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Elbow Valley Cycle Club puts on an annual road ride called the Golden Triangle held during the Victoria Day weekend, May 21 to 23 2005. Covering about 320 km in three days, this tour crosses the Great Divide twice. It is a fully supported tour with plenty of snack stops, lunch, dinner and repair services. You have the choice or camping, hotels or staying at B&B's. This year's tour went clockwise, from Castle Junction to Radium, then to Golden and finally back to Castle Junction.

DAY 1 - Castle Junction to Radium
We had a mixed bag of weather on Day 1. Apparently it did snow at the first snack stop, definitely rained during lunch but was very nice and sunny at the last snack stop. There were numerous flat tires I happened to notice and a couple of bears along the road side.  (Click images for larger view.)

Registration begins in the gravel pit at Castle Junction.

People arrive anywhere from 7am to 9am, pick up their registration
info, stow their bags in the truck to be transported to the first
destination Radium, and hit the road.
 
 
Roy doing his last minute packing while Bob waits.

Heading to the top of Storm Mountain and the weather looks a
bit dodgy.
 
 
First snack break at the top of Storm Mountain. The weather held while we were there but not much longer.
 
 
It rained most of the way down from Storm and continued to rain during our lunch break.
 
 
It was a tad cool standing in the rain waiting to get lunch.

The line up for lunch.
 
 
The boys hiding in the trees eating lunch.

I wondered why everyone was stopped up ahead and then I saw why...
A "bear jam".
 
 
This little guy was busy eating flowers along side the highway.

The weather finally let up a bit and allowed us to peel
some layers.
 
 
We had a beautiful weather at our last snack break before our big climb up and into Radium.
 
 
Riders cresting the last hill before Radium.

Carol and Roy taking a photo op.
 
 
It's all downhill into Radium

Tent city in the ball diamond in Radium
DAY 2 - Radium to Golden
Up early to be greeted by the Lions club who fed us a hearty meal of pancakes, sausage and eggs. And lots of coffee of course.   The day started out cool and with grey skies but looked promising. I wasn't going to forget my rain gear today no matter what the forecast. It paid off, that's for sure!  (Click images for larger view.)
The previous night's dinner and breakfast were both put on by the local Lions Club.

 

We were lucky there was no rain while we had our breaky.

Our official camera man Don Hollingshead.

 
The skies looked a little more promising today.

Pulling into the first snack stop.

 

 
 
It wasn't long before the skies threatened to drench us again.
 
 
And sure enough. Right when I arrived for lunch it started to pour. The lunch crew did a fabulous job of getting us fed despite the weather.
 
 
Ready to feast.
Noodle soup was a bit hit. Both to warm your hands and
your belly.
 
 
Arriving in Golden our gear was laid out at the campground.

A usual site. Lining up for food. Philippa and Roy chatting in line.
DAY 3 - Golden to Castle Junction
We were very fortunate to have breakfast inside on the last day. It was a good thing as it was very cool. The climb out of Golden was a great way to warm up and get the day started. And the climb out of Field wasn't near as difficult as I had imagined but it did take some time. My goal was to see if I could beat the train to the top of the pass. I won.
First flat on the hill climb from Golden

Either admiring the view or taking a rest from the climb out
of Golden

 

 
Still climbing

 

 
Finally having crested, we can now look forward to some great downhill.

 

 
It was none too warm the last day and looking at all the recent snow it wasn't hard to figure out why.

 

 
Lunching at the Information Center in Field.

 

 
Just leaving Field you can see the start of the climb.

If you look closely you can see snow falling in this picture.
Brrrrrrr

 

 
Last snack stop of the ride.

Bob, Roy and Carol are very happy to have finished the trip.



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Credits: Photography and artistic design: Carol Guthrie.

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