08 Sept 2012

Kaslo to New Denver BC 30 miles (TNV 216 miles)

The nice Asian woman at the Valhalla Inn in New Denver has just brought us two steaming plates of stir fry. Stir fry is not on the menu but a brief conversation with the gal at the lone outdoor store in town revealed to us that (a) this is about the only joint in town serving hot meals and (b) if we wanted something other than a burger and fries, just ask for the stir fry and the owner would make it up special. Disappointed we are not; it’s rare to get a plate of steamed vegetables and rice in the backwoods of British Columbia.

We started our morning with a steep climb out of Kaslo, so steep, in fact, it required us to push our bikes up it. There is no shame in this, only a bit of sweat and, depending on the grade, maybe a few tears or choice words. This hill, however, only warranted a bead or two of the former before it flattened out and we were back in the saddle and on our way up to the summit. A little concerned when we started the day’s ride that it included the word “summit,” we were pleased to find the route was nothing more than a steady, gentle climb, the rushing Kaslo River to one side, forested green mountains and granite peaks to every other. This Selkirk route, like today’s stir fry, has not disappointed.

Something else we’ve been beyond pleased with? All of our accommodations, including tonight’s groovy stay at the Villa Dome Quixote. To look at it from their website, one would think it full of hobbits or flower children or both, like JRR Tolkein does Summer of Love. But it’s actually more like youth hostel meets AARP, the beehives buzzing with responsible adults who might all be sleeping in junior-size twin beds but who actually wipe down the bathroom counters and wash and dry their dishes. I say Power to the (elder) People.