Our first year as members of AdventureHers. An experience, yes that it was. An adventure, most definitely.
At the start of the season we had our usual apprehension, as most do when joining a new club and venturing out to the unknown. The first ride, being the ...treacherous... city ride where we lost our leader to a road mishap, was not enough to scare us off though.
Being introduced to sand hills out at White Butte was, let's say, interesting. Learning to fall off our bike was not what we were lead to believe AdventureHers was about, but yet a very important thing to know. Bruises and scrapes were now becoming a part of our Thursday lives. Laughs, joking around and teasing each other about these mishaps became another part of these evenings.
The Carrigana Project, what is that all about? We still are not too keen on ducking through this bush, but again it brought on some laughs and except for the actual Carriganas, the ride was very enjoyable.
Now the real adventure was Wascana Trails. Our lead, Cory, taught us to log jump. Well, we'll be honest, she attempted to teach us to log jump. We, however, found that successfully jumping a log resulted in slamming into a tree afterwards. Quick turns on narrow trails among tall trees also provided an interesting challenge. We laughed at our misfortunes and definite need of more experience. At one point in this particular ride, we had a real good belly laugh at yet another one of our unskilled biking maneuvers. As we loaded up our bikes that night, bruised, scraped and exhausted we thanked Cory for such a great ride.
Our first season with AdventureHers was a blast. Discovering the BMX trails, learning different techniques and riding the very hilly prairie trails was a great experience. And for those that rode with us, you know the laughs out weighed the bruises, scrapes and sore muscles. Thanks to our great leaders and a fantastic group of women. |
I have been asked to share my cycling adventure with you. I did a journal for each day of the tour but decided it was too lengthy so am sharing Day 1, 2, 7 and 8.
My daughter and I have enjoyed cycling for many years. Over the years I have dreamed of loading my bike with necessary gear and going on a self- supported tour. I did join the Wascana Freewheelers Cycle Club several years ago and even though I enjoyed reading about the scheduled rides and events I never did get out to a ride. Unfortunately my membership expired. Two years ago I heard about the AdventureHers Cycling Club and joined. This time I did make it out to rides and continue to be a member. I have learned many new skills, made friends, enjoyed the outdoors and toughened up my body (I think). This is also how I heard about the "Centennial Ride". I have since joined the Wascana Freewheelers Cycle Club again. Now I belong to two clubs so can ride double!!! My dream of completing a self-supported ride is getting closer!
I am writing this several weeks after an eight-day cycling tour across Saskatchewan. The "Border to Border" Saskatchewan Centennial Ride began in Lloydminster at the Alberta/Saskatchewan border and continued across our beautiful province to the Manitoba border near Duck Mountain Provincial Park. Fellow cyclist and Communications Coordinator for the Wascana Freewheelers Cycling Club, Marion, encouraged me to put my experience on paper, hence this journal.
In early spring Katie, my daughter, and I decided to sign up for the big ride, 757 kilometers. What a great way to celebrate Saskatchewan's centennial year. Previously we had participated in the two-day Multiple Sclerosis Bike Tour fundraiser, but never a ride as long as this. As the start date crept closer we wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. "Had we trained enough"? "Would we be able to complete it"? "Would we keep up with the others"? The ride ended up being an extremely positive experience for both my daughter and myself.
During the ride we encountered all types of weather. I learned that keeping one's feet warm and dry is very important and wished I would have " bit the bullet" and bought two pairs of those expensive waterproof booties. Waterproof gloves would have been great for my daughter's cold, cold hands. If I had breathable rain gear I wouldn't have had to spend so much time in the rest stop bathrooms drying the inside of my rain gear with paper towels. In hot weather 3 water bottle holder come in handy, one for water, one for Gatorade and one for a bottle of water you can pour over your head, on a bandana, down your shirt or any where else that may cool you down.
However the most important lesson I learned was to slow down, enjoy everything and anything along the way, take lots of breaks and not to worry how long it takes to get from point A to B. It took me several days to figure this out. My daughter had it figured out on day one and would remind me of this when I pushed too hard.
Thanks to the SAG wagon drivers who never seemed to tire while waiting for us. The many friends we made along the way. Fellow cyclists, who were always available for assistance, share their wisdom, encourage us and have fun with and the people along the way in the towns.
Would we do it again? You bet!
Day 1: 86km, Lloydminster to Turtleford
We started the day eager to be off. All riders gathered at the 100-foot red survey markers indicating the Saskatchewan - Alberta border. Pictures were taken. A TV crew was there to document the event for the "Saskatchewan Centennial" website. They followed us with cameras for the first 50 kilometers. It is chilly this morning as we head out on Day One!
There are no towns between Lloydminster and the "Rumble Stop Inn". Sam, the owner, serves up hamburgers, hotdogs and chili with homemade cookies for dessert. She operates out of her yard and her yard is awesome! It is completely fenced so what a surprise to enter into one of the most beautiful, creative yards I have seen. It is large and cleverly planted with many sitting areas and secret hide a ways. It is rustic, charming and whimsical. Two dogs live at the Inn. One slept while the other couldn't get enough petting, hugging and food scraps. One very fat cat also inhabited the yard. When Ron said the cat was fat on the trip sheet he meant it, FAT. Fed, watered but no warmer off we go. I guess we will have to ride to warm up.
We are escorted along the highway for about 20 minutes by a friendly large dog. Katie and I are concerned as it keeps running out in the highway traffic and back and forth along the road. We try to outride him but the faster we go, the faster he goes. I could use the head wind as an excuse but I think he is just fast and we are slow. Finally he tires or more likely is bored with us and disappears.
Today we cross the North Saskatchewan River. The ride down is thrilling! I have to brake as the speed is scaring me; Katie on the other hand just keeps barreling down! I stop at the bottom to take pictures of Katie going up. This is by far the steepest hill I have climbed. Not only is it steep, it is long!! My self-talk on the way up went something like this. "I think I can, I think I can". "Don't look up just keep pedaling round and round." "Breath, get into a rhythm." "You can do it". I'm at the top! I did it!!!
I was sure glad to see the SAG wagon at the top of the hill. Not long after we arrive at Turtleford. We set up camp in town near the ball diamond. Showers are at the local skating rink. Free SAG wagon rides to the showers, however we walk back to camp as Gord one of our fellow cyclist bangs his head on the SAG wagon and is taken to the local medical center. Three stitches later he is back.
Katie and I walk around town. Turtleford is a pretty town. Half of it is located on the side of a hill, the other half on the valley floor. In the evening Katie and I check out the playground, climb some round bales in the ditch (or she does, I watch) and enjoy roasting marshmallows around the fire at Lou, Carole and Louis's trailer.
Goodnight Katie. Thanks for coming on this trip with me.
Day 2: 102 km, Turtleford to North Battleford
We woke up to fog, and lots of it. It was cold and damp. Katie woke up cold, as part of the tent and her sleeping bag got wet in the night. We ate a quick breakfast, (protein drinks) as the first town. Mervin is only 9 km away. Katie remained cold, especially her hands, all the way to Mervin. Our thin cycling gloves did not help. I wish I had taken the time to make her a hot drink this am. On arrival at Mervin we meet Les. He lends Katie his warm fleece gloves. Thanks Les.
We had coffee to warm up plus homemade bread and muffins in a Vegan restaurant. A Vegan restaurant in the small town of Mervin? You never know what treasures you may find in the towns along the way. The owner was kept very busy feeding 50 hungry cyclists. Interestingly he forgot we were coming so was not prepared and his wife's alarm did not go off. She arrived just as the last of us were leaving. An unsuspecting friend who just stopped in for morning coffee was doing dishes in the back. Did I mention our breakfast was still wonderful!
The several towns along our route today gave us goals to reach. "Only 10 km to the next town. We can make it." We stopped at Meota bought our lunch at the local grocery store and enjoyed a picnic lunch in the local town park. Katie taught me to enjoy beef jerky today, something I had never tried before.
Ron's daily informative and often-humorous trip sheets indicate that the town of Prince does not exist, a sign but no town. Katie and I think we find the town on the other side of the tracks.
We arrive at North Battleford around four PM, stop at the CO-OP, buy groceries and look around the mall.
North Battleford has one of the nicest campgrounds on our trip. It is located on a hill along the river valley. Katie finds a great set of swings. Kathy and Marion join Katie on the swings and they decide to make swinging a nightly ritual. At each campsite thereafter the three of them will look for swings.
We tried one of our "meals in a bag" camp meals tonight. Beef Stroganoff. It was actually good but a little too spicy. Later in the evening many of us gather around Carole and Lou's trailer to visit and eat marshmallows and popcorn. This becomes a nightly ritual for many of us.
Day 7: 102 km, Wadena to Canora
"Good morning Katie." It is day 7. Ever tried getting a teenager up at 6:30 am.!! Katie and I now have a morning routine. She gets up at 6:30, has a long shower and I pack up camp. Then we head out. It actually works quite well for me this way, as it is much more peaceful. At the end of our day Katie helps with camp set up and I have my shower.
This morning we decide to eat in Wadena at the local bakery. We buy a loaf of fruit bread, juice and coffee and eat it all but several slices, which we stash on the bike for a later snack. With our bellies full we head out.
Somewhere near Kuroki, Saskatchewan Katie runs over my bike, yes over it! I being ahead of Katie stopped to pick some cattails for her as she had taken to carrying flowers and other collectibles on her handle bar bag. I laid my bike on the shoulder of the road and proceeded into the ditch. Lesson: place bike off the road completely when not in use! Katie riding head down, concentrating on nothing else but pedaling and probably still a little sleepy rode over my back wheel, derailleur and front wheel without missing a beat. She didn't see it was coming and didn't realize what had happened till she was over the bike. I teased her and said she could have kept right on going without stopping. I was thankful she was not hurt. Luckily Ron our bike repairman extraordinaire was not far ahead. After some adjustments I was on my way again my gears shifting better than before.
We stopped at "Skeeters" restaurant in the town of Margo for lunch, soup, salad and sandwich for $7.00. Here we met Carole and Louis and we joined to ride together for the rest of the day. Throughout the day we stopped often to share gorp, leftover fruit bread, interesting findings and laughter.
At Invermay we stopped at Benny's Café where we found Don visiting with the locals. We had a round of milkshakes and went on our way.
In Rama we visited a spectacular grotto painstakingly built with stones; stone walls, stone passageways, stone paths. The day was getting hot and the cool grass in the shade of the trees at the grotto was a perfect place for a short rest and contemplation.
Buchanan, Saskatchewan is having its homecoming today. The small town is filled with people. A parade has just finished and many of the floats are still parked on the street. We stop at the local CO-OP and buy ice cream treats (have you figured out that we eat a lot) and sit in the shade of the building to eat it, another short rest! It is hot! Upon leaving we see a sign, Garage Sale" and check it out. Carole says, "Loius won't be able to buy anything today as he has no place to carry it."
While at the garage sale we see a huge birdcage with 5 Gray Parrots housed in side. The owner brings out a bag of peanuts. On our command they do tricks for peanuts. "Dance", a bird dance; "Want a peanut?" a bird nods his head yes; "Wave", a bird waves his foot. One bird will not do tricks for strangers. He has been mistreated in the past.
We look for the "Snow White and Seven Dwarfs" rock display indicated on our trip sheet but couldn't find it.
Off we go again. Now it is really hot. Louis says, "Next body of water I see, I am jumping in". He spots a clean dugout on the side of the road. Louis jumps in bike clothes and all. Katie goes part way in. Carole and I watch.
We can see Canora in the distance, almost there. Is that a train we hear? We dig out our coins, place them on the rails and of course have flattened money after the train has passed. A keepsake from the "funnest day".
We arrive at Canora around 6:30 PM with balloons tied to Louis and Katie's bikes. Abandoned balloons on the side of the road, perhaps from a wedding, become bike decorations. As it is late we eat supper in Canora before setting up camp. Here we meet Marion and Cathy and share biking stories.
Arriving at camp we set up. Lucky for us Carole has phoned ahead and her husband Lou has taken our tent out of it's wet bag to air. The tent will be dry tonight when we put it up. Katie still has energy left for a game of Frisbee with Louis, Jannes, Michael and Connor. I shower, crawl into bed and listen to the fireworks (Canora's centennial celebrations are this weekend). Katie and I do not have the energy to unzip the fly and watch. "Good night Katie, love you. I am so happy you decided to come with me on this trip"!
Day 8: Distance 64 km, Canora to the Manitoba Border!!!!
This is our last day. We are going to complete it!!!!
Our tent is rally beginning to smell. We have several articles of clothing that are wet. Several days in a row we try to wash clothes but get into camp too late so they never really dry. Now they are starting to smell. I will put them in a mesh bag and tie them to my bike. Hopefully they will dry. It worked for Katie yesterday.
I don't organize anything this am when I pack, just stuff everything into the bags. Lou, Carole and Louis feed us breakfast at their trailer, cereal, raspberries and yogurt. What a treat! We ride again with Carole and Louis and it is already hot when we leave.
Our trip sheets say, "be2are of two large dogs 8 kms out". The SAG drivers go ahead to ask the owners to tie them up however the owners are not home. The dogs turn out to be very friendly but chase the bikes as they pass. We do not see the dogs perhaps they are tied up when we pass.
We stop about every 10 km or less for a rest. Near Kamsack Louis and Katie get way ahead of Carole and I and instead of waiting on the side of the road they cross a field on foot and walk on the railway bridge that goes over the Assiniboine River running through Kamsack. We have pizza and drinks at a gas station and then carry on to Duck Mountain.
It is again a very hot day, no breeze and stifling. The hill out of Kamsack leading up to the provincial park is very difficult for me to climb. I am feeling very hot and my vision is blurry. I have to stop often and am having trouble keeping up to the others. I have decided that I ride much better in the cold than the heat. The SAG wagon is at the top of the hill. Thank goodness!! There is also a little breeze and more trees at the top of the hill. This provides enough relief and I feel much better. Another lady is not so lucky. She develops the first symptoms of heat stroke and cannot complete the ride.
We enter Duck Mountain Provincial Park riding strong and feeling great, only 6 km left to go!! Pictures are taken at the Manitoba border. We ride back to the park, have a quick swim, change clothes, eat burgers and pack up the bikes for the trip home. Katie cleans up in Lou and Carole's solar heated outdoor shower. The water tank sits on top of the trailer, which is attached to a nozzle and surrounded by a curtain.
Vans are loaded with luggage, bikes and tired cyclists and head out for Regina and Saskatoon. Some cyclists are meeting family and staying on at the park. I thought everyone would sleep on the way home, but we don't, instead we brag a bit and share cycling stories. We did it!!!! 757 km!!!! Happy Birthday Saskatchewan!!! Would we do it again? Yes!!!!! |
