I had a slow start to the day, it was beginning to rain when I got up and so packing up the tent in the rain is no fun. I ate breakfast at a road side diner. French Toast is my breakfast of choice. Plenty of carbs, with just a bit of protein mixed in. Plus there is maple syrup and what could be better than maple syrup, I ask you!
Well, The rain produced a fair amount of drag on the bike believe it or not and made the pedals slippery. I found out when I mashed one of the pedals into my shin trying to click my cleats into place. I knew it was bleeding but just left it. Its not like I could have done anythnig other than suck air through my teeth and go “ooo, oowww.”
I noticed that on the smaller highways the trucks really give you lots of room. I think because the additional spray from the wheels could easily knock you over if you weren’t paying attention. In fact I never wear my headphones, no matter how bored I might be getting. It just isn’t worth it.
So the goal of the day was two fold, enter Saskatchewan (that was easy) and visit Linacre, where my father grew up.
Actually Dad grew up on a farm outside of Linacre but I wasn’t able to locate the farm.
One thing I noticed about Saskatchewan is the distances on the map have absolutely no correspondance with reality at all. There is a saying “In Alberta if you fall asleep at the wheel you end up in the ditch, In Saskatchewan, you run out of gas.” And that pretty much sums it up. Oh sure your best friend may only live three fields over, but those fields are each 4km wide!
I could see things on the horizon, and it would take me an hour and a half to get to it. So anyway I pedalled to Linacre and it wasn’t much to look at. In fact I felt sorry for my father. Not for his upbringing, I know he was well loved, but because you could sense that struggle. It was evident in the piles of stones that lined the fields, and the rusting old farm equipment that looked like it weighed a ton. It was also evident in the soapy film of pesticides that covered the road when it rained. I wondered how, or why anyone would want to make a living doing this. I found out later though.
In the meantime I had made a stunning observation that will probably rock the foundations of the Saskatchewan legislature. No where in the province (that I have been) do they actually build a road near towns, or the towns near the roads. Let me explain, Fox Valley (a town) is near an intersection of two main roads, however, rather than have the intersection in the town, they have it one (1) km South, and one (1) km East. That way it is inconvenient as hell to get to it.
Maple Creek, largest town in the area, is it on the Trans Canada? NO! they have the highway go 8 km North of Town! That way it is inconvenient as hell to get to it. Now. I’m not sure which came first, the town or the road but one would think that they could have saved time and money, if the damn road came through the damn town. I expect my revelation will cause some heads to roll down at the highways ministry in Regina.
Beautiful prairie sunset.
Stats
Total: 198.9
Time: 9:41
Max: 44.6
Average 20.9