Shuswap Tailwind

by Rob Crowder, Nelson

We woke up this morning at the Prestige Lakeside in Salmon Arm to sunny skies. While a flat tire was repaired in the parking lot, we opted to ditch our jackets & vests because of the morning sun.

As we headed west towards Kamloops, we couldn’t believe the devastation in Blind Bay & Chase where the recent wildfire jumped the highway and burned right down to the water’s edge. Even today, we witnessed helicopters actioning the fire overhead as we cycled towards Chase. Upon arrival in Chase our long-time friend Cody was waiting for us to ride in towards Haldane Elementary. At the school we enjoyed the delicious lunch made by the Rotary Club. Their donation will help us continue helping the kids who rely on our fundraising and support throughout the year.

Leaving Chase can be a gamble with the winds into Kamloops, but luck was on our side and a tailwind had us cruising at an average of 35km/hr. With time to spare, we found a park to relax downtown in the shade to escape the heat. We arrived at the Kamloops detachment with smiles and a sunburn, and after a delicious team dinner at Christine’s we’re tucked in waiting for tomorrow.

Over the last 8 days we’ve come together as a team, and it feels like we’ve hit our stride. Hard to believe that we’ve only got a day and a half before we part ways again until next year.

See you in Vernon tomorrow!