March 21 - to Wee Jasper

Today was another great day.  But before I get to today, I should cover last night...  I was in my tent last night sound asleep but was awaken by a sound.  I heard a hissing noise just outside the tent.  It wasn't once and that was it.  It was over and over.  I kept hitting the tent to scare whatever it was away.  But that did not phase the unidentified creature.  Finally I decided to investigate.  I went outside the tent and shined the light in the direction of the noise... and of course nothing was there.  The mystery lingers! 

Back to today...  We started our ride and it was 3 degrees Celsius according to one of the riders bike computer.  That would be less than 40 degrees.  I find it hard to ride at those temps.  But off we went.  It was a great ride with great views.  We had a 79 kilometer day with over 1,400 meters of climbing.  Tough day!  It was an off road day on gravel and dirt.  It was tough riding conditions reminiscent of Central America/Ruta Maya.  We climbed and we climbed to lunch.  It was a tough bit of climbing due to the corrugated surface and very loose gravel.  After lunch it was downhill.  A downhill on loose rock, corrugation and hellish bumps.  But a downhill it was and downhill I went.  I descended as best and quickly as was safely practical.  Yes, I did say as safely practical.  The downhill with it bumps and humps beat the living h... out of me.  It was such a tough and tortuous downhill I could not close my hands when I got to the bottom.  Holding onto the handle bars and applying the brakes as it was jarring through the rough downhill, it took a toll .  As I am typing this I find it difficult as all the joints ache.  😔

Tonight we are staying on a sheep ranch in the shearers quarters.  It is out in the middle of no where and will be awesome for star viewing tonight.

Here are some photos of the day:

    Rolling beauty is the best description...

    The road wound through the hills.

    Rough spots were the rule of the day.

    You can see the road that we climbed up and out of the valley.