Sunday June 25, 2006

Our first official ride of the Tour!
Our route took us from UBC to Spanish Banks where we had a group photo taken, and then did the ceremonial dipping of the tires in the Pacific Ocean-I thought that I wouldn’t care for this ceremony, but after thinking that we’d be ending our ride on the opposite side of the country on the Atlantic side, I couldn’t help myself from shoving my tire firmly into the ocean.

We then took a route that lead us through Burnaby, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, and then I am not sure after that.
It’s nice to meet the places that I have heard about on the news for various reasons or another.

I’m running out of adjectives to describe the magnificent scenery; it really is breathtaking countryside, with the view of snow-capped mountains in the background.
It’s quite ironic riding in intense heat, with the snow within sight; I kept thinking that at any minute we’d enjoy a soothing, cool current of chilling mountain air that happened to cascade from the mountain tops-no such luck.

We haven’t had much hot weather riding thus far; our spring hadn’t quite reached summer temperatures, while here they are in the full swing of the heat-it takes a few days to get used to it, so the ride today, although didn’t include any lung or leg crushing hills, was tough just for the fact of the heat.
At one point I dumped half my water bottle on my head, and then had to ask Lewis for a top-up.

We started off with the group, but soon splintered into smaller groups; Lewis and I ended up riding with a guy who is a native Vancouverite, and later with another guy who is from Port Moody.
The three of us were first into camp at about 12:15 or so (not that it’s a race) with the last of the group coming in closer to 4:00pm.
I felt really badly for them, as most of us had already set up camp and were sitting back sucking back cold beers.

Our driver, Megan has a really tough job, as she must play nanny to 27 needy, hungry cyclists, as well as shop, organize, drive, organize, get beer, organize, and a host of other jobs that I am not sure of yet, but know that it includes organization. I don’t envy her job, but she probably doesn’t envy ours either.
I’m guessing she’s in her early 20’s, and is part of a hospitality course, where this is serving as a summer job, as well as credit.

We’re staying at a trout fishery; I think the place used to host other campers, but now only hosts us as campers, out of habit for doing it for so many years.
Our first time, out of the box tent set-up (a camping faux-pas) went well; our tent has a vestibule where we can leave our soggy things.
The Ozzies in the group win for best tent-it’s really cool and looks like a stand-up space ship.

Ok, off to socialize!