I speak to you know from the back room behind the front counter at my hotel (for a reasonable price) in Winnipeg. Although I am next to the safe and can monitor everybody on the security camera, they did allow me to be here…

It’s the only computer I can find to blog on and even though I travelled a short distance on my bike without baggage in the blistering sun (which apparently is rare this summer) to purchase a card reader for the camera to post the pictures I’ve taken, but alas this ancient computer won’t support much more than the dusty old IBM monitor sitting on top of it… So for those of you who grew up with pop-up books and need some visual stimulation, you’ll have to wait!

Day 31: Regina to Indian Head: Woke up early at Jesse and Jordan’s place. Comfy bed. Woke up later. Nobody to tell me to get up. Woke up when I felt like it. Remembered I was biking across Canada. Got out of bed. Showered. Ate Honey Nut Cherios. Finished the last bit of research I could to better plan out my trip. Looked at my watch. Got out of town around 4:30ish… Most days I leave at 9:30 am.. But I got some good distance behind me and tested my rested legs. Fought the wind all the way to Indian Head. Found a nice campground. No ants. Payed the most I ever have for a campground. And I’m by myself. In Saskatchewan. But I enjoyed a good time of reading before bed and thought about what it would be like to DRIVE across Canada.

Day 32: Indian Head to Whitewood: Woke up early to older mom and her kids packing up their van. Older mom gets on kids’ case for everything she possibly can. Was about to speak my mind on behalf of kids. Still in underwear in sleeping bag. Van leaves. Ate breakfast. Pack up. Leave Indian Head against the wind again. Get pummeled with random floating bugs that aim for my eyeballs. Still manage to get over 100 km in the day. Make it to cheap campground. Set up tent under large trees for protection from coming storm. Pay a dollar to swim in pool with two young male lifeguards sitting and staring. Leave pool early. Hop into shower. Shower is cold. In fact shower is so cold that I have to turn on the water for about 20 seconds, until I can’t bear it any longer and then lather. Rinse. Repeat. For what seems like an eternity later, my frigid body is now clean and ready for supper. Ate, read and then slept.

Day 33: Whitewood to Virden: Woke up early to rain. Realized it wasn’t actually raining anymore but because I chose to settle under large trees, all the remaining water was now dripping off the leaves. Tent was soaked. Packed everything inside the tent. Carried set-up tent to picnic shelter and dried what I could before packing it away. Apparently this amused a small family in an RV so much that they offered me coffee and 3 chocolate chip granola bars. I ate them all before lunch. Got under way against the wind again. Made it to the Manitoba border. Took a deep breath and pondered how I’ve never been in Manitoba, and never wanted to be. Wondered if the raods would be better. They weren’t. But today, at least, they were… until…

… I’m about 9 km away from Virden, on a day of about 130 km against the wind and in the rain, when suddenly I notice my back tire has popped. I roll my eyes and get out the replacement tools. I check the rubber for sharp objects but couldn’t find anything. I put in the new tube. New tube goes flat before I get a chance to put the tire back on. In frustration I check the tire again. This time I find a miniscule silver wire, small enough you could jam it into your eye (which is what I felt like doing) and not even notice, yet some how big enough to pop a tire. At this point I have 3 spare tubes remaining. Seemingly. I check the tubes in horror because I realized I got the wrong size tubes back in Regina.

After much staring into the sky, I put the tire back on, flat, and start walking. I managed to walk all of those 9 km to the Esso station in town. By this time, it is around 10:00 pm and the campground is too far to walk to. I ask around for hotels in the area. The situation is dire because the pipeline dudes have eaten them all up. I walk to the middle of town, to a small hotel on top of a rowdy bar. I pop my head inside and ask for a room. “Last one,” she says. After a long, tiring day I am thankful to have a place to rest my head, although the floor is thumping from the music beneath me. I lay down and think about the day of uncertainty to come.

It may be noted, that in my dreary state, for the first time in my life I sat down on a bar stool, in a bar, and asked for a beer. I’ve never been into the bar scene, and though I’ve been with friends once or twice, the situation was completely new to me. I watched the highlights from the football game and didn’t converse with anyone but the second most beautiful woman I’ve encountered on this trip, the bartender lady. After 10 minutes of culture shock, the next ten minutes were relaxed and contemplative. The beer was good. I got up and went to bed.

Day:34: Still in Virden: Tires! I woke up and thought about my tires. I looked over at my bike and noticed the other tire had gone flat throughout the night. I shook my head in disgust at the notion of two flat tires and no spares. I got dressed and started my search around town. No such luck. Not that I believe in luck. Or Kharma. There was no place in town that sold the tubes I needed. Brandon was almost an hour away and that was the closest. It was at this point where I considered cheating. I was going to go some distance without biking it. Greyhound! There was a greyhound station in town. I asked the people there about what time the bus left and whether they would take my bike. A strange thing happened. A man named Murray who worked there overheard my predicament and inquired about my ride. I could see his brain was working things over. He told me to hold on a minute and he went to the back to make a call.

Apparently Murray was on his way to Winnipeg the next morning, and after confirming that with a phonecall, he informed me that he’d like to offer me a ride to Brandon or even Winnipeg if I wanted, to get some tubes. “I think I’d feel guilty going all the way to Winnipeg.” I said. “No one has to know.” he joked. “I’d know!” I replied. We exchanged info and were set to leave for Brandon in the morning. This stranger, the proverbial Samaritan, offered me something for nothing.

It was around 4pm when my cell rang. It was Murray and he was wondering if I was willing to go with him to Brandon in about 15 minutes to pick up tubes and then drive me back. I thought things over, and the prospect of making up some distance without biking it hung in the balance and then dissappeared as I accepted his offer. Murray picked me up and we were off to Brandon. We engaged in deep conversation immediately and it didn’t take long to realize that not only did we share the same faith, but we both attended Alliance churches. Over the next 3 hours of going to 5 different places for tubes and then finding some, we talked and talked. I’ll spare you the details of our conversation but I just have to say what a blessing this man is and his passion for serving others is quite something to behold. We certainly share similar beleifs and I thank God for my being stranded in Virden long enough to meet this man. Encouraged as I was now, I said my goodbyes to Murray and prepared for the next day. I slept well.

Day 35: Virden to Brandon: I decided to make the short jaunt to Brandon and settle at a campground for the night and wake up early to pick up more spare tubes. (it was the weekend when Murray took me and a lot of stores were closed. I only got enough tubes to get me to Brandon) Once again I was against the wind, but the sun came out. I settled on a plot of grass next to a hitchhiker who wanted to be left alone and whom I named Phlemy McCougherson. (he spent most of his time hacking up hairballs, like a cat)

Day 36: Brandon to Portage La Prairie: Woke up early, got packed up and skipped breakfast, sort of. Actually my intent was to eat at the Smitty’s down the road. Coffee. Strawberries and whipped cream over french toast. Drenched in syrup. Bacon on the side. Another coffee. It was glorious. First time I’d had something other that oatmeal in a long time. It was a good day. The sun was shining. The birds were chirping. Young women were chanting my name as I passed (in my dreams). The wind was behind me for the first time in ages. I got more tubes. The road was in terrible condition but it didn’t matter because I felt good. Then uh-oh. Another flat. Conveniently next to the obnly gas station for 100 km. I took off the tire. This time it was a giant staple. I took a picture. I replaced the tube and got it pumped fast with the airhose at the station. I got back on the road and made it a little ways past Portage. 140 km on the day! The campground was beautiful, with tall trees and a pool. I swam, I showered, I dried out my tent in the warm sun and I even got the chance to play at the arcade they had set up. What a good day.

Day 37: Portage to Winnipeg: After leaving that morning I realized how much I was looking forward to Winnipeg for a rest. The one thing I didn’t anticipate was that anticipation can make the day drag on. And it did. The sun was blazing. The wind was against me again. And although I only had about 80 km to my hotel, it felt like it was taking forever. Even when I got into Winnipeg, it seemed like the city was set up like a Flinstones cartoon reel. The same white house. The same grass. That same rock. The same Tim Horton’s. Over and over. Until I got downtown, which looks quite alright compared to the rest of the city. And the river valley is also quite lovely. I made it through most of the city before my hotel came into view. A welcome sight.

Day 38: Still in Winnipeg: Naturally today is the hottest day Winnipeg has had in a long while. I find it convenient for me. I get to stay indoors and rest. I’ve got a pool to swim in and a microwave for my Hungyman meal. I’m all set for some relaxing. They even offered to let me stay a third night for really cheap, but they have to ask the manager. I haven’t heard back yet. Chances are I’m back on the road tomorrow. But I’m OK with that. I’m enjoying this trip. I like the adventure and the challenge and living on faith. As many or as few of you who read this blog, you must know one of my goals is to raise awareness for the Calgary Food Bank. Even by reading through my daily adventures, you’re helping me do that.

Well, It’s time for me to go. I venture into the mysterious land of Ontario in the days to come. The internet seems far off from here. I know not when my next blog will be. But let me assure you this: my legs will push, my tires will pop, I will soak in the beautiful views as much as my eyes let me, I will put this life to the test and I will trust in God. I might even make a peace treaty with ants, but no promises.

Feel free to leave comments! (you might have to browse a bit to figure out how) but they really encourage me!