Day 21, 22
Craik to Regina
Distance: 131 km
Temp: Hot
This was our last ride day until our rest day, so we were all anxious to get it down so we could get on with the serious business of R and R.
The button-pusher/friend in our galley crew was booking a stay in a motel in Regina, so Lewis and I jumped at the idea, thinking that we well deserved a stay indoors, on a soft bed, with a clean shower that didn’t come with winking crawly things that rappel down the wall.
Luckily Tailwig decided to join us on our ride, making it a more expeditious journey than if his cousin Hedwig had been keeping us company; although it was still long enough to frustrate some (in this coming week we will be doing 903 km before our next rest day, with a daily average of 151 km whereas this week it was 138 km daily average.)
Anyhow, we eventually reached Regina.
If not a native of Regina, one cannot help but feel like you’re saying a naughty word every time you say it; numerous jokes have been made around camp, probably none of them original.
Seeing a town on the flat, bald prairie after so many days was somewhat surprising, especially as we were riding through the outskirts and had some tree cover; something we have not had since we left the Rockies.
The city/town (pop, 190,000) looks a lot like the outskirts of Scarborough; although I didn’t see all of the city, I am not so sure I want to.
We came across a Holiday Inn, which to us is like an oasis and savior since the camping has been hard going of late.
We booked and then headed off to get our stuff from the campsite, which was 6 km from the hotel, and about 15 km from the centre of town.
When we got to camp we saw the faces of those trickling in; disappointment, frustration and despair; we were to stay 15 km out of town on a rest day once again-the crowd was not pleased with the organizers.
I tried my best to empathize and nod my head in sympathy, but all I could think about was getting back to the hotel so I could roll around on the bed, watch the Tour Du France and have a nice, long shower, where I got to choose the temperature of the water for a change.
The hotel did not disappoint, and I have had to drag myself from the room for food and laundry, and later a trip downtown.
I went into town for a massage, and Lewis went to look around town, and came back waving a $100 bill, as he’d had a successful fifteen minute trip to the Regina Casino.
We are savoring every minute of being indoors and a clean bed, and will more than likely have a hard time going back to our little tent, homey as it is.
I must also give credit where it is due: Lewis has been taking the pics, except for a few taken by me on my bike. Otherwise, all other bike and scenery shots are taken by him.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Day 20
Outlook to Craik, Saskatchewan
Distance: 125km
Temp: Rainy in the morning and hot afternoon
Since we were on galley duty breakfast this morning we were last to leave (today being a genuine excuse for leaving late.)
Due to our hammer-fest yesterday, our legs begged for mercy; we had no other choice this time but to defer.
I was feeling pretty good, but Lewis had had the biscuit and was feeling somewhat meditative and wanted to ride alone.
I rode with a guy who had been riding with us for quite a while in the Rockies; he is on our galley duty, and was the one with whom I had a falling out over regarding the galley duty.
We had both been sulking and playing the ‘silent treatment’ game, but had hashed it our and made up this morning.
Nothing like being on a trip where your physical and mental boundaries are pushed passed their known limits to bring about emotional outbursts, and resolution.
I don’t think therapy would be as successful as this-but who else would subject themselves to such extremes other than those who need it most?
Needless to say we discussed how our feelings were hurt, how it reminded of us of when we were 6 on the playground when Billy/Sally/Tina did X, and made is cry/sulk/freak-out/punch another kid, but how we’ve worked through it now and it’s all better.
Until next time.
Anyhow, we push each others buttons, but its good, as what is life without buttons being pushed?
So we rode together for most of the day, glad that we’d had the chance to tell the other how much of a pain in the ass the other one is/was.
We went through quite a few towns that are like ghost towns, with buildings boarded up, or very run down; it’s quite sad to see.
I’m so used to being in Ontario, where even on lonely roads you will happen across some corner store or gas station, but out here we came across nothing, making all the girls become quite adept at hiding in the short grass on the sides of the road for bladder relief.
In another town that we didn’t go into, but heard about from the Aussies, that they were looking for a place to have some tea; it was about 2:30 on a Thursday when they rode through this dusty abandoned looking town and noticed one place looked semi-open (but no cars or telltale signs, no people on the streets,) they went in to a pub and the place was full with people smoking and drinking (at 2:30 on a Thursday afternoon.)
They went up to the bar and asked for tea, (they didn’t serve tea.)
Could they have some hot water, they have their own tea? (No, they don’t have hot water.)
So they left.
One of the other riders asked if anything else had happened in that town, to which they answered, “yes, the dog rolled over.”
That about sums life out on the prairies as far as we can tell.
In one town we came across a rather obtuse, sad looking snowman, who’d lost his right hand.
Some thoughtful person improvised and stuck a pilsner onto the end of his arm, giving him a drunkard, lopsided look.
And true to the stereotype there wasn’t much in town, save for a Chinese/Canadian Restaurant (Ed: good milkshakes and burgers, and child labourers clearing the tables i.e. the eight year-old son of the owner).
Interesting to note about Saskatchewan is that it is very unlike Alberta in its political and social views; Alberta is the hot bed of the Conservative government, whereas Saskatchewan is where the NDP started, and the home of Tommy Douglas of national healthcare fame.
I noticed in the few stores that we did come across in Sask, that there were signs for organic farms, and music festivals held in hemp fields.
Also the campground we stayed at was near an Eco-Café, run by the Craik town mayor and his wife.
The café was supposed to be run on solar energy and used all kinds of innovative environmentally friendly tools to run.
If interested you can view the past 9 albums (scroll down to 'browse all albums) :
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=w1ru7rm.4ztpohlq&Uy=-wrhhtg&Ux=0
Outlook to Craik, Saskatchewan
Distance: 125km
Temp: Rainy in the morning and hot afternoon
Since we were on galley duty breakfast this morning we were last to leave (today being a genuine excuse for leaving late.)
Due to our hammer-fest yesterday, our legs begged for mercy; we had no other choice this time but to defer.
I was feeling pretty good, but Lewis had had the biscuit and was feeling somewhat meditative and wanted to ride alone.
I rode with a guy who had been riding with us for quite a while in the Rockies; he is on our galley duty, and was the one with whom I had a falling out over regarding the galley duty.
We had both been sulking and playing the ‘silent treatment’ game, but had hashed it our and made up this morning.
Nothing like being on a trip where your physical and mental boundaries are pushed passed their known limits to bring about emotional outbursts, and resolution.
I don’t think therapy would be as successful as this-but who else would subject themselves to such extremes other than those who need it most?
Needless to say we discussed how our feelings were hurt, how it reminded of us of when we were 6 on the playground when Billy/Sally/Tina did X, and made is cry/sulk/freak-out/punch another kid, but how we’ve worked through it now and it’s all better.
Until next time.
Anyhow, we push each others buttons, but its good, as what is life without buttons being pushed?
So we rode together for most of the day, glad that we’d had the chance to tell the other how much of a pain in the ass the other one is/was.
We went through quite a few towns that are like ghost towns, with buildings boarded up, or very run down; it’s quite sad to see.
I’m so used to being in Ontario, where even on lonely roads you will happen across some corner store or gas station, but out here we came across nothing, making all the girls become quite adept at hiding in the short grass on the sides of the road for bladder relief.
In another town that we didn’t go into, but heard about from the Aussies, that they were looking for a place to have some tea; it was about 2:30 on a Thursday when they rode through this dusty abandoned looking town and noticed one place looked semi-open (but no cars or telltale signs, no people on the streets,) they went in to a pub and the place was full with people smoking and drinking (at 2:30 on a Thursday afternoon.)
They went up to the bar and asked for tea, (they didn’t serve tea.)
Could they have some hot water, they have their own tea? (No, they don’t have hot water.)
So they left.
One of the other riders asked if anything else had happened in that town, to which they answered, “yes, the dog rolled over.”
That about sums life out on the prairies as far as we can tell.
In one town we came across a rather obtuse, sad looking snowman, who’d lost his right hand.
Some thoughtful person improvised and stuck a pilsner onto the end of his arm, giving him a drunkard, lopsided look.
And true to the stereotype there wasn’t much in town, save for a Chinese/Canadian Restaurant (Ed: good milkshakes and burgers, and child labourers clearing the tables i.e. the eight year-old son of the owner).
Interesting to note about Saskatchewan is that it is very unlike Alberta in its political and social views; Alberta is the hot bed of the Conservative government, whereas Saskatchewan is where the NDP started, and the home of Tommy Douglas of national healthcare fame.
I noticed in the few stores that we did come across in Sask, that there were signs for organic farms, and music festivals held in hemp fields.
Also the campground we stayed at was near an Eco-Café, run by the Craik town mayor and his wife.
The café was supposed to be run on solar energy and used all kinds of innovative environmentally friendly tools to run.
If interested you can view the past 9 albums (scroll down to 'browse all albums) :
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=w1ru7rm.4ztpohlq&Uy=-wrhhtg&Ux=0
Day 19
Kindersley to Outlook
Distance: 154 km
Temp: measured 40 degrees on the road
Amazingly my legs were on deck today, and ready for action.
I hauled them into my office last night (my tent) and gave them a good talking to.
Some harsh words were exchanged and they threatened to call the union, but we were able to come to an amenable agreement.
Luckily Lewis’ legs were also in the mood for some fun; so we hammered it for most of the day, coming into camp second! (He left way before us, and we caught all the other early riser and early leavers.)
The weather was hot and dry, becoming quite oppressive at times, but the roads were generally flat and fast moving, except for most of the morning where we had our trusty sidekick the headwind, now come to be known affectionately as ‘Hedwig.’
Hedwig; our reliable companion who is at our heads more than we’d care to think about and at our tails not nearly enough.
I am way more fond his Hedwig’s cousin, Tailwig, who sometimes drops by for a visit, although we don’t see him nearly enough.
I think I must be getting used to the scenery as today I found it quite meditative, as I was able to get into a good rhythm, with the help of Bob Marley, and some good techno beats-nothing quite like flying past corn fields listening to some good tunes.
At one point we came over a little hill and saw a field of blue, thinking at first that we’d come across a lake, but it turned out to be flax. Who knew it was so blue?
We got into Outlook in good time, (Outlook has the longest pedestrian bridge in the world by the way,) and got into camp all hot and bothered; to remedy this we went for a swim in the South Saskatchewan River, which was freezing cold.
Galley duty was not without drama, as it started thunder showering mid way through, although we had cover under a picnic area which saved is from certain soppiness.
To add to the drama, our ‘team’ is still having issues, as one member decided to go into town just as we started preparations, to find Saskatoon berry pie (he didn’t) and left the three of us to prepare the meal.
In addition to this, one of the riders insulted our meal, and told Lewis that he wouldn’t feed it to his dog!
(We were all taken a back as we made fettuccini Romano which as far as I could taste, was as good as restaurant quality.)
Poor Lewis has taken it personally, but I figure when you cook for 27 hungry sometimes grumpy cyclists, you’re not always going to please everyone.
The offending party later apologized and was forgiven, tempers do flare when one is tired, hungry and having to deal with the Canadian elements, bugs included.
We’ll see what drama unfolds tomorrow morning.
Kindersley to Outlook
Distance: 154 km
Temp: measured 40 degrees on the road
Amazingly my legs were on deck today, and ready for action.
I hauled them into my office last night (my tent) and gave them a good talking to.
Some harsh words were exchanged and they threatened to call the union, but we were able to come to an amenable agreement.
Luckily Lewis’ legs were also in the mood for some fun; so we hammered it for most of the day, coming into camp second! (He left way before us, and we caught all the other early riser and early leavers.)
The weather was hot and dry, becoming quite oppressive at times, but the roads were generally flat and fast moving, except for most of the morning where we had our trusty sidekick the headwind, now come to be known affectionately as ‘Hedwig.’
Hedwig; our reliable companion who is at our heads more than we’d care to think about and at our tails not nearly enough.
I am way more fond his Hedwig’s cousin, Tailwig, who sometimes drops by for a visit, although we don’t see him nearly enough.
I think I must be getting used to the scenery as today I found it quite meditative, as I was able to get into a good rhythm, with the help of Bob Marley, and some good techno beats-nothing quite like flying past corn fields listening to some good tunes.
At one point we came over a little hill and saw a field of blue, thinking at first that we’d come across a lake, but it turned out to be flax. Who knew it was so blue?
We got into Outlook in good time, (Outlook has the longest pedestrian bridge in the world by the way,) and got into camp all hot and bothered; to remedy this we went for a swim in the South Saskatchewan River, which was freezing cold.
Galley duty was not without drama, as it started thunder showering mid way through, although we had cover under a picnic area which saved is from certain soppiness.
To add to the drama, our ‘team’ is still having issues, as one member decided to go into town just as we started preparations, to find Saskatoon berry pie (he didn’t) and left the three of us to prepare the meal.
In addition to this, one of the riders insulted our meal, and told Lewis that he wouldn’t feed it to his dog!
(We were all taken a back as we made fettuccini Romano which as far as I could taste, was as good as restaurant quality.)
Poor Lewis has taken it personally, but I figure when you cook for 27 hungry sometimes grumpy cyclists, you’re not always going to please everyone.
The offending party later apologized and was forgiven, tempers do flare when one is tired, hungry and having to deal with the Canadian elements, bugs included.
We’ll see what drama unfolds tomorrow morning.
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