It's been a long time since we blogged ... so apologies for that ... but the trip has been so fascinating and 'full' that recording it all just hasn't been a big thing.
But obviously SO MUCH has happened.
One of the things that you are told, frequently, about the Prairie Provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba is that they are 'flat and boring'. Now, after the ridiculous verticality of the Rockies they are certainly more 'flat', but they are anything but boring. For example ...
OK, so I guess that does look pretty flat and boring, but there's more ...
So, how about this one ...
This is some of the irrigated pasture lands along the Cypress Hills in Eastern Alberta, just shy of the Saskatchewan border. It's very open out here and so the riding is very much affected by the wind. From behind it is fantastic and really lifts you as you fling along the highway, from the side it's kind of neutral - if a bit annoying (because it should be behind), and from the front it is just downright nasty.
So every now and then we need to reconcile ourselves with a tasty morsel to refuel the batteries ... I did that pretty often.
Some of the scenery out here is just gorgeous, in a simple kind of way. I have often reflected on this trip about the 'flat and boring' part and often find myself advising Canadian acquaintances that, if they want 'flat and boring' they should come to Australia. But even that is a bit of an over-simplification because the subtlety of the Australian outback landscape also has a kind of attractiveness.
Sure, it's not the 'in your face' grandeur of the Rockies, but there is a delicateness of colour and texture that is quite lovely. Maybe it can't be appreciated at 100+ kph in the insulated bubble that is a car, but on a bike is a different thing.
Another aspect that seems to get a lot of derisive comments is the omnipresent CPR line that follows the Trans Canada Highway across the Prairies. But the derision misses the point that it was actually the railway that was typically there first, and is responsible for transporting much of the produce of Canada to major distribution centres. It is therefore critical to what has made Canada what it is.
The riding through this part of the world was generally pretty enjoyable. Glorious weather, wind generally being helpful, and traffic relatively light on the dual lane separated highway. The wash from some of the big trucks made things interesting on occasion, but generally the truckers are very considerate of touring cyclists and try to move across into the fast lane to avoid us. The tricky bit comes when the odd, impatient, car driver decides to be clever and overtake on the inside (is that called 'undertaking') and fails to realise that the truck is trying to avoid the bright yellow guy on the bike. Some interesting moments.
We have met some amazing people on the ride too. I was in East Saskatchewan when Helen and Matt finally caught up with me to share the ride. Dale Young is a farmer from a little town called Parkbeg who agreed to let us camp on his front lawn during a rather vicious thunderstorm. He even mowed the grass for us and offered us cool drinks.
We managed to survive the 27mm overnight downpour and emerge unsaturated from our tent. Matt slept in the car, all scrunched up. He's actually getting quite good at that ever since his first stint travelling in Iceland in a 'car' that was actually far too small to sleep in.
