Riding east out of the mountains, a glorious morning sun shone trough the fog and canopy. Beaver ponds and roaring creeks drifted past me as I sailed downhill.
I reached the lakeside town of Kaslo and explored a bit. Their sternwheeler was once the pride of town, a real working girl, it operated until 1957!
With the sun shining bright on my wet gear, I made haste to Ainsworth Hot Springs. After laying out all my gear in the hot sunshine, I went inside, changed, and lowered my bones into the hot pools. The outdoor pool was 99F and felt remarkable. After 15 minutes, I worked my way into the hot springs. Unlike many hot springs, Ainsworth is unique in that they flow from a cave within the mountain. Two chambers enter and link up in the steamy 104F darkness. Rope lights faintly illuminate fellow barbers swimming around the inky darkness like prehuman cave organisms from a sci-fi film. Stalactites and waxy limestone structures coat the walls and ceiling. Water drips down from fissures in the rock. I park myself under a hot waterfall, it's pressure directed at my sore neck muscles. This is remarkable! After 10-15 min in the hot pool, I exit and plunge into the 49F cool jacuzzi sized area. The shock sends pins and needles through my body, this must be good for me.
I pack my dry gear and ride down to the ferry for a schedule. I make lentils and Cous Cous before heading over to Nelson to check out the town. The lakeshore is beautiful! A warm breeze carries me past lakefront houses of varying class and grandeur. Kayaks paddle the water among sailboats and pleasure craft enjoying the last few weeks of summer.
I take a break in Nelson, BC for an ice cream and to check out the town. It is like a mini San Francisco, filled with hippies smoking freely in the street, gays celebrating the pride parade weekend and hemp shops selling natural fibers. I have a conversation with this disgruntled old man, upset the Catholics and "lesbian devils" are stealing all his money. I have no clue...he didn't make much sense. Great beard though!
I arrived at the ferry as it was departing so spent an hour writing in my journal and siping coffee in the hot sun. Soon the ferry carried me across the lake to the eastern shore.
A small but powerful storm was blowing across the water. At "full-steam-ahead" I just barely made it before getting hit. Wind whipped the water into whitecaps and tossed limbs from the trees into the road.
Sights like this are why I ride. Simply amazing.
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