Sandi and Lewis' ride across Canada

Day 28-Rest day Beasojour to Kenora, Ontario! Home Province Distance: 172 km Hot then thunder showers later on The past couple of days have been tough rides (I think I always say that, but its all true, each one offers its own unique challenge.) Day 27’s ride was pretty flat, but unfortunately Head and cousin SideWig decided to accompany us for the ride, turning what would ordinarily be a relatively easy ride, into a challenging one. We started off the ride on some very rough road (for the better part of 60km or so) and had us riding beside all kinds of fields of wheat and sunflowers. Also accompanying us were aphids, tiny, almost invisible buggy-things that flew nonstop into our faces, up our noses, and into our ears. We couldn’t see them, so I thought I was imagining them; but luckily their existence was confirmed when talking to the other riders who experienced the same thing. Bees are also very enthusiastic travel companions, (unwelcome) as they seem to love to zoom back and forth ...

Day 27 Portage La Prairie to Beausejour, Manitoba Distance: 164 km Hot, with side/headwind Today, another near mental breakdown, this time thanks to Lewis leaving his saddle pack partly unzipped. It was a tough ride, owing partly to the long week we’ve had so far, partly to the endless sameness of the scenery, partly to the length of the ride, partly due to the uncooperative ‘Wig’ family, partly to Lewis being drained and not having any energy in his legs, and not being able to do as much pulling as usual, and partly to my mind still grasping the vastness of the country, and how many more miles we had to do. So much background, such a simple catalyst; he didn’t zip the saddle bag so as he road along on a bumpy road, the top of the bag bounced with every bump, momentarily opening to reveal a bouncing banana being flung around inside the bag. It looked like a big gaping mouth opening and shutting; somehow it struck me as weave-all-over-the road, almost into oncoming traffic, crying squea...

Day 26 Minnedosa, to Portage La Prairie, Manitoba Distance: 134km Hot, with side/tailwind Since we paid our dues yesterday, the winds were kind to us today, thankfully giving us a tailwind. Last night however, the winds railed and screamed outside our little tent; at one point I thought we might become airborne. At least the tent was well aerated, which was much needed. Again, Lewis and I were last to leave camp this morning, even after the galley crew; I got up late and made it just in the nick of time for breakfast, just as the galley crew were shutting the kitchen down. Thankfully due to Tailwig, we were able to make up time and got into camp at a very respectable time today. We’re staying in a little town in the fairgrounds, which is currently hosting a horse-riding camp; it is quite strange to be camping with horses galloping around, very near by. I think it has crossed all of our minds to trade in our bikes for a horse, especially after yesterday’s ride. Today’s ride took us alon...

Day 25 Binscarth Sask, to Minnedosa, Manitoba Distance: 138 Windy from the south east at estimated 30-gusting to 40 km/hour Our driver is complaining that her arms hurt from trying to stabilize the truck on the blustery road, so you can imagine how our legs feel. I think for many people today was one of the toughest rides of the tour so far, thanks to our reliable companion Hedwig and his second cousin SideWig. Both joined forces today and lashed us with relentless and persistent winds that railed against our ears and battered us about the road, making riding in a group perilous at times. On days like this I will try every mental distraction to keep me from looking at my slow moving odometer; the kilometers just would not come. When I kept forgetting that I was trying not to look, and my eyes wandered down to my ‘dashboard’, I felt like screaming, as we had barely moved. Usually after dinner our group will sit around the ‘living room’ and chat, but this evening we all look like extras ...