Safe Return Doubtful

51 miles (82 km) – Total so far: 190 miles (306 km)

Two old timers kept me talking at the cafe of the fuel station. We sat outside for one more cup of coffee, and I wasn’t away until 9 am. Lundbreck is a small place, and it was good to chat about a few things; fuel prices, the railroad and the booking population of Calgary.

Today’s riding was all of high quality. It was the big interprovince route 3 into Pincher Creek, which took just less than an hour. A bit of a second breakfast in Tim Horton’s and then onwards and southwards on route 6. The old timers had promised rain. Dan in the bar last night said it would be hot and 30C. Who to believe? Leaving Pincher Creek the clouds cleared, and the temperature rose steadily. Dan was correct. Much less traffic on route 6 and great scenery. The mountains get closer and closer until arrival into the National Park.

I was fairly negative about this place with all the RVs that passed me, but the tent site is away from them, and considerably cheaper.

More tales in the photos below. A great day, with arrival into camp at 3 pm meaning an afternoon of relaxing in hot sunshine.

Later in the day I went into the village, and it confirmed my original thoughts of the touristic nature of the place. It’s not that big, but the campsite is vast. There’s a handful of restaurants, a store, and outdoor shop and several motels. It’s very busy, but i suspect is a big like Ambleside, once out on the hiking trails there will be very few.

There was a storm coming, the people is the tent two down from mine had been arguing about it. I always find it quite entertaining when campers dread the incoming rough weather. And this was spectacular. 3 hours of lightning and hailstones like ice blocks from the freezer. Going with it is a warning for extreme wind gusts to 70 mph tomorrow, and even tornado warnings twenty miles south in Montana.

I retired to bed after a very average pizza, and less than average beer.

Distance 51 miles Riding time 4 hours 4 minutes Average Speed 12.3 mph Max Speed 36.9 mph Departed 9 am, arrived at 2.50 pm

Looking down into Pincher Creek – Waterton in the mountains in the distance

2nd breakfast at Tom Horton’s in Pincher Creek – sort of a cross between Starbucks and MacDonalds –

What a perfect combination, if you had bad teeth, a scruffy dog and a that sugary food had led to some excess pounds.

Traffic problems at Yarrow Creek – half minute delay

Twin Butte village, or probably not a village. Population of 4. This would be a tremendous stopover, I just hadn’t planned it right. It has all you need, a Mexican restaurant, a store, and Big Rock beers.
Chatting to the owner, she says it gets to 30 below here in the winter, but they stay open. It is the mail centre for the ranchers, and therefore the centre of the community. They pop in for the post, and a beer or two to go with it. The Internet is here, but has just not been so appealing.

Pretty much all of the last two days I have been on ‘The Cowboy Trail’.
Basically the scenic route from Calgary to Waterton

Long lost family

National Park entrance – of course it’s paid entry here – but the same charge for a cyclist as for a person in an RV?

Cycled past about 8 RVs in the line for campsite entry – at this time fearing the worst for the site
I told most of them to turn their engines off while waiting, got some dirty looks

Actually the site is fine. Tents well away from the rest.

Gophers – burrowing rodents – by the bucketful
Thought I felt one under the tent, but may have been the Big Rock beer