Big Bump 2

Our third day of riding was Saskatchewan Crossing to Lake Louise.  This involved 2 big climbs, the second over Bow Summit.

After rain overnight we awoke to sunny skies.  We all ate breakfast together at the buffet, fuelling up for the climbs.

We first descended out of the hotel down into Saskatchewan Crossing before starting a 7 km climb.  The grade was "only" 5% making for a steady but not excessively painful climb.  After finishing the climb we rode on for 5 km to our first rest stop.  

We continued on thru rolling hills gradually upwards to where Ben met up just before what he also calls the Big Bump, Bow Summit.   The grade here is rated as 4-6%, more like 6% with in Ben's words a "kicker" at the summit where the road goes to about 8% for 300 m.  We all slogged up this hill, all except Jake who took off, went to the top and then descended and climbed it again.

The road had two lanes heading uphill so most of the traffic moved into the other lane as they passed us.  There are of course always the idiots who want to see how close to you they can pass you.  

After quite a long climb the road became more steep.  This would have been discouraging had I not known that I was now in the kicker and was almost at the top, where Mary and Theo were waiting for me.  Jake was still on his second climb (at least he didn't lap me).  

With barely time to catch my breath, Ben had us ride up to the parking lot at Bow Summit.  There is a look-out at Bow Summit which is usually clogged with tourists but Ben took us on a short hike to a less crowded but still spectacular view of Peyto Lake and the surrounding area.

From there we descended to Bow Lake where we had lunch.  We then had a long descent into Lake Louise on the newly paved road making for a pleasant time after two hard climbs.

Where the Parkway met the Trans Canada we went onto a paved trail which took us to our hotel the Lake Louise Inn.  We stashed our bikes in the store-room. It was there that we met Eric who have joining us for the rest of the tour.

After a shower and a session in the hot-tub we had dinner at the Lk. Louise hostel across the street.  Ben then took us in the van to Moraine Lk which even in the evening was still busy with some creative parking attempts.

I hadn't visited Moraine Lake in several years so it was nice to revisit it and we walked up to a viewpoint overlooking the lake.

After that we had a quick visit to Lake Louise again still crowded even in the evening before going back to our hotel.