Up Over: 8/5/16 Reality Check

Start the day with fresh mountain air, bacon and eggs. Then everything else falls in place.

A brisk walk to the local grocery, with sun kissed mountains and crisp morning air as partners, set me off on the right foot today. I needed supplies to cook breakfast in our kitchenette, something I have almost forgotten how to do. With eggs, warm bread and bacon in my arms, I walked back in the middle of the road, like a stray dog, never encountering one car. I could live like this!

The art of "sleeping over" is an acquired one. A coffee pot, fridge and private bathroom are a must, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made when your choice of digs is hundreds of miles from nowhere. A TV is nonessential because it defeats the purpose. Before lights out, one should memorize the whereabouts of all obstacles such as tables and chairs, the bathroom and the toilet paper because the location changes daily. Ear plugs and sleep mask are required for noisy air conditioners, safety porch lights and other obtrusions. And wifi is certainly an added perk for blogging! Every motel, hotel or cabin is a crapshoot. When we get a kitchen, we feel like we have hit the jackpot and utilize it to its fullest. Hence our amazing breakfast this morning.

Off into the glorious morning, we thrilled in the glaciers and waterfalls in reverse as we rode out from Stewart. A different perspective and light source in the morning sun created a new art form for us as we viewed the show with appreciative eyes.

With 100 miles to go on amazing route 37, we braced ourselves for more pitfalls. But this section of road is greatly improved. There is even a line down the middle. No bears, moose or caribou jumped out at us, even though there were warning signs. Perfect weather sealed the deal for another superior ride.

Changes occurred in the forest as we were drawn south. Deciduous trees began to appear and the evergreens were much taller and of different varieties, such as arborvitae. Used to the tundra-like conditions in which we have been riding, these changes were refreshing. On the downside, yellow leaves floated in the stream by our picnic, a sure sign that the short summer here is gearing down.

All too soon we were thrown back on a real highway, route 16. Our ride through the back woods had spoiled us. By our former standards, this road would have been scenic, still winding through mountains, but now there was civilization butting in. The heat of the day cooked up some ominous storm clouds and we climbed off in Houston, BC, not TX.

As I watched the yellow leaves drift down the stream today, reality reared its ugly head. As we travel into August, our northwestern summer is creeping away. Still thousands of miles from home, each day is like the end of a chapter instead of a prologue. Yet, the satisfaction gleaned from the previous pages, keep us looking forward. The denouement is often the most fulfilling part of the story.