Day 21 Big Fork to Lake Alva 102km

You know how sometimes one decision can set off an unexpected chain of events??? Today was proof that one decision can radically change your plans! A fantastic nights sleep on the lush green grass of Wayfarers state park, courtesy of a broken down lawn mower and we are off to a great start, for a planned 74kms. The mountains surround us, the Swan range to the left and the even bigger Mission mountains on our right as we cycle along the Swan river valley. A coffee stop at the Swan Lake Trading Post, combines post office, general store, service station, campground, cafe etc... and also has wifi, fantastic hosts and some pretty impressive hunting trophy photos on the walls, as well as a sign that says "coffee, do stupid things faster and with more energy"! The miles pass quickly and our timing seems perfect as the stops for morning tea and lunch both allow for some short lived showers to pass while we eat. The planned camp, in Condon, does not inspire confidence, an extra 4 miles to a lodge and campground further up the road seems like a good idea (do you see where this is going?) and with the skies above looking threatening we push on quickly, uphill, reassured that if the weather turns really nasty we can always stay in the lodge. But 4, 5, 6 miles on, no lodge, no anything but bigger hills and skies so dark the cars have their headlights on despite it being mid afternoon. With another 11 miles to the next possible campground, there is nothing to do but keep pedaling, uphill. Then, with all the trimmings, a thunderstorm, so rain gear, refueling, waiting for the heaviest of the rain to pass, hoping not to get struck by lightning and pedal on. The joy of arrival, of leaving behind the highway, the rain and the spray of dirty water with each passing car and the bigger one from the trucks. I don't even care about all the bear warning signs, and I can easily live with the pit toilet, but the lack of a shower is a further demoralisation. Dinner is cooked quickly, is delicious and a hot chocolate chaser warms us up from the inside, before we crash out, sticky and dirty in our poor abused sleeping bags. The sound of the rain on the tent drowns out any noise from marauding bears!


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