Lightning Crashes

“Oh now feel it coming back again,

Like the rolling thunder chasing the wind;

Forces pulling from the center of the earth again”

It takes me about a week of cycle touring to get back into the hang of it — going only as far as I can go in a day on my own power, living mostly on what I can carry, and leaving the rest to the whims of nature and humanity. The body starts strengthening muscles where it needs it and shedding fat (well, sort of) where it doesn't. The mind switches its attitude from being a demanding, entitled control freak to someone who is more patient, grateful and spontaneous. This is more of the reason why I do this regularly, it keeps me grounded and re-centred. Maybe this is why major religions prescribe some sort of abstinence or exertion, pre-packaged in ritual fasting or pilgrimage, because it heightens a sense of self-awareness and consciousness of one's vulnerability. OK, enough from the church on two wheels.

But speaking of fasting, it's amusing how the local grocery chain here in northern BC is called Overwaitea, which they pronounce as "over-weighty".

I guess yesterday's last climb has brought me over the crest of BC's central mountains. The area around Burns Lake is a chain of calm summit lakes that nestle in the saddle of the plateau. The eastbound Yellowhead Highway now follows the Endako River downstream towards the Nechako and Fraser Rivers. Although there are less higher  mountains in the background, the terrain is not less hilly.

One of the summit lakes

Here I was thinking I was leaning my bike against just another ordinary run-of-the-mill roadside cairn...

...but back during the Centennial, they actually spent time, money and effort to ship a stone all the way from England just for effect.

My first ride across from BC passed by the Last Spike of the first railway, so it's cool that my second passes by the second. 

A lot more flat farmland in the Nechako Valley

I'm staying in Vanderhoof tonight which bills itself as the geographic centre of  BC, so I must be halfway through this large province.

Yup, I can feel the renaissance of the touring cyclist in me :)

”I can feel it”