied history of riding these routes, I am not going to mention any names here in order to protect the innocent but let's just say NOT Nan, Niels or myself, have certain cafes targetting and on top of mind at all times. The first of these stops is a little diner in Valemount, which is our breakfast stop. The place appears to be run by recent Chinese immigrants with a modest command of English and somewhere a written description of what constitutes an omlette. It is amazing to me how people can come in and land themselves into what would basically be Mars to them and make a go of it. There is probably a lesson in here to many.

Niels crosses paths with an old riding buddy at the Valmount cafe.

I wasn't fast enough to capture the hug between Niels and Ron by I got him with Ron's wife!

Our next anticipated stop is Clearwater and the discussion preceeding the stop is about the bakery that makes great cinnamon buns. On a whim, Niels suggests we check out the waterfall on Clearwater River, which is about a 30 or 40 km round trip.

Niels says it is 300 feet!

This is the view downstream from the waterfall.

Your intrepid crew.

OK, so you thought that waterfall was tall? Check THIS out:

Yet another food tour destination. This is the pie place in Little Fort called High Five. I think I know where the "High" part comes from the name. And it is not the pie. Poor Stan, he couldn't finish his. We debate whether or not we should wait the one and a half hours for the Friday prime rib dinner. We decide we can't because there is a bar in Kamloops where we can get 2 for 1 appetizers.

Notwithstanding the cold start to the day, the temperature has clawed and scratched its way up to a whopping 21 degrees by the time we reach Kamloops. Cold by Kamloops standards but toasty for us. My brother Dan in Ocean Park and my buddy Daryl in Toronto, both following us on the spotwalla link, see us entering Kamloops and tell us to get down to the Noble Pig brew pub. Do they have 2 for 1 appetizers? I didn't think so but thanks for the thought.

Oh, the other thing taller than the waterfall? Niels.