“Southern Rockies Tour No 1, 2016 – A Newbie’s Perspective” by Christine Scott
When our leader, Bruce Daykin, sent out an email looking for volunteers I responded saying that since this was my very first CCCTS tour if he would like a report with a “newbie’s perspective” then I would be happy to do this. My offer was gratefully accepted so here I go.
In the July issue of the Newbrief there was a very comprehensive report by Andreas Poulsson titled “Southern Rockies Tour No. 2, 2016 – The Rainy Ride”. Andreas gave a day to day account of the route traveled, giving the number of kilometers and overnight locations. This group, though titled “Tour No. 2” was actually traveling exactly the same route seven days ahead of us and so for this reason I am going to take a different approach to my report which, as you see, I have titled “Southern Rockies Tour No 1, 2016 – A Newbie’s Perspective”
Preparing for the trip I was careful to pack lightly since I could not imagine how twenty five people’s camp gear and personal luggage could possibly fit into a 16 ft rental truck in addition to a full camp kitchen that I understood would be loaded and then off loaded each day. And, of course, not forgetting a Happy Hour bar to boot! I felt sure that it would 
be helpful to share a tent with a friend in order to make one less tent in the truck, but was assured by well-seasoned CCCTSers that everyone took their own tent (excluding the couples of course) since I would be grateful to crawl into my own little cocoon at the end of the evening. Good advice…I loved setting up my little tent each day, although was rather surprised to have shared it after all on the first night… when I took my tent down in the morning I found this little frog between my ground sheet and the base of the tent. Ah, camping!
I stood in amazement snapping pictures at the beginning of our first riding day as the bags (and some of them VERY large) were stacked into the back end of the truck before the big coolers, chairs, musical instruments and bicycles belonging to that day’s driver and navigator were also all loaded. And it all went in along with the filled coffee urns at the very back for the 30 km tailgate coffee break. Impressive! Next time I might even allow myself to take a slightly larger bag.
I had been assigned to Cook Team # 1. My relief at this early assignment was that at least on this rotation I would not have to drive the truck. I was, however, therefore on dinner when we first arrived and breakfast the first morning. 
Could have been a bit daunting for a newbie, but one thing became clear quite quickly, the seasoned campers/riders would be happy to tell me how ‘it’ was always done. I wouldn’t have to do dishes that night since I had cooked and I must say I was impressed with the first night dishwashers…. all men…perhaps this was the way these were always done?
I quickly learned that an amazing amount of work goes into the planning of a trip. Budgeting, planning and mapping the route and booking the camp sites. A big THANK YOU to Bruce Daykin for doing this … must have been many hours in the winter months….and also for the excellent daily leadership on the tour itself. But Bruce, it was perhaps not necessary for you to demonstrate your “changing a flat” skills even before we got off the campground on the first morning!
Choosing pictures… I took over 300…. to put in this report was difficult. The scenery was simply magnificent and I was privileged to be enjoying it on my bike. Such a treat.
I was totally impressed with the magnificent spreads that were put out for dinner each evening. Seasoned riders had their favourite tried and true menus while others experimented with new choices. Meals were always served in a timely fashion and in good spirit.
Can you believe that this team said that they found this poster on the side of the road?
I grew up in England and was very active in the Girl Guides so for me a special pleasure was sitting around the campfire. We were so fortunate to have Bruce bring along his accordion and mandolin and Phil Lambert his guitar. Just prior to dinner on this night pictured we had an incredible thunderstorm and downpour… yes, group # 2 we did
have some rain though indeed not as much as you…. but by evening the sky had cleared and we enjoyed the first of a number of campfires.
Riding from Chain Lakes to Etherington Creek Provincial Park – Riding Day 4
I was impressed throughout the tour with the degree of cooperation amongst the tour participants as well as the camaraderie that developed between us. Coming as we did from a number of different communities this was surely not a given. We had no “kings” or “queens”, everyone pitched in and helped as needed, whether with the cooking, dishes or the loading and unloading of the truck. On the road cyclists found their own pace but the 30 km and 60 km check ins assured that everyone was accounted for.
We had been warned to prepare for cold and our coldest morning was definitely when we woke following rain the previous evening and in the night to a beautiful sunrise at the Etherington Creek Campground (after we had the tents pitched we were told we were in the horse field!). This was also the day that we had to retrace our ‘footsteps’ over the gravel road back to the highway but who could complain… just look at the weather and the magnificent view.
Flanked by my good friends Maureen and Diane….it was they who suggested I sign up for this trip. I am so glad that I did!
More spectacular riding on our fifth day took us up over the Highwood Pass and into the Kananaskis Lakes Region – those long up hills always had a bonus gift of long downhills.
After five days of riding and approximately 440 kms, it was time for a ‘rest day’. I discovered that CCCTS tour rest days are placed in such a way that it is hard to resist taking advantage of other ‘active’ opportunities all around you. Guided by Gary… an enthusiastic and experienced hiker … Jenni and I joined him for a hike to Rawson Lake… after all, we were resting our biking muscles.
Some of the most challenging riding of our trip for me was on the day we rode to Canmore. We had a terrific head wind for the last 30 km on this day… our good fortune was however that it was mostly flat and not raining! This was also the night that we were booked into a motel, called Mountainview Inn as you can see for good reason. 
Magnificent view from the motel parking lot as the sun was setting – end of Riding Day 6
Riding the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail from Canmore to Banff – morning of Riding Day 7
By the end of this day we were all safely accounted for at our Johnston Canyon Campground. A heart pounding moment for Diane, Maureen and I, however, as we encountered a female grizzly bear about to cross the road in front of us. We rode on without incident and were then relieved to hear that by the time others in our group came along the park naturalists had been called and were monitoring the bear and had warned the cyclists of her presence. The next day was also a ‘rest’ day and many of us braved the crowds to see the lower and upper falls of the Johnston Canyon.
Lower Falls- Johnston Canyon Upper Falls- Johnston Canyon
Early morning – setting out from Johnston Canyon to ride to Radium Hot Springs – Riding Day 8
This was the longest day of our trip… 113 km on the cue sheet…and one of the warmest weather wise. The climb to the top of Vermillion Pass was tough in the heat, but everyone made it successfully to the top. A special tip of the helmet to Jim and Ute for accomplishing this on their tandem!
View from the top of Vermillion Pass
We were driven into our tents early at our Radium Hot Springs campsite by the bugs… perhaps not such a bad thing after a long and hot riding day. There was some anxiety about the morning climb out of the valley but fresh legs make all the difference and the hill was far less daunting than we had anticipated. We were heading into our last two days of riding and I was aware that this adventure was coming to an end. A highlight of riding day nine was passing through the “hoo-doos’ country….
The hoo-doos viewed from the top and then from the road – Riding Day 9
Our campsite at Canal Flats was perhaps the least memorable! Bruce let us know that it was not chosen for its qualities but rather for its location. It was however our last evening together and following a short rainstorm, thankfully once again after the tents were up, we settled in to our last night together as a group. Happy Hour preceded yet another magnificent meal, this time put together with all the groceries that needed to be used up before we all went our separate ways the next day. George Childs was thanked for his bar tending skills and patience, Jenni Lynnea for her tireless work as wagon master and Bruce Daykin for his excellent planning and leadership on the tour itself.
Still pitching in on our last night together
It remains for me to say thank you to everyone for such memorable days together… at one point Jim asked if we were going to take a group photo but alas it did not happen…next timeJ…. I certainly hope that this will not be the last time that I have an opportunity to participate in one of these fabulous adventures.
Bruce and Wenda Daykin – Riding Day 10