Up and ready earlier today to try to make up some of the time I lost yesterday. I also opted to take the highway straight to Sparwoood, rather than retracing the steps of yesterday’s incident. 

 

From here the weather closed in and there was some pretty torrential rain for an hour or so. Again opted to remain on the paved highway instead of risking a muddy mess on the dirt roads. I met Zach and Kara and the three of us stopped for lunch in Elkford, which was surprisingly nice. I also had a pot of tea, which was very welcome after the rain and I think the first since being here. I didn’t want to  trust the US to make a decent cup of tea . The sun had now come out so was able to dry wet clothes and, more importantly, wet roads - as from Elkford there was no paved alternative. 

 

Thankfully the road was mostly free of mud and the three of us pushed on towards a campsite further up the Elk River, which the route had been tracking since Fernie. Small and basic site but was able to get water from the river. 

 

I had been trying to work out plans when getting into Banff, as it is notoriously busy and expensive. Zach has offered for me to join them in their hotel. Which would mean we could ride the final stretch together which would be nice.