Sandi and Lewis' ride across Canada

Day 18 Youngstown to Kindersley Distance: 153km Temp: Mild Sometimes the kilometers tick by effortlessly, with hardly any notice at all. Other times they drag by painfully slowly; today was one of those days. Lewis and I were on the same page energy-wise when we started off this morning, and couldn’t seem to rev the engines-the first 50 kilometers just would not come, no matter what kind of mental distractions I could invent. I was wondering why my heart rate monitor doesn’t reflect the state of my legs; it doesn’t seem right that my heart rate says I am not working hard enough, and my legs tell me they have worked too hard, and cannot be convinced to go any faster. This is a major breakdown in communication between the pump and the pistons; I thought how unjust the situation was where I was told I was ‘under working’ yet could not increase my output. What to do but keep my bum in the saddle and press on. Again, the scenery is pretty monotonous, save for the road kill that decorates th...

Day 17 Drumheller to Youngstown Distance: 140 km Temp: Mild Youngstown: population 100 and decreasing; we’re sleeping in a community centre tonight, which is basically a basketball court/community hall/square dancing/ hall. It’s our first night ‘inside’ since the tour started, and some people have already got all cagey about being indoors, and are insisting on sleeping out. It turns out that it is TDC tradition, of many years back for the community of Youngstown to cook dinner for the riders. Apparently it started because there is no restaurant or facility in town to support feeding a large group, and when Bud the organizer called the town to enquire about accommodation and food, the person on the other end of the phone offered to host a potluck for all the riders, and hence the tradition started (over 10 years now.) I am completely incredulous that a bunch of people would get together and cook a huge meal for a group of complete strangers, but apparently this is the attitude of those ...

Day 15 to 16 Cochrane to Drumheller Distance: 176 km Temp: Mild Tough ride from Cochrane, not only because of the distance, but the scenery oddly enough was mentally draining. Although we are in the foothills and prairies, the land is still rolling and somewhat hilly; starting first thing in the morning. Again, my legs heavily objected to the expectation of work so early on in the morning. This time they took on the persona of two old Jewish ladies kvetching, moaning and crying about having to work so hard under such poor conditions. I had to agree with them. But there were no negotiations as it was a long riding day, and one cannot enter into any negotiations with the work force, otherwise you’re setting yourself up for further trouble. Although the landscape is repetitive is repetitive it still offers beauty; the vibrant yellow fields of the canola right beside the green wheat or barley fields is quite startling. It was sad to see the ghostly shadows of the Rockies slowly receding in...