Yesterday morning started really well. The sun was shining, and it was in the high teens for temperature. We hooked up with Lawrence's buddy Phil for coffee, and then hit the road. I even put on the sunglasses. About two hours out on Hw 17 - we could see we were going to get rained on. BUT - no place to pull over. The sky open up and it started to just piss down. About 15 - 20 minutes later - found a safe pull over in a "check your load". I was already pretty wet - but pulled on the rain gloves, rain pants, and rain coat. I passed on the rain boot covers - because they are a real pain if no chair. My reward for that decision was I got to ride in wet boots all day today. Mind you my riding suit was still damp as well - it just rained and rained all the way to Winnipeg. Sometimes it nearly stopped - or even stopped - then back in to drizzle, rain, and downpour - over and over again all day.
BUT - the bright side - some very pretty shield country. Rocks, rivers,and little valleys, I wish I had the pictures - because I can not do it justice - pretty stuff.
A couple of road warrior stories. We are on 17, just past Dryden, and the pavement eater has been at work, so we ride on that for 15 km in the pouring rain. Then - without any sign to warn you - you drop 5 cm down on to the worst gravel mess I have seen in a long time. We are talking ruts full of water, pot holes full of water, grader gravel lines, soft gravel, washboard - the whole 9 yards - a total CF - and this is highway 17! We ride on this for about 10 or 15 km - and I am white knuckling it on the bike - and Laurence is having no fun in the car. A complete mess. Whoever is running that project for the Ontario MOT should be fired - no - they should have their ass kicked - and then be fired. What a total mess.
So, we get out of that mess, and it is still raining. We are in a line of traffic behind a slow moving pickup. Being Ontario, not many places to pass. We finally get queued up behind this pickup - and his driving is alarming - up and down from 10 kph below the speed limit to 10 kph above the speed limit, nearly on to the soft gravel shoulder a few times, and every left hander - well over the center line - just trying to create a head on collision. SO- we drop back - to avoid the shrapnel - if he gets in to a crash - and just follow for about 20 km before the next passing zone - and I drop it from 6th to 4th - and I am gone - so that Laurence can get by as well. After that - it was just rain.
It all ends happily though. We checked into the Fairmont Winnipeg - which is a great location - right at Portage and Main and the room was nice. So - if you can but up with being charged for internet, and for parking - you can think about it - because the location is great.
So - off we go for dinner - and of course a picture of the most famous Prairie Town corner -at least it was not 15 below!
Over to Bailey's for a good dinner - but a bit pricey. The fun part was - after dinner - we walked back across the street to Hy's Steakhouse and Cocktail Bar for one more beer - and ended up drinking whisky with the crowd at the bar. We had fun - and got the bartender to make us a Mimico Manhattan - or pretty close - he did not have Dark Horse. We had a good time!
This morning, up and at it early! Well, fairly early :-) First, off to see the Manitoba Legislative Building. Very nice.
Then,back on to Highway 1 - and off we go for Regina. This is a perfect place to mention - they build great highways out here - divided highway, and two lanes each direction almost the whole way. Wide paved shoulders for the bicycles - just really well done. Sunny day - a few broken clouds - some fairly strong wind at times - just a great drive. Rolling prairie, some trees, tons of agriculture -a very pretty drive. On really nicely built roads.
SO - we arrive at Regina - and I think this is the nicest of the legislature building I have seen so far. very pretty, nice park - plus - a statue of Liz!
BTW - if you go back and look - you will notice that so far - Ontario is the only place where I could not get public access to the front of the building for a quick photo. The accessibility to the public here in Regina is exceptional.
So - tomorrow - off to Edmonton - an 800 km day. We are going to make some phone calls tomorrow morning - because both vehicles need a service break. We hope we can set something up!
Who needs internet when you have a good bottle of whiskey?
ReplyDeleteGreat trip report Sandy.