09:00 Prince George (BC)
16:30 Kelowna (BC) 700 km
A late wake-up since I don’t anticipate a very long day on the road. I am noticing that the fatigue of the trip is quietly accumulating. Since I still have a month left, I need to pace myself, especially with my girlfriend arriving soon!
The drive is relatively mundane. It is surprising to see the similarities between the local landscape and that of Quebec in this part of British Columbia—except, of course, for the quality of the pavement! The day begins in the chill (10°C), but after a few hours, a surprising phenomenon occurs.
Around Clinton (BC), I enter the Okanagan Valley and the temperature jumps from 15°C to 35°C in just 10 minutes! I transition from lush forest to desert mountains, dry grass, and lifeless trees. I pull over on the side of Route 97C to call my girlfriend. People look at me strangely with my four layers and especially my heated vest! I take the opportunity to strip off a few layers before heading out again.
The 97C is a superb back-country road: winding, bordered by mountains and rivers. I pass through the town of Merritt (BC), which has the feel of the Old West.
Finally, in the late afternoon, I reach Kelowna.
The city…
The traffic, the intense heat, and the sudden change of scenery dampen my arrival a bit. It is difficult to find oneself in a large urban area after being used to wide-open spaces for several weeks. It’s a transition that feels too fast.
The hotels are overpriced. I go to the campground suggested by the tourist office, but the site leaves much to be desired. I tour the downtown area and resign myself to taking a room at the Travelodge for $150.
The evening is difficult and certainly marks the lowest point of the trip. I am seriously considering returning to Montreal. I call Nadine to explain my state of mind, but there isn’t much she can do from a distance. I think the urban shock was hard to absorb, as was the heat, which is unbearable on a motorcycle without air conditioning. I already miss my crisp, cool northern mornings!
I decide to make some pasta with my stove in the park across from the hotel, overlooking Lake Okanagan, accompanied by a bottle of local wine. I sink into deep reflection.
I then make the firm decision to stay, but to return toward the mountains in Whistler to find nature and more reasonably priced accommodations (long live camping!). This moment of solitude has been beneficial. It would have been unacceptable to go home immediately after coming so far; I would have missed too many beautiful things and regretted it bitterly.
I have also made peace with the financial aspect. I will far exceed the initial budget, but I’ve decided to stop counting every penny while remaining reasonable. I’ll settle the accounts back home.
I almost forgot: at 9:00 PM, it started to rain. In Kelowna, where it hadn’t rained for weeks!