We awoke to light rain which had started during the night. We met for breakfast at the hotel across the street before getting dressed to ride. The rain was now a little lighter but there was low cloud all around. We started out of Longview immediately hitting a long downhill followed by a long uphill. This was apparently what the ride was going to be like today. Still it was not raining and we did not have the notorious cross-wind in that area. We went thru a moderate squall that lasted a few minutes and continued on. About 20 km into the ride the rain became heavy and we got soaked quite quickly. Ben met us down the rode and we decided to stop riding and just drive to Pincher Creek.
Down the road it had stopped raining and the pavement was dry but nobody seemed very interested in getting out. There were ominous clouds in all directions and besides we were pretty tired from the day before. Ben was able to phone the hotel to arrange an early check in and we were able to roll in get to our rooms and shower, after which we ate the lunch we were supposed to eat along the road. We spent the rest of the afternoon napping or reading.
Around 1500 we had a thunder storm accompanied by hail.
It was hard not to observe that we would have been pulling into town around that time if we had kept on riding.
We ate at the pizza place next door, Luigi's and went back to the hotel. Mary and I used the hot tub and Mary even went down the waterslide.
The next morning was cloudy but not raining. We had 60 km to go to Waterton Lakes Park. After breakfast we loaded up and started out on the rode. This featured a series of significant climbs punctuated by short downhills so we were gradually climbing up.
Ben met us at Twin Butte for a nutrition break.
The weather was by now deteriorating and I decided to put on my rain coat and almost immediately it started raining soaking my uncovered legs. We kept plugging on and Ben met us a few km up the road. At that point we were about 20 km from Waterton and the rain was lightening a bit, so we decided to go on and put on our rain pants. Of course it stopped raining a few km later.
We could now see the mountains and were about 10 km from Waterton. We had a long mostly downhill ride from there before arriving at the park.
Ben met us and we rolled on past the park gates, to where there was a paved bike path. A paved bike path in a natural park, what a concept. We kept on down the path which went up and down randomly for a few km. Finally the famous Prince of Wales hotel came into view.
We kept on to the road to Red Rock Canyon where Ben met us for lunch. We decided to ride the 15 km to the Canyon. What was an extra 30 km after what we had gotten thru and besides Ben had phoned and our rooms weren't ready. We set up first climbing a steep but short hill. The road was newly paved but only two lanes with no shoulder which meant cars had to either slow down or go into the next lane to pass us. The road was a gradual uphill with steeper sections. We rode for about 9 km before looking ahead into what looked like bad weather and decided to turn around for a nice 9 km of mostly downhill.
We then kept on downhill to the Waterton townsite. Ben met us at our hotel and our rooms were ready at the Waterton resort which is a complex of individual buildings with rooms on both floors. We showered and changed and explored a bit.
Waterton townsite is what a national park town should be, small non-chain stores and independent restaurants and hotel. The surrounding area is spectacular.
I cannot believe I waited almost 59 years to visit this incredible place.
We had our last supper together at Vimy's the restaurant attached to the hotel.
After dinner Mary and I strolled around a bit before returning to our room for the night. The view from our window was so nice we didn't bother to close the drapes.
The next morning we packed up, had breakfast and set out. It had been an incredible journey possibly my best vacation ever but I was ready to go home. It was initially sunny with some clouds but we did have some rain along the way. We dropped Eric off in Calgary and Theo off at the Calgary airport and then Ben, Mary and I had a three hour drive to Edmonton where Ben dropped us off at our home.
We cannot say enough about Ben and Mountain Madness which Ben owns. We realize that Ben does this for a living but it was really like travelling with an old friend. He was always happy and positive and willing to go out of his way to help. We have been on other fancier bike tours but this tour blows them out of the water.