2023 Tour de Cure

Due to a ski injury to the right knee, I did not attend the official Tour de Cure 267 km ride. Instead I created a 3-day version closer to home. The goal is to ride 300 km over 3 days. Okay, my secret goal is to ride 367 km over 3 days. Although I didn’t make my secret goal, I did exceeded the goal.

Distance: 337 km
Elevation Gain: 4,110 km
Riding Time: 14.5 Hrs
Elapsed Time: 17 Hrs
Cities: 4

The air quality was not the greatest. My throat was a little dry / scratchy. Unfortunately my eyes got the worse of it (red and itchy).

2023 Tour de Cure (My Local 3-Day Version) – Map

Day 1

Vancouver Richmond New Westminister Richmond Vancouver

Was hoping to ride between 150 km to 160 km.

Visibility was not the greatest. Normally you can see the north-shore mountains from YVR (Vancouver International Airport). Today, not at all. Visibility seems to have improved a little but the north-shore mountains are still not visible from the north edge of Richmond.

The injured knee held up today. No major issues. Though, it got fairly sore by 125 km. Knowing I have 2 more days of riding, I ended the day with 135 km.

First thing in the morning at Prospect Point, Stanley Park, Vancouver

Iona Beach, Richmond

Terra Nova Rural Park, Richmond

No. 3 Road Pier, Richmond

Thompson’s Landing Park Playground, New Westminister

Tait Waterfront Park, Richmond

Day 2

Vancouver North Vancouver Vancouver

Was hoping to ride between 90 km to 100 km. Originally only thinking of going up to Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve once. As I was contemplating how to reach my distance goal (and knowing I can’t get up to Seymour Falls Dam because that stretch of the road is now loose gravel), I thought why not do the climb twice.

Visibility was not bad. The sky seems to be clear. Much better than yesterday. Unfortunately the pollutants got really bad just before lunch. My eyes got really irritated / itchy / watery.

The injured knee didn’t work as well today. Had a few issues while climbing up to Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve. Then it happened again while I was heading back into Vancouver. So, I decided to end the day with 116 km.

Lillooet Park (bottom of Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve), North Vancouver

Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, North Vancouver

Lillooet Park (start of second lap up to Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve), North Vancouver

New Brighton Park, Vancouver

Day 3

Vancouver Richmond Vancouver

Technically I only have 49 km to ride today. Well…That is not me. I thought why not go to Sanctuary Cafe in Richmond for one of their famous cookies.

Visibility was not great today. It’s sort of like how it was on Saturday. The pollutants was fairly nasty to my eyes right off the get go. Though, there was a stretch in Richmond that wasn’t bad at all (from YVR to north of Steveston Village).

The injured knee was better today today. Only had a couple of instances of minor issues.

With the very irritated eyes, I ended the day with 86 km.