Dist, 143, Avg 17.2km/hr, Saddle Time, 8:19
Province # 4
06 07 2011
After a quick pack-up, I was off to the Subway/Tim Hortons/Convenience store. How convenient that all my goodies are combined into one structure. (A small town thing)
I got some fine Joe at the Tims (I'm more of a Starbucks Junkie but this works) and some breakfast sandwiches at the Subway. I also usually get 1 or 2 foot long subs for the day ahead. I should be the new Subway Mascot. The store offered up Gatorade and Power Bar/Trail Mix Bars for fuel in between meals. I store these puppies ( I hate that usage, but it seems fitting) in my handlebarbag side mesh-pockets for easy delivery. Interesting folk coming and going. As usual, I get some stares, funny people, but a pretty rough salad of humanoids. Mostly Blue Collar Trolls like myself, but the occasional White to stir things up. AHHH... small towns, I love it, better than any money pit sit-com on TV.
Heading E. on Hwy 16 ("Yellowhead Highway"), the clouds, rain and wind converged and attacked !! A mighty fine assault indeed. I love a good headwind. I love the way it can magically turn a flat road into a monster climb. I love the way that it turns a climb into a wall of despair. And I love the way it turns a descent into nothing more than a dismal gravity assist coast that requires further pedalling.
So, I thought that I would order up a 80 km stretch of road with no shoulder, garbage tarmac, Head wind to Shoal Lake. A veritable Chef Salad of Misery. I took a break here in Shoal Lk. I was exausted. And just a tad angry.
I returned to the hwy finding a good shoulder, but the Headwind and rain persisted.
FINALLY entering Minnedosa where I headed to this Funky old Motel.
VALLEY MOTOR LODGE
My room is like a wood panelled cabin, along with others, that circle a swimming pool. An odd old building that has a lot of character. There's an equally strange bar next door that has off sales. Perfect. While having some dinner in the "Dinning area", the server talked to me about my trip. He was interested in the details. He spoke of a cyclist that stayed over one night. I think that he said that this guy was on route to Alberta from Ontario or I dont remember, but anyway he arrived at midnight. If that wasn't bad enough, it snowed all night. Tire tracks in the snow could be seen leaving the motel in a westerly direction. Crazy Bike guy.
Anyway, here I am in Nowhere'sville. My original plan was to do a Long Ride to Port Prairie (240km).
How things get destroyed when Mother Nature starts knocking... Anyway;
Cool old place but the Wi Fi connection didn't work. Also no cell phone coverage. However, Beer connection good...
Get it when you can. Wi Fi at Russell
Sunset at Russell
They don't mess around. Leaving Russell
Quality pavement. Remove traffic and winds and I could deal with this...
Keep in mind that my camera is not waterproof. You don't see pics in heavy rain and wind because I don't take the camera out.
"Hey, lets cut the road on the line"
Idiots in charge of Manitoba roads.
Greyhound visits everybody
Very timely and fitting. My day was not pleasant on these roads but a delirious giggle surfaced
Goin to Edmonton. A friendly soldier forging ahead. (wind assisted though)
Gotta get one of these
Safe, for now...If it gets worse, these people might need a bridge built. Flooding is devastating here.
Hillarious !
This is Not a Lake !
A lovely sketch ...
Brutal headwind plus terrible tarmac = Manitoban Anger. I hate this region of Canada.
What the hell ?
Horsies ! A welcome sight. Wish I had a lasso.
This will do just fine ! ... whew
My strange room... This "hallway is inside the Building (an ouside look, on the inside)
A fine establishment indeed. Anything is "Fine" in this weather
Good Grief
Just like home
One view of my panelled cubicle.
A strange evil hallway outside my door. This place wins the "Strangest Motel" award so far...
The upper motel rooms. I think that this was an arena once. Someone found it more useful as a motel.
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