Day 3 - Fernie, Cokato, Elko, to Baynes Lake

Above Left: The Bee is ready to go.

Above Right: We have to ride across town, east, into the sun.

Above Left: We were riding across town, east, into the sun.

Above Right: Ride across the tracks and then turn right, south for the road out of town and toward Cokato.

Above Left: Looking at a pretty pink house across the tracks.

Above Right: Ride south, pass the Sports Complex (that's it at 11 O'clock), Check.

Above Left: Looking West from Pine Avenue.

Above Right: Heading South on Pine Avenue, soon to be Cokato Road.

Above Left: Heading South on Cokato Road.

Above Right: Entering the town of Cokato which is where many town workers can afford to live.

Above Left: Looking West across Elk Valley at the Fernie Ski Slopes (Fernie Alpine Resort).

Above Right: Passing by some of the Cokato Residences.

Above Left: Passing by some of the Cokato Residences.

Above Right: Neighbors talking.

Above Left: This Barn has Scandinavian, maybe Swedish, written all over the design and colors.

Above Right: Passing by some more Cokato Residences.

Above: This Intersection, Cokato Road and Thompson Road, Alternate Route Mile 56.1, is where the road changes to gravel.

Above Left: We've been climbing a little on Cokato Road (a little shadow selfie).

Above Right: Looking southwest.

Above: We found the Trans Canada Trail (Sentier Transcanadien).

Above Left: Riding south on Cokato Road.

Above Right: We got passed by 7 guys on rugged full suspension mountain bikes and they turned left/east here. Bonne piste à mes amis.

Above: This is an important intersection; Morrissey Road is the ONLY access route across the Elk River, between Fernie and Elko, to get to BC Hwy 3. This intersection also indicates that we are about half-way between Fernie and Elko. We will continue on Cokato Road.

Above: We have reached Lodgepole River Road (AKA: Lodgepole Forest Service Road). This intersection ends Cokato Road which actually becomes Lodgepole River Road going uphill (straight) but we have to jig to the right to catch Lodgepole River Road (downhill) that will actually leed to and follow the Elk River to Elko.

Above Left: This is a good touring road.

Above Right: We are between 61.2 and 61.9 mileage indicators on the map.

Above Left: Morrissey Creek.

Above Right: We had been observing dust clouds ahead which meant big heavy trucks. Oddly, we never had a Timber or Rock Loaded Truck go by us, just a few cars and pickups.

Above: Lodgepole River Road bears right here, plus the following picture's sign stated that Elko, an interim destination for us, was to the Right Fork.

Above Left: Another reason to turn right here.

Above Right: Heading West on the Lodgepole River Road.

Above Left: We finally got back to the Railroad Tracks which follow the Elk River and lead us to Elko (about 8-9 miles ahead).

Above Right: A little climb.

Above: We decided to take a break here.

Above Left: Our lunch break view (the Elk River is down below and Hwy 3 is straight across).

Above Right: This appears to be a Yucca or Aloe variety plant stalk. This is the furthest north that I have ever seen such a plant.

Above Left: Called a Purple Daisey but I think that it is actually in the Astor Family.

Above Right: Heading west and climbing on the Lodgepole River Road.

Above Left: We are still on the Canadian Transcontinental Trail.

Above Right: Heading west and still climbing on the Lodgepole River Road.

Above Left: WE ARRIVED! This is the bridge that crosses the Elk River, gives everyone access to BC Hwy 3, and it is the town entrance to Elko.

Above Right: Our last climb-out on the Lodgepole River Road.

Elko

Above Left: Looking back.

Above Right: Where the Lodgepole River Road ends at a Tee with Elko's Cascade Avenue, we turned right.

Above: Elko Residences.

Above Left: Main Street, Elko.

Above Right: An old shack, now used as a shed, on Bate Avenue.

Above Left: Where Bate Avenue Tee's from BC Hwy 3. We will turn right/north just to visit the Gas-Station/Convenience-Store for a break with some Ice Cream. We spent time with some locals to answer questions and to address the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR). The Hwy Bridge is for the CPR. After Lunch, our travel direction will be to our left/south to head for the town of Baynes Lake.

Above Right: Two tracks of the Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR).

Above Left: The Bee is resting at the Elko Gas Station and Convenience Store on BC Hwy 3.

Above Right: Luckily, we have our own safety path across the busy Highway Bridge.

Above Left: We're following BC 3 west towards Cranbrook but note that BC Hwy 93 starts left/south of here and heads to the US Border Station of Roosville. After we pass through Baynes Lake we will return to Hwy 93 and follow it to the Canadian-USA Border.

Above Right: This is the World Famous '3&93 Dairy Bar'.

Above Left: We are following the signs for Cranbrook but we will turn-off for Baynes Lake in about 4 miles.

Above Right: We will turn left here onto Kikomun Road toward the town of Baynes Lake - The highway suddenly got very busy.

Above Left: Cycling SW on Kikomun Road.

Above Right: A view of the dry grass to the west.

Above Left: Cycling SW on Kikomun Road.

Above Right: We turned left/south onto the Dump Road (this is a back-shot).

Above Left: We are entering a BC or County Park Property (un-signed). Our Adventure Cycling Map shows this route as a dirt road, so the road has been improved (paved, for a few miles) after the map was created.

Above Right: Our view to the SE.

Above Left: Cycling south on the paved Dump Road.

Above Right: Cycling south on the dirt Dump Road.

Above Left: Cycling south on the dirt Dump Road.

Above Right: Cycling south on the suddenly improved paved Dump Road.

Above Left: That's the Adventure Cycling map on the dashboard.

Above Right: We are now leaving the BC or County Park Property. I always try to pedal across a Cross Bar/Strap and often achieve that goal but not this time.

Baynes Lake

Above Left: Historic Waldo Church of Baynes Lake.

Above Right: Waldo Church and the Baynes Lake Community Centre (both images are from the Internet).

We are very experienced riders with a very good bike, good kit, and this day's ride ran very smoothly. There was a Church and Community Centre Fair at our cycling destination and it was unusually crowded in the large parking lot of the little Church at Baynes Lake. Unfortunately, after we arrived at Baynes Lake, I (Dennis) Sprained my right Calf Muscle just climbing a tall step, stepping up like I've done all of my life - Argh, NOT Fair. Basically, the injury was like that of a king sized 'Charley Horse' that came with a pop and a tear feeling. Where did the name Charley Horse ever come from? We managed to get back to a hotel in Fernie and to stay at least a day to determine if the injury would heal quickly or not, it did not. Sadly, we departed the following morning, it took three weeks for the injury to stabilize for tour riding. Thus, we ended this travel leg with only 27.5 miles to complete.

We only have 27.5 miles to complete the entire USA & Canadian Great Divide Mountain Bike Route!
We will be back in late September, 2017.

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