Day 24 – Swift Current to Morse – 61 kilometers

61 kilometers of green

I woke up at 6am but was dead tired and didn’t want to move. I slept in to about 7am before crawling out of my little hobble. I was in a total funk and couldn’t wake up but preceded to pack things up very slow a methodically. I probably took a good hour or so before I was ready to go. I went to pay the caretaker Ron Marcia and he turned around and donated the money to the cause. He told me that he had no problem donating to someone working hard biking across the country. I really appreciated that statement.

Off I went up to highway 1 and made my way to the edge of town where I did some stretching since the body was a little stiff and hadn’t woken up yet. The weather was clear but cloudy and a slight head wind like the day before. It is more hilly than yesterday but I am making okay time considering I am not putting much effort at all, simply going through the motions.
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I put away 45 kilometers before stopping for lunch in Hebert. I spoke with someone outside the gas station who told me there were Tornado warnings from Swift Current all the way to Moose Jaw. There is also talk of baseball size hail which I contemplated over lunch. There were a lot of farmers having lunch also contemplating the coming storm but not for personal safety like myself but lively hood. Discussion revolved around survival and insurance premiums but I was eavesdropping so I didn’t get the whole picture.
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I knew I couldn’t hack it today so I rode another 13 kilometers to Morse which is on Reed lake. Though not a bird sanctuary the birds think they own it and I even saw a pelican battling the wind. Morse is a quiet little town right on the highway. I booked a motel room due to possible weather challenges for my tent and tarp. Across from the motel was home advertising “All your sewing needs” so I took my one cotton shirt there to get fixed. Coincidentally it is my “Jeff Bikes China” shirt from 2004 which is a little worse for wear. The lady told me to wait be the door and in 10 minutes came back with the shirt fixed. She refused any compensation of course. I thanked her and gave her my card.

I always want to know more about people especially immigrants who have moved to a very small town like Morse or Tilley. What is their story? I think it would rude to ask straight out but I really am interested in why people move and how they choose or maybe don’t choose their destination. The lady running the hotel is from Sri Lanka and an Asian family is running the grocery store. The town can’t be more than a few hundred though.
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Finally, I heard the wind should revert back to normal tomorrow but Glen luck says otherwise. The black cloud is always hovering over the Glen’s! Right now thunder and lightening outside, good call to stop early!