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TOUR de KOOTENAY NORTH

Day 6, New Denver to Nelson, 85 kms

Another early start in preparation for a big day today. We're going into uncharted territory - up Lemon Creek Road to Six Mile Lakes and down to Willow Point on Kootenay Lake.

This proves to be our toughest challenge of the trip.

We start off strong, charging up the 6 km Silverton Hill in record time, then down into Slocan for breakfast. The first few kms of Lemon Creek Road are great, slowly wandering along the creek, nice and cool in the shade. Then things start getting tougher. The road gets steeper and the sun gets hotter.

We gain 1000 feet elevation only to lose 800. For the first time ever, we gripe in unison, cursing the road builders. We are forced to put on a few extra kms because of no signs on our branch road. Are we lost? We can count on Bill, and sure enough, he has brought the map and the day is saved.

We reach the summit at Six Mile Lakes where we meet three happy fishermen who give us a sample of their own brand of huckleberry juice. We are once again inspired and head down the hill. The downhill is steep and rough with many switchbacks. And where's Doug? Is he ahead of us or behind? Maybe he flew off the road? I`m not going back up to look for him. He must be ahead of us. Ahh, there he is, alive and well.

We hit pavement again near Willow Point and race to Boggard`s Pub to wash the dust down. After cooling off, we head into Nelson and the Heritage Inn. It's an early night tonight. The boys are tired. Hopefully, everyone will forget who suggested this day's trip.

Day 7, Nelson to Castlegar, 55 kms

No more side trips, we have nothing to prove. We are machines. We have another successful trip under our belts. As we head home to close the Kootenay North loop, the talk turns to next year's trip.

Wally Verigin

Back - Bill Sloan, Steve Sutherland, Brian Marsh, Doug Pinkerton
Front - Wally Verigin

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