The places along my path and their connection to food
The ability to cultivate and produce agricultural operations has allowed for our society to evolve so much, just think about it. Where would the world be if you had to worry about producing all of your food. The innovation of farmers has allowed for food production in Canada, and around the world, to not only succeed, but succeed when the odds were not on their side. When the climate, the landscape, location, genetics or varieties didn't seem to work on their land, they didn't give up, they re-thought a system that would work within their parameters, they were, and continue to be, innovative so that they can not only make a living, but also enable ours.
British Columbias Mountains
BC, as you know, has a few mountains. Which can very easily be labeled as agricultural obstacles (as well as bicycle obstacle). But with those mountains comes valleys. Valleys are where rivers and streams deposit all of the nutrients that they have collected coming down the side of the mountains. Over time these valleys become beautifully fertile land.
Fraser Valley The Fraser valley is the large stretch of relatively flat land that flows out of the mountains and toward Vancouver. The Fraser Valley is a very active agricultural place, growing many fruit crops, along with grains and oil seeds. When I was riding through the valley the only thing that was in season were the cherries, and I ate lots of them!
Forestry It is well known that BC is very active in the lumber industry. As the land becomes to rugged to be cultivated for agricultural purposes, forestry becomes the land use of choice. The forests of BC are filled with towering monstrosities of trees that have seen many generations pass, many parks and reverse protect these historic and endangered trees, while the active stands are highly regulated to ensure that harvests are done sustainably.
The Okanagan Valley The Okanagan is the heart of agriculture in the mountains. The fertile valley houses everything from livestock to tender fruits and vegetables. Farmers markets popping up along the roads make it a very easy place to enjoy some local goods. When I was passing through, cherries were still the only thing in season, but I was certainly not complaining. Some fruit stands that i stopped at were so committed to selling strictly fruit from the valley, that the only thing they had for sale were cherries. The first cut of hay was coming off the fields as I was heading north through the valley, sending its fresh, warm smell into the air. The farmers, still using their tractors from the 60's, demonstrated the character and history this region has in agriculture.
Alberta
The BC - Alberta border stretches through a picturesque and prodigious string of mountains; Snowy peaks, lush forests and a lot of tourists. I luckily found a closed road that led me to the base of Lake Louise. It was a magical place; the road had been closed for at least 10 years and nature was starting to take over, roots had heaved the asphalt and moss and grasses were growing out from any crack they could find. This wonderland was about a 13km long and was the perfect getaway from the busy highway I took to get here. I passed the border into Alberta in the midst of this forest; an old wooden archway towered over the road with British Columbia carved on one side, and Alberta on the other. There were abandoned campsites scattered along the path, buildings still intact, giving the feeling like one day they closed the road, and everyone just left. My road came to an end just 1km down the hill from Lake Louis, throwing me back into traffic and modern day commotion. I got to the top of the hill not to find the lake, but a vast parking lot, filled with cars, tourists and selfy sticks; the lake was hidden behind all this. As I made my way to the water I was quickly able to disconnect from the crowds and take in the beauty that lay in front of me. The towering mountains, blue water and snow…? I sat on a bench beside the lake to have second lunch, enjoying the scenery and watching people passing by. Some stopped to talk, some were staring at their phones and others hypnotized by the sheer beauty of the place. I decided I better get on my way. I had set a goal to get the Calgary by the evening of the next day, so I figured I better not get to comfortable. I headed down the hill, and started my way out of town. I was stopped on the side of the road, checking the map to see where I could end up for the night when a Parks Canada truck pulled over to have a chat. He notified me that bears had been causing a lot of trouble recently and the campground where I was headed was actually closed to tents. He told me my only option was to stay in town in the electric fence protected campsites, which really screwed up my schedule… so I peddled around town thinking about my options when I ran into a girl who told me just what I wanted to hear, “just go for it”. So I did. I got to the camp area in Castle Junction, and the wardens information was out of date, they had re-opened the day before to tent campers. Worked out perfect. I travelled on route 1A, which is parallel to the main highway, but doesn’t allow transports. It was quiet for the most part, until a line of camper rentals came around the corner. When people are used to driving Honda Civics and they go and rent a full size RV, you should really be careful.
Alberta's west doesn't have much in the way of agricultural activities, however hunting is very popular in this area. Wild game isn't regulated for consumption the same way that livestock animals are, and therefore making it difficult to connect with the local meat in the area. There are however many backdoor deals with locals who have their freezers full, but you do have to find the right people.