July 10th. map my ride posts need fixing..

Today started early about 6:30am as the guy on the motorcycle tenting next to me was packing up. The other cyclist had already left by this point but I wanted to start the day with a shower. Everything was going fine until it was time to leave. There is a distinct wobblyness and crumply sound when the bike has a flat and this is just what I had. I figured it was a good time as any to change the tire and the tube outright to get rid of some unnecessary weight.

Surprisingly I found more of the metal from the previous day but this one was embedded in the tire liner itself. It should have already caused a flat by now and explains the problems from the previous days flat in Portage la Prairie. The new tire was really hard to put on but eventually I got it on there. Too bad I put it on backwards: the tread pattern has to go a certain direction. No matter I was going to Canadian Tire anyway to see if I could use a floor pump where I could change the tire properly there. When I got there I changed the tire no problem and the manager let me use a pump off the shelf. He was super nice about it and we talked a little about my trip. When I came back out the tire was flat – what?

I went back in to get the pump again, took of the tire and couldn’t find any problems so I put a new tube in and that seemed to work. By this time it was 9am, so much for getting up early! I pedalled off but within 10 kilometers I was hungry so I ate two chocolate muffins. The road continued on as hilly as the day before and like yesterday it was warm early. I am not sure if it is was the muffins but I had no energy and was making about the same speed as yesterday just plotting along. The view is not as nice since the lakes where not if view of the highway but at least it was evergreen trees! I had to stop a few times just to lie down and rest. Each time I was in a daze for a minute or two before I headed off.

By 1:30pm I had made it the 105 kilometers to Inglace. I had a burger and a couple of gallons of water which made me feel better. Before leaving Inglance I bought an extra 4 litres of water and made sure every spare water container was full. The road out of town was under construction and it quickly became one lane with gravel. When the traffic lady waved everyone through I waited for all the vehicles to go through before I started. The road was a bit of a mess for good few kilometers before it had new pavement again. There was no marked shoulder so I pulled off a few times when a lot of big rigs where coming both ways.

Eventually I happened upon a small rest area with trees for shade, a couple of bathrooms and picnic tables. The other cyclist had also stopped here and I thought this was good as any. I set up the tent and then went into the rusty coloured lake water to wash up with some soap. I didn’t dunk my head but I came up out naked much to the surprise of the man walking his dog. I frankly didn’t care and I think it was totally understandable given the circumstance. We are really in the middle of no where with no running water.

After cleaning up I met Marc from Timmons who is looking for work in Fort Macmurry and Donald who was living in Thailand who is also heading out to Northern Alberta for work. They both shared their food with me and we talked about travels and a little about Timmons and why Marc is on his way out to Alberta. I made some noodles but am now dead tired. Tomorrow is a big ride but I will be in a bigger town again to clean up.