May 26, 2017, Day 5, Hope to Boston Bar 71km

We said our goodbyes to Adrian and Matt and told them they are welcome to stay with us next time they’re out our way.

We had been warned about the hill leading out of Hope into the Fraser Canyon. I went to sleep the night before dreading it. Really though, it wasn’t bad at all.

Today was a lot of uphill, a lot of tunnels, (7) and a lot of pretty crummy pavement! Not just bad but broken, cracked, pitted, crumbly and downright dangerous. You think you’re going to sail along admiring all the stunning scenery, but so often you have to focus on the ground, just a few metres in front of your wheels trying to avoid the potholes, rough asphalt, rocks and loose gravel. That of course, and stay to the right so you don’t get mown down by passing vehicles. We stopped for a 2km hike to see an old bridge and have our picnic. We stopped again at Hell’s Gate to peer over the gorge and discuss whether we wanted to part with $44 for a 5 min ride down the gondola to view the heart of the raging water, and a 5 minute ride back up to the top. We didn’t.

There are, as I mentioned, 7 tunnels, two of which have buttons that set off flashing lights to alert vehicles that there are cyclists in the tunnel. We found that the best strategy is put our flashing lights on, as well as our reflective vests and to wait until there’s a lull in traffic. Then pedal like hell to get through them. 

We are now at a real fancy hotel (NOT!!!) in Boston Bar called The Charles and I’m about to awake my sleeping giant and drag him to the bar for a beer!

Goodnight!  (I didn’t think you’d need to see all 7 tunnels.)