Tuesday 9/20: Lake Christina to Castlegar

 

Lake Christina Area


Lake Christina

Tuesday, 9/20:

Today we finished the rest of the ride from the Paulson Bridge to Castlegar.  While I continued on the  Columbia & Western  rail trail, Audrey traveled along  Highway 3, and we had to hope that both of us would safely arrive in Castlegar.  The first part of the day was a climb for me, until I got to Fife, which was nothing more than  a place on the trail.  I continued through the Bulldog Tunnel, and shortly after that I came upon a sight I had been anticipating - the Columbia River.  Beautifully blue, and at first quite a distance away, I was able to see the river from quite a great elevation.  The rest of the ride today was downhill all the way to Castlegar, which is the location of a dam on the Columbia, which creates the Arrow Lakes Reservoir.

Today illustrates one of the differences between the TransCanada Trail and a highway, like the TransCanada 1.  The TransCanada 1 is generally a direct route, without steep hills, connecting cities.  The TransCanada Trail is a circuitous route, much longer, but more rewards for scenery.  

We found Castlegar to be an industrious city, where people go about their work which may be related to the hydroelectric power generated by  the  Kootenay and Columbia  Rivers, which converge at Castlegar.  What we did not find was any emphasis on tourism.  In this regard our next town along the way, is one very much devoted to tourism - Nelson.  


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