Kelowna

The relatively short riding distance yesterday almost felt like a day of rest, and today went by quickly.

The first 20 or so km were flat, which was ideal for warming up.

After the hunting rifles the other day, there was some other cargo that went overboard from a truck today, this time a road bike. I felt sorry for the guy, but I am sure he will learn to secure the bike in the future.

Then came a substantial uphill portion heading south on Highway 97, and thanks to the shorter day yesterday, the truck brake check area for the northbound traffic seemed to appear sooner than I would have anticipated.

There was more traffic than expected, especially from Vernon on; but, around Wood Lake, there was a very scenic and clearly signposted bike detour before getting back on Highway 97, and then on a bike trail leading into Kelowna.



It has been quite a journey since my departure from Fairbanks on August 15. In order to prepare for inclement weather, engine issues, etc., I had numerous contingency plans, and, to be honest, I did not expect to arrive in Kelowna as I had sketched in the most optimistic of my scenarios.

I hope that there will be an update from South America in significantly less than ten years, even though by then the extensive senior benefits might outweigh the decline in speed and the resulting lengthy travel time.

I would like to thank my sweetheart for allowing me to disappear for a couple of weeks. And I would like to thank my parents, who started understanding decades ago that my dream vacation may look a little different from what many other people are longing for. And I would like to thank my sister and her family, whose annual vacation coincided with my trip, for their patience in light of my tardiness or even absence in responding to their vacation posts.