Who has seen the wind?

For those in the know, this is a little allusion to the classic bit of Canadiana literature from W. O. Mitchell. For those who care, I have SEEN the wind and just for clarification...I am not a fan!

But first to Business. Today is the birthday of my little sister, Michele. Best wishes ya old goat! Try as you might, ya can't catch me! Finally, as my dear ol' Dad says: "a complaining soldier is a happy soldier" so you must be careful...

Of course, I would be remiss to fail to acknowledge the SUPER-ANNUATION of my father who landmarked the big 65 yesterday and calls himself the "super-citizen" now. You go guy! This has to be said so that he not feel overlooked by the matriculation of Ryan this past July 7. (My super-mother, of course, beat the big-guy to the punch this past May, keeps it to her super-cool self).

Yes, today marks the third day of a super-strong southeast wind. As my lips get more chapped and my ass more calloused as I grind my way eastward, I find myself wishing for a break and here I am, in sunny gusty Morris, Manitoba. An afternoon resting in the Moris library seems to be the ticket.

The illusionary motorcycle on the side of the road with a 'for sale' sign remains a mirrage- oh how the simplest things become fodder for fantasy in our work-a-day world. Today I started the day with a full breakfast ($3.50 eggs, bacon, toast and coffe- encroyable!) and three ibuprophen and voila, my ass is a bit better today. I caught up to and passed three fellow riders as they grind their way east as well, for them the adventure is a trans-Manitoba junket. THEY only search for the illusive "Welcome to Ontario" sign and then the van comes and collects them. Hmmm.

Hey there...for my friends in the International Aid industry, you must get a copy of the transcript or podcast of todays CBC radio1 episode of the Contrarians. While WE think that Canada is the globe's most "corporate citizen", there is some room for discussion. While we in Canada like to define ourselves (for lack of more articulate reasoning) as "Not American" and that "at least Canada is no one's problem", truth or not, maybe the USA is the best!?

I last left you around Brooks, Alberta:
Brooks (+25) - Plapot, Sask!
Plaplot - Moose Jaw
MJ - Arcola
Arcola - Souris, Manitoba!
Souris - Miami
Miami - ??Vita??

Random thoughts:
Jul 5 - Brooks, Alberta
Fought off the mosquitos and gophers in a pullout at the side of the highway. Killed one of the bastards...and a few mosquitos as well. Watched the lightning storm to the east with trepidation and anticipation to no avail. Phew. Found some funny water spots on my arms and legs. Guess I should be using sunscreen...

Jul 6 - Plapot, Saskatchewan
Cold in the am with threats of rain (a few spits only in the end) but was able to rack up over 200 km this day. Met Bernadette in the Sask tourist office and she was FAB! Had a wonderful time with her...yak yak yak. Spent three bucks on a shower and shave in a nearby campsite; then proceeded to rack up another 60 km. Due to rodent activity decided to clean and rearrange my front paniers - loaded with food and cooking supplies.

July 7 - Moose Jaw
A night of pain and humour. Decided to camp at the MJ tourist office. Turns out that the wonderful and soft grass is set up on timed sprinklers... you can imagine my, um, activity at 0030 hrs, 0330 hrs and 0530 hrs as I shifted my tent and accoutrements around the plush lawnscape to avoid the hosage... Finally I gave up and went next door to Tim's for a coffe and a bagel. You can imagine I was very tired...having put in a 278 km for the day. THAT is what a tail wind will do for you. I was getting cocky...

July 8 - Arcola
Leaving MJ I headed southeast to highway 13 to leave the TCH for a while. Managed only a 255 km as the wind shifted from out of the west to out of the Northwest. Not much help as yesterday, but not so bad. While Arcola is only 1 km south of Highway 13, I could not muster the energy to go for a visit...a visit means having to fight the wind back to the highway. So I managed to flop in the parking lot of the local COOP gas station alongside the highway. Supper of granola and Nachos, mmmm liking the buffalo wing flavour, and the folks at the gas station were kind enough to allow me to occupy the bathrooms for a while. Oh, I fixed a hole in the floor of my tent as a result of the frantic movements of last night! I should say, Hwy 13 is a bit rough for bicycling.

July 9 - Souris, Manitoba.
Wind shifted to the Northeast and voila, c'est ca pour les bons vents. Only racked up a 166 km. It was so cold and cloudy and damp that I had to pull off at Maner, Sask, for a break. Found a all-you-can-eat bfst buffet (wehaa!) (and a Sunday Rodeo!) and was able to warm up some. Pulled off later in Reston, Mb, to find water and the only place open was the Sears distributer. Said hello and got the story...the husband, the kids, the life, business yak yak yak and oh, J is the birth-daughter of Rick Chipperfield of the Oilers fame.... or so the story goes. Met Scott, her husband, who offered me a post driving Cats on the pipeline - which I almost took up (and may still). What a quaint and wonderful tiny dusty town, Reston! I think I would like the fun of living there for a moment. As Highway 13 degenerated in smoothosity, so my ass accelerated in painosity. Sliding into Manitoba there is no sinage, only Mb Highway 2 gets so much smoother.

July 10 - Maimi
Another day fighting winds, this time from the Southeast. Hard hard peddling but managed 178 km. Roads are nice and so is the scenery. Passed a wind-farm and had to shake my head as this is quite a sign contrary to successful biking. Met a German bicyclist heading west and all he could do was laugh, freeking bastard. Miami showed its great side and so I spent the night in my first official "camp ground". Had a shower and a laundry and enjoyed the cosy neatness of Miami.

July 11 - I am hoping to reach Vita.
Well well, so far managed only 65 km by lunch time. I have another 30 km east on highway 23 before I turn due south on highway59 for another 30 km. This will be fully against the wind and I am not looking forward to this detour. Then life gets east again as I start on Hwy 201 to connect to the 12 sliding into Minnesota...

Noticed that I have a busted peddle. Going to have to deal with that. Bummer. I was so cocky that I would blow off Mb in two days...turns out that I will be in Manitoba longer than Sask. How is that possible? On well, tomorrow I should see the Ontario sign...maybe.