Flat Manitoba....

Wednesday, June 9

Reston to Souris

After a 'bicyclist's dream' breakfast in the motel restaurant, we were on the road by 8:10. (Without raingear). The ride today was a little bit tough as we fought a strong cross wind. The temperature never made it above 10 degrees.

Today's ride took us through a variety of 'flat' farmland. I thought Saskatchewan was to be the flat one! We passed kilometre after kilometre of cattle grazing land, seed alfalfa and timothy, and 100's of acres of sunflowers. (Last year’s crop was initially misidentified by me as corn stalks)! More and more bush land and in fact you would have thought that you were in Southwestern Ontario at times. Lots of water but unlike Saskatchewan, far less water fowl.

Our distance today was reduced partly due to the winds but more to do with the availability of places to stay. We are camping in Victoria Park Campground in Souris, the most treed campground we have been in since BC. Souris is a vibrant and friendly agricultural community where we were greeted by many people and welcomed to town. I believe everyone by now knows there are cross-Canada cyclists in town. The main street has old buildings dating to the late 1880's. (Would love to know the size of the town but Manitoba is not big on Tourist Information, in fact we have been unable to obtain any campground or accommodation information and are being forced to rely solely on our own notes! I guess I will leave that rant for another day!). Souris has a long suspension foot bridge (despite the fact that they call it a swing bridge) that we crossed with our bicycles. No we did not ride across as walking the bikes was scary enough, especially for 'my better half'.

Daily Distance = 71.12 km. Time on the bikes = 4 hours 47 minutes. Average Speed = 14.70 km. Maximum Speed = 23. 34 km. Wildlife Sightings = Black Terns, Coots, Shovellers, Blue Winged Teal, Red headed ducks, Redstart (warbler).

Kevin = 3 Sue = 0.

'Friendly Manitoba'...We Have Arrived....

Tuesday, June 8

Carlyle to Reston

On the road by 9:00, again with raingear ready. Seems to be a theme! While leaving the Motel this morning we were stopped by a gentleman from Riviere du Loup who works as an auditor for the Federal Government. He was in the area to 'examine the books' of a small native settlement. He asked us a million questions and gave us tips on riding through Quebec, if and when we get there. He was genuinely interested in our adventure. However, that is also the reason for the late start. Imagine me talking to a stranger!

The ride today was a dream. A very strong west wind 'blew us out of Saskatchewan'. As quickly as the oil wells arrived yesterday west of Weyburn they disappeared east of Carlyle. Saskatchewan agriculture began to look a lot like Ontario with the smaller fields, the natural water holes and some bush.

Saskatchewan...What did we think? A couple of myths about this province, at least the southern part. Saskatchewan is not as flat as we are led to believe! The agriculture is based on more than just wheat, barley and oats. They grow many more varied crops and you cannot forget the thousands and thousands of acres of ranch land! We do not associate Saskatchewan with oil but it is driving the economy. The roads, though not as good as in BC and Alberta, were friendly to bicycles until you hit the oil area where the roads are a mess! Once again the people treated us very well. The winds were strong and really did 'blow us across Saskatchewan'!

We are in a motel tonight, The Rest'n Inn in Reston. There is a predicted bad storm with the possibility of hail for later. Yes I guess we are 'fair weather campers'! Goodbye to Saskatchewan...Manitoba we have arrived!!! 3 down 7 to go!

Daily Distance = 98.01 km. Time on the bikes = 4 hours 16 minutes. Average Speed = 24.01 km. Maximum Speed = 42. 90 km. Wildlife Sightings = Yesterday was the 1st road kill Raccoon. Today was the 1st road kill Porcupine!

Kevin = 3 Sue = 0.

Farming for Oil...Saskatchewan Style....

Monday, June 7

Weyburn to Carlyle

On the road by 7:30 with raingear at the ready. The clouds chased us all day. And trust me they caught up to us! We rode with a cross wind all day. Long hard day!

What a difference a day makes. West of Weyburn nothing but cropland. East of Weyburn 'farming for oil'. Southeastern Saskatchewan is booming. Oil wells dominate the landscape and more and more are being drilled. The Motels and campgrounds are packed. These workers work for 30 days and then get 10 days off. Workers have come to this area from Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Alberta (imagine workers leaving Alberta to work in the oil fields). Help is hard to find.

Now that Saskatchewan is a 'have province' you would think that they might spend some money on their roads. Hwy 13 was a real mess today. The shoulder was busted up and the road was not much better. Oil tankers, drilling equipment, and 'black smoke spewing' diesel pickups made today's ride a real challenge.

We are drying out in the Skyline Motel in Carlyle. The sky that threatened us most of the day caught up to us with about 20 km to go. We seem to be a magnet to this stuff!!!

Daily Distance = 105.62 km. Time on the bikes = 6 hours 33 minutes. Average Speed = 16.03 km. Maximum Speed = 25.60 km. Wildlife Sightings = Moose, Snipe, Black Tern, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, Shovellers, Blue Winged Teal, Ruddy Ducks, Horned Grebes, Red Headed Ducks.

Kevin = 3 Sue = 0.

On The Road For One Month....

Sunday, June 6

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.

Technical Glitch

Sue & Kevin have run into a technical glitch on their travels. The blackberry they are sending the blog updates with has for some reason stopped allowing emails to be sent or received. This should be fixed soon & when it is the blog will be updated. They are currently in Carlyle Sask.

61.65 down and 4.55 up....

Saturday, June 5

Assiniboia to Ogema

A rather slow start to the day today. Last evening while sitting at our campsite in the Assiniboia Regional Park, 2 guys stopped and told us that the town had bad water. Now for the rant!!! When we came into Assiniboia yesterday we stopped at the Information place and received directions to the park. No mention that we should not use the water! No signs in the campground to tell us not to use the water! To top things off, Assiniboia shuts down at 6:00 pm so no water! Obviously people in this town are not early risers. The grocery store did not open until 8:30 am! Not impressed!!!

Finally on the road by 9:00. By 10:00 we had gone a 'whopping' 11 km. A stop to repair Sue's bike and then a longer stop to repair my bike. Not a good start.

Today was a long gradual climb... for the whole 85 kilometres! Again so much for Saskatchewan being flat!!! When your maximum speed exceeds 60 km and the climb back out is more than 'Granny' can handle, you know you are having a tough day.

Today we were blessed with lots of roadside water holes filled with ducks. Lots of farmers planting but going around the standing water.

We have treated ourselves to a stay in the Ogema Motel. All day we were chased by storms. It sure was not our 'blistering' speed that kept us from getting wet! Since we have been in Ogema several heavy rains have rolled through. Good call to get a room.

Daily Distance = 87.60 km. Time on the bikes = 5 hours 13 minutes. Average Speed = 16.75 km. Maximum Speed = 61.75km. Wildlife Sightings = Black Terns, Baldpates, Pintails, Shovellers, Horned Grebes, Coots, Blue Winged Teal, Red Headed Ducks, Gadwalls.

Kevin = 3 Sue = 0.

Caddy Shack....

Friday, June 4

Ponteix to Assinaboia

On the road by 8:00 to a beautiful blue sky and a wind in our backs. Both more than welcome! Hwy 13 is a beautiful road to ride. Not much traffic and fairly decent shoulders. Once again we saw rural Saskatchewan and all it has to offer. Thousands of acres of cropland as far as you could see. Farmers planting their crops with the largest drills we have ever seen. Wheat, barley, oats, lentils, peas, canola, flax, and chick peas. This is part of Saskatchewans 'bread basket'.

It is also the land of 'The Gopher'. They are everywhere and very often 'under' car tires. In Alberta we saw a farmer shooting at them as he drove his pickup through his fields. Today we saw a guy on a Quad going from gopher hole to gopher hole dumping poison down them. Bill Murray would be proud!!!

While having lunch today in Lafleche, we were approached by 2 people. They opened with: "We were looking for you guys, we saw you ride up". (Thought for a moment that we were in an old time Western)! The lady introduced herself as the town's administrator (I suspect that is the equivalent to our mayor) and the guy was from CTV News in Regina. He was doing stories about small rural towns in Saskatchewan. She was a typical politician. Born with the 'gift of the gab' as she told us all about the town and the agriculture of the area. The crops are late going in as it has been incredibly wet the last month. This is quite abnormal for this area. Usually it experiences drought conditions.

We had a couple of milestones today! We passed '2000 km' for our adventure and we rode over 120 km today, a distance we have never come close to before.

Daily Distance = 124.69 km. Time on the bikes = 6 hours 4 minutes. Average Speed = 20.31 km. Maximum Speed = 49.61 km. Wildlife Sightings = Deer, Pronhorns, Red Fox, Red Headed Ducks, Pintails, Coots, Shovellers, Gadwalls, Blue Winged Teal.

Kevin = 3 Sue = 0.

The Dream Wind...For 18 km....

Thursday, June 3

Swift Current to Ponteix

Awoke to raindrops! Not what we wanted to hear! After a brief discussion about our planned route, we packed our gear and headed for a McD breakfast. Hit the road by 8:50 to a rain filled sky. Leaving Swift Current was a 20 km climb through Saskatchewan cropland. Knew that Saskatchewan was going to show us its 'bread and butter'. After 40 km things changed and I do not mean the landscape. We experienced Saskatchewan weather. A west wind that was so strong that it was difficult to keep the bicycles upright. Riding was a struggle! To the west we saw funny looking clouds with streamers hanging from them. 5 minutes later heavy wind driven rain overtook us. 5 minutes after that it was over.

Now for the dream wind. We have been waiting for the perfect west wind. Today it appeared. Problem was for 70 km today we were heading south. Wouldn't you know it! But those last 18 km from Cadillac to Ponteix were incredible!

Oh the people that we meet! After setting up camp last night we had a lady come to tell us that a storm was predicted. She lived in a trailer in the park and told us that if the weather got too bad we were to come and ring her doorbell. She also asked us if we liked chocolates. Gee what do you think? They were simply amazing! Rival anything Mill Creek can produce! Also 2 guys from the US arrived and set up camp next to us. Me being me, I went over to talk to them. 2 hours later we were still solving all the world's problems, particularly the ones 'created by the US'. They had great stories about growing up close to the Canadian border. You know I could almost change my opinion of Americans if they were more like these guys. They were on their way from Northern Minnesota to a recently built cabin in Alaska. The ability to make fun of oneself I thought was a Canadian thing. These guys were experts at it. You should be 'honourary Canadians'. Thanks guys! Great time! And lastly, the owner of Splitters Bar and Grill in Ponteix. You made us feel welcome, good old time Saskatchewan hospitality!

We are camping in the Ponteix Regional Campground, a small campground, but we are sheltered from the howling wind.

Daily Distance = 93.90 km. Time on the bikes = 6 hours 17 minutes. Average Speed = 14.96 km. Maximum Speed = 47.62 km. Wildlife Sightings = Deer, Pronghorns, Barn Swallows, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwings, Red Headed Woodpecker, Red Headed Duck.

Kevin = 3 Sue = 0.

Where the Land Meets the Sky...Part Two....

Wednesday, June 2

Gull Lake to Swift Current

While having our oatmeal and coffee this morning we made a judgement call to alter our plans once again. A beautiful blue sky but an extremely strong wind out of the south (our planned direction for the day) made us decide to continue on the Trans Canada for another day.

Today was more of yesterday. The highway condition was better, the wind was a cross-wind, and the land met the sky all day. Again we climbed a series of 'Bayview Hills' and upon entering Swift Current 'Granny' was necessary! The scenery did not alter a whole lot as cattle country continued until about 25km before Swift Current when cropland re-appeared. I guess that is why we passed the biggest agricultural equipment dealerships that we have ever seen as we entered Swift Current. John Deere, Cat, Case IH, and New Holland all in a row with large combines front and centre. I suspect that Saskatchewan is going to show us its wheat growing area for real! Oil wells also made their appearance today dotting the fields.

We are camping in the Ponderosa Campground and RV Park in the eastern edge of Swift Current. And no I will not bore you with my 'Bonanza' humour even though I think I will soon be imitating 'Hopsing' real soon.

Daily Distance = 64.95 km. Time on the bikes = 4 hours 3 minutes. Average Speed = 16.07 km. Maximum Speed = 37.44 km. Wildlife Sightings = Pronghorns, Yellow Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, and just for you Eric lots of road kill.

Kevin = 3 Sue = 0.

Where the Land Meets the Sky....

Thursday, June 1

Maple Creek to Gull Lake

A very cold night. The tent was white with frost when we got up. On the road by 8:10 with a beautiful blue sky. First time since Blairmore! Wind was not a factor today as it was at times a cross-wind. However, if people think that Saskatchewan is flat they should visit the southwestern part of the province. Today was a series of 'Bayview Hill' climbs. Quite a tiring day. To make matters worse the Trans Canada is an absolute mess in this area. All the infrastructure money that will be wasted sure could be used here! The shoulder is all broken up and even riding on the highway was not a lot better.

For those people who are following us on the pre-marked maps, we had a change of route today. We have stayed on the Trans Canada instead of dropping down at Maple Creek. Tomorrow we are leaving the Trans Canada to head south to join up with Hwy 13, 'The Red Coat Trail'. We saved ourselves some climbing (we think) and some kilometres!

Today we really got a feel for Saskatchewan's motto: 'Where The Land Meets The Sky'. A few clouds but mostly a big blue sky. As far as you could see the land runs into the sky. Ranch land again dominated. We saw quite a few more cattle today, certainly more than any other day.

We stopped in Tompkins today for lunch and while talking to some locals were told about a sod hut, a replica of the area's homesteaders houses. The sod hut was built in 1980 and was quite neat to see. We could even go inside of it. It was well worth the extra couple of km and the short gravel ride.

We are camping in the Gull Lake Municipal Campground and are being swarmed by mosquitoes. Yes the first day in 2 weeks above 15 degrees and those little buggers have arrived. Staying in the campground are some other cross country cyclists who are going from Vancouver to their home in Quebec. Two men are riding and the wives are driving the pickup truck pulling a big trailer.

Daily Distance = 88.06 km. Time on the bikes = 5 hours 24 minutes. Average Speed = 16.26 km. Maximum Speed = 33.63 km. Wildlife Sightings = Pronghorns, Pintails, Ruddy Ducks, Coots, Black Crowned Night Heron, Great Blue Heron, Rabbits, Gophers.

Kevin = 3 Sue = 0.