Saskatchewan Pt. 2(2)

A missed shot from Pt. 1,  frolicking in the storm.  If you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em. 

Regina was a wonderful and welcome long break from the daily grind. Lol. Five days in town gave us an opportunity to visit with family and friends. Got in a couple rounds of disc golf in Douglas Park. Sweet!

Regina is a really beautiful city in the summer and we found it very green and well maintained. Wascana Lake and the surrounding park areas offer on oasis from the  wide open prairies. Regina green spaces are really well done, and very well used in the summer.

The squirrels are plump and happy too! (This is George apparently)

The family time was very valuable and we’re feeling quite lucky to have this stopping point available to us at this stage of our voyage. 

Along with socializing, we got time to take care of some gear issues that needed attention. New tires for both bikes (both bikes had been purchased used and were probably needing tires even before we put a few thousand kilometres on).  We sized up to 35’s from the 32’s we both had which might slow us down a tiny bit but might handle the load better and be a bit more comfortable.  We’ll see. 

The gear highlight was a visit to our old bike shop to see our old bike man Lawrence at Dutch Cycle. Still our favourite!  Lawrence hooked us up with the tires and other needed maintenance goodies while we reminisced on the good ol’ days. 

 

We also replaced our tent. The old one had served over 15 years and was struggling to keep water out.  Anticipating plenty of wild camping as the tour progresses, we went with something dark coloured and hopefully discrete. 

As much fun as we had, it’s time to get back on the road. 

We got a late start, thanks to a late night packing up, but the new tires payed immediate dividends. We cruised out the #33 highway to the South West and found ourselves in Kronau in no time to check on a deck Andrew had built many years ago. Still looking good, and so is the deck!

The #33 was in great shape too and we were surprised at how much pavement we had considering it was not a main route. 

We zoomed along with ease and were getting in big kilometres effortlessly. The traffic was light and very respectful of our space. Everything was going well and the primary secret to our success was a hefty 35kph tail wind going south with us. Wow that’s fun. Nelson on the back acting like a big sail.  I hope we don’t experience this in reverse……

The grey skies didn’t make for many glamorous photos as we ripped down to South East Saskatchewan, but the clouds finally dispersed as we reached Arcola, 184kms was a new single day record.  And that came with a late start, and a mid day nap in a park along the way.  

Arcola is a cool little “boom town” with many interesting historic buildings. Something seems like it’s going right here in rural Saskatchewan and these towns seem to be thriving, and the folks are friendly.

Each town in Saskatchewan seems to have a campground, and there’s one every 15 or so kilometres. Prices between $10-20. Nice! Potable water and flush toilets in many of them and outlets to charge phones etc. 

Many cyclists warned of difficultly finding drinking water through the prairies but we found rural Saskatchewan to be easy mode.  

Stops for road work are always a bit nervy. How we get through depends on the crew and every job site seems to treat cyclists differently. Some make you wait for the cars, some you take the lane and ride with the traffic peddling as fast as you can, and some they wave you through first and you get fresh asphalt and a coned off section all to yourself. 

Saskatchewan trains are as long as you can see. I wonder what the record number of cars is. 

We’re still enamoured with the cows. These creatures are hilarious.  They all get up and watch us go by.  We can’t help it, we have to stop and moo. We have so many pictures of cows watching us.  Sometimes they all take off running. I guess not many bicycles in these parts…

Every Saskatchewan town has one of these grain elevators and some are in very nicely restored condition.  

As you leave one town, you can make out the elevator from the next town on the horizon. 

Yes, sometimes that makes it seem like you’re pedalling on a conveyor belt.

The crops look good out here to our untrained eyes.

Some clear sky,

Some cloudy sky, 

Some rain, but nothing our new tent couldn’t handle.  

Some of the town campsites are right in the middle of the town, and you set up a tent right in the front yard view of a circle of houses. It can be weird, but we’re learning to be weird. That’s long distance cycle touring.

The farms are quite different here from what we saw in Western Saskatchewan. There is plenty of scenic interest in the prairies if you want there to be. 

We’re nearing the boarder with Manitoba and the landscape is dotted with these oil pumps bobbing up and down.  Don Quixote would absolutely be freaking out. 

Redvers was a great stop for supplies and friendly chatting with the locals, and then a last parting fly by photo of Antler as we left the province. 

Nice job Saskatchewan! Despite some tough going before our break in Regina, we really enjoyed our ride through!

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