Bicycle ride Friday?

[Galactica]

So, I brought my bicycle with me to Vernon.  I m going to ride around Wood Lake on Friday.  Would anyone care to join me?  Thought I’d start around mid morning.

[Hawkeye]

I just got word that my 10:30 won't be happening. Would 10:00 work for you, say, at the south-east corner of Wood Lake?

[Galactica]

I was thinking of parking somewhere in Obama, or I think there’s a Starbucks near the highway at the south west end.

[hardrockminer]

We are in Grand Forks right now doing some biking on the TC Trail.  Have ridden from Midway to Grand Forks and part way to Christina Lake.  Rain made us turn back.  Today we're going up to Slocan to do some rail trail between Slocan and S Slocan.  Trails are pretty good down here!

[Hawkeye]

Sounds like some good riding, Bill.

Ross, You would turn right at the first light near Turtle Bay, then an immediate left into the parking lot for Starbucks. Want to meet there? Time?

[Galactica]

Hey Mike,

Looks like I’m going to have to cancel cycling tomorrow.  Turns out that while I’ve been here in Vernon, at home my wife has contacted Covid.  I wasn’t due to get my vaccine invitation until Tuesday.  I was hoping to tag team with her so she could relieve me up here.  In any case I’ve obtained an early appointment in Armstrong tomorrow at 1:00 to get my vaccine earlier than my scheduled invitation.  Sandy will not be contagious by the time I intend to head home but wanted to get my vaccination as insurance.

Would you be available to cycle Saturday instead?

[hardrockminer]

Sorry to hear about your wife Ross.  I hope she recovers well.  Still waiting for my invite before going for shot #6.

We altered plans and completed the section from Grand Forks to Christina Lk.  The path is good and the scenery great.  Most of the rail trails go through forest with trees lining both sides of the trail.  This section is down the Kettle River Valley with wide open fields for the most part.  The Cascades Chasm is very scenic.  Today was a shorter ride, so we packed up and headed for Slocan for the night.  Lots of history here.  The trail here also looks nice!  It takes you down the Slocan River to South Slocan.  Will have to wait til next year though, as we decided to return home tomorrow. 

[Galactica]

Sorry to hear about your wife Ross.  I hope she recovers well.  Still waiting for my invite before going for shot #6.

Thanks Bill.  Yes, Sandy seems to be recovering well.  After waiting nearly an hour on hold for the BCCDC so I could speak to a person about getting an early appointment, I did get one for today in Armstrong.  I had to really prod the woman on the other end of the phone line.  You can’t book an appointment online without the link on your invitation, so you have to use the phone line.  My invitation was set to come on the 19th.  I wanted to get my jab as early as possible so it would have some time to build resistance.  I d hoped to tag off with Sandy this weekend, but it looks like now I’ll likely head home Wednesday. 

[Galactica]

So, back to the cycling.  Hawkeye and I are meeting at the Starbucks near the SW end of Wood Lake tomorrow at 10:00 for a ride around the lake.  Possible chance of a shower, but that’s what rain gear is for.

[Galactica]

Thanks for the morning, Mike.  It was good to get out, and the weather cooperated perfectly.  But man, I’m glad it was flat.  I’m quite fatigued.

[Hawkeye]

Gotta love those old rail lines. That was a good ride.

[hardrockminer]

Some sections have enough downgrade that you don't need to pedal.  This was the case for the section into Princeton from Bankeir.  That section is probably one of the steepest we've ridden.  The section from Eholt to Grand Forks is also a steep downgrade.

[Hawkeye]

In the case of the Wood Lake loop, there are very few slopes. For most of the trip, the rail line stays about the same distance above the water level.

[hardrockminer]

We rode the part from Vernon to Oyama last summer.  It was a good trail but lots of e bikes going very fast while passing.

[Galactica]

My experience with e-bike riders in general has not been good.  And indeed with cyclists in general as well.  Rules don’t apply to them.  No etiquette, no consideration of others, huge sense of entitlement and superiority.  This also goes for e scooter users, mono wheels, etc.  legislators have allowed them to spin out of control.

E-bike crashes are now becoming as frequent as motorcycle crashes in terms of kilometres travelled as well as severity if injuries and death.  Paris France has rescinded e scooter rental business licences because of the high crash injuries and deaths. 

In my opinion, anything not 100% human powered ( and maybe bicycles to) requires regulation and insurance.  Tough talk, yes, but in today’s traffic environment, responsibility must lie somewhere.  E powered vehicles have gotten a free ride and out of control.  The hazards they create far outstrips those posed by pedestrians and regular cyclists.  Something’s gotta give.