Sidney to Portage La Prairie
Seems to be a trend with how I start this blog recently. So here it is again! On the road by 8:05 with heavy sky and rain gear on. Manitoba weather continues to show it's ugly side. And so does it's roads! At least today's ride was relatively easy from a wind perspective and our luck held out with the rain until we hit the edge of Portage La Prairie. But the roads!!! Again Manitoba is vying for the province as the most 'bicycle unfriendly'! Rough shoulders plagued our ride today and then like yesterday they disappeared completely. Obviously, the death of some cyclists in 2008 had little effect on the powers that be in Winnipeg!
Today we rode through what must be some of Manitoba's prime agricultural land. It is flat and at times you could see forever. Portage La Prairie appears to be an agricultural centre with huge farm machinery dealerships lined up side by side that could rival any we saw in Alberta or Saskatchewan.
We are drying out in the Sunset Motel in Portage La Prairie. It is a nice little motel with a kitchenette. Our original plan had been to go 10 km further along the Trans Canada to a campground but when the rain began we decided to call it a day and dry out. The weather is supposed to clear tomorrow. We want to make Winnipeg tomorrow where we hope to take a day off to rest our 'old muscles' since we have not been off the bikes since our snow day in Alberta.
Daily Distance = 60.39km. Time on the bikes = 3 hours 26 minutes. Average Speed = 17.44 km. Maximum Speed = 27.13 km. Wildlife Sightings = Chipping Sparrow, Tundra Swan, Blue Winged Teal
Kevin = 3 Sue = 0.
