IRON MAN CANADA!!!! Pre race

Last shift was Thursday and the fireworks were cancelled, plus TR was busy so I just went home and packed. Friday I woke up and started driving. I had a few plans change; I did not meet with Lori. I drove straight to Kamloops instead of meeting half way and then I would hike and camp. So I blast my way to Leah’s house. All I knew is that she lived on the North Shore. So I kept following the signs, when I got close I called her up and we had some confusion as to where I was in relation to where she was. So I remembered she said 12ave and I found a Casino parking lot and pulled over while waiting for her to find her map and call me back. She found her map and I said where I was. I was just across the street, what are the odds? So she has just moved in and not everything was in its new place, so I was entertained by watching her relax and chat with me but Kyle was itching to have all the big stuff in place.

So we go out for supper after looking at photos of Leah and Betty’s trip to China and a scrap book Leah made when she was very young and there were some cool photos of me as a lad. We drove around looking for a pub to eat at and found this Irish place. They offered a 3 POUND burger!!!! I hadn’t eaten much that day so game on!! Well I did about ¾ of it and began to feel rather disgusted with myself and I could not finish it. I tried eating a few pieces of lettuce from my salad but that did not feel right either.

In the morning we took off together. Leah and Kyle were going back to Calgary to pick up Andrea to take her to Edmonton and then they were to drive back to Kamloops. The things you do for the people that are taking care of your cat J I drove to Pentiction. I had planed on dropping in on my coworker Friday night while she was on vacation but because I drove straight to Kamloops it would be backtracking and I really wanted to get to IMC.

It was nice to drive on the highways that a few years ago I was riding on. I saw the Pentiction sign on the side of the mountain and became very happy. I stopped at the visitor info booth and got a Program and a spectator map for the race. The people there were very informed of the race and were happy it was here. So I got to lakeshore drive. The grandstands are all ready set up and every where you look there are fellow triathletes hanging around checking out one another and their bikes. I checked out the athlete’s village and bought some IM gear. A shirt that I will never wear but it will provide inspiration, a shirt I will wear because it does not say IMC on it, a car flag, and a Head Sweat running cap celebrating the 25 anniversary. I listened to an interview of the Head of the WTC and he has some interesting stories of past Ironman events he has put on.

I realized I better get a camp spot so I drove off, I realized that one of the campsites was right on the course… so guess which one I camped at J yah baby!!! Half the campground was athletes the other 40% was supporters and maby 10% had nothing to do with it and were getting nervous. There was one kid with a voice like a fog horn and around 9:30 you could tell the 90% were sending vibes saying shut up were going to bed. Of course at 4am we woke them all up. I wish the guy with the Harley had started it up at 4am it would have had the right start to the day. LOL!!!

Going to the Sun Road

Oh I have been thinking about this ride for a year now.... I had the bright idea that this would be the "weekend" for it. I finished my shift on Monday and didn't really feel like driving for 4 hours not certain if I had a campsite to crash at or not. So Tuesday I got my but out of bed a bit later than I planned, guess 4 days of alarms going off at unholy hours has it's toll.

I packed up the car and headed south. I stopped in Naton to check out the air museum. I know I have drove past it a few times and the Lancaster wasn't visible like it had before so I was worried. but nope they have made room in the hanger for the old aircraft. I made my $5 donation and spent a few hours checking out displays.

I grabbed a slurpy in the next town and kept on moving. I kept looking out the window and just in awe of the rolling fields trying to take photos as I drove. I finally made it to the border the guys wished me luck when I told him my plan to ride the highway. I kept hoping for a car to be in front of me because I was paranoid that I was speeding. Those Mph numbers are hard to read when your looking at mountains:)

I payed my $25 park fee, which is good for 7 days.... why????? all I wanted was a two day pass!!!!! So I drove right past the campground I wanted to stay at... the lake was nice so I kept on driving. Thought to myself that I should drive this thing and then ride it tomorrow when the sun isn't so hot. So I keep pulling over at the spots and took photos like a crazy tourist. Keeping track of how long I had been climbing till the top.

Ok if I had problems with the last hill on the Sylvan Course.... WHAT MADE ME THINK I COULD DO THIS MOUNTAIN PASS???????????????????

This is an alpine road, no shoulder, WINDY, and it has metal grates across the road to keep the water from going down the road. All I saw was an easy way to DIE trying to go down this road on my bike..... So I drove to the west end and got a campsite. I sat and read some of the magazines I brought along. I just chilled out and relaxed. I realized late in the day that I all I had to eat was a baggett, slurpy, and 3 granola bars. So I went to the camp store got an ice cream and a bag of chips. Then I realized there was a restaurant.... oops I thought I would eat breakfast there.

Slept like crap! couldn't get comfortable sliding down my mattress, I found that what I thought was level when I set up the tent wasn't even close!

Got up and packed up the tent, thought about breakfast... didn't have any. Drove to Whitefish and kept on going. Got to the boarder and waited. I always get nervous trying to get back into my own country.... every time I have crossed in a car it was always a great big pain in my ass compared with entering the states. I guess they have to balance the hatred in the airports the US customs creates.

I got onto highway #3 and recognized places I had camped as I biked it a few years ago.... man I have to do that again! Anyway I got to Kimberly and walked around and again thought to myself" this is it?" hope back in the car and keep going. I was thinking about camping at Wasa Lake but ...... keep on driving. Thought about stopping in Farmount to go to the hot springs but blew past the corner.... thought about the the Radium Hot springs and you guessed it went past that corner too. Guess I was in the mood to just drive and listen to the podcasts I had on my Ipod. Well blow past Banff and finally stop for some food in Canmore.

I got home and went to the gym for a swim and a jog on a treadmill. How stupid am I! I could have swam in a lake and ran in some nature.... oh well it was a good road trip.