Day 7 - Creston to Cranbrook

Submitted by Stan Shaw

It's hard to imagine that in only three days we will be arriving in Banff.  The week has gone by so quickly.  Already, we've traveled over 844 kilometers in six days.  I'm feeling great, despite that massive climb yesterday.

Our route today, 110.1 km, as plotted on my bike-mounted Garmin GPS.  Click on the map to enlarge.  For more details, click here-->

<--Our elevation profile, a gradual rise with gentle, rolling hills, then a final descent into Cranbrook.




Our day began at the Chatka Family Restaurant, which specializes in hearty home-style food with a Russian flair.  I left quickly to pack our belongings to be forwarded onto our next destination, Cranbrook, approx. 108 km away.  We headed out, basically together, however, it wasn't long before some riders, including myself today, broke away to ride at a faster pace.

Breakfast at Chatka restaurant-->

I love both styles of riding . Group riding is my preferred method of cycling long distances as it allows for great conversation, and helps to save energy.  But solitary riding is nice too, because you can ride at your own pace, and simply tune in to the beauty around.  I chose the latter today, because it was a relatively easy, short ride that allowed me to settle into my aerobars and enjoy the kilometers float silently by.

I met up with the lead group of riders at a morning rest stop at Yahk Provincial Park.

<--Justin Chan, pointing the way

Within minutes, however, everyone on the cycling team showed up, exuberant over the ease of the ride. All riders are cycling stronger now, thanks to six days of major climbing.

While we were at Yahk, we, of course, "yahked" about the great ride we had enjoyed this morning. Nice rolling hills, perfect cycling weather, and NEW pavement for several kilometers leading to the rest stop. After traveling over 900 km so far, we're gourmet road connoisseurs now and appreciate such fine things in life.

Left to right: Rebecca Malott, Jill Payne and Martina Meckova-->

As for the goofy sounding name "Yahk"? Apparently, in the language of the Ktunaxa First Nation, who live in the region, Yahk means "cariboo" or "arrowhead".  Originally settled in 1928 by families of railway workers, it's now a small retirement community, sprinkled with farms.

<--Train outside Yahk

Along the way, I stopped to take photos and learn a bit about the places I was travelling through.

Martina, Justin and Rebecca (barely visible)-->

The Creston-Cranbrook region has a rich and colorful history.  The ghost town of Moyie, on the banks of Moyie lake, for example, was once a bustling city fuelled by the Eugene silver mine.  Ruins of the mine can be seen along the highway, along with the ruins of an old church and, beside it, a cemetery nestled in the woods.

<--what remains of an old church, near the St. Eugene silver mine alongside the highway. Click on photo to enlarge.

Pioneer cemetery in the woods-->

Moyie's remarkable footnote in BC history originated with the Kooteney gold rush in the 1850 and 1860's.   At the time, thousands of American prospectors rushed to seek fame and fortune.  In fact, all trails led north-south into Washington and Idaho, with the vast bulk of trade took place along these routes.  It's hard to imagine what might have happened if an all-British route had not been created along the Dewdney trail.

<--Wild flowers by the highway


The Dewney trail started Victoria-Vancouver and extended south to Rock Creek, linking small towns and mining communities along the way. We actually rode through Rock Creek three days ago . With concerns over American economic intrusion into the Kootenays, James Dewney was commissioned to extend his famous trail into this region.  The Dewney trail is now gone. But approximately 80% of it is part of the Crowsnest Highway that we are cycling on.

A rather colorful road sign (click on photo to enlarge). After traveling over 844 km so far, some of us were wondering whether this was the road we were actually travelling on!-->

Moyie Lake began to be settled after a Ktunaxa first nations member, Pierre, found a rich ore deposit containing lead and silver in the nearby hills.  Father Coccola, of the St. Eugene Mission, who apparently was also something of a real estate broker, negotiated the sale of the claims.  Proceeds from the sale were used to build a new home for Pierre, and a new mission church.  The discovery and development of the mine led to the expansion of Cominco and the construction of the Crowsnest Pass Railway.

<--Water tower of the Moyie firehall (now restored), built in 1907.

At last, after a gentle descent into Cranbrook, I found myself rolling through town, past a large railway museum beside the tracks on the highway.  Next tine I'n in the area, I simply must stop in to see it.










<--small lake and park on the outskirts of town

Water tower used to fill steam locomotives at the turn of the century-->

<--Old engines parked on sidelines near the Railway museum.




We soon found ourselves at the Sandman Inn. It was a good thing we arrived early, as the time changes between Creston and Cranbrook.  Since this meant I lost an hour due to Mountain Time, I had just enough time to get a hot shower before a shuttle took us to a Kinsman and Kinette's dinner at Mission Hills golf course.


The dinner was wonderful, and the conversation with our hosts, several of whom I had met during last year's tour was very enjoyable. At the end of dinner, we were presented with a donation on behalf of the Cranbrook Kinsmen and Kinettes - a welcome gift.

Afterwards, we tried out the local driving range, with hilarious results.   Justin found he could throw the ball farther than he could hit it with a golf club.

<--Jill trying her hand at the driving range

She kept us in stitches with her valiant attempts to master the fine art of hitting a golf ball-->

....unlike Bob and Simon, who hit those balls with a mechanical precision that was quite awesome.  After thoroughly embarrassing myself in the last two golf tournaments I've ever attempted (outside of pitch and put), I could appreciate it.

Left to right: Andrea, Rebecca, Susan and Tom-->

<--Simon, James and our volunteer driver, Wayne, enjoying the show!










What a great day. It was made even greater with news this afternoon that we have raised $119,000 for Cystic Fibrosis research so far.  The support we have received on this ride has been tremendous.

I didn't mention that, after dinner Tom, who lost his daughter to Cystic Fibrosis, gave an impassioned speech to all of us about the need to raise funds for the children and young adults who are living in hope for a cure.

Can we do better?  We have just two more days before our ride is complete.  If you have not donated yet, here's your chance.  Every dollar means hope for the children and young adults we are riding for.

Tomorrow is a long but easy ride into Invermere. I remember thoroughly enjoying it last year. Look for more photos and stories when we arrive!

- Stan


Would you like to sponsor a favorite rider? Click on their name anywhere on this journal to open their "bio" on the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation GearUp4CF web site. Then simply click on the button "Sponsor this Rider".