Day 4 - Osoyoos to Grand Forks 131.1 km

Submitted by Stan Shaw

We've arrived at Grand Forks!  It's hard to imagine that we've already traveled over 590 kilometers in four days, and are travelling deep in the heart of the interior of British Columbia.

Our route today, mapped by my Garmin GPS. Click on the image to enlarge.  For more details, click here-->

<--Our elevation profile.  Breakfast had hardly settled before we were faced with the massive Anarchist Pass rises out of Osoyoos.

Today was of interesting things to see.  But the first challenge to overcome was what was perhaps the most intimidating hill climb of the tour - Anarchist Pass, overlooking Osoyoos.

The view partway up Anarchist Pass, overlooking Osoyoos-->

What is perhaps the most difficult part of this particular pass is the heat.  Osoyoos is, for all intents and purposes, a dry, hot desert.  Fortunately,  there were clouds overhead this morning, which kept the temperature down a bit.  Still, it was a tough hill. The grade, mostly around 6%, was a bit easier than Cypress Mountain back home, but we were climbing for 35 kilometers, before a thrilling descent into the valley below.

Jill and Bob Payne, two of my splendid riding partners today-->

Once over Anarchist pass, we passed rich farmland and beautiful rivers.

<--Brenda, enjoying the ride


 Traffic was better, too, as, thankfully, the southern route along Highway 3 is not quite so heavily traveled. Still, it takes nerves of steel to keep from being blown off course as a big semi-trailer roars passes by. They travel pretty fast along those narrow highways!  For the most part, however, drivers are very considerate, giving wide berth as they see us riding up the highway.

We passed by lush green farmland and old homesteads. This part of BC is full of history.  Passing through Hedley, we came across massive slag heaps, the product of copper smelting at the turn of the century.

<--Turn of the century stores at Greenwood looking much the same now as it probably did then.

Old railway tunnel just outside of Greenville.  The date reads 1913-->

One major goal of the ride, to share with Madison, Hailey and Roman's elementary school, is to find wildlife!

Kitty found it, but I think she didn't really want to get as close as she did.  As she was cycling along the highway, a mother bear, with three cubs nearby, tried to break through a wire fence that separated her from Kitty, who was riding on the highway. Kitty didn't dare take photos! That mama bear was not looking very friendly.

Deer,  hidden in wild flowers-->

<--Sheep and horses grazing in a farm nestled in a valley below the highway






.... and all sorts of unusual animals....







<-- a lama, inside a farmer's pasture pacing back and forth along the highway fence.

And, guess what I found, at the top of Anarchist pass? (I think that's an empty Kokanee beer case in his hand) -->

<---OK, this is not exactly the wildlife I was looking for, but at least this fellow didn't run away.   I quickly decided riding a bicycle is safer, and I'll get there a lot faster!

Along the way, we cycled over the Rock Creek Bridge, which spans a terrifying (looking down) 300 feet above the creek below. 

Those pointed bushes below are the tops of trees!-->

Eventually, we rolled into Grand Forks, a town that is steeped in BC history.  Incorporated in 1897, a group of pacifist refugee emigrants from Russia moved there in 1909, and became home to many Russian descendants who live there.  Even today, Russian is still taught in schools.  

There, we stayed the night at Johnny's motel, situated beside the convergence of the Kettle and Granby rivers.  Every year the GearUp4CF team have stayed here, they have found the staff to be wonderfully helpful. This year was no exception - when they heard we were riding to Banff again on behalf of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, they offered to do our laundry, for free!

Tomorrow, we're travelling between Grand Forks and Trail.  It's going to be a hard climb. I must leave early, but will write again when I arrive.

- Stan

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