May 28, 2017, Day 7,  Spence’s Bridge to Savona, 98km

Today was a scorcher! Even under the best of circumstances I am not a big fan of heat. Never have been. When I was a teen all my friends used to get together to lie out in the sun slathered in baby oil and there I’d be, over in the shade, just dying in the heat. So today was really tough for me.

We packed up early and were on the road by 7:15. The road had lots of ups and downs and there was absolutely no shade anywhere. I saw 2 coyotes, young ones I suspect as they looked fluffy, not scraggly like most I’ve seen. I was roaring downhill and they must have thought I was after them because they both took off, unfortunately in the same direction as the curve in the road took me. One stopped and ran right, while the other continued left. As the land narrowed I feared our paths would intersect but luckily the coyote stopped and changed direction. We really haven’t seen much wildlife. Just a fawn in PoCo, a fancy looking yellow and brown snail and now these coyotes. And I’ll be quite happy to avoid any of those fellows in the one piece fur coats.

We went through Cache Creek and then Ashcroft which held the record high temperature for the country that day at 34 degrees. Eventually we got into Savona, where we were staying that evening. I was so glad. At one point when Charlie and I were going back and forth looking for a cafe, I just stopped and told Charlie that I really couldn’t do much more. We finally found a cafe and I drank 2 litres of water in addition to the 3 litres I’d already had. Plus coffee.

We were hosted by Detty and Gerry and their visiting brother-in-law, Don. They are part of the “Warm Showers” community because they have adult kids who cycle tour. Immediately we felt at ease, welcomed into their home. Detty insisted we do our laundry there and we had a lovely dinner and lots of conversation. We share the same faith and connected through that too. When I mentioned that I’m nervous of bears from Revelstoke on Don said “Don’t be afraid of anything. And see that mountain over there? Don’t worry about doing the whole mountain…. just do that little bit in front of you.” Yeah, I’ve heard that before, but somehow his words have been spinning around in my brain. I will not be afraid.