Ride details pending

I got up around 6am and as quietly as possible packed up my things but I couldn’t find my Ironman Switzerland hat. Of well, this will make a good parting gift for Craig. I couldn’t resist one more photo of the lake though!

It was warm already even this time in the morning but this was to be expected so I just got on with it. I rode about 20 kilometers into Kenora. On the approach to this gem of a town you cross a bridge or two that appeared to be part of an island. In town the highway cuts through the middle but I decided to ride along the waterfront which is spectacular. It is like Gibson’s BC except not on the ocean.


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Today was even more spectacular than yesterday. I spent the morning catching up on the blogs then I went down for a swim in the 76 degree Fahrenheit crystal clear water of Clear Water bay! I was a little out of swim shape so I only swam about 400 meters and turned around. Then I preceded to lay down on a cot that was partly submersed on the sandy shore. I feet hung off the sides so I didn’t overheat as I worked on the cyclist tan or rather lack thereof tanned skin on my torso up to my neck. It was also pointed out that I have tan lines where me chin strap goes on the side of my neck.

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180 kilometers!

I headed out this morning along the road to Lorrette since it eventually meets up with the Trans Canada highway. The wind was against me early and I was a little concerned because I was expecting to ride 190 kilometers today.

On the Trans Canada it was a little and before long I was averaging a pace in the high 20’s. This was when I noticed the shoulder disappearing 500 meters ahead so took a casual look around and saw a cyclist coming up the road with no gear. I decided to let them pass since there wouldn’t be any room to do so very shortly.

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After Roberta set me up with some breakfast Ray and Pam showed up to take me to Winnipeg Folk Festival which is running from Thursday through until Sunday. It has be running for over 35 years and though there is not so much folk it is a well organized event with great musicians from around the world. The festival is held in Birds Hill provincial park which is a very large park and campground North East of Winnipeg.

Entering the park I was so warmed seeing young evergreens mixed with the birch and oak trees. I really miss the forests and mountains of BC. We parked and headed over to the gate where we met two of Pam’s friends who knowingly brought tarps to sit on in front of the main stage. After staking our territory we grabbed some food and walked over to a smaller stage to watch a little country and western. Normally not my style of music but this guy, Jimmy Lafav, had a great voice. The first part of the set was sad songs but when the piano guy finally showed (must have been in the beer garden) they cranked it up a notch.

Off to the beer garden we went for a cold one in the roasting hot sun. The ladies wanted to shop so Ray and I staked out some ground to watch “you gotta fight for your right” workshop which included Billy Bragg, Atomic Duo, Natalia Zukerman, Willy Porter and Emmanuel Jai. They were all very talented musicians and were the closest thing to folk music with the exception of Emmanuel Jai who had a reggae style hip hop.

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122 kilometers through Winnipeg!

Well the sleep was pretty poor last night since all of the buildings in the campground seem to illuminate the whole park at night. That however can be negligible but the security guy booting around the campground on his motorised quad until 2am was not. I wondered how long it would take me to get a sniper rifle so I could shoot him.

In the morning I ate a grapefruit and some bread with peanut butter before packing up and getting back on the road. The wind was with me again and I was making good time despite my little butt problem (your probably tired of hearing about it so I will leave it at that). Near Winnipeg there is a crop with a light purple flower that almost looks like a little lake from the distance. Very beautiful indeed when mixed with the yellow canola crops gracefully blowing in the wind.

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Last night felt the full furry of a Manitoba storm. In fact it was just like the Saskatchewan storm with a little more thunder and lightening but no tornado or hail. It was hard to sleep but I think that was really because I ate a chocolate bar before bed. I am really eating a of food these days. No idea but full breakfast, pre lunch, lunch, afternoon splurg, dinner and about 6 bottles of water and/or Gatorade. Sometimes I wake up in the night and eat as well.

At around 8am (I am on Central time now) I was woken by loud thunder again. Outside there was lightening and torrential rain. I got up and jogged passed literal streams of water to get to the Clay Pot Cafe to get my “Donated breakfast”. Breakfast was excellent and waitress wanted a picture so after getting ready I came back with the bike for a proper picture. By then the rain had stopped and it was nice and cool to start.

Back out on the highway I hit a 500 meter gravel patch where the shoulder should be and grumpily road in the gravel to the other side where I complained bitterly on Twitter. It was unnecessary and undeserved since the road was good except the last 6 kilometers into Portage la Prairie. And who can complain when they have a slight tailwind anyway?

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145 kilometers, time is not accurate.

I was feeling pretty ambitious after yesterdays ride but I was quickly put in me place by the wind. Though not strong it was enough too keep me around 20km/hr in the beginning. I really didn’t have breakfast so I pulled in Elkhorn for the classic bacon and eggs with hash browns. The owner is saving up money and plans to sell the place and move to Cuba. Not a bad retirement plan if you ask me.

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231 kilometers, my farthest ever!

With all the rest I had in Regina I was surprised how rusty I felt for the first 50 kilometers. I was still making good time though as I had a tailwind, nothing epic but anyone pedalling the opposite direction would be slowed down. As Regina disappeared behind me the road was more or less flat and gradually straightened out into a south easterly direction toward Manitoba.

I got in a 100 kilometers before noon and arrived at my originally planned destination of Wosely. I knew I was going to go further today but I wanted to check out the town as this is part of the “Hamer” road which is Wosely to Wapella. There is a lake on one side of the town with a little swing bridge and the town hall is an old brick building that is over 100 years old. It is quiet a beautiful town with trees on both sides of the road often with the treetops touching over the middle of the road making it nice and shady it the hot summer sun.

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It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Actually this is untrue, I really liked Regina and had some time to relax and catch up on some things.

The first full day I was there I contact a radio station and a couple of newspapers. No bites yet but it was good to talk to some media. I then checked out my coach at the Saskatchewan hall of fame.

Then proceeded to have a few too many beers at O’Hanlans pub in the downtown core where they have a beautiful park buzzing with dragon flies. Literally there were thousands and not a mosquito in sight. Mom don’t worry I had this former CFL’er looking out for me.

The group he was with were a lot of fun and Rachel took the lead rounding up some donations. I took a cab home but it was dicey as Dan Jeffries would say.

The next day I spent catching up in the nice shade of a tree facing Wascana Lake. I also took a tour of the Legislative building.  I rode around the eastern side of the lake had dinner and called it a night.

Then came Canada day. I participated in the strong man competition by watching. Then I decided to go get my bicycle as a prop and ask people for donations. I hit a lot of nice people and raised $182! You can see the list of names a href=” http://adollarakilometer.jeffglen.ca/2012/07/02/canada-day-donors-from-regina-raised-181-50/” here!/a

That about sums it up but I really enjoyed it and would love to go back some time!