Kruschel Fam Bike Trip

That’s a wrap on the k-fam biketrip 2018.  85km from Ellison to home in Kelowna.  Yesterday saw our first logistical error in staying at Ellison Provincial Park. Sure it’s nice, but very far out of the way and extremely difficult to access by bicycle. Still we made the most of it with a swim before bed to cool off and a quiet night’s rest. On the road by 8am and we were headed back to Vernon and eventually the rail trail along kalamalka lake. I refer you now to the photos from day 1 of this trip, the view didn’t change. We did stop this time for a dip in kal lake, refreshing in 35 degree weather. Some stats from our trip: Total km’s: 605 Total elevation: 5900m Flat tires: 0 Top speed: 64.1km/h Avg speed: 17.5 km/h Family arguments: one or two Thanks goes to:  Rock&Road for finely tuned bikes  Schwalbe tires for making the bomb-proof Marathon Plus tires. Sure they way eight pounds each but well worth it  Grandma & Grandpa for keeping us ...

With guest blogger, Ash!! Let’s go back to last night’s dinner - it was absolutely AMAZING! After the long ride, we didn’t want to have to travel to Salmon Arm, so we went to the one restaurant in Canoe called the Hive. When having a hard time picking what to order, we asked the waitress for recommendations, and she didn’t have anything - she said the whole menu was fantastic. She was correct - we ordered varying food from salads to Mexican food to Rice bowls / it was all so delicious. We would all recommend it if your ever in Canoe/Salmon Arm. We ended the night with ice cream (for some of us) and went to the public beach, and witnessed a gorgeous sunset! We even dipped our feet in the water - the temperature was just right. Waking up and getting ready took a bit longer than usual as we all slept good - well, the best you can sleeping on a thin air mattress on the ground. We each had a cliff bar to get going as breakfast was 25km away, 8km of it being uphill.  C...

Day 5 complete!  95km with 800m of elevation was no match for the finely tuned K-Fam machine. Stormy skies had passed and the day started off with lots of sun but disappointingly, no French toast and bacon.  We settled for a&w and hit the transcanada highway. Slow going at first on account of a poor nights sleep (lots of trains in Revelstoke). We refueled at 3 valley gap on pie and cinnamon buns, enjoying the view. Our pace picked up and we enjoyed the relatively flat terrain into malakwa. A quick go-cart and lunch stop and we were off towards sicamous. After a miserable day in the rain yesterday it seems wrong to complain but the sun was hot! Jonas got caught in a haze of sun-induced delirium and hit a small piece of wood in the bike lane. Into the rhubarb he went ass-over-tea kettle!  Fortunately the bike was ok.  Oh, and so was Jonas.   The traffic on the transcanada was generous for the most part, giving us room when they could. But when your p...

What a day. After a relaxing evening in Halcyon (soak, swim, dinner, cards, and our first bed in 3 days) the day started with mixed emotions and mixed precipitation. Last breakfast with grandma and grandpa.  They are off to england and need to catch that plane!  Jonas, or Pancho Boy, as we came to know him was ready for whatever the day would hold.  12 km or so and we reached the Galena Bay ferry. The weather was unkind with wind, rain, and thunder all around. We said goodbye again to the elder Kruschel’s (same ferry) and braced for the road/weather ahead.  The scenery continued to impress but our spirits were dampened by the weather.  The bikes were heavier on account of being fully self-sustained. This lead to lots of bike and gear swapping which lead to lots of emperor frustration.  But the crew persisted, rolling into Revelstoke completely soaked after 65 km of riding with 750m elevation.  But the rain ended and we found our camp...

With guest blogger.... Ash! After the treacherous climbs on Day 1 and Day 2, we started our Day three with a rather hopeful mindset, praying (literally) for no more painful mountain passes, like the Monashee. The energy we needed to start the day came from the delicious French toast and bacon breakfast, but for some of us it wasn’t enough. Unfortunately, Jonas had a fever, and after being out cold at 7:30 the night before, he figured it would be best to skip the day’s ride. The route started out with some easy ups and downs, some rolly hills that made the ride very pleasant. We made it to Nakusp, hungry enough for lunch but not overly tired. On our way out of Nakusp, we tried to think of a way to describe the small town, and came up with almost charming. Charming and scenic enough that you want to visit and spend the day at the beach or the park, but not cute, quaint or big enough to want to live there. With the energy to keep going, we made it out of Nakusp, and journeye...

We’re back from the shores of Arrow Lake. After 11 months of recovery from the last trip, dad convinced the crew to saddle up once more. Ash’s only demand was that we don’t ride south.  Jonas insisted on grandma and grandpa support, Ginette insisted no hills.  So why not a Kootenay loop?  Pancake flat, avoiding the desert, and grandma and grandpa joining us for the first few days.  All smiles. Except Ginette, for some reason she doubted it would be flat. Day 1: kelowna to cherryville. 118.5km What a start. All smiles for the first 60 km, including some nice riding on the rail trail. Lunch at Alexander’s pub in Vernon, then east on highway 6.  Weather was good but hills picked up as we approached Cherryville.  118.5 km was the longest day ash/jon/Ginette had ever put in the saddle.  On the last climb ash rode ahead, early shot across the bow of the peleton.  Great to arrive to dinner ready to go.  Beautiful campsite for our fir...