Today was a 64.8 mile ride from Nelson to New Denver, BC. Nelson is sited right on the Kootenay River, so the ride starts with a very steep climb up through town followed by another 8 miles of climbing through the woods. Then a long descent with a rail trail before lunch at Slocan Lake park. It was our first day with no rain and only a little smoke. After lunch we climbed again before another descent into the town of New Denver (pop. 500) and the cozy Valhalla Inn. Things are shutting down for the season here, and I think the Valhalla is closing for the winter in the next few days.

New Denver was the site of a Japanese internment camp in World War II. I guess the US wasn’t the only country to do that.

One of the benefits of travel in Canada is Coffee Crisp bars. When I was young we brought back as many as we could buy.