Port Alberni heritage museum - control stop on a 400k ride

[conway]

On Friday I rode to Naniamo to start a 400k Randonneuring ride on Saturday morning. The highlight of the trip was a control stop at the Alberni heritage museum. After riding the Alberni "hump" and a very enjoyable ride around Sprout Lake we stopped (three riders) at a designated control at the Alberni Heritage museum. Here we enjoyed the company of many volunteers (retired mill workers) who in addition to cooking great hamburgers gave a great history of the working mill. We loitered for a good hour before moving on, as the country band struck up to greet 110 visitors soon to arrive on the steam train form Port Alberni.

A highly recommended great family visit. The volunteers were very friendly and the food was great - hamburger with trimmings, plus a coke and fresh muffin for $8.

http://www.alberniheritage.com/alberni- ... ley-museum

After the rest it was back on the back to tackle the Alberni "hump" again and then head to Qualicum Beach and North to Comox. One of the rider's drive train was making a very loud squeaking noise and the rider was experiencing some shifting problems. When asked what was the cause the rider responded by saying: "I think I may need some oil as I haven't done anything to the bike for 10,000 ks". We stopped at a gas station applied some WD40 and solved the squeak. Some 10 ks up the road the rider's shifter cable snapped at the shifter lever. We then rode to Courtenay and the rider made a phone call for a ride back to Nanaimo. I think there is a lesson here something about maintaining one's drive train and changing cables once a year!!!

The rest of the ride was uneventful. The weather was great (8-10degrees at night) and the road south (19A) was basically clear of traffic after midnight so we had a very pleasant ride by to Nanaimo.

Mark

[barton bourassa]

Road clear after midnight! I am so glad for you!! Nuts Mark, just nuts! But very admirable!