A Parting of the Ways

Patty was up at 6...anxious to get on the road...anxious to get home.  Vacations are like that, at some point you have just had your fill of good food, adventure, and exploring new places...you want to go home and see sweet faces.

We had planned a stop at Modern Bakery in Revelstoke, but when we got there, we realized they don't open until 7.  We decided they were worth waiting for.  I bought a date bar and a raspberry custard oat muffin and Patty got a date turnover and a cheese and chive roll.  We said our goodbyes and she headed west on Highway 1 while I rode south towards Shelter Bay.

There is a free ferry that runs every hour between Shelter Bay and Galena Bay.  It takes about 20 minutes to cross and then there is a pretty good climb until you are riding above Arrow Lake.  While I was waiting to board the ferry, I talked to three motorcycle riders (heebiejeebies) and a cute older
couple named Hank and Maxine.  Hank is from Penticton and met Maxine, who is from Wenatchee
on Plenty of Fish.  They asked questions about my adventure, but assured me they were on their own adventure.  I thought they were very sweet.

There is a good, long climb of about 5 miles from Galena Bay to Halcyon Hot Springs.  And, it was scorching.  I was out of water when I got to the resort.  It caters to people in cabins and RVs more than little ol' bike tourers like me, but trust me...I can make it work.  Nestled above Arrow Lake, Halcyon...which means "healing" has three pools of varying temperature plus their swimming pool.  I a Spent the better part of the afternoon and early evening poolside and Hank and Maxine even showed up.  It was a great place to people watch...one elderly couple, perhaps in their 90's...carefully holding on to each other as they slid into the warm water.  Another woman wheeled her mother over to the pool and gently assisted her into the water and then put a few noodles around her so they could float together.  I liked watching the relationships.

Tomorrow I have a 50+ mile ride to Hills (what could that possibly mean?) where I'll be staying with Warm Showers hosts Daniel and Helen.