Thursday, July 21 Cranbrook / Kimberley, BC
We left early this morning for Cranbrook. Today is the day I again bike the North Star Rails to Trails trail.
If you have been following our blog, I did the ride from Kimberley down to Cranbrook a few weeks ago. Today I want to do it in reverse; so instead of a 715' / 220m drop, it's going to be a 715' / 220m climb over approximately 28 kms. The weather forecast is to be hot and sunny; the reason for the early start.
We arrived in Cranbrook around 10 a.m. (Mountain time). I left Jen at the start of the trail just before 10:30. Because of the forecast, I suggested that I meet Jen for coffee at the Koffee Kan in Marysville. I'd have an opportunity for a break and to decide whether to continue my ride or not.
Fifty-five minutes and 20+ kms later, I arrived at the Koffee Kan.
After a quick change, we headed into the coffee shop. Coffee and homemade treats were in order. We sat outside under cover away from the sun. The picture below doesn't look like much, but we were out of the sun. Boy it was hot!
While Jen was waiting for me to arrive, she visited the Marysville Falls Eco Park and took a few pictures.
You might have caught my mention of a "quick change" above. Yup, I figured I had done enough. If the weather had been cooler, I would have continued, but not today.
So instead of a 715' / 220m climb over approximately 28 kms, the figures were more like 160' / 49m climb over 20+ kms. The 8km ride from Marysville to Kimberley climbs 556' / 171m. Maybe next visit!
After coffee we drove into Kimberley and Kimberley's Underground Mining Railway. I mentioned to Jen that I wanted to take the train ride. As it turns out, the train ride alone is once a day at 10 a.m. The three tours each day: 11, 13, and 15:00 are full tours including stops in the mine and at the power station. Be sure to watch the two videos on their website.
The 1 p.m. tour is in ½ hour so I bought a single ticket. I snagged a spot in the first row of the first car.
After a 10 minute ride past the power station and a climb up into the hills, the train entered a tunnel and stopped. Everyone got off the train for the first of a few presentations. It was really very interesting altho it was difficult to hear the old miner.
Above, the miner is explaining the intricacies of working in a mine - the numerous shafts, tunnels, air vents, etc.
We moved to the next station and he explained about the 165 lb pneumatic drill. He warned us before he turned it on. It was LOUD!!
We then moved to the Refuge area where the miner explained the support equipment.
Through a door at the far end of the refuge area and into the mine shaft. Here he demonstrated how muck was loaded into the rail cars. It's hard to see but he stood on the yellow platform, drove the scoop into a small rock pile. With the scoop semi-full, the scoop went up and over and dumped the rock into the rail car behind.
Back on the train we exited the tunnel and entered a reversing loop; basically we are now heading back through the tunnel and back to where we first got on the train.
Here's the track below us. We'll be there in a few minutes.
At the power station, we got off the train and toured the facility.
The Sullivan mine operated for almost 100 years. Here's some info. Sorry, there is no date on this article.
On the way back from Kimberley, Jen snapped this pic as we headed across the St. Mary's river.
After a quick stop at Walmart, we continued on to Moyie Lake. At the Lakeside Grill, we enjoyed Haddock & chips, and a Fernie Brewing Co. First Trax dark ale - tasty!!
We arrived back in Creston at 5:30 p.m.
