Day 12 and a big Happy Birthday to Kelly

Well it is not much of a picture day today. We left Golden early in some fog and it wasn't until we climbed up to Roger's Pass that we got above the fog (hey dear, I think we are in a cloud) and into some sunshine. A little cool this morning (8'C) and the threat of rain. Roger's Pass was very interesting. I am constantly in awe of the people who explored this land, the men and women who made the roads and rail lines and who settled and cleared the land. When you see the challenges they faced up close, it makes their achievements so much more incredible. We joke back and forth as we are riding about ...."you want a railroad where?????", but I could not imagine the sacrifices they made.

The trip on into Penticton was uneventful but busy. The road just keeps going downhill so our mileage is way up and so is the volume of traffic. This country is nothing if not beautiful and no sooner were we in Sicamous than the mountains receded, and the Okanagan valley stretched out all around us. The ride down to Kelowna is very reminiscent of the Niagara region. We stopped in to check out the new BMW touring bikes at Southwest Motorad in Kelowna (www.southwestmotorrad.com), but Linda didn't see anything she liked, so it was back on the road and into Penticton at the bottom of the Okanagan valley, and home to the Penticton Ironman being held......you guessed it, tomorrow! Roads are a mess, cyclists and runners are everywhere, events are happening all over the city. It is a very feverish, almost festival feel to the town. We are planning to be up early to try and clear town before the roads close for the bike and run portion of the race so we won't be around for the race, but our best wishes go out to all the participants tomorrow.

After a delicious supper at Earl's, Linda and I went on a walk through some of the neighborhoods. Not only did we spot an original Honda CVCC (the original Civic), we came across an electric motor repair shop. If you look closely at the motor, you should spot a familiar name.

Now on a personal note, I would like to take this time to wish my sister Kelly a happy birthday tomorrow. For those who don't know, she is in Afghanistan as a civilian support employee for the Department of National Defence helping the soldiers. I believe it is already tomorrow there so Happy Birthday kiddo. Our thoughts and prayers are with you especially on this day. We love you.

Our plan for tomorrow is to reach Cloverdale and NOLAN! If all goes well, we should be there around 2 in the afternoon, and hopefully, someone (i.e. me) will stop a little more to take some more pictures. As always, your emails and comments are much appreciated. So long from Penticton.