Bros hit Hwy 5

Well, two out of three ain’t bad. For now.

The 7Cs forged ahead with the bros, Clive and Grant joining forces outside the Husky gas station/convenience store/bakery/Subway/liquor store in Little Fort. Son/nephew Brody is plugging along with his wonky knee.

Clive was on the second day of pedalling having spent the first night in 100 Mile House at the home of a friend who has gone cross-Canada on a recumbent bike before. He took a scenic route to the rendezvous point going on Horse Lake Road which had some spectacular scenery. He finally got back on to Highway 24 to get to Little Fort. As anyone who has travelled that road they know there’s about a 10-kilometre, eight per cent downhill grade into Little Fort. Not the most comfortable trip down when it’s wet.

But arrive safe and sound he did, about 45 minutes after Grant. The older bro (aka me), had made the trek from Kamloops. Travelling Highway 5 north of The Loops was quite pleasant compared the Coquihalla Highway 5. That is until the final eight kilometres or so when the rain started to come down fairly hard.

After the brothers reunited it felt so good they decided since it was still mid-afternoon they’d keep on riding to Clearwater another 32 kilometres away The rain had receded but not entirely. The road between the two towns is about 95 per cent flat with big shoulders making the decision a good one.

By the time they’d reached Clearwater, Clive had done a 135 km day and Grant 126. They took a camping site at a place called Dutch Lake.

They hit the town for pork schnitzel dinner at The Old Caboose a place that takes the Old part of its name seriously since most of its patrons were septuagenarians and octogenarians. But the precipitation continued and as sunset came Grant and Clive were forced into the cramped tent quarters so they could hook up to the WiFi to scan the baseball scores, write a blog and figure out a game plan for the next three days to get to Jasper. We’ll let you know how it works out.

Day 5: Grant 126 km. Total 496 km.; Clive 135 km. Total 226 km.

• As this blog is being put to bed, literally, we hadn’t heard how Brody had made out Wednesday. He’s a plucky lad, though.

• Sister-in-law Rosamond Smith and nephew Matthew evacuated from Fort McMurray on Tuesday and made their way to Athabasca where they hooked up with a fine friend in their former hometown and bedded down there. Ian stayed at the Suncor work camp. Rosamond and Matthew are now in St. Albert staying with friends.