It's so hooooot! When is it ever going to cool ooooofffff?

Yesterday may be forever known as the day that turned the corner. It started out crisp and misty, then when the mist burned off, it warmed up greatly, surprising everyone, principle among them the multitude of cyclist that have been crisis-crossing Alaska and western Canada. Everywhere a conversation was born the topic was cold, wet weather.

Today started out clear and full of chilly promise.

A great backdrop at the Aspen Inn in Smithers, B.C.

No extra layer today, despite being on the road by 7:30. No rain gear. Just the wind in my hair... well, the part of my hair that sticks out beyond the bottom of my helmet.

There! You asked for a selfie, you get a selfie!

Anyway, heading east by southeast from Smithers the road was pretty much lined with trees all day. Judging by my usual metric, it appeared that the city of Prince George lay almost exactly 200 miles from Smithers. However, it would leave me an awkward distance from my ride through the Canadian Rockies. I decided to wait until Prince George was accomplished to settle on a final destination for the day.

Along the way I happened upon the town of Vanderhoof, with a unique claim to fame.

When I stopped for lunch I may have stumbled upon a great business opportunity for someone if you are looking for a restaurant with a low overhead

I thought I was making real good time so, while eating lunch I went on-line and reserved a room in McBride, B.C. (Look at what your Daddy did kids! All techie and stuff!)

Then, as I got closer and closer to Prince George I ran into more and more construction, bringing my forward progress to a near halt. By the time I arrived at the Harley Dealer (had to get my poker chip) I was feeling pressure to keep moving. McBride was still 2.5 hours away and I was getting hot and tired. Wow! What a difference a day makes! The temperature had risen to the point where I stopped and removed the vent panels on my jacket, helping, but not eliminating the overheating problem. The final hour of my drive was punctuated with periodic stops, ostensibly to take pictures but, factually, to regain consciousness.

McBride couldn't come soon enough. The approach was interesting because the trees on both sides of the road were relentless. At sporadic intervals you could see mountainsides rising on both sides of the highway, covered with trees. As they grew nearer the periodic glimpses became vertical walls of granite behind and between the tree covered foreground, but each time I wanted to photograph the backdrop the foreground rose up and blocked the view. By the time things "opened up" on the final approach to McBride, only the forested mountainsides were clearly visible. It's as if the granite slabs are crouching behind, ready to jump up and surprise me tomorrow as I head toward Jasper.

The Canadian Rockies have been on my bucket list for 40 plus years. To say this is going to be exciting might be an understatement. I may have difficulty finding enough places to pull over!

and those aren't even the mountains I'm riding into... Snicker, snicker!