In the infamous words of Nancy Kerrigan, “Whhhhyyy??? Whhhyyy???”
We were wailing away asking that question this week, but not in regards to some nefarious figure skating soap opera plot.
Kerrigan might have wanted to know what Tonya Harding had against her. We want to know what the wind has against us.
Here’s another quote.
“It shouldn’t have been that difficult.”
That was Clive’s statement after we’d battled wind to The Battlefords from Lloydminster for more about eight or nine hours over 130 kilometres on Monday (May 16). It should not have taken that long.
But it was that difficult.
And it got even more difficult.
Tuesday’s ride to from North Battleford to Langham, where cousin Linda and her husband GERALD GOOSEN (trying to assuage hurt feelings here but doubt it will be enough) live, was supposed to be a breeze. Unfortunately, it was a big breeze. It came from the south at more than 30 km/h.
The ride was laborious, aggravating, discouraging. A real slog. We churned and churned and churned, but we didn’t seem to be going anywhere. Our pace was slower than an average recreational long distance runner. But we kept on chugging away. And chugging. And chugging.
We ached for tree banks, or large grain elevators or even a stationary train. Anything that would provide a wind break.
But once we got by any of those a big whoosh of wind attacked and literally stopped us in our tracks, sometimes even forcing us toward the 110-km/h traffic buzzing by.
We had an easier time making our way through the British Columbia mountains than what we endured Tuesday. Or Monday. Or even Thursday. (Wednesday we rested.) We had been counting on the wind being to our advantage when we reached the Prairies.
Oh, how wrong we were.
One reason for this misapprehension was the fact The Yellowhead Highway runs diagonally. We are travelling it in a southeast direction. Well that means, even if the wind comes from the west, which it did Monday, that there was still a crosswind involved.
On Tuesday, the wind came out of the south almost directly into our faces. What fools we were to expect the wind would help us.
Finally after 70 kilometres of slogging we reached the town of Radisson, where cousins Linda, Richard and Anne-Marie grew up.
We needed a break. Big time. And we got it.
After a quick much-needed, liquid fill-up at the little grocery store on Main Street we went and took a quick look at the former home of Aunt Ruth, just a block away from the store, as well as the house where our maternal grandparents lived.
Then it was back to the road again for what we feared was more slogging. Much to our surprise the wind subsided significantly. There was more foliage in the area so maybe that helped, but all of a sudden we were zipping down the highway at more than twice the speed we had been doing all morning.
What a relief!
Monday’s trip took 10 hours (including a one-hour lunch break underneath the trees in Paynter). It should have taken about seven or so (hence Clive’s statement). Tuesday’s took seven hours what should have been done in five.
Linda and GERALD’S house (more on then in a soon-to-come blog) was an oasis after what we’d endured.
But the wind didn’t die gracefully. The last two kilometres the wind gusted strongly just to show who was boss that day. It certainly wasn’t a cyclist in charge!
When we hit the road again Thursday, after we left the protected confines of urban Saskatoon, it was back to battling the wind. This time head on for our final 60 km. Yeesh!
It would seem our stormy relationship with the wind isn’t about to get worse. Friday’s forecast calls for 30 km/h winds gusting up to 50 km/h.
WHHHYYY???
• Latest word from Brody on Wednesday was he was holed up in Hinton waiting some rain out. Says he’s up to about 70 kilometres per day and his knee is feeling much better. Good to hear!
• To avoid the heavy, fast traffic on some Saskatoon’s so-called freeways, Clive and I took the Meewasin Trail, a path that follows the South Saskatchewan River through the city. If you get a chance to walk it or bike it, do so. It’s a beautiful piece of urban infrastructure that gives amazing access to its citizens and visitors.
• The puncture count grew to two when Clive’s front tire went flat while it sat in the Gossen’s garage on Wednesday.
KILOMETRE COUNT
Day 17 (Lloydminster to North Battleford) 143 km Total (14 riding days) 1,657 km
Day 18 (North Battleford to Langham, SK) 105 km Total 1,765
Day 20 (Langham to Colonsay) 107 km Total 1,872
The 7 Cs blog 