On June 11, 2017 We set off on an amazing journey. Our Destination? A Story Begun 102 Years Ago...
Our Mission? To retrace the route through one of the most challenging sections of railway ever built. The KVR's route through Myra Canyon was a vital link in the quest to link the rich gifts of the BC Interior with the ports on the Pacific. But before this dream could be realized, the canyon had to be tamed.
Here is an excerpt from the official site of the Myra Trestles:
It is a deep, steep and wide chasm , carved out by two main creeks (today’s KLO and Pooley creeks). To tackle these constraints McCulloch hung his railway on the sides of the canyon, using nearly seven miles (eleven kilometres) of track to reach around something less than one kilometer wide. It took 19 wooden trestles of various lengths and heights to do it. (Today’s 18 trestles come about because one was later filled in, one was by-passed, and a new one built to span a problem gulley). The line is at an elevation of 4100 feet (1430 metres) or 3000 feet (915 m) above Kelowna and includes the highest section on the KVR.
A Quick Look Backwards
Creating Memories: One Trestle at a Time
There was an amazing view around every corner, as we rode through forested trails, across thundering creeks and over the carefully restored trestles. One could literally hear the echoes of the steam trains as we rode high above the Okanagan Valley.
One Kilometer Across, but 2000 feet down...
It must have been frustrating. You felt like you could almost reach out and touch the other side of the canyon. But between the two walls lay an unbridgeable gap. The only alternative was to go around, creating a chain of trestles and tunnels that hung on the sides of the canyon.
A Dream to Last a Lifetime
By the time McCulloch was done, he had fallen deeply in love with the land he had helped bridge with twin rails of steel. He would spend the rest of his life here, managing the KVR until his retirement in 1933. He lies buried in a cemetery in Penticton, a stone's throw from the route of the railway he built.
Myra Canyon: An Experience that Stretches from Horizon to Horizon
The Echoes of History...
There is natural grandeur on the KVR, but there is also a deep and fundamental connection with our history as a province and nation. As we rode along, you could feel that the work of these individuals, who toiled a century ago, would be remembered.
Riding Through History
McCulloch's Wonder
He was brilliant. He was an irascible Scot with a deep and abiding appreciation for Shakespeare (which is why you'll still see signs for Othello, Portia and Juliet on the Coquihalla Highway). He was cuttingly sarcastic. He was deeply loved by his employees and friends. He was a man who will always be remembered. Myra is a suitably impressive monument to a man like Andrew McCulloch.
Thousands of men were involved with the construction of the K.V.R., but it will always be most closely associated with one man: Andrew McCulloch.
Return Ticket To Myra
After our round trip to Ruth Station, we returned back to where we began. The K.V.R. was always intended to be a first class rail line in every way. At G.O. Cycling Adventures, we try to respect that with a snack choice that represents the best the Okanagan has to offer. It was also a chance to reminisce about the ride we had just completed.
Thank You!
We hope you took away fond memories of your tour on the KVR and we hope to see you again on another cycling adventure with us soon. If you enjoyed the experience, please take a few minutes to let us know at any of the following:
Credits:
Photos: Gord Hotchkiss and Kelowna Centennial Museum