Thursday, June 15, 2023

Two Wheel Simplicity and the KVR

 Two Wheel Simplicity and the KVR

Warm weather forecasts and the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) have always been motivating factors in choosing our cycling destinations. Last winter we didn't get the riding in that we wanted while down south so we were wanting to get at it with a choice of options this spring.

We've always used cycling as part of our conditioning program for motorcycle trips of extended durations and since we are planning to send our motorcycle back over to Europe for some extended trips this will both allow us to get back in shape and enjoy a change of scenery and weather.

Now there are some E-bikes around the smaller trail head lengths. We get a sense from what we've seen that many of the people are expecting smooth  packed trails and aren't up for the actual riding of less than perfect trail conditions and less than 'in shape' riders. Our advice would be to be honest with yourself, know what your fitness level really is, and the range of your E Bike, as well as gauge the types of trail conditions you will encounter and ride within your limits. 

This time round we also wanted to catch some BC provincial park camping before the summer season gets crazy. Back in 2003 we did the KVR back country cycling, camping and cooking from Midway to Penticton in 3 days and were quite familiar with the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) of which the KVR is a part. This time we use our camping rig to get us around and select the provincial parks and sections of cycling trails we want to do. By the end we did over 170 kms. 
The Kettle River Bridge at the Prov. park


Here's how it went.

Rock Creek/Kettle River PP.(KRPP)

After a night of testing out one of the Hedley Recreation sites on the Crowsnest Pass, which was good by the way, we headed to Rock Creek and the  KRPP. BC's provincial park system since Covid has seen a huge increase in demand. So if you don't have reservations this is a park that has some very good 1st come 1st serve sites. Arrive before the weekend and you can be assured of getting a spot during weekend high demand times. 

The KVR here is part of our first 2003 trip where we started in Midway and we enjoyed the access to the Kettle River and it's bridge. Also it is 7.5 kms out of Rock Creek which is where the Gold Rush in Canada first started and headed north. The campground is great and the trails are fairly decent, some still with much loose sand and gravel and eroded stone. Back in '03 we were so attracted to the river access
Day Use PicnicArea

there we stopped in 33C heat and jumped in the water with our riding gear on.  This year as you can see the river is still very high and swift.Keep in mind a bonus to this location is that the old Rock Creek cafe has excellent soft ice cream cones. We're in!

So we build our distance and endurance in a 3 day segment package with 18 -21- and 25 km rides with varying terrain and surfaces, some with hill climbs that the KVR doesn't have, and paved  highway sections to increase distances to destinations,. There is a new Visitor Centre abour 2 kms east of the town, weirdly placed but a beautiful spot to get information.


Our second day ride saw us head north from the park, encountering a ford of Ed James Creek which was running high and our turn around point at Westbridge. Most E bikes didn't venture across the creek and returned to the campground.



Our last day there we rest as our plan is to do a larger and more difficult segment and change locations. We also head to the Golf Course for a good late lunch and enjoy a very nice warm afternoon with friends Carol and Glen who have a gorgeous 41 Ford truck, shortened and pulling a small Boler trailer.



McCulloch Station and Myra Canyon

So the Crown jewel of the KVR has  always been the Myra Canyon segment  as it's both an engineering marvel from the 1860's with it's labyrinth of trestles and tunnels and it's altitude (4180 ft) and views of Kelowna to Summerland. 

A few years back we had done a day excursion from Kekuli Bay to ride it in early June and found the back road to get up to the 'park' area to be quite a challenge for a vehicle so I looked for an alternate access in. It was also quite cool with snow up on the trail at that time. This year it was 19C when we rode it. If you come over Hwy 33 to Kelowna there is a high country gravel road in to Hydraulic Lake and a back country campground about 4 kms off the Hwy. For seniors the cost is $7.50 a night. Look up Hydraulic Lake campsite. The road in is well marked.

We arrive there by 10:00 am and set up the bikes for the ride in. Sandra has lunch made and ready to go. As it's cool we dress a bit warmer and ride the first part with our jackets on. I know we're in for a 40 km ride or so, in and back out. We're disappointed at the trail condition as we start as we are met with a series of ponds that have filled in the trail and we have to detour to the road for about 1.5 kms. More water filled pot holes will persist later on but at least we can ride through them or skirt them.

Next we start to encounter trees down across the trail. They have been cut somewhat but still the trunks range in diameter from 4 to 8 inches so we have to watch our speed. Over the 15 kms in, and of course back later we have to negotiate crossing about 20-25 trees without stopping. We really see the benefit of our 29" diameter wheels with 2.10" width and suspension for dealing with this. We rode with tire pressures a bit more than we could have which would have made the ride a bit more comfortable. Some of the riders suggested under 30 psi...  

Myra Station Sign Post
Our smiles became pretty big when we hit the Myra canyon segment. 


 The hustle and bustle of so many pedestrians and riders on the trail network on a Monday was surprising but everyone was cool about  sharing passage on some of the trestles where only the center of the trestle is covered for bikes to ride. Stunning scenery, snow still up on the peaks in the distance, and lots of people out enjoying this jewel of the Okanagan region made our day.

Myra Canyon ahead, and snow topped mtns! 4180 ft



The Famous curved trestle across the canyon






Rough and ready riding today!

Kekuli Bay

Next stop is our 3 days at Kekuli Bay provincial park about 12 kms south of Vernon on Lake Kalamalka. Daytime highs are in the mid-30's C with full sun and are just spectacular. We are near the top of the park with our reservation spot which is great for views but a challenge at the end of the day to cycle up after a long day ride. We do two days of riding there and each day we come back and actually are able to swim in the lake. June 6th! Amazing! On the second day of riding here my conditioning is feeling quite good and I 'draft' a group of three riders for several kms. and then stop and wait for Sandra to catch up. A short time later we end up catching up to the group who have stopped to rest and drink water. They begin to start up again and I'm able to pass them and sustain a lead on them as well as another slower group all the way back to the turn-off at Kekuli with leads of 1-2 mins for the faster group and 4 minutes for the slower ones. I'm pumped to be able to stick with a group in their late 40's. Looks like my muscle memory is back, and Sandra is killing it as well. In some later riding she is racing a kid up a steep climb and has closed the gap in our riding to just  1/2 a minute. We are seeing results! 


Omak and Rancho Chico


Sandra and I found this place a few years back on a recommendation from somewhere. We cross the border at Osoyoos and after some shopping in Omak we arrive at Rancho Chico's  at 11:30 am on Sunday. The place is almost full. I order the Chili Relleno/Enchilada platter and Sandra a Taco/Enchilada platter. The meals are great and plentiful. What I have always loved there is they do a cabbage salsa with taco chips and it is so good too! And after you are finished they bring out deep fried tortillas covered with a dollop of  strawberry ice cream covered in whipping cream and coated on top with strawberry sauce. You must stop here if you are on Hwy 97 in Omak. Main street 1/2 blk north of the traffic light. 

Birch Bay, Washington


Our last afternoon after finishing our re-supply of mexican foods and some shopping is at Birch Bay State Park. It is a warm 24C afternoon as we watch sailboats sail the Bay and kites flying on shore. What a beautiful end of the day and trip!













Tuesday, January 17, 2023

The 3 Trip Experience, Learning and Retention

  For the many years we have planned and traveled by motorcycle and exchanged ideas with fellow motorcycle travelers there has always been two camps. Those who want everything to be an 'in the moment' adventure and those who take steps to plan the adventure to potentially maximize the opportunities the trip will yield.

We have almost always fallen into the latter category partly because in sailing you had a number of considerations like prevailing winds, and natural hazards and currents and tides to contend with. Yesterday Sandra came across a quote in a book " Between Two Kingdoms" by Suleika Jaouad that I captured.

We feel it expresses very well what we are able to get from travel. It resonates with me for another reason as well. As an adult educator in a business environment we used a process called Accelerated Learning. Essentially it recognizes that people learn and retain information through four types of learning styles: Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, and Kinesthetic. We would develop instruction that uses each type of style.  Kinesthetic is much more tactile as you integrate all your senses when 'doing' something. 

In travel, the doing, is the actual experience itself. So it is part of the second trip. In essence, your planning is the first part of the trip, and it's valuable and exciting as it's filled with a smorgasbord of choices from which you pick based on your needs and wants. It has a written component and tactile component to it as well. When these two parts of  travel occur one closely after the other our learning or memory becomes more imbedded. 

As a side note we have met people when traveling who, because they didn't research in advance, missed seeing a World Heritage site that was a highlight in our trip. That place was Tomar in Portugal, and the former seat of the Knights Templar castle. Our 'find' was like we pulled back the bushes of time and found this gem, though we didn't see Harrison Ford in his search for the Knights Templar.

The third trip is the trip that just keeps on giving. It's the post trip memories that are imbedded from the first 2 versions of the trip. 

Rarely is there a time that we do not recall an experience or memory from a trip on a daily or weekly basis. From the planning and using of maps to connect one destination to another I have found I am better a geographical positioning and chronological recall of how the trip occurred. And another reinforcement of that learning and recall in the development of blog posts.

I hope this encourages you to consider the value of planning the adventure, experiencing it and recalling it later for yourself, your family and others to learn from. 

Friday, December 3, 2021

Entry to Canada using ARRIVECAN

 Entry to Canada using ArriveCan

Updated Jan 19. (Minor comment Feb 16th) Information in this blog post is still current until Feb 28, 2022 at which time it will be edited with the most current information) 

This is for all Canadians travelling back to Canada or US citizens considering coming to Canada. I thought we’d pass on what we learned in returning to Canada from our short driving visit to our place at ISRVR.


First, we usedCurative”, a healthcare provider who provides PCR testing. You need to be careful as to the type of test accepted by Canada. A PCR/Naat or PCR test qualify. "Rapid Antigen" tests do not. Our tests and many others were back to us in 12-17 hrs.

Some pharmacies also offer tests. Caution when using pharmacies as we are hearing more and more can not meet the 72 hr. testing window and some do not offer PCR tests. Just make sure you get a PCR test. It will take 1-2 days. Curative only offers PCR tests , follows California's testing requirements and operates in Riverside County facilities and around California and in other states. We now have confirmed information that CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreen have lost test results and/or at times now with Omicron they are quite slow or exceed the 72 hr window in returning results, this can create stress that you do not need.

Note: Curative is dealing with very high call volumes for appointments due to Omicron. Plan well in advance and be flexible to meet the demand and availability of testing appointments. Better to leave a day or 2 earlier or later.


When to use a rapid Antigen Test.

The US government is now offering free kits of 4 rapid antigen tests. While they are not accepted as a replacement for the PCR test for travel, they are good to use under certain conditions. Here is a good article to read about when to use this test. When to Use Rapid Antigen Test.


Here is an updated list (Jan 7 /22) from the Desert Sun of reliable Covid testing sites in the Coachella Valley. https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/health/2021/09/10/covid-19-test-where-you-can-go-coachella-valley/5779088001/


In the USA, currently Covid-testing is a Federally funded program and is available to Canadian's at no cost to you. Use your Indio Springs address when providing an address, and scan your Canadian drivers license. It is only used as government issued picture ID for proof that you are who you say you are.


The closest site to our park is at 82775 Plaza Ave, Indio, CA 92201 Indio Fleet Services. It was easy to book a slot for the testing by using their online calendar function, and a healthcare worker instructs/observes you in how to take the sample once you are there. Their website says a 1 to 2 day return on samples once the sample reaches their lab. Our experience and that of many other park users saw results back within 12-16 hrs. which is quick for a PCR test. The testing is at no cost to you. You will need an internet connection and device (phone or PC) to book and receive your results. A cell ph text number is helpful for quick notification but not imperative as the results are delivered as a PDF to your email address that you will save and must present at the border. No paper copy is required.


All travellers coming back to Canada MUST download and use the ArriveCan app on their phone, or a laptop with internet connection to prepare and receive communication from the border crossing service. If you don't, here's some recent experiences reported in Sault Saint Marie.

https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/returning-to-canada-from-a-short-trip-to-the-us-use-arrivecan-or-be-placed-under-quarantine-4824015


ArriveCan App 

The ArriveCan app is built to collect and share with border agents your expected arrival time and date (within the 72 hr window), and pertinent travel document info. You must have an internet connection when processing this as it does not work off-line.

Here is the link to a quick video on ArriveCan.




You are the data entry clerk!

  • The clock starts on the 72 hr window when you TAKE your PCR test, NOT when you receive the results.
  • A phone is the handiest way with a camera to collect your passport info.
  • It does not require you to upload the PCR test results but only produce them at the border in PDF form so that the border agent can scrutinize the document.
  • We did this all by phone, including downloading the results from Curative so they could be easily displayed at the border. 
  • You will need to enter an arrival date and time estimate and be specific as to the border crossing you are entering at. 

What happens Next?

Once you complete your ArriveCan app it will be sent electronically and you should receive an ArriveCan receipt which you will present at the border. That cues the border agent to scan this receipt and pull up all your information. He will verify your passports document match, your hard copy vaccination certificates match and will ask for you to produce the PDF of your negative test. (You must keep all this information for 14 days after crossing) You can have more than one traveler on an ArriveCan entry. 


At the Border

The border we crossed at only had 2 gates open and only 1 vehicle ahead of us at either gate. Both were Washington plated vehicles. One vehicle was directed to return to the USA and the one ahead of us was handed a "package".


When it was our turn the border agent was very professional and went through the steps quickly as I knew what to expect. But, at the end he apologized to my wife but said she had been ‘randomly selected’ to do another PCR test to sample and verify the results of the test done less than 72 hrs earlier, in fact about 49 hrs earlier. That is the same "package" that the vehicle ahead of us received and I suspect the same strategy is happening at the border crossing in Ontario in the linked article


Random Testing

If you are randomly selected you receive a home test kit that must be virtually observed by a technician by booking an online appointment and you must have Microsoft Teams as the visual medium to observe you taking the test. It went simply enough but at the end of a long drive home and a ferry crossing etc etc. it’s the last thing you want to do. You can have it picked up with a free prepaid Fed-Ex label in the kit.


Hope this helps explain the process.

By the way, shortly the USA will require a test 24 hrs. Before flying to the USA. 

Thanks to Omicron this isn't over yet!


Steps to consider:

1. Do you have a smart phone (Android or Iphone) or will you use a laptop?

2. If you have a smartphone download the ArriveCan app. For laptops go directly to this site and create an account.

3. Also anticipate that you will need to do a random test and download Microsoft Teams.

4. If using a smartphone you will be required to:

    i. take a photo of the information/photo page of your passport during the information collection               phase,

    ii. you will need to also take a photo of the QR code and detailed information from your Canada      Covid vaccination passport.

    iii. store a downloaded PDF on your phone of the negative test results for each of the travelers listed      on your app.

5. Before you plan to leave driving go to the Curative site and find an appointment time for each of your travelers and book the appointment within the 72 hr window for you to return to the border.

6. Have internet access to receive the email with the PDF report from Curative within 24-48 hrs. for each traveler. For convenience, if you have more than 1 traveler on your trip plan use 1 email address for all so all reports come to one email address.

7. Have internet access when completing the ArriveCan application and keep internet access for the QR code ArriveCan receipt. Save this QR code to your PC, or if using the app it will remain prominent on the display.

8. Have your passport, ArriveCan receipt and vaccination passports available for perusal.


Happy travels!

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Borrego Blooms


Not our Hidden Site but a great one none the less

In all the years we have been down in the Palm Springs area we have never been to Borrego Springs during the March “bloom”. And, the bloom doesn’t occur in years with little rain.
So I guess we’ve been down in pretty dry years, or been away, like in Jan. Feb. 2017 when they did get a good rainfall. Well this year is the most since 1943.
We decided since we had the camper on the truck and hadn’t cycled in a week that we should get out there, do some camping in our hidden gem of a 4WD location, ride our bikes (we did 24 kms the 1 day)
Borrego has miles of Sculptures
and followed up with 30 kms the next in Yuma.

Killing Monarch Butterflies while driving

Here are the sites we saw.

Sandra outstanding in her field, err, canyon
Mornings we'd check out the view down the driveway.
Unique formations in the canyon
Friendly ones as well
Innushuk built
This desert is supposed to be sand colored not green!
Honey I think this is Scotland!
Historic Bloom
Very rare desert Lilly found only at Arroyo Salada

AMAZING!

Sunday, October 7, 2018

First Past the Post versus Proportional Representation


BC is readying for another referendum on what they term “Fair.gov” suggesting to proportionally allocate legislative seats based on provincial results. This is based on each parties electoral balloting by percentage. This has caused me to reflect on both our learnings from travel to other regions that have proportional representation and our most recent experience in attempting to effect change related to a traffic safety hazard in Ladysmith, BC.

There are some countries, primarily in Europe that have proportional representation. You can look them up on the internet for a full list but three countries come to mind illustrating their dysfunction, Greece, Belgium and Italy. All are in serious financial difficulties, and the major issues relate to the ability to action a government with a cohesive agenda and message and hold their elected politicians accountable.

Many of these proportional models use what is called an additional member system which introduces the balancing of proportional representation by percentage/party, with that of constituency based polling. This causes an increase in the size of elected representatives within the legislature which directly increases the cost of representative government. There are no guarantees of improved efficiency; in fact it slows down government action on most measures.

This is where our experience dealing with our government MLA this spring and summer really highlighted the needs for accountability.

We initiated along with other south Ladysmith BC citizens a drive to have a traffic intersection reviewed due to the safety hazards that exist there. We sought the advice of some civic officials who we have long respected and trusted and were given some cautionary advice regarding how to action this campaign and who to trust. We followed their advice to the letter and glad we did.

We felt that the volume of over 500 letters to the Minister of Highways of an NDP government, with a local NDP MLA, and handled in such a fashion as recommended to us that only the Minister would be held accountable proved that the guidance we received was accurate. 

The MLA vacillated; as predicted by our civic officials. In this case the government has circled their wagons along with a local politician who wants to claim he led the charge, in complete contrast to the facts.

So, at least we know who to hold accountable in this situation when it comes time to vote a future election, using current behavior to predict future behavior.

If a proportional representation model were in effect, imagine the scapegoating of excuses that would be permitted where the government would not be able to be held accountable for its decisions or lack thereof. It isn’t difficult when your issue is with a governing party. Imagine if you dealt with a coalition.

Also an interesting non-political report by Canada's RCMP warns of how extremism can enter the mainstream of politics through the outside influences of fringe entities. 

And the Financial Post indicates how this can manifest itself into a "useful idiots" campaign.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Coffs Harbour, Brisbane and Christmas

Coffs Harbour
From Sidney we have a day’s drive up to Coffs Harbor where we have our eyes set on one last camping day. Both Coffs harbour and the Holiday park we selected Park Beach Holiday park did not disappoint. The weather was perfect to the point of being very warm into the late evening.


Ocean Beach

Coffs Harbour is a smaller town situated on the east coast of Australia and Coffs Creek creates a beautiful backwater entry into the ocean with a sandspit that Park Beach and the Holiday park and surroundings sit on. It is such a beautiful spot with warm shallow water and the holiday park sparkled it was so clean and well outfitted, and, it was one of the last low season days so prices were reasonable and there were few people there.

The RV park desk recommended the Parks Beach Bowls Club ( https://pbbc.com.au) for supper as we were tired of the day’s drive and wanted to maximize our stay there similar to Kiama. While it did not have the elevated view that Kiama had, it was 100 meters from the RV park, right off the beach, and had excellent dark ale! I ordered the pork roast and Sandra a shrimp, Chorizo and pasta dish and both were excellent and reasonable in price, and, given the temperatures of 34C, air conditioned! Did I mention the excellent dark ale?

Then on to Brisbane which has become our home away from home on this trip. This is still a 375 kms drive from Coffs Harbour but we get an early start, kept exactly to the speed limit, and enjoyed gaining 1 hr. due to a time zone change.

The Back yard is full of birds every morning

Our first couple of days back allowed us to spend time with Abbey as the rest of the family went to N. Stradbrooke Island with another family for the weekend. It was a great opportunity to focus on Abbey, the pool, and prepping for Christmas.










I got in a mountain bike ride on Jim’s Giant Fathom 29er;  a 5:45am start on the Saturday morning up at Daisy Hill Park. First I was shocked to find the parking lot full before 6:00am. You see Queensland doesn’t adjust with Daylight Savings Time (DST) like other states on the east coast, so sunrise is before 5:00 am at this time of year.  My reason for being there was likely the same as  all of theirs, it’s the coolest part of the day at around 23-26C on days that are now getting into the mid to hi -30’s C. One side benefit is that I picked a track in the park that had 2 Kangaroos on it, so I actually get to see them in the wild! They hopped away as I rode in their general direction.

Later, together we all made perogies for Christmas dinner.

 Shannon had had Sandra try a dress from a local shop. It looked great and we were able to do some Christmas shopping and I bought a beautiful dress for Sandra for Christmas from that same shop. My gift was the America’s Cup sailing experience back in November!






Sandra wears it Christmas eve while playing Bocchi!


Sandra and I win at Bocchi, must be the distraction!





























Once they returned from the weekend getaway and we waited for Blair and Sandie to return from Cairns, we spent an evening in downtown Brisbane watching the Christmas Parade and light show. They were both excellent and something we haven’t seen before even in larger centres.
 
Waiting for the Start

First Marchers!

Beautiful Angels

Close Up

Actual Camels and they do this every night for 10 days

Astronauts?

Amazing Movie Projections

And more, they tell a Christmas story!

Next, we all headed to the Gold Coast for 3 days at a beautiful resort (Xanadu) just across from Main Beach on the coast. The rooms and view
North Main Beach from room

were exceptional and Shannon had been able to get, again, some great off season pricing so we all laid back, enjoyed some bike riding,
Riding to the Spit on the Gold Coast

Little Nippers in Training,
Young life guards put through their paces.

Look at the beach foot traffic, all before 7:00 am! and the training!

long walks on a beautiful beach, and a wonderful pool and tennis court. Jim picked a nice Italian restaurant for one great dinner out, and we returned to the Surf Club for an excellent lunch as well.

Our final 3 ½ days are spent back at Shannon and Jim’s with their great pool and surroundings.
Just Relaxing!
The weather is sunny and hot and we spend virtually as much time in and around the pool as possible.













For Christmas eve, in addition to potato, onion and cheese perogies, and sauerkraut ones Sandra decides to take on baking her first Pavlova,
Amazing Pavlova!
a traditional Christmas dessert in Australia due to the bounty of fruit available at this time of year. I will let the photo speak for itself. Truly a talented baker among other things!


Later on our drive Boxing day to the airport I comment that it is the 1st day in nearly two months that I haven’t bathed in SPF 50 sun screen.