Reflections on Sea to Sea 2017

After arriving in Regina, I was whisked off by my son Trevor and his family and went to their place, about 15 minutes drive away.  I said good bye to a number of cyclists, but noted that I would be at the church service the next morning as well.

We did fill the church there and I think the red t-shirted cyclists outnumbered the summer congregants by quite a bit.   After church we enjoyed a good lunch in the church basement and I was able to say farewell to a number of cyclists and volunteers.

The three week trip went very well.   Certainly as good or better as I could've expected.   Rain was minimal,  I had no flat tires, and no major aches or pains.   I only used Ibuprofen twice, ha.   If I stayed that might have changed. The hills, even the big ones by Manning, Golden, and Field have all faded into the past now, and I suppose one day when I drive those roads I'll wonder how we ever did it.  Then realizing of course that God was with us all the way.

It was great seeing and cycling with people from the 2008 and 2013  Sea to Sea trips and there were of course a lot of new people to meet and interact with.   Sea to Sea is a family community and it's great to be able to be a part of it.  

Trying to explain the Sea to Sea experience is difficult.   One has to participate to fully understand and appreciate what it's really like.   Everything from the mental challenge of dealing with the cycling aspect, to trying to be organized in the morning, camping, putting tents up and down,   reflecting as you cycle, worshipping as a large family, being out of the loop as to what is going on in the world,  helping others and being helped, the list goes on.  If you ever get the chance to participate, I encourage you to do so.    You will love it, be changed, and help thousands through the work of World Renew and Partners Worldwide.

I am very thankful for the support and encouragement received from my family, friends, and church.  And I am very thankful that God has given me the good health to be able to take on and complete this task, in safety, once again.   A big thank you as well to the tour organizers,  cooks, and SAG support team.   How good it was to see the SAG stops on those longer more challenging days.   You have no idea, ha.

For now I will follow along for the next several weeks and will pray for safety for all involved as this travelling community carries on across the country for a very, very good cause.

Thanks for reading.

Day 20 Chaplin to Regina

The weather report for today, from last night, was predicting an E wind. Not good for us. So the plan was to wake up a half hour earlier yet as the winds are usually calm first thing.

I was up a little earlier than usual along with most others, but didn't get out until just after 6.  It was calm wind wise for the first couple of hours which was good. After that, it was battling the wind all day. about 100 klm. For a while we had a very long pace line going of about 15 riders.  That can work well, but you really have to watch the cyclist ahead of you, and it can mean a lot of irregular pedalling if you get too close or fall back.  At the next sag stop I left that train.   Speeds were barely over 20 kph. A far cry from 25 -30 from yesterday.

A bunch of us stopped at Timmie's in Moose Jaw and the later close to the end. Yup, it was a two Timmie stop  kind of day.

Towards Regina, agriculture was in full swing again.  Fields and fields of canola and flax. I'm told this fertile land is part of the, Regina Plain.

Got into camp, Kings Acres, at 3:15.  This was a long, hard day. I also dubbed it my Halifax day as it was my last ride for Sea to Sea 2017.  Trevor and Kat and the kiddies were waiting for me there. A great way to end this ride for me. I'm now at their house. Tomorrow we'll go to their church which is hosting everyone for lunch after the service.  We will fill the building I'm sure the "Sea to Sea choir", which is comprised of all the cyclists and volunteers will sound as good as ever.

Thanks be to a God for safe travels and a good Sea to Sea experience.  May many be blessed.

Totals for day: 161 klm, 7:05 actual pedalling time, and a 22.9 kph avg.

Day 19 Gull Lake to Chaplin

Left the school at 6:40, warm and sunny. Brigette had a flat at 17 klm. Ed V the master tire repairman  had it fixed in about 15 minutes but noticed a grind in the rear hub. In Swift Current, at the 55 k mark, we found the town's bike shop which was just opening for the day at 9:30.  The owner took the bike apart and fixed the issue in about 45 minutes.

While heading out of town towards the TCH, I noticed a store front sign "Schimmel's Dutch Bakery". At that point we figured we may as well stop and grab a bite.  The place was all decked out like Holland and I was able to try my broken Dutch on the owner.  This was a great little stop and so was the Saskatoon berry pie.

Back on the road again, we were pretty well at the end of the pack, so we had to move it. We finally caught up to people at about the 100 k mark. The winds were favourable all day thankfully.  The land seems pretty barren around here other than by Morse there was a Lake that went on for miles it seemed. They take sodium phosphate out of there. Huge piles of the white stuff which is used for making fertilizer.

Got into the Chaplin Campground at 2:25. It's basically a field. There is a community swimming pool  that had ice cold showers.  Walked a few blocks to the town grocery store for a chocolate milk and saw the roads are all gravel.  There really isn't much going on here, no wifi either. The 3 ball diamonds here haven't been used in about 6 years. There is a K-12 School though with 45 students.

Totals for day: 145 klm, 5:22 cycling time, 27.3 kph avg.

Day 18 Medicine Hat, AB to Gull Lake, SK

Woke up this morning in the Klok guest room which kind of beats my tent.  Cousin Richard drove me back to camp at 6 am and so the day began. It was great being billeted for a night and spending a bit of time with my family.

As today was to be a long, hot day, everything got moved up a half hour and we were on the road by 6:40.  Biked mostly with a group of 5. It was 20 degrees already.  Again the road shoulders along the TCH were excellent.  At least in Alberta. Saskatchewan side could be better, but wasn't as bad as predicted. We were on the TCH the whole day.

The winds were somewhat favourable today, coming from the SSW, so mostly cross breeze right to left with a slight tail wind, so could've been a whole lot worse.

By 9 am we hit the SK border, 51 klm into our ride. Lots of pictures being taken there of course. Our second rest stop was hosted by the Maple Creek Assembly of God church. Lots of goodies and the slightly frozen mixed berries in a cup were the best.

Shortly before that I came by cousin Harry and Audrey. Harry's bike was upside down and the rear tire was off.  I stopped and Harry exclaimed "third flat in three days!"  Yup, one of the two things that  cyclists don't like - headwind and flats.   But we got it fixed and on the road again.  One guy had three flats we heard at pelaton meeting tonight, so then only one doesn't seem as bad. Right Harry?

Not much to look at today it seemed, a few black beef cows and dry land. Surprisingly there were a number of good climbs to keep it interesting.  The last 25 klm, after the last sag stop, were a little tough, but then the last 20 klm of any day are a little tougher anyhow.  It was getting pretty hot, over 30 degrees, and today is probably the most water I've gone through so far. There was an ice cream stand by that last sag stop but I passed thinking ice cream wouldn't be good to do with that many klm left. But the 3 guys I was biking with did and that seemed to give them a lot of pep. Go figure.

Rolled into Gull Lake at 3:00. Gull Lake is on a bit of a hill.  Last guy in was old Jim around 5:00.  He left camp this morning at 6.  Now that's a long  day.  Right now I am at a little restaurant I town having a beer and using their wifi.  Tomorrow is slightly shorter at around 135 klm.

Totals for today: 166 klm (101 miles), 6:39 pedalling, and a 25.0 kph avg. Glad to have this one done, but really glad no head wind to speak of.

Day 17 Taber to Medicine Hat

Heavy dew over night in Taber so tents put away wet. Not a real big deal as they dry up really quick next day. Got out of town at 7:20, not too bad.  The shoulders for the first 40 klm were really nice, fresh pavement.  Bit of a head breeze which kept us below 25 kph.

By Bow Island we stopped at Erna's Berry Farm for lunch.  At 10 am.  Best BBQ burgers ever, Alberta Grade A beef along with Saskatoon berries, muffins, pastries. Then you have to bike again.
The wind then shifted to a S wind, meaning cross wind for us. Not bad but a little tiring. Could get back up to 25 anyhow.

Came past a mint field by Bow Island. We could smell it as we biked by. It's used for making gum, peppermints, that sort of thing.  Getting closer to Medicine Hat we stopped at Kramer's greenhouse
for a tour and some cukes.

Was able to meet a number of relatives in both Taber and the Hat including Jesse K who happened to come by a SAG stop while I was there.  I heard someone ask "is Uncle Randy here?"  I am currently at Richard and Margaret Klok's home for a little visit.

Got to Medicine Hat Christian School 2:15. Totals for day 125 klm, 5:00 hours cycling, 25.1 klm avg.

Day 16 Granum to Taber

A home coming of sorts as Taber is where the DeWolde family settled upon immigrating from the Netherlands in the early 50's. So Taber is where I come from before we moved to Chilliwack. I have been back dozens of times over the years visiting Oma, cousins, etc, so I tried to soak it all in as a bunch of us rode into town.

Breakfast was provided by the Granum CRC people. Pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs. Very good.
Out the campground at 7:30. Riding with a few guys in the beginnning and was doing 35ish with a little wind help.  At the sag stop we agreed that was too fast. You get somewhere fast, but the pace tires you out quicker.  Rode with Harry and Audrey after that for a bit.

Nobleford church provided us with fresh cinnamon buns so we had a little pit stop there. In Picture Butte Kosters Bakery was providing free baked treats.  Right after Picture Butte Harry got a flat, his second of the day. It was windy and a little wet.  Tried fixing it, but to no avail and a fellow from Iron Springs CRC stopped and we figured it best Harry go with him to the church so he could fix it there while we carried on.  A turn north brought us into a head wind and rain and to Iron Springs CRC where we were provided a good lunch around 11 am.  I was talking to a lady there who knew our family from our Taber days.  At this point we were half way to Taber. The sun was coming out and I could ditch my jacket.

Side winds earlier on really had us noticing when semi trucks came by. The amount of wind they'd push our way made us hang on tight each time. Very gusty.  We saw fields and fields of bluish flax, brown winter wheat, yellow canola, and green peas and barley.

Before Coaldale we crossed a big coulee. Harry says it's a river valley, not a coulee as he reads over my shoulder. A big drop down followed by a big climb up the other side. The stretch from Coaldale to Taber had us heading east and the crosswind and headwind was a little wearing and unpopular. We came by the McCain potatoe plant and could smell the cooking oil. We rode to Taber Christian School with a small group at 2:50.

Taber church is hosting us for dinner tonight with.a pig roast, should be good. My niece's husband Tim has been busy with that all day I'm told.

Totals for today: 135 klm, 5:00 pedalling, and a 27.5 kph avg.

Day 15 Calgary to Granum

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.  I first heard the drips of rain at 4:30 this morning, not music to my ears.  We were to start a half hour earlier due to the length of today's ride, so up at 5:45, tent was a little wet, but not bad.

Do I wear a rain jacket or not is the question. Decided not to, hoping the drizzle wouldn't last. This is sunny Alberta after all.  Left with the usual crew plus Harry and Audrey. Audrey had a fall on the bike path, bad start card.  The rain started more in earnest as we went along and we all got soaked from head to toes before Okotoks. Maybe the rain jacket would've been good, but they also feel like saunas.

We had a lunch stop at High River CRC and got there by 10:30. I wrung my socks and arm warmers out in the bathroom sink.  A lot of us were there eating lunch in our bare feet.  Uncle Morris was there, waiting for me, unfortunately not a lot of time to talk. The sun came out and the roads dried up after that.

We had a really nice north wind most of the day and as were heading due south, that meant tail wind, so doing 30 - 35 kph was no problem.  We had our last sag stop at Timmies in Claresholm where I enjoyed a chocolate milk and I could see it darkening up again. Got into the Grandview Campground at 3:00 ish. The rain held out out until 6, but it's been drizzling ever since, so the past few hours.  I'm told the rain kind of goes with the N wind, so a saw off there. A S wind would've been awful on a long day like this, even if it was dry.

The scenery was nice when things were drier.  Fields of canola and dry peas and barley. Some good photo ops like an abandoned independent service garage and church.

The Granum CRC people brought supper in, beef on bun plus salads and a bday cake for Deanna B (AB).  They are also cooking breakfast for us tomorrow morning. Pretty nice of them.

Totals for day:  163 klm, 6:03 cycling time, and 27.5 kph avg.