Day 6: A whole lotta climbing!

Day 6: Princeton to Osoyoos, BC



The ride from Princeton to Osoyoos included over 1,600m of climbing through some of the most beautiful scenery yet. We saw Mule Deer and bambi, badgers and mountain sheep along the way. After 60 kilometers of riding, we ended the day off with a 20 km mountain climb, in the middle of the day, in the Canadian desert. Yes. We are nuts!









Team awesome. Roadside.










Osoyoos, BC




Osoyoos is the Canadian desert. It is home to rattle snakes and badgers. Also home of what they claim to be the biggest fireworks in all of Canada!!

The 20 km climb. Go legs go!

















Pedalers, after the 20 km uphill. We survived!










We had a great time in Osoyoos celebrating Canada Day! It started out with a yoga class to stretch out our sore muscles. Heavenly! We then headed to the pancake breakfast put on at the Town Hall and watched the parade go by. After the parade, we were joined by Jasmine, before heading to the local Desert Centre to learn about the Canadian desert. We were surrounded by cacti, sand, and low lying shrubbery - so unique! We then went around to wineries of the Okanagan Valley to taste the best wines Canada has to offer. It was a fantastic Canada Day. We ended it off with the 'biggest fireworks in Canada' - which was the perfect end to our day off.








Canada Day parade in Osoyoos. Best float of the entire event. Osoyoos Fire Fighters!















Pedaling Feat at the Church & State Winery in Osoyoos. Meet John - He donated $100 to the Ottawa Hospital Foundation. Great day!

Osoyoos, the following morning. Heading out for our 100 km ride to Grand Forks, BC (Day 8!)

Days 3 to 5: Bring on the Mountains!

Pedaling Feat takes on the mountains.

Sore bums, legs, arms, backs and shoulders aside... the last 5 days of riding through the mountain ranges and valleys have been incredible!

Day 3: Team Pedaling Feat in Hope, BC.

From hope to Manning Park (Day 3), we reached an altitude of 1,342 m! Most of the day was spent climbing to the summit where we found a great spot to park Lois for the night and make delicious pizzas on the campfire!

Top three highlights (we like to call them 'small victories'):

1. Reaching the summit of Allison Pass after countless kilometers uphill.

2. Lois' CAUTION sign is tied on tight. Safety first!

3. Many a local giving us supportive waves, honks and fist-pumps out the window, as we rode along.

On days 4 and 5 we rode from Manning Park to Keremeos, BC. The ride was full of small hills and beautiful valleys. We reached Keremeos to find fruit stands, wineries and dutch mills galore! We took a welcomed break and munched on some delicious Gouda cheeses, a wine tasting (or two) and stopped to pick up some local cherries. We then parked Lois for the night and broke out the Mexican food... fajitas!

Day 4: On our way to Princeton.
























Sunday Summit! The second highest point between Hope and Princeton, BC (Allison Pass being the first!).



















Mel and Andres (our awesome driver) farming in the cherry fields of Keremeos!

Cerilia Winery: One of the family-owned local wineries in Keremeos.

View of our campsite in Keremeos!

Days 1 and 2 - Victoria to Hope, BC.

Our jerseys were ready, bikes all tuned up, the hope of seeing a killer whale lingered and the anticipation of day 1 was upon us.








Mel and Lisa in our Pedaling Feat Jerseys.









We woke up on Friday morning to sunshine! Our team of five, including Saskia, our fellow rider for the day, and Jenny and Simon, our awesome drivers, met at Mile Zero to kick off our cross-Canada tour.





Mel and Lisa at Mile Zero, in Victoria, BC.













We made it to the ferry in no time (with a quick pit stop when Saskia's chain fell off!), and enjoyed a few hours of relaxation. We finished off the day with a 40 km ride to Langley, BC where we stayed at Eagle Wind RV park, which lucky for us, had a hot tub!!!

Mel and Lisa on the road from the ferry.

Day two started off cloudy and cool. The road was flat and the rain stayed away! We were surrounded by gorgeous mountains the whole ride and followed the Fraser River until we reached Hope, BC.

Once in Hope, we decorated Lois with our Pedaling Feat sign and relaxed in the sunshine to rest our sore legs (and bums!).

Simon and Lisa mounting the Pedaling Feat sign on Lois.

Mel, Lisa and Lois. Day Two - Langley to Hope, BC.

Lois on the road to Hope.

The next few days promise to be a challenge with mountains galore!

More Pedaling Feat adventures to come.

The Countdown is On!

We hit the road tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.!!

This past week has been a flurry of last-minute preparations and travel from Ottawa to Calgary and then from Calgary to Victoria in our fabulous RV, Lois. She is a 1985 Ford Corsair with attitude. We love her!

Kamloops pit stop. Lots of hills, but Lois took them all on without a hitch.

We spent two days on Vancouver Island at the Gillingham's relaxing and enjoying the outdoors. Susan and David spoiled us rotten with delicious seafood.

The Gillingham's Lighthouse. Beautiful!

We went on a little rowboat ride and were lucky enough to see a seal and some blue herons up close.

Click here to see a video of our discoveries while rowing!

More updates to come!

- Lisa and Mel

12 Days and Counting!

Hi all,

The debut of our feat is quickly approaching, and so, I thought it was about time I get blogging!

Today was my last long ride before I fly to Calgary next Sunday, when Mel and I will hop into our awesome RV (yet to be named) and venture to Mile Zero on Vancouver Island. The sun was shining, my bike was purring and my legs were burning. All good things. As I rode through the Gatineaus twice over, I couldn't help but feel excited for what is to come. I'm not sure how, but I feel ready to take on all 6,000 kms, one day at a time.

I would like to take this opporunity to thank all of our supporters who came out to the Ottawa Silent Auction fundraiser. The event was held at Raw Sugar Cafe and among our special guests were Dr. Bell and his wife, my mom, sis, bro-in-law and newborn nephew, and of course, my Pedaling Feat partner, Mel.

That night we raised over $3,600 and auctioned off great items including a bike donated by Kunstadt Sports, a photo donated by Craig Gosling Photography and a Lululemon Yoga Kit.

The event was a complete success, and we hope that everyone enjoyed themselves!

Our next blog will more than likely be from Mile Zero. Until then, keep the e-mails, encouragement and donations coming! And keep in mind that we are still looking for drivers through Saskatchewan and Manitoba, so if you know anybody, pass along our e-mail address!

Visit the link below to check out our route: https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhlCc6I7xjK6dFJIS0RoVkkySmJYRldYQ2dYazJMOGc&hl=en

Thanks to all for your continuing support,

Lisa

Lisa's interview on Ottawa Rogers Channel 22

http://www.rogerstv.com/option.asp?lid=93&rid=4&sid=68&mid=3&arid=4&oth=39&gid=67707

Womens Cycling Website

http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/cycling-events/pedaling-feat/