Following my second century day in the Rockies, I awoke and went to the map.  I hadn’t thought much about the consequences of my knee-jerk reactions to the tourist traps and the RV traffic.  Bypassing the national parks had me barreling down a highway that would intersect with the Trans-Canada and continue north for a bit.  Then, the route would turn back toward the south and wind all over the place in the wrong direction on the busiest highway in the country before I could get to Highway 5, the only other option in the reasonable vicinity that would take me in the general direction of the goal.  So, I continued on to the end of Highway 95 and then joined the Trans-Canada until it reached its northern zenith before turning south toward Kamloops.  The traffic was more insane than the day before: big trucks, less than adequate shoulders, and not a few close calls.  I needed another option.  Then, I remembered that I had a S.A.G. wagon.  That’s what a S.A.G. does; it creates options.

At the point where the route turned back south, heading into Canada’s Glacier National Park, I packed up the bicycle, hopped into the S.A.G. vehicle, and my partner drove me over to the same latitude on the Yellowhead Route just a couple of valleys to the west.  This road would head north and eventually intersect with the original route as it exited Jasper National Park.  Therefore, I not only escaped about $300.00 in extra costs related to Canadian national parks, but I was able to avoid the the highly traveled and very dangerous Trans-Canada as it cut through the mountains toward Vancouver.  As we transitioned, a hearty truck stop meal and hot shower, a sweet camping spot on the Thompson River, and the incredible waterfalls of Wells-Gray Provincial Park were added blessings.

There was no cheating here, just a change of longitude without compromising latitude.  I make no apologies; I simply smile, thankful to have a S.A.G. wagon, and thankful to have a pair of TCK Slog Series.

-Jesse Boyd