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Mosquito Soup

3/7/2017

7 Comments

 
Picture
Misty mountains coming into Smithers today
Mosquito Soup

In spite of the warnings of veteran Alaska cyclist, Mike Vermeulen, I never quite grasped the scale of the problem. Cooking in the outdoors in this region attracts a flotilla of flying things. Led by Mosquitos, but ably backed up by legions of smaller biting flies, big biting flies and nuisance value smaller black bodies. It is best illustrated by the sound in the tent at night which sounds like heavy rain, in fact it is just a continuous kamikaze bombardment of these various insects.

So trying to to eat from a hot billy of food quickly becomes a dilemma. Do you extract the last mosquito dive bombing into the food and risk 20 more as you fish it out, or do you just grin and enjoy the extra protein? In fact it is even better, because the mosquitos are bloated with my own blood it also becomes a form of EPO replacement. I never thought I would be coerced so easily into the world of drug enhanced athletes (or at least drug-enhanced slow cyclists).

I am now 330 km south of Stewart where I touched the Pacific. On the advice of a German cyclist I stopped at the village of Gitanyow site of some massive beautifully carved totem poles. I and chatted to the locals until I discovered the invitation to camp in the village common as described by the German cyclist was more of a self-invite. I headed further south to Kitwanga, I found a beer and a lovely grass campground with a shower plus a broken clothes drier to store my food.

Hitting the junction of remote highway 37 and the busy highway 16 between Prince Rupert and Prince George was something of a culture shock. Firstly continuous (it seemed) highway traffic, houses by the roadside, towns less than 600 km apart. It didn't help that rain was heavy and cold, the verge limited and the traffic oblivious to the cyclist. The highlight was spotting an elk just after the town of Hazleton.

A puncture and the necessary off-load/repack to fix shortened the day further so I called a halt at 88 km after establishing that Morricetown had a campground. Well, almost, after the steep climb up the camp owners apologised, camp closed for renovations. Camp at the canyon they said, it's free. I had not even noticed the canyon on the way up, but it made an excellent campsite. I was made even better when two ladies stopped and provided dessert, they had driven continuously from Saskatoon (15 hours) to pick up their mother then were immediately heading back. One way to spend the Canada Day holiday weekend.

More rain this morning and the legacy of 8 continuous days riding caught up with the need for a warm dry place for the night. When Smithers appeared after a short 30km with a motel room within rest day budget there was no protest. I will celebrate with a shower and warm dry clothes.
Picture
Unpacked the bike to ride the convoy lead truck through the dust out from Stewart (thanks to to lolly pop ladies who insisted)
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One view I missed on the ride into Stewart
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Coming back out from Stewart
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Yes I have met most of them
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Gitanyow totem poles
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The canyon camp last night on left hand side
7 Comments
Ang
3/7/2017 04:43:00 pm

HOOORAY for a warm bed and a chance to get dry ! good plan Linds, treat yourself, you and your supreme efforts are worth every little moment of added luxury. LOve the bear sign and photos, it does look beautiful but can sure see lingering coldness in all the backdrops.
GO well awesome you

Reply
Barb
3/7/2017 05:24:26 pm

Good on you for treating yourself to some home comforts after such a long, hard slog. You can feel human for a few hours in a soft warm bed, and continue on your super-human efforts tomorrow. Have a giant breakfast and go well tomorrow. XXX

Reply
Dennis and Chris Coxon
3/7/2017 05:48:13 pm

What a journey - amazing. Your writing and description of everything you see and feel is fantastic. As we have said 'go you good thing you!'

Reply
Holly
4/7/2017 04:30:01 pm

Such an awesome journey Uncle Linds! Loved the bear picture!!

Reply
Aunty Carol
5/7/2017 09:20:49 am

Lindsay,your travels are humbling,stay well,and safe, you certainly deserve some special treats for the hardship you endure. for a very special cause.xx

Reply
Cleaver clan
5/7/2017 07:44:24 pm

Sending you some of our Raro warmth, and all of our love. X

Reply
shinji link
7/7/2023 07:33:33 pm

Hi great rreading your blog

Reply



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