Entering Medicine Hat
See more images from the ride from Taber to Medicine Hat by clicking the image
Back on our own, wihout Patrick. But not totally alone, as Piet met us outside of town to guide us thru town and up the hill to Ye Olde Jar Bar.
Concert at Ye Olde Jar Bar
Click the photo for more images from the concert in Medicine Hat
I want a subscription to concerts here! WOW – the venue and music, and food and the people. Thank you.
<- Read the previous post: Yahoo for Yorkton!
Day 20 May 27 Monday
Yorkton to Binscarth
Sorry if everyone is totally confused, but we have had some route changes, as I’m sure anyone following “Spot” has noticed. We are now taking the Yellowhead to Portage la Prairie, rather than Hwy 1. We are finding the truck traffic much quieter, as it is not twinned, at least not where we have been cycling. The shoulders are also pretty good. In my last blog I said our next rest day was in Thunder Bay, but it is actually in Winnipeg, so we don’t have to cover Manitoba without a stop. My whoops!! But first, we had to bid a fond farewell to our dearest Ethel.
We had rain today almost all day, and our “friend” the southeasterly headwind was back, although not as strong as it had been. Although we were drenched, it was not too cold out, so as long as we were moving we were warm. And it gave us all a chance to try out our rain gear, and I’m happy to report that our identical MEC shoe covers are keeping our feet dry, and we are all so fashionable and matchy-matchy! Terry is stunning in his neon “nuclear accident” decontamination suit, Bill in his “Bob the Builder” construction vest with way too much Velcro, and I in my rain bonnet that makes me look like a giant insect. We make quite the statement out on the highway.
We took the same route that we had on Saturday, but we headed east instead of west. Let me tell you, it looks a lot different going the other way when it is raining and your glasses are fogging up. This time, we passed over the border into Manitoba – yay, another province under our belts!
We made it to Manitoba!
We didn’t do our Saskatchewan decal application until later in the evening, or else they would have slid down off our helmets, down our backs and into our cycling shorts, never to be seen again.
We want to thank a few people we met today. First, all the road workers, for giving us new shoulders to ride on. They make all the difference in the world – smooth sailing and much safer. 
And we all know there are just two seasons in Canada, right? Winter and road construction. Then there was Ken Wiens, of the Old West Lodge just outside of Langenburg, who let us park under the porch to keep our bikes from getting completely waterlogged. 
And Rita at the Binscarth Centennial Park Campground, for getting us out of the rain and providing us with a gratis RV spot. Both Ken and Rita gave us donations too – generous people who understand the importance of talking about mental health.
Crossing the border means putting our clocks ahead, so we are going to bed early tonight in order to adjust to an earlier morning tomorrow. And prepare for more of the wet stuff.
Day 21 May 28 Tuesday
Binscarth to Minnedosa
Today was another rainy, wet day. We got a late start this morning, for a few reasons. The time change meant we moved our clocks ahead, but more significantly, we woke up to the pitter-patter-splatter of rain drops on the RV. I think we all just snuggled down into our beds when we heard that, hoping it would lighten up, which it did – a little bit.
Bill had a tube issue I have never seen before – his valve stem broke off half way up. Remarkably, it didn’t leak all day yesterday, but he decided not to tempt fate and changed it this morning before starting. Over breakfast, we all discussed how he could best flatten his tire to get the tube out – that’s not a conversation many cyclists have.
Today was damp, damp, damp. There is a real trick to dressing for rain – you need to layer enough to stay warm and dry(ish), but not so much that you sweat to death going up a hill. In Terry’s words, we all looked like dorks today, but we were happy as we pedaled along. 
The only not so great thing was that for about 60 kms or so today, we had absolutely no shoulder, unless you count soft gravel as a shoulder. This made for some tense cycling when big rigs passed, as there was limited visibility with the spray from vehicles, but as usual the truckers mostly gave us lots of room, and many of them slowed down as they passed. I have to say I’m surprised at the quality of the roads since we got into Manitoba, but hopefully that will improve as we get closer to some larger centres.
Because of the bad shoulders, we did leap-frog a bit today, and because we finished up earlier than we might have otherwise, Bill did an extra 20 kms past Minnedosa.
I think Bill is part human, part rubber ducky, as he was just loving the drizzle and rain today, since there was little wind involved. While he was doing that, Sarah from the Minnedosa Tribune came to interview us, as she heard we were coming through and was following us on Spot. We got groceries, went to the bakery (yummy!!), and then headed to the Minnedosa Campground, which is right on Lake Minnedosa. Lovely area, lots of nice lakefront “cabins” on the other side. The sun even broke through the clouds for a while in the evening, to tease us.
There is a big soccer field by our campground, and Bill went out to talk to the coaches of two girls teams that were practicing in the evening. We were treated to a great game between the U18 Minnedosa Girls (coach Brad Ross) and the Hamiota Heat (coach Tom Mollard).
We’ve certainly had some daunting days, but I’d like to quote Burt Bacharach……
Raindrops keep falling on my head
But that doesn’t mean my eyes will soon be turnin’ red
Crying’s not for me
Cause I’m never gonna stop the rain by complainin’
Because I’m free
Nothing’s worrying me.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a turning point, but if not, we’ll just keep swimming. That is what faith is – knowing that there will be sunnier days, and just hanging in until that happens.
Cheers!
Sue
Read the next update: On the cusp of Ontario and June ->
<- Read the previous update: When Life Gives you Lemons…..
Day 18: May 25 Saturday
Today, we did a revised ride, to make up some kilometers, after heading to Yorkton a day early. We all got a chance to ride another great western Canadian highway, the Yellowhead. We drove out east to almost the Manitoba border (within about 50 metres – no cheating by crossing over before we properly completed Saskatchewan).
Not quite Manitoba
The weather was looking tentative to start, it was totally overcast and the clouds were kind of gray. But we ended up having an absolutely fantastic ride, I am thrilled to report. We had a mild tailwind, and there was absolutely no rain, just a little mist. This was the prairies I had remembered. Long, straight highway, no hills to speak of, peaceful and quiet. In between the rail tracks and the highway, which run parallel to each other, were lots of reeds, ponds and marshland. The birds were incredible, chirping and chattering, swooping and gliding. Traffic was really light, so we could hear them serenade us all morning.
Terry
Bill
I think everyone should find time alone out in nature, where you can get fresh air and clear your mind. No to do lists, no meetings, no pressing issues – just spin, spin, spin. And on a day like this, your legs really go on autopilot. For me, it was actually a melancholy day, but in the sweetest, simplest way. I am finding this is one of the great gifts of this ride – to just be.
We’ve passed through many small towns, there is one about every 10 miles, settled during the time the railway was being built. Each has their own personality and claim to fame. Churchbridge, for instance, is home of Ruth, who created the winning design for the Canada 125th year loonie. 
In Langenburg, they were setting up for a hotdog fundraiser and swimming registration. We made a deal that we would donate $10,000 to them, if they donated it to us right back. No one had a cheque, so Al ended up buying a “future” hotdog (they weren’t ready yet). We also visited a serene little cemetery just outside Insinger, with gravestones going back to 1907. It was sad how many were for children, it reminds me how far we really have come with healthcare – thanks Tommy Douglas.
We managed to do over 130 kms, and were still done by 4:00ish for the drive back to Yorkton, feeling pretty refreshed. Amazing the time you can make when the elements are on your side.
Staying at Ethel’s has been pretty special for me. All my grandparents had either passed away, or lived outside the country when I was born, so I never really had the grandma experience. I’m pretty certain I’m getting it now. 
I’m sleeping in the childhood room of Vicki, Terry’s wife, and imagining what it was like being a teen in Yorkton then. And Ethel is amazing. She is 91 (and a half – don’t forget the half!), still lives at home on her own, and is sharp as a tack. She is sending us on our way with homemade jams, and she made a delicious dinner tonight of ham and scalloped potatoes, and homemade banana cream pie. Another great home-cooked meal! Did I mention we also had bacon and eggs for breakfast? We are really getting the royal treatment!
I also want to acknowledge the generous offer we received from the White Bear First Nations. They invited us to stay at the Bear Claw Hotel and Casino on our day off for rest and recuperation. Since we were already staying in Yorkton, we had to decline, but we really appreciated their kindness. Thank you Brennan!
We’re all looking forward to tomorrow’s rest day – we won’t have another one until Thunderbay, so we need to stock up on energy for all of Manitoba!
See more photos from support driver Al
Day 19: May 26 Sunday
We had a lovely, sleepy day off. Lots of laundry, and each of the cyclists went for a massage again, which was delightful. The spa we went to is normally closed on Sunday’s, but when the massage therapist heard what the cause was for (her great uncle recently died of suicide), she gave up her day off to take care of us. Thanks C!
Eating….Again!
While I was sleeping in, Al and Terry cleaned the motorhome from top to bottom! What a treat to have a clean start tomorrow. Terry is making a stew tonight, so we have some more ready-made meals on our long days. You get to know people a lot better once you live with them in a 31 foot RV, and I’ve definitely learned that Terry likes to be on the go, and has the energy to do it! If he’s not cooking pancakes, he’s doing laundry or getting groceries. I want to start calling him “the Flash”, but that could have too many alternate meanings, so I’ll keep searching for a nickname for him.
After another yummy dinner, we cleaned our bikes, and started preparing for our next stretch on the bike. Plans will depend on the weather. Stay tuned.
See more photos from their rest day
Read the next post: Now Touring Manitoba: The Soggy Bottom Gang! ->
<- Read the previous post: Into our third province – already!
Day 16 Thursday May 22
Swift Current to Moose Jaw
You know how weather forecasts never seem to be on target? Well, the one time we want them to be wrong, they are right on the money. Another head wind day (sob).
Faced with another exhausting day of 169 kms, we decided to try a different strategy. Terry was raring to go early in the morning, as the wind is usually lighter at that time. He left at 6:30 am (yes, you’re reading that correctly), and knocked off 45 km. He didn’t plan to be going that far, but the rest of us were late departing due to a plugged sewage line on the RV. I’ll spare you the photos (you’re welcome). Then, our 8:00 am grocery run was delayed as Safeway wasn’t open that early. We had to resort to going to a Big Box Store, which Bill despises and shall remain nameless. I do need to report, though, that besides the necessities we needed, Bill actually purchased sunglasses there. The sacrilege! The hypocrisy! Bill insists that since there is no photo evidence and he paid with cash, it never happened. And I’ve also discovered that Al has impulsive junk food shopping tendencies. I think we should escort him for groceries from now on, or we’ll all gain weight and lose our teeth across Canada.
The bright side to this diversion was that we met Leanne, who saw our cycling attire and asked us about what we were doing. We had a good discussion about schizophrenia, as she has an ex-husband who dealt with the challenges of that, and we mentioned that Bill will be connecting with the Schizophrenia Society tomorrow in Regina.
Once we caught up with Terry, we started leap-frogging. We took turns riding in 10 – 20 km stints, either alone or in pairs, with the RV in hot pursuit. Together we covered 115 kms, which is pretty commendable considering the conditions.
We want to acknowledge the truckers we have encountered along the Trans Canada Hwy. 
Most have been very professional and safety-conscious – giving us a wide berth, tooting their horns to alert us or just to support us, and some even wave. We so appreciate that they respectfully share the road with us!
The weirdest thing today was going through the salt flats in Chaplin SK. With the heavy winds, the air looked smoky at first, then like snow. Once we cycled through what seemed like a sand storm, my entire body was covered in fine white dust. 
I’m glad it was just salt, and not something more “sinister”, as I’m sure I inhaled a lot. On the plus side, we don’t need a spa treatment now that our faces have been “salt-blasted”. Laundry was definitely in order tonight.
We had a nice walk to dinner, even with the wind, and guess what? Bill made a trip to yet another not to be named Big Box Store and purchased a bathing suit. We’re not listening to his corporate rants anymore, as we know he has come to the dark side.
Have you seen Al’s photos from Day 16?
Day 17 May 24 Wednesday
Moose Jaw to Regina (kind of)
So if any of you were tracking our route today, you are probably scratching your head trying to figure out what the heck we did. The day started out similarly to the day before. Terry got an early start, about 7:20 am, and the rest of us in the RV caught up with him soon after, as no toilet malfunctions today. The wind was nastier than ever, and Terry only got about 4.5 kms in 45 mins. He was totally bushed from his efforts, and the wind gusts had threatened to blow him off his bike several times
Terry was quickly consoled by Miss Karma, the loving border collie who bounded into our RV to welcome us, and of course get her tummy scratched. 
She belonged to Jessie, the kind manager of the Esso.just east of Moose Jaw, who had heard about us on the radio this morning, and was waiting for us to come past. He offered to fill our cooler with ice, which we gladly accepted, let us get our fill of fur therapy, and then we were on our way.
We re-evaluated yet again, and decided on another new strategy – make our own tailwind! We shuttled about 70 kms to the east of Regina, and got on our bikes heading west. Riding with the wind for a change seemed like such a novel concept. Instead of moving at 7 km/hr, we were zooming along at over 40 km/hr – what a treat! And for those of you who don’t cycle, let me explain why it can be very eerie riding in a strong tail wind. All around you the trees and grass are madly swaying, the flags are flapping, but you hear COMPLETE silence, except for any passing traffic. It is like you are in a vacuum, you can hear your breathing, a slight hum of your wheels, but that is it. Utter peace spinning at top speed, even uphill. It’s every cyclists dream. One of the riders said it was even better than sex – I won’t say who to protect the spouses.
Our elation was short-lived, as the rain started about an hour later. First light, then heavier, then the wind changed direction and started gusting. We were going to soldier though and get back to the RV site for lunch, but the gusts got gustier, the rain got rainier, and the final straw was when two semi trucks passed in close succession and Bill and I wobbled like weebles who actually might fall down. I might start believing in conspiracy theories, with the weather luck we have been having. So we again packed it in.
The silver lining – and remember that there always is one – is that we could attend the Schizophrenia Awareness Day open house at the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan in downtown Regina. 
We had a chance to meet with Anita and Ann and all the other staff and volunteers, and learn about the interesting programs they have. They have a stand up comedy class organized by and set up for individuals with mental illness, that runs every Tuesday. A few times a year, they rent out a space and put on a comedy show for the public. They have even made a short movie together. It’s great to hear about such innovative ideas to engage creativity and build an inclusive environment among their clients. The also have a partner program where they send out a team that includes a person with mental illness, one of their family members, and a mental health professional. Together they educate others on what mental illness is, what it is like for the person and their families experiencing it, and in the process remove the stigma veil that hangs over the topic. Kudos to you all at the Regina Schizophrenia Society, both the staff and their clients, we had some very interesting and eye-opening conversations.
Bill also received a phone call from Brenda, a suicide prevention counsellor who was unable to attend, but wanted to send us prayers, and would do a smudge for us. We are so blessed to have so many people enveloping us with good vibes.
After the open house, we did a few errands, ate lunch/dinner, and had another team huddle about what we would do for the next few days, as the forecast still is not looking promising. After some bantering about, and a tie-breaking decision made by our lovely server Chenise, we are now on our way to Yorkton, a day early, to stay with Terry’s mother-in-law Ethel for our rest day. We are hoping to have more flexibility on which day to rest, and have more options for where to ride tomorrow, where the wind maybe isn’t so devious. Maybe “somewhere over the rainbow…” Imagine me in ruby shoes, the tune will come to you.
Tonight we will all have real beds in our own rooms. You have to appreciate the simple pleasures of life! Thank you for all the wonderful comments you’ve been sending, it buoys us up on the tough days. I’m glad to know so many are following our journey. To help us meet our goals, we request that you spread the news and start a conversation about mental health. Listen to the stories that come up – sometimes it is the first time that someone has felt safe enough to talk about their experiences. And that is a humbling thought.
Have you seen Al’s photos from day 17?
Love and Hugs, Sue
Read the next update: Yahoo for Yorkton! ->
Fort Macleod Welcoming Committee
Click the photo for more photos from day 11
Today was a big day, crossing into Alberta, being greeted by the hash crew, and especially special – the Werthmann family cheering section in Fort Macleod.
32′ Class C Winnebago
Click on the image for more images of our motorhome
RV is Home – click over to the left or on the image for more photos of our motorhome.
I am Al Carlson, a long time member (17 years) of EBTC (Edmonton Bicycle and Touring Club). I am the support driver for Hillary’s Ride on our 68 day adventure across Canada. How did I get involved I’ve been asked many times. Well, I’ve know Sue and Patrick for about 15 years, in fact Patrick & I were both support drivers on the Columbia Valley Tour at that time. Patrick taught me everything he knew about how to take care of riders, what needs to be done, and what not to do.
Sue had told me about wanting to ride across Canada, and two years ago I met Terry on Sunday morning Target the Tour rides. He mentioned wanting to ride across Canada too, and every week he’d show up on a different bike to try out. We rode many Sunday’s together. Then last spring I mentioned I knew somebody else who was riding across Canada, and he asked who. I said Sue Sohnle, and he said I’m going with her.
Then last June Sue, Patrick and Terry were out for the Two Hills ride, and brought along Bill who was out for his first 100 km ride. Bill started out strong, but later started to fall back, so I stayed back with him to keep him company with Patrick & Sue. We talked about the ride, and at one point I asked what his biggest problem was. I expected the answer to be funds, but he said finding a driver. I thought about it, and figured I could do that as I was planning on retiring soon. So here I am.
What a great opportunity to see the whole 10 provinces at a slower than normal pace, and throw in a few concerts – wow. I was thinking about a blog, but Sue is doing a great job with perhaps some help from the rest of us. I’ll start posting pictures on Picasa as I’m comfortable with that, and I’m told I can put in a link to Picasa to make it easier for you people. As everybody knows beautiful BC, we’ll skip over BC for now.
Media exposure to the ride continues:
“The ride is to raise awareness and encourage conversation about depression, suicide and other mental health issues.
Werthmann is ecstatic with the response so far, and says the highlight is the people he’s been touched by emotionally.”
~ Medicine Hat News
Read the full article by Chris Brown on the medicinehatnews.com website.
Bill Werthmann also continued his weekly correspondence with Edmonton’s campus radio station, CJSR this morning (Thursday). You can take a listen to that here:
Thanks for covering the ride and helping us get our message out to Canadians. Little by little we can reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide.
<- Read the previous post: Let the Ninth Day be a Day of Rest….and it will be Good
Hi Folks, posting my daily blog is turning out to be quite the challenge. This is more of a weekly synopsis. So , make a sandwich and get comfortable because we have a lot of ground to cover (pun intended). Or, you may want to read it over a few days…….
Day 10 May 17 Friday
Refreshed and rested from our day off, we cycled from Cranbrook to Sparwood, shuttling back to Fernie to stay the night. We practiced drafting for the first time as a whole team. It is so much easier when you have some flat areas to practice on.
Practising their drafting technique
Highlights of the day were actually when we returned to Fernie for the night. We stayed at Snow Valley Motel and RV, greeted by Janice the manager, who was uber friendly and helpful, and best of all invited us to use the hot tub – Hooray! As introductions were being made, Bill caught whiff of something tantalizing. Janice explained that Friday nights were Rib Night at the local meat shop, already cooked and ready to eat. Guess what dinner was that night? When we finally unwrapped them, we realized they were more suitable for 5 families, rather than 5 individuals. 
The butcher obviously thought we were very hungry cyclists. These ribs looked like they came from a T-Rex, or at the very least a mutant giant pig. Needless to say we had leftovers. However, we did leave room for ice cream, of course. We had the best of the trip so far from the Happy Cow (they also make good buttertarts). We had a good conversation with owner Dan, originally from Shediac so he and Bill had the east coast in common. As well, we chatted with new residents who had moved from St. Albert just recently. Everyone we meet gets Hillary’s Ride bookmarks to spread the word and start the conversation.
Day 11 May 18 Saturday
Today it was Sparwood to Ft. Macleod. We conquered Crowsnest Pass, the last pass of our BC route, and it didn’t disappoint. We crossed our first provincial border into Alberta, which was recognized with a ceremonial BC flag decal presentation, to put on our helmets. The mountains ended abruptly after the border – the scenery change was night and day.
The Riders roll into Alberta
Bill Werthmann, Sue Sohnle, Terry Fannon and support driver, Al Carlson.
It was also hometown visit week. We met some of our running club friends at the A&W at Frank Slide. They were down for the long weekend for a bike trip and visit. I was so happy to see them! They joined us cycling for part of the morning, until Pincher Creek where they were staying. In fact, a reporter from the Pincher Creek Voice followed us for a while taking pictures, and then did an article on the ride.
We also got an amazing welcome from Bill’s family, who were waiting for us by the Fort MacLeod A&W (I’m starting to see an A&W trend here). Bill spent the night with them , as the rest of us went on to the Bridgeview RV Park in Lethbridge, our home for the next 2 days.
“Go Opa Go!” chanted Bill’s family on the riders arrival in Fort Macleod
Day 12 May 19 Sunday
Today we cycled from Fort Macleod with our Edmonton friends, as well as Bill’s 2 son-in-laws, Peter and Jason. Bill’s clan stayed with us until Taber, which was Jason’s first 100 km ride ever, and then they shuttled back with Katie and Betty jo picking them up. It was so good to ride as a big group – lots of people to chat with, and always someone going your pace. Road construction shook the bejeebies out of us, especially our hands. All three of us have varying degrees of hand numbness and /or weakness that seems to be lingering. It is mostly a problem for Bill, as he needs to use those fingers for playing his guitar – the C and F chords have been a real challenge, so he’s been carefully choosing songs that don’t require them.
We got rain, very short but heavy, just as we were arriving at the RV to make lunch. We were going to eat outside, but instead it turned into “How many soggy cyclists can you fit in an RV? All of them!” It was cozy with 13 of us, and it was the first time we had had guests for lunch, but no one seemed to mind.
We added to our flat tire count today with Laurel having a flat just before the RV park, and Patrick having to put on a whole new tire after carrying it on bike trips for over 25 years. My little boy scout – always be prepared! To me it looked like whitewalls on a Cadillac.
And not to be morbid, but have I mentioned how much road kill we have seen? A coyote, a pheasant, a porcupine, numerous ground squirrels and birds. I hope this is only because they are all running around delirious with spring fever and that the carnage will soon end. I know I’m being naïve.
Dave McCann
The evening was topped off by a fundraiser concert at The Slice, hosted by John Wort Hannam, with guests Dave McCann and Leeroy Stagger. Another stellar night, with representation from Woods Homes, the local charity. Leeroy told a story of how Woods Homes helped him when he was doing some volunteer work with the local Boys and Girls club. One of the youth was contemplating suicide, and the crisis line he called was closed. Leeroy contacted Woods Homes and they knew just what to do to help. What a great example illustrating the importance of resources being in place at a crucial moment. We weren’t sure what the turnout would be on a long weekend, and we were pleasantly surprised that it was standing room only by the end of the night. The Slice is famous for it’s great pizza. Because of the crowd it took a long time to get it as there was one very busy cook, but we knew it was prepared and baked fresh. Yum!
Leeroy Stagger
That was a first of our double header concert run. The next one is in Medicine Hat tomorrow. This means a few late nights in a row…
Day 13 May 20 Monday
We left Lethbridge and shuttled to just past Taber where we ended the previous day. It was a day of goodbyes and contemplating the importance of family and friends in our lives. Bill’s family was heading back to Edmonton and Calgary, as well Patrick and his support van was leaving us. It was so nice to have 2 support vehicles, especially for running errands. But, it’s just the 4 of us now. My friends left early that morning also, goodbyes were the night before.
Pinto MacBean, mascot of Bow Island
I’ve been learning a lot about agriculture in our great province. Did you know that southern Alberta has a thriving bean/legume industry? Terry told us this, but it was reinforced by Pinto MacBean, mascot of Bow Island. This gave us new respect for our turkey chili, some of which was in the freezer. We got a great welcome by a resident who we learned lost her grandson to suicide. She and Bill shared a hug of understanding and remembrance. She recommended Jimmy’s drive in for a mushroom burger, but we decided to be “good” and opted for an RV sandwich instead.
A wind started materializing in the afternoon, and our host for the evening, Piet, came and met us to escort us to his home. This turned out to be on the outskirts of Medicine Hat. We got in just in time for the huge (and I mean huge) potluck, and then was treated to a night of amazing musicians, all local, from seasoned pros to relative newbies. 
This included Rob Hudec, Ron Mason, Ali Sellin, Miriam Hak, Taking August, Lisa Challinor and Annette ten Cate. 
The room itself was a delight – “Ye Olde Jar Bar” as they call their garage, is a smorg for the eyes. There is not a square inch of wall or ceiling space that went unused. All visitors sign the overhead door before they leave. Piet and Ina regularly put on house concerts here, in fact they had one the night before – what busy, energetic people! The highlight of the night was that Ali wrote and performed a song for Bill and Hillary, a very beautiful and heartfelt gift.
A BIG thank you to Darla from the Medicine Hat Folk club for organizing, and the charities including the Medicine Hat Youth Action Society. Another successful awareness raiser, and each is so different from the others. Support comes in many forms, all of them welcome.
Day 14 May 21 Tuesday
Our early morning started with yummy breakfast courtesy of Ina and Piet, our gracious hosts. 
Piet escorted us to Hwy 1, the TransCanada. Up to this point, we have been travelling the CrowsNest, so I wondered how the traffic would be. It was amazingly quiet for the Tuesday after a long weekend. We thought that the prairies would be a treat after the mountains of BC, but we are being greeted by every cyclist’s nemesis – the dreaded headwind. A 30 km wind was in our faces all day. We crossed the border of Saskatchewan midday, which means we covered Alberta in 72 hours. Wow! 
We applied our Alberta stickers to our helmets – 2 down, 8 to go. Although the traffic was good, there is lots of big equipment being transported. Cyclists will often call out what is coming up behind them to warn cyclists ahead who may not see them. These are usually cars, other bikes, rollerbladers, etc. I must admit this is the only time I’ve ever had to yell “House!” to a cyclist ahead of me. Also “Space Shuttle!” – okay, that’s not what it was, but that’s what it looked like to me.
Biking2BeTheChange – Kilderic Moroy is cycling across Canada to encourage change in our environmental behaviours
On the road we met Kilderic, originally from France, who is doing a solo ride across Canada. See his website for more on his Biking2BeTheChange initiative. I admire his strength – he is cycling fully loaded, including camping gear on a mountain bike. Best wishes to Deric – I wish I was that strong and young again. He drafted with us for a while, but was doing extra miles that day beyond Maple Creek, so he headed forward.
Piet had called ahead to friends who run Ghostown Blues B&B, where we stayed in Maple Creek and we had all to ourselves. Very cool – the accommodations were made of old cook houses and covered wagons converted to rooms which were beautifully decorated with remnants of the ranching past. The main building was an old church.
It was the perfect blend of modern facilities with a rustic pioneer appeal. I highly recommend a visit. Make sure you say hi to Molly, the border collie who will introduce you to her own version of Fetch.
We ate at the Star Café, delicious and a great atmosphere, and had ice cream at the local shop. 
We had a great visit with Arlene and Herb, the parents of Bill’s daughter-in-law, who had just moved from the farm into town in April. Arlene presented us with a cheque from the Claydon Ladies Social club as a donation. It is a pleasure to meet such friendly and warm people along the way. We enjoyed the evening with them touring the grounds, then it was off to bed for a very early start.
Day 15 May 22 Wednesday
Donna, our host, put out breakfast for our early departure. From Maple Creek to Swift Current, the news of the day was wind. A lot of it. Right in our faces. At 47 km/hr, gusting to 70 km/hr. I would like to dispel some myths about Saskatchewan. First, the winds aren’t always from the west, as you might think. They are the prevailing winds, but common sense with weather doesn’t always prevail. Secondly, the roads are not flat, nor are they straight. In our case, this was a welcomed surprise, as the winds sometimes died down a little on the uphills. Believe me, I never thought I would look forward to an uphill, but they are gentle and rolling, so it is worth the trade off. And winding roads – maybe that’s a bit misleading – we looked forward to any little shift in direction to get the wind to let up head on. 
What saved the day was teamwork – it was absolutely essential to perfect some drafting techniques, so that we could alternate between pulling hard and getting a bit of a break. With each 3 of us taking turns, we were all able to go further at a better pace, which at times seemed like backwards. We also kept our spirits up by making jokes and singing songs. Terry has a song line for EVERY topic you can think of. Our favorite was “the answer is blowing in the wind”. Don’t ask me what the question was.
As the day progressed, the winds got stronger and gustier. There were a few times when we were almost blown off our bikes, and even once when Terry was standing still. By 3:00 pm, we had reached Gull Lake, which was only 75 kms from our start. We realized we couldn’t make it to Swift Current before 8:00 pm if we were lucky, and would be totally exhausted for the next day, which is also a very long day, and no change to the wind forecast. We were also getting worried about safety, for instance getting blown into (or under) a passing truck, so we decided to pack it in for today and cut our losses. We have joked that our goal was EFI (Every $&%#@? Inch), but sometimes you have to adjust your plans when life (or Mother Nature) throws you a curve ball. The key is accepting what is, and doing it with a smile in your heart. In this respect, we were all happy with our decision.
The early day gave us a chance to cook a spaghetti and meatball dinner, do some blogging and some laundry. Clean laundry is essential to RV air quality. And, I’m hoping, a good night’s rest at the Pondarosa RV Park (thanks Bobi!). Did I mention that almost all the RV sites we are staying at were donated to us free of charge to support the ride? Canada is full of generous campground managers. If you would like to know details of where we stayed, we would be happy to let you know the wonderful places that support their community.
Read the next update: When life gives you lemons… ->
The Riders roll into Alberta
Bill Werthmann, Sue Sohnle, Terry Fannon and support driver, Al Carlson.
As the riders rolled into Alberta on Saturday (May 18), Chris Davis from The Pincher Creek Voice tracked them down, and had a brief chat to a couple of the riders.
“‘For the most part it’s about reaching people, and hearing the stories that they’ve got to tell. How mental health has affected them, and their families,’ Bill explained during a respite at Pincher Station.”
– Pincher Creek Voice
Read the full coverage at pinchercreekvoice.com
It was a big day for other media too, as Allison Brock from the Alberta-wide radio station, CKUA, also met up with the riders, and gave them all some encouraging words.
<- Read the previous post: Day 7 and 8
After 8 days and about 950kms later, we are enjoying a non-cycling day in Cranbrook. A day off from bike touring is remarkably similar to a day off from work when you’re at home. Laundry, house cleaning, grocery shopping, meal prep for the week and paperwork are all on the agenda. As you can see, we are catching up on our blogs and keeping connected with the world. We treated our bikes to a check over at Gerrick’s bike shop, and then treated ourselves to massages from Allison, the owner of New Energy Wellness (believe me, we needed both energy and wellness). On a long trip like this, it’s important to keep your equipment – both mechanical and biological – in top notch running order. Just knowing they didn’t have to get on a saddle today, my cheeks were smiling – and I don’t mean the ones on my face. I was recommended a good ladies chamois cream with a tingling, numbing agent in it – first it tickles, then you can forget where your butt has been. For those of you who don’t cycle or haven’t done multiple day tours, chamois cream is like diaper rash cream for adults.
Breakfast was at everyone’s favourite grand slam restaurant – Denny’s. Patrick was over the moon that he could order off the senior’s menu for the first time ever. It really burst his bubble when he realized he wouldn’t be carded, and that pretty much anyone could be served from this menu.
A proud senior moment
Terry has been whipping up a turkey chili in our crock pot, for those nights we only have energy to push buttons on the microwave. Al has been loading pictures from about twelve different devices (cameras, iphones) onto the laptop so we can get them on the website. Today was the first real day I had time to get organized. After arm-wrestling over drawer space (kidding), I spent quite a bit of time ditching a schwack (technical term used in RVing) of clothes for Patrick to take home since:
(4 adults in a motorhome / Limited space) x mad rush in the morning to get ready = lost undies and socks
I questioned what to pack for 10 weeks, but I’ve quickly realized that being “one of the boys” means that I don’t need a smashing wardrobe, and can wear the same stuff over and over, as long as I don’t smell too bad.
In the evening, we had a big powwow to debrief about the first section of the trip, and the logistics once Patrick leaves with our second support vehicle when we reach Lethbridge (sigh). We are all grateful that the great big hills are behind us for the time being, and are looking forward to the next section of our journey.
I’ve still been having slow WiFi, we’re trying to get caught up with the blogs – thanks for your patience.
Read the next post: Into our third province – already! ->