We were up at 6 am, and on the road about 7:15 am to drive to Siffleur Falls. The drive was uneventful except for the multitude of deer, and the coyote who dashed across the road.
We set up our bicycles at Siffleur Falls (my father brought his Catrike) and set off about 9:45 am. I was able to get a picture of him at the top of the first hill, but then I picked up my speed a bit and slogged off into the wind to Saskatchewan River Crossing.
I didn't stop at SRC, but turned and cycled northward toward Jasper. Along the way I took a lot of photos ... until my batteries died, and although I tried all the batteries I had with me, nothing worked ... until the next time I went to take a photo and one of the first sets I tried worked. Odd. But it kept working till near the end of the ride.
I passed the Weeping Wall (yep, I got a photo, see attached), and discovered that to cover the distance I needed on that leg of the ride, I would need to climb toward the Columbia Icefields!! The road approaching the Columbia Icefields consists of an approx. 3 km climb, then a drop into the valley, a curve around a horseshoe bend ... and then the real climb. I just went as far as the top of the first climb, then turned around and headed down.
And I discovered why the ~30 kms to the turn-around-point had seemed strangely difficult. The terrain gradually climbs toward the Icefield from SRC, and I had a headwind all that time. I flew back to SRC in no time at all!
Just before I got there, I spotted a collection of vehicles stopped, and people wandering around in the road ... that can only mean one thing on the Icefield Parkway ... an animal. And it was a bear. I stopped and took a photo from a safe distance (I figured that if the bear got upset he could maul the people hanging over him rather than me), and then cycled into the SRC parking lot.
On the way to the toilet, I was amused by some tourists who seemed concerned about me being on my bicycle when there were bear around.
My father was at SRC with the van. He had cycled as far as SRC then back to where we were parked at Siffleur Falls (56 kms), then had driven the van to SRC to wait for me, and provide support if necessary.
I had a quick bite to eat and refilled my water bottles and headed off again ... south this time toward Banff. As the road leaves SRC, it goes downhill, then flat. That lasts for a total of 2 kms. Then it climbs and continues to climb for the next 16 kms. The first 8 kms is the steepest part, and then it goes into gradual climbs and false flats. After those 16 kms, it moves into flat punctuated with more climbs. And there was a headwind. Seems heading south, the terrain gradually climbs and the wind blows into SRC, just like when you head north. SRC is the hub!
My legs were TIRED when I got to the turn around spot, just past Waterfowl Lakes. Fortunately, I was headed downhill with a tailwind when I turned around, and cruised at 40 km/h for the last 10 kms or so ... trying to make up for the ages it took me to get up there.
Another quick bite to eat and I was off toward Siffleur Falls. My father drove the van there and waited for me. I had a blissful tailwind, and covered the 28 kms in just over an hour ... including a short stop to take photos of mountain goats.
And that was the ride! 162.3 kms in total.
(I will get the photos posted tomorrow.)