Friday July 3, 2015

A later start, this morning as it was going to be a short ride.

Ed and Lynne were ready to leave before us but had to return to the campsite as Ed has cracked the rim on his wheel!! I suggested he ask someone for a lift to Nelson, but he likes to be self-sufficient and decided to limp slowly to Nelson.

A lovely ride, although the shoulder was a bit narrow in places. We followed the Columbia River and there were quite a few hydro electric dams.

At one rest area there was this “spare” part. I always wonder if it is like a bit of IKEA furniture, you know you always have a bit left over. Well this bit was left over and they decided to leave it at the rest area, hoping no one would notice.

Not really it was in use from 1950 to 2002.

It always amazes me the innovations of the late 1800’s early 1900’s.

We followed the river all the way and it was a very pretty ride.

As we were coming down the hill to Nelson, I stopped and commented to Ralf on the sky, it looked more like waves, than clouds.

As we crossed the bridge into Nelson we spotted an eagle in a nest which was on top of the railway bridge.

We called Sandra (warmshowers host) and told her we were heading for the bike shop. She told us to go to Gerick’s Bike shop as they had the best service. Mark fixed my bike and although he could have sold me a new tire, he figured that the old one still had a few kilometres left on the tread. The only Schwalbe Marathon tire he had was a 1.75 and mine are 1.5.

Ed and Lynne arrived just as we were leaving with Sandra.

Sandra met us with a big hug for both of us and then took us downtown for lunch. We wanted to pay, but she said she had some vouchers that she needed to use up. It was a nice lunch and then we headed back to the car and up to wards her house which was on the top of the hill.

That is when disaster struck. Ralf’s bike decided to jump of the bike rack onto the road. Sandra was horrified, it had never happened before. I guess we didn’t account for the pannier racks

Ralf took his bike back to the bike shop where it needed new spokes, the wheel truing and new handlebar tape. Mark at the bike shop was amazing, he knew we were leaving in the morning, so he put aside other jobs and worked on Ralf’s bike so that we wouldn’t be delayed on our trip.

Great service, great shop, really nice people and they had a Marinoni in the window.

While Ralf was taking his bike downtown, I headed up to the house with Sandra and had a shower and settled in. I had a great chat with Sandra regarding her Tour d’Afrique trip. Cairo to Cape Town in four months! She said it was a bit of route march, long days, every day over 100 kms and one day over 200 kms.

We called Ralf at the bike shop, he was going to get a hair cut and then Sandra could pick him up. She was visibly upset that she had damaged Ralf’s bike and offered to pay for it. Sandra went to get Ralf and he had calmed down by the time he got back, it was an accident.

After dinner, we went downtown to do the Art Walk.

If wonderment gives way to smiles; and smiles give way to laughter; if hearts begin to glow and happiness is achieved; then the mission of this sculpture is complete.

Nelson has these Art Walks where art is displayed in various downtown businesses every Saturday throughout July and August, some stores stay open late until 9:00 pm.  Even the recently renovated Hume hotel and spa had art displayed.  We had to laugh when we saw the Rattenbury Room.  (Joy\’s last name).

Nelson is a really nice City, it has a good downtown, lots of art, lots of outdoor activities – cycling, skiiing, hiking etc.  A nice place to live, I think.

Sandra moved to Nelson last December and already has made a lot of friends, through cycling, hiking and skiing. She is a really nice person.

Early start tomorrow as Sandra is meeting her cycling group tomorrow at 8:00.