Ogema to Weyburn
On the road by 7:45 to the bluest sky you would ever want to see. Today was a nice ride, one of the easiest of our trip! The road was flat and there was a partial tailwind. Liking our luck the last few days! We had ridden 85 km to our destination by 12:30 pm. The only downside to today was that the mosquitoes were out in full force and we had to use 'bug juice' for the first time. It certainly will not get any better as Winnipeg is in our 'sights' and those pesky bugs will only get bigger and bigger!
Today we stopped at a Saskatchewan 'Point of Interest'. This was the former site of the town of Forward. It was established in 1911 at the juncture of the CP and the CN rail lines. It boasted of 1200 people with all the services expected in a small town. Problem was it never had a grain elevator so the town declined to the point where the last house was removed in 1960. From 0 to 1200 to 0 in 50 years. Hard to believe!
As we got closer to Weyburn you had to feel sorry for the local farmers. We saw a sprayer stuck in the mud. The tractor that they brought to get it out was also buried. As we were riding past the 'big help' had arrived, an articulating tri-wheel tractor. Suspect they would get everything out with it! Two days ago they had received about 4 inches of rain (about 10 cm). The average annual rainfall is only 32 cm. These farmers are in trouble as less than 50% of their crops are in the ground.
We are camping in the River Park Campground in Weyburn, a very small spot right in town. Weyburn is about 10000 people and is the 'Largest Inland Grain Terminal in Canada'.
Daily Distance = 88.06 km. Time on the bikes = 4 hours 25 minutes. Average Speed = 19.81 km. Maximum Speed = 37.44 km. Wildlife Sightings = Red Headed Ducks, Black Terns, Pintails, Blue Winged Teals, Shovellers, Coots, Deer, Red Fox, Red Tailed Hawk, Marsh Hawk.
PS! Today marked 30 days on the road!!!
Kevin = 3 Sue = 0.
