Windy western Saskatchewan

Jour – Day 33 : Regina, SK – Chaplin, SK (157 km)

I woke up early and had breakfast and coffee with Don and Bev before I leave (Bev made me a delicious omelette and gave me plenty of bars, fruits and nuts, they took sooo good care of me!). I had a great time in Regina watching football with Don & Bev and Murray & Ray, and it’s really nice that they took the time to welcome me warmly even though they had a busy paddling week end! Once again it’s hard to start after a rest day, I would have stayed in Regina a bit longer.

On my way I stopped in Caronport for lunch, and there I met another cyclist, Chris from Moose Jaw, who had coffee with me. We were talking and I don’t remember how we came up to that matter but I was telling him that I should have brought some business cards instead of always writing my blog address on the edge of place mats… So he offered me to print some for me, and as he was going fishing to Swift Current the next day he could drop them somewhere there for me. I still can’t believe how generous and nice are all the people I meet…

I had planned to stop after Caronport, but as I was feeling good, I decided to go a bit further. I had asked the girl at the information center in Moose Jaw about campgrounds on the way, and she said there were two in Chaplin, 50 km from there, so that’s where I headed. I had some rain between Parkbeg and Chaplin, but it didn’t last very long so I had dried before I got to Chaplin. But when I got there and looked for the campground, but I think it should not be allowed to call itself a campground as there are no facilities (no showers, no washrooms)… So I went around to ask what were the other options, and I ended up in a little potery shop, where I was welcomed by Monica (from South Africa) and her husband Pierrot (from Italy). As there were no real other options, they invited me to stay at their place, and Monica cooked some awesome food the south-african way, once again I ate plenty of cherries and a very good desert (kind of rice crispies with chocolate and peanut butter). Who thought I would lose wight on this trip? At least I burn a lot of calories cycling…

Jour – Day 34 : Chaplin, SK – Swift Current, SK (90 km)

I left early again, after a good cafe latte and a turkey sandwich (Monica didn’t let me leave without sandwiches and snacks for the day, + some fruits). I must admit that this was a hard day, I had a crazy headwind and could hardly go faster than 15 km/h. I was expecting that when I chose to ride east to west, but it is still hard, physically and mentally. I had planned to go to Gull lake, but had to stop after 90 km because I was exhausted and tired… really.

Hopefully I had some people waiting for me in Swit Current, Ray and Murray that I had met in Regina. We had a great lunch together, I ate like crazy once again and then they took me around the city for a little visit. We also went to they daughter’s place, and I met her frenchspeaking boys (who actually didn’t speak to me in english). We ordered some pizza for dinner and I was in bed before 8:30… really tired hein! They made sure I had some things to eat on my way to Maple Creek, and they were up to say goodbye at 6 in the morning! Thanks again for everything to Ray and Murray

Jour – Day 35 : Swift Current, SK – Maple Creek, SK (129 km)

I left in the rain, but it stopped a few hours later so I could dry. That was another terrible hard day in the wind, and I had to make those 129 km because there was absolutely nothing in between. I know I already wrote this but the prairies are not flat at all, and I still had that felling of climbing all the time. + the guy who invented the teletubbies definitely inspired himself from the prairies landscapes, see the picture on the left. I thought about all the people being so proud of me down there in Quebec and told myself I could not decepoint them, I tried to encourage myself but I must admit that I deeply missed my ipod and my music and that was the kind of day where you lay in the grass and think you’ll never make it. Still, at 4:30 I was at the information center and at 7:30 I was sleeping in my tent. No shower, no dinner, just some sleep!

Thanks to my friend for cheering me up on the phone, I know I can count on you on these hard days and that has no price. How long again are the prairies? Hopefully I could get to the Rockies and have another kind of challenge, even though I know it won’t be easier at all! 

Jour – Day 36 : Maple Creek, SK – Medicine Hat (101 km)

Last day in Saskatchewan, here I am now in Alberta! I was attacked by a kind of eagle or I don’t know what (predatory bird?) just a few km after the border, I guessed he thought my helmet was some kind of prey. I saw him flying over me and than screaming or doing a weird sound, and first thing I knew I had my glasses in the mouth and the helmet almost upside down. I’m glad I wore it though, I can imagine what his claws would have done to my head…

Other funny thing was those cows running away from me this morning as I tried to wave hello. You can also hear that there was no wind at all (i.e. read lots of wind, even at 7 in the morning).

And I finally reached Medicine Hat in the afternoon, and was warmly welcomed by Sherri at the Alzheimer Society. I am staying at her place tonight, and it feels good to be in a house with lots of people and action! + We have raised more than 4500 $ so far, keep spreading the word

To be continued..