washington, English

It is not for nothing that they call it the EVERGREEN STATE,here falls enough water to keep everything green all year long. Once again we keep going to the end of this step, the USA. We found refuge behind a school, in Naselle, for our first night. We had chosen well the place for a sky night but without consideration for Mother Nature! The rain awoke us in the middle of the night, the roof which covered us was not big enough. We have camped in 2 different state parks (Lake Sylvia State Park and Dosewallips State Park) but hikes and bike sites are expensive ($14 a night). We tried to arrive late and leave so we could be free of charge. The road we ride is easy, we followed 401 to get Naselle, the 101 to Montesano and then the 12 and 108 to get the 101 again, it is mostly flat. The segment between Potlatch State Park and Brinnon is really magnificent, we go along the water and the traffic is quiet. On the road to Port Angeles, to take the ferryboat for Canada, we had a magnificent view on snowdrift mountains from British Colombia.

Oregon, English

In the rain! We entered Oregon April 1st with the sun but it did not stay too long. Following the coast, we went to Gold Beach. 101 is quiet, the up and down are much more gentle than in California and the people had the idea to build some bridges to facilitate the work. There is almost a madness, there is a lot of them and of all different kinds. Some are very beautiful and detailed well. There was regrettably no state park in Gold Beach, we went to the Indian Creek Campground quite satisfied with the sun who pleased us with his warm rays. It is necessary to know how to take advantage of the the little happy moments when they cross, the rain surprised us in the evening and has never wanted to stop. We went to stay in the Oregon Trail Lodge, and this during 3 days, because the hard wind, our tent filled up as a big hole of water. What a pleasure!!! These three days of motel could have been more because of the strong wind and the rain but our pockets find it hard!! We resigned ourselves to pedal in the rain and not just a little, EVERY DAY without any exception we had some showers. There are several states parks on the 101, hike and bike sites are rather nice and it is generally $4 a person. Some were closed or almost closed, so we were able to get out there free a couple of times. After 4 days of camping and bike in the rain (Bandon, Honey Man State Park(Dunes City) and Beverly Beach State Park) we were very happy to take advantage of a warmshower in Pacific City. We would liked to spend more time in Oregon but with this rain and the cold we rather wanted to pedal as fast as possible this part of our journey. Our last night, Hehalem Bay State Park, in the middle of nowhere! No idea if the only reason of the quantity of wild animals was because of the practical human absence but we saw a lot of deer walking directly on our site. They have no stress at all, they even took their time to stop in front of us to urinate! And during the night we were prepared for the daily racoons visit but those there were giants. Sorry for them, it is not with us that they got fat!

British Colombia, English

Back in our country by the sea. We took the ferryboat from Port Angeles, Washington, to Victoria, BC, on April 14 2010. The vision of our last mountains has to cross, the ultimate step of our great adventure. We were able to visit quit a bit the city of Victoria because some friends received us. There is a great bike path which cross through the city, "the galoping goose trail". The city also has the oldest Chinese Village in Canada. It is not so big, 1 maybe 2 streets! There is no choice of road on Vancouver Island, Trans Canadienne begin in Victoria, up to Nanaimo then we have to take another ferryboat to Vancouver. It would seem that the West side of the island with Tofino is magnificent but we cannot always see everything. We stayed a few days in the city, in the rain too most of the time! Max showing the important sites of the Olympic games. We went to fill ourselves with asian food at the famous Chinese grocery, TNT. It is absolutely not to miss for the Asian products amateur. Vancouver is a city where it is easy to circulate by bicycle, many road and cycle paths. One in particular makes all the Stanley Park and passing on the edge of water. It is a magnificent place to do different activities, meet people or just to relax. Not easy to get out of this town! Follow the 1, it is all that we have in our head. What we did not know is that in the periphery of Vancouver bicycles are prohibited. It is just when we leave to Sardis whom we are accept there any time. We were arrested by the police! Really nice policeman, he just warn us and indicates to us another road to use. That has prolong our day from about twenty kilometre more, we had a warmshower which waited for us in Sardis. Another point that we did not know the helmet is compulsory in British Columbia! The policeman has once again been really comprehensive. Finally the wind was a tail one rather than a head one, it is more easy to cover long distances. Once we arrive in Hope we wanted to leave 1 for 5 but the lady at the tourist information made us change our plans. She shows us the road conditions with a lot of snow on the shoulder, a lot of traffic and absolutely nothing for 150 km. We continued on Trans Canadienne following Fraser River, which is an easy way. There is not real hills before the Roger Pass. There is just some small villages between Hope and Kamloops and campgrounds are closed because of the early season. Hotels and motels are rather expensive so, we are always have to research a free place. We have to pass a night in Bandon Bar on the ground of para medics, the next night in Cache Creek then a night in a warmshower family in Kamloops. We keep our cadence because the temperature does not too much tempt us of taking a resting day. We pass by Salmon Arm, Revelstoke and then finally the Roger Pass! Not so terrible, the summit is has 1330 meters high but it is so gradually made that we practically do not feel it. Impossible to spend the night there, far too cold and the hotel far too expensive. We went down hanging 25 km (We made it the good way!) We stopped at the entrance of the Glaciers national park in a small hut with a lot of bugs but with magnificent view on a mountains goats family. Simply facinating to see them so agile on the escarped wall. The rain the rain always the rain. We would have been able to have a whole view if it was not been these clouds. We stopped 2 days in Golden, a town at the edge of the kiking horse to river so crystal clear water. Continuing our road towards the Lake Louise and Banff by way of the other one `col `. The last ones kilometre of the Beautiful British Colombia. The kiking horse pass is not more impressive than Roger.

washington

Ce n'est pas pour rien qu'ils l'appellent "EVERGREEN STATE", il y tombe assez d'eau pour tout garder vert à l'année longue. Encore une fois on continu a garder le cap vers la fin de cette étape, les USA. On a trouvé refuge derrière une école, à Naselle, pour notre première nuit. On avait bien choisi l'endroit pour une nuit à la belle étoile, c'était par contre sous-estimer Dame Nature! La pluie nous a réveillée au beau milieu de la nuit, le toit qui nous couvrait n'était pas suffisant. On a campé dans 2 différents state parc (Lake Sylvia State Park et Dosewallips State Park) mais les hikes and bike sont tres cher (14$ la nuit). On a fait attention pour arriver tard et partir tôt afin de s'en sortir gratuitement. La route se fait très bien, nous avons suivi la 401 jusqu'à Naselle, la 101 jusqu'à Montessano, la 12 et la108 pour rejoindre à nouveau la 101, c'est plutot plat. Le segment entre Potlatch State Park et Brinnon est vraiment magnifique, on longe l'eau et le traffic est très calme. En se rendant à Port Angeles, afin de prendre le traversier pour le Canada, on avait une superbe vue sur les montagnes enneigées de la colombie britannique.

Alberta

Encore une fois, arrivant au Lac Louise, le camping fermé mais là ce sont les agents qui nous recoivent. Ils nous disent de se rendre à l'hostel car à cette époque de l'année un Grizzly se promène dans les environs et la neige encore présente les empêche de pouvoir activer les clôtures électriques. Le lendemain matin, après l'abrupte montée de 4 km pour atteindre enfin le lac Louise, le ciel bleu nous permit de faire quelques belles photos. On a même pu marcher sur le lac. C'est par contre anormal qu'il soit toujours gelé à ce moment de l'année. Ensuite on appréciele décor en descendant jusqu'à Banff. Ambiance particulière dans cette ville. C'est très touristique mais en même temps on peut voir des chevreuils se promener sans stress au coeur de la ville! On amorce ensuite la descente vers les prairies et vers... une tempête de neige! Notre passage au travers Calgary fut assez rapide puis avec le vent nous poussant a vive allure, on s'est arrêté dormir à Bassano. On s'apprêtait à scouatter un parc quand un homme est venu nous interpeller. Sachant que le mauvais temps arrivait, il nous a offert de dormir au chaud avec sa famille. Le lendemain toujours avec ce terrible vent( on roulait à 45km/heure sans forcer, c'était malade!!!) la route est devenue dangereuse lorsque la neige s'est mise à s'accumuler. Par chance, on avait une maison chaude en très accueillante qui nous attendait à Medecine Hat. Bonnie et Doug ont été de merveilleux hôtes, ils nous ont permis de rester avec eux durant les 4 jours de neige du début mai!!!