Wow.  It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks and we can all hardly believe it’s over.  The second week of Princesses has departed for home and are hopefully enjoying a safe drive back to Calgary.

Yesterday was very wet but we managed to sneak in a quick 40km ride down to OK Falls.  Up and over McLean Creek Rd – both ways thanks to a suggestion by Princess Barb from week #1, made it a challenging but very do-able ride.  The skies moved in on us on the way back and the Princesses were fortunate to Continue reading →

Thursday was a day off for the Princesses.  They had their sights on two things: a hike on the KVR and a little wine touring.  What they also HAD to do was have three of four bikes serviced for minor issues.  Freedom Bike Shop staff was very helpful – but they were going to take most of the day to work on these bikes – so the Princesses took advantage of that and spent the better part of the day on a) the hike and b) the wineries.

What they ACTUALLY experienced included watching a bald eagle Continue reading →

It’s not a new drinking game.  It’s not about sharing water bottles.  It’s also not about what one does at Scout camp while winter camping.

When you’re cycling for a week with Princesses over a certain age – it’s about passing the bottle of Advil.  We love pushing hard.  We love feeling a little sore after a workout.  What is sometimes hard is getting going in the morning without a little chemistry.  That was the topic this morning sometime around breakfast.  How many riders partook in the contents of the bottle – I Continue reading →

Quite a day we had Tuesday.  From my perspective, we met and exceeded expectations, for everyone.  We probably hit 35C, which felt like a hair dryer blowing in our faces at times.  It’s hard to stay ahead of the fluid loss, but we did pretty well.

Princesses Joyce and Charlie knocked it out of the park today.  Joyce (the dark horse) on her 800 pound hybrid bike.   They were the first up the Wall.  What?  I think Joyce surprised herself.  She might just be a budding cyclist after all. There we were Continue reading →

Well, it was a hot one folks.  Thirty five degree celsius and dead calm.  No breeze to speak of. Hooboy.

These Princesses weren’t about to become wilting flowers though.  They tackled the skills session with enthusiasm and only one crash.

Princess Charlotte was doubtful about the whole skills session business, but found it helpful in getting to  know her new ride.  Princesses Sandy, Michele and Joyce all had been through the drills before and I think, were pleased with their progress since their first encounter of a skilled-kind.

After the skills we took a quick Continue reading →

As the new Princesses arrived, so did the stories.  The ones that stand out in my mind tonight are these.

“It’s all about the journey” said Joyce and Charlotte who managed to stop just past Lake Louise to take a jaunt around Emerald Lake even though they had a full day ahead of them.  Who ever stops to go for a hike on an 8 or 9 journey?  I guess we know.  Love it.

“We had a journey too that included a stop” said Sandy and Michele.  They pulled into Lake Louise town for a Continue reading →

The week is over.  The Princesses arrived, rode and conquered.  Today was another marker.

Princess Phyllis started and ended the week having cycled a little more than she ever has in a single week and commemorated it with and ice cream cup at Tickleberry’s.  Bliss…  Look out Penticton Gran Fondo! This Princess will be ready.

Princess Barb made an executive decision to honour her inner Princess and did what felt right.  McLean Creek backwards.  110kms today for her.

Princess Lori also honoured her inner Princess and chose no to go with Princess Barb.

Princess Continue reading →

AAhh, a day off.  Or maybe it was an ‘easy day’.  Either way – we made our way along the Okanagan lake towards Naramata.  I fully expected that we had a group of 6 interested in descending into the town of Naramata – but evidently, cooler heads prevailed.  One Princess did the descent followed by the ascent and 5 of us did what we could to keep on spinnin’ out legs out.

This day is usually an opportunity for Princesses to put their feet up a bit and prepare themselves for one last long ride to Continue reading →

If you remember the phrase, “Scotty, beam me up”, then you’ll appreciate the photo attached.  This Princess (image has been modified to protect the identity of the hill-climbing-adverse rider), is requesting an air transport up the next hill.  At some point in the day, I believe I heard her say “Gosh, golly, gee Colleen, not another hill!”.

Today was epic for the Princesses in terms of elevation gain in one ride.  We neared 1300m in 82km.  For those of you unfamiliar, Scott Lake Hill (not related to the ‘Scotty’ comment above) midway between Calgary and Canmore Continue reading →

What a day.  The ladies were ready to roll and we were on our way at 8:29.  No flies on these Princesses, that’s for sure.

A big day on the agenda with a scoot down the east side of Lake Skaha including a short diversion onto McLean Creek road.  As we advanced – a fellow in a vehicle stopped to let us know that there was a bull on the road up ahead and that we should be aware.  Well, this wasn’t going to deter us – so we carried on thinking (ok,  hoping) that Continue reading →