Day 12

If Day 1 was a soggy introduction to the coast, Day 12 was a cramped, metallic introduction to the Rockies. We spent the day packed into the cab of a U-Haul—four of us sharing a space meant for three. It wasn't exactly the "unobstructed 360-degree scenery" we’d dreamed of when we planned this trip, but it was the only way we were going to conquer those passes without losing another week to exhaustion. We pass more than one spot where there was little to no shoulder and would have been terrifying to have large trucks passing by us.

I remember the surreal contrast of driving through Rogers Pass and Golden, stopping at "The Last Spike" to see where the rail line was finally finished—the very rails we’d hoped to cycle alongside. Lake Louise was the real highlight; even through the haze of a cold and the frustration of our change in plans, that emerald green glacier water was stunning. Seeing the snow still blocking the teahouse trails was a stark reminder that the mountains were still very much in winter mode.

By the time we reached Banff at 5:00 PM, I was just glad to be out of that truck cab. Wendy’s family—Chip, Jim, and their three kids—gave us such a warm welcome. We immediately reassembled the bikes and took a quick spin around Banff just to feel the pedals under our feet again. That first ride in the mountain air felt like a promise that the "real" trip was about to resume.

Even so, I remain a little sad. I feel like I've let both the people with me down, and myself. In the end, I know that this was a 3 to 1 decision, but that brings little comfort to the younger version of me that dreamed of doing this.

After an amusing night of creaky beds and broken door chains, we get back on the road. Our friend is taking dozens of pictures from the window of the truck; he loves the mountains. It is quite cramped with the four of us in the U-Haul. Wendy is having to either sit on a lap or crouch on the floor. I do not think this is how any us expected to be getting across the Rockies.

In the truck, I am keeping my head down reading a book so as not to spoil the gorgeous mountains with the grime of the windshield and the overall narrow tunnel-like view from the cab. I am very discouraged that we are having to take this U-Haul. My personality is such that if I am going to tackle something, I want to do it right the first time. I have started to consider flying home from Calgary.

But as the day wears on, I think of the consequences. Our friend is only riding with us as far as Regina. That would leave Blue and Wendy alone to tackle the remainder of the trip, which would not be fair to them. It would not be right to go back on our agreement. On our way to Banff we stop at "The Last Spike", Golden for lunch, and Roger's Pass. We walk around in Lake Louise for about an hour. The lake is an incredible emerald green from the glacier silt. We arrive in Banff around 5:00p and go to Wendy's aunt and uncle's place. After introductions, we reassemble the three bikes and go for a quick ride around town.