7   Saturday, September 6   Castlegar, BC

Same old story; today wasn't anywhere near as bad as I
had been led to believe. Once I got to the top of Bonanza
Pass (about 1/2-way), it was all Downhill so I made good
time. I had been expecting it to be still mostly flat and
short ups/downs from there on, but I guess not. I've been
lucky so far -- all the mountains have been short, steep
uphills that take a few hours, then a long coast down the
other side where I make good time and eat up a lot of
miles. Kootenay Pass btw Salmo and Creston looks to be a
toughie, though. It's the highest point I reach - about
1770m (6000ft). But the locals say it's about a 30 mile
uphil grind, then 60-70 miles of easy downhill, so shouldn't
be *too* bad. I'm saving a whole day for the uphill -- not
tomorrow but the next day. I seem to have lost my convoy.
O well -- can't hope for everything (not that they were
very good company anyway :)