Stage 5 - Jasper to Sunwapta Falls - May 29

CHOA ...

Over $6,000 has been donated so far to Children's Healthcare Of Atlanta. Thanks to everyone who contributed. It is a wonderful organization. Please encourage others to join in!

GODS OF RANDOM MISADVENTURE ...

Today's interesting day had its start yesterday. Our route north to Canada was closed halfway to the border when a section of road was washed out. We redid about 25 miles of our trip, adding another hour or more to our already long ten hour drive to Alberta. We arrived in Jasper around 2:00 a.m.

Our late arrival complicated today's breakfast plans, our laundry plans (yes, we do laundry!!!) and most importantly, our (especially MY) sleep plans! The morning alarm rang way too soon and I was somewhat discombobulated. I missed breakfast, missed the start of laundry, and generally walked around acting confused until I got into the day’s rhythm. It was not a pretty sight.

The gods of random misadventure struck again when we started cycling. Vik's bike had gear issues which necessitated a visit to a local bike shop which promptly made everything worse and then gave up. A second local bike shop fixed the problem but the snafu delayed Vik and David further.

Jonah and I left to get a head start anticipating (knowing!!!) they would soon catch up. They didn't because we missed an "optional mountain summit" side route which they took. Why? Discombobulated me loaded YESTERDAY's route (which explained why Garmin declared I was "off course" all day). How rude!

The gods of random misadventure were not done. After a couple hours riding, Jonah's chain jumped his main gear and destroyed his granny gear. Back to Jasper went Jonah and Peter while I continued on alone. I struggled a bit with random pains which of course required lots of contemplating. Finally, I realized I had to tune out the negativity and adopted the mantra, which I thought over and over: "nothing hurts; everything feels just like it is supposed to". As odd as it may sound, the pain diminished or at least I stopped paying as much attention to it.

The rest of the ride was uneventful if you consider the opportunity to gaze at incredible majestic scenery 'uneventful'. I arrived at the Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge late afternoon / early evening and thoroughly enjoyed doing nothing on a beautiful day waiting on my fellow Norsemen to join me.

Life is good. Gods of Random Misadventure ... sometimes they deliver the unexpected "Wow" and sometimes they just mess things up. You take what comes and keep on pedaling.