I spend a few hours at the Yorkton library pre-planning routes and updating this work of art. I take Hwy 10 out and it is a bit more rustic than my Hwy 16 but there is considerable less traffic! There is more wetlands and swamp than any farms really and the forests are coming closer to the road again. I see lots of ducks who scatter as I approach. The wind is blowing hard in my direction so it will be a tough 80 km to Roblin, Manitoba. I just keep pushing forward and eventually hit an intersection that lets me know I've got 40 km more to go. An older, native couple stop to offer water and I drink it greedily. I answer the same questions: "Where did I come from?" and "Where are you going?". They tell me the distance to Roblin in miles as do most people around here it seems. Another 15 km to go.
The entry into Manitoba is a giant downhill which I have to pay for on the way back up. It is here that I see some massive fields of wheat that go for as long as the eye can see. I make it into Roblin with a soft tire but manage to fill it up at the COOP. I ride around town and then decide to celebrate the border change by staying at a campsite.
The campsite also doubles as an ice cream parlour and it is all I can do not to order their 4 scoop bowl. Instead, I book a spot and have my first shower in days. It's only $10 so its a real bargain. I ask the attendent if she thinks it will rain and she looks at the darkening sky and replies,"Could be."
I put the tarp on just before in case it rains.
At first, the thunder and lightening aren't so bad but when the wind kicks in, I worry about leaks in the tent. Not to fear, I start to feel water under the tent. Pretty soon it is a lot of water and I flashback to the '80s and my mom's water bed. When the rain stops, I open the door to see what its like and I am in the lake! There must be 8 inches of water surrounding my tent but by some miracle, it stays dry!. I pull the tent through the water and up onto the gravel and abandon the tarp tied with bungee cords to the trees. I stored my bike under an awning and retrieve some nice, dry clothes there. Surprisingly enough, I have a pretty good sleep after that. It is the next morning when I discover my soft tire has turned into a flat. On the upside, I do find my ipod and decide it is a good day to just rest and re-coup. The Roblin Libraian, Mrs. Chase has been very generous with her use of the computers. For this, she gets into the Hall of Heros. Onward to Dauphin tomorrow.
The entry into Manitoba is a giant downhill which I have to pay for on the way back up. It is here that I see some massive fields of wheat that go for as long as the eye can see. I make it into Roblin with a soft tire but manage to fill it up at the COOP. I ride around town and then decide to celebrate the border change by staying at a campsite.
The campsite also doubles as an ice cream parlour and it is all I can do not to order their 4 scoop bowl. Instead, I book a spot and have my first shower in days. It's only $10 so its a real bargain. I ask the attendent if she thinks it will rain and she looks at the darkening sky and replies,"Could be."
I put the tarp on just before in case it rains.
At first, the thunder and lightening aren't so bad but when the wind kicks in, I worry about leaks in the tent. Not to fear, I start to feel water under the tent. Pretty soon it is a lot of water and I flashback to the '80s and my mom's water bed. When the rain stops, I open the door to see what its like and I am in the lake! There must be 8 inches of water surrounding my tent but by some miracle, it stays dry!. I pull the tent through the water and up onto the gravel and abandon the tarp tied with bungee cords to the trees. I stored my bike under an awning and retrieve some nice, dry clothes there. Surprisingly enough, I have a pretty good sleep after that. It is the next morning when I discover my soft tire has turned into a flat. On the upside, I do find my ipod and decide it is a good day to just rest and re-coup. The Roblin Libraian, Mrs. Chase has been very generous with her use of the computers. For this, she gets into the Hall of Heros. Onward to Dauphin tomorrow.