Since we are now on the western edge of Mountain Time, we managed to sleep late – past 6AM, since the sun did not rise until then.
Tom was the first to use the bathhouse, and we recalled why we loved this place so much (besides the hot tub). Each shower had a full bathroom – and a hair dryer! It is easily the best or second best bathhouse we have encountered (the first might be the one in Yellowstone.)
We spent the morning on computer chores (and napping) while waiting for the temperature to rise to biking level. Then we decided to eat lunch first. We finally got to the North Star Rail Trail about 1PM. We pumped up the tires of the bikes that had not been ridden in months (Tom had already charged the batteries wile at Mike Chapman’s,) and we set up for a ride that would be 50KM or so if we did the entire length of the 25KM trail (50KM is about 31 miles for our American readers.)
The trail was what we like to think of as “typically Canadian”. Impeccably maintained. Over engineered. Frequent covered picnic tables and outdoor pit toilets. Well signed. Lots of interpretive signs about the geology, industrial history, wildlife, and such. Lots of Canadians – maybe 30% if whom were riding electric bikes, none of them riding clunky Chinese folding versions like ours. At most road crossings the drivers yielded to us even though we were not sure they had to. Just a really beautiful trail and great experience. We decided to do the entire length of the trail.
Scott mentioned to Tom several times that his 4 year old, second-hand VeeGo bike was still at 5 bars of battery despite going over 40KM. Turns out that was not true. Turns out the battery – drained a bit by keeping up with Tom – was dead after going about 48.5KM. The power just suddenly and completely died a bit over a kilometer from the end. While that section was kinda flat – maybe slightly uphill – the VeeGo was never designed to be ridden without power assist. Scott managed to get to the parked Polo with some difficulty, Time for a new bike, most likely, as diagnosing and fixing this problem is likely more trouble than replacing it.
After biking, we returned to the hot tub. Then burgers on the grill for dinner. Then bed. Tomorrow we move on from our two-night stay at this excellent resort/KOA