MAY 13, 2010

Dear Friends,

I'm on a rest day and it's been great recharging my batteries in Osoyoos at Mat
and Evelyn Hassen's place. I worked with Mat at the school board for a few
years and it's been great to reconnect. Mat took me on a tour of the Osoyoos
Desert Center and the Osoyoos Museum. Even had an interview with a reporter
from the Osoyoos Times on the project. Food and rest were on top of the agenda
today and should pay off on Anarchist Mountain tomorrow, a 7 km hill climb out
of town.


Speaking of hill climbs, my 4 days of travel have been highlighted by healthy
elevation gains especially from Hope to Princeton, B.C. I must have driven this
route 50 times and never had the intimate sense of gravity pull that I
experienced in day 2 and 3 of the trip. Talk about a leg burn!

Yesterday's journey from Princeton to
Osoyoos was a dream ride with sunny skies, a tailwind and gorgeous scenery
along the Similkameen River. The great thing about riding this time of year is
all of the bird activity on the roadside. In particular, I've been inspired
with the song of Blackbirds nesting in marshy areas along the way. The day
ended with some long hills before the Richter Pass descent. As I approach a
corner after a long hill climb, I like to imagine that it's going to level out
or even better, become a decline and when it doesn't, only the wildlife can
hear my shout of "Oh no!" or worse but what can you do? Even philosophy is of
little help, so it's best to try to empty your mind of thought, and grind until
it's flat again.

Apologies for the banal simplicity of this discourse but this is my expereince
at the moment and if I continue to make progress and get stronger, my view of
the world may evolve into something different. In a painting, sometimes it's a
little dash of a primary color that jumps out at you that you remember. About
9:30 yesterday morning, I approached a monk dressed in red robes standing at
the roadside beside the Similkameen River with no apparent settlement in sight.
I slowed down, we exchanged greetings for the morning and I cycled off, feeling
gifted with a brief, gentle and authentic roadside encounter with someone on
another journey.

I wish to acknowledge and thank Lynda Kerr for all of her logistical and
emotional support for helping me get off the ground (or on it) and keepin' er
rollin'. Thanks also to many friends who have e-mailed, phoned, guest-booked or
skyped messages of encouragement.

Off to Grand Forks or thereabouts tomorrow.

Best wishes,
Doug