Day 9: Clearwater-Horse Lake

For the last couple of days, I considered an exit option because of my knees hurting and other vital body parts (especially the one you sit on) causing major problems. There is a bus from Kamloops to Vancouver, and Kamloops was only 120 kilometres away from last night’s accommodation in Clearwater. So I could be in Vancouver in two days if I wanted. If I chose to continue, then there would be a tough stage into the mountains today and after that another four more long and mountainous days ahead of me.

I had to decide after thirty kilometres today. There, in Little Fort, the highway 5 continues southwards to Kamloops while the highway 24 would lead me into the Cariboo mountains in the west. The first twenty kilometres were tough, but then I started feeling better. So I chose not to take the cheat option with the bus, but continue to cycle.

Right after Little Fort, the road started to ascend. It was a long two hours’ climb with almost 900 metres elevation to the McDonald summit at 1300 metres. During the ascent, it was sunny and warm. Earlier in the morning and pretty much for the rest of the day, it was raining.

Twenty kilometres ahead my destination, I stopped at a small store where I got a hot chocolate for free (I must have looked pitiful, wet as I was) and bought some supplies for tonight. I’m staying at the Cariboo Bonanza Resort, a campsite with some cabins at the Horse Lake, which is run by a Swiss family.

They are quite curious