This is taken almost directly from the journal I write in - apart from a few corrections and additions - so not everything will be able to be read in context. I'm typing it in because it saves time as I only have an hour on this public library terminal. Perhaps it might give an insight into what I actually write everyday too.
I'd slept well enough during the night not to remember waking up until 6:20am. Even then I thought I ought to have/deserved a sleep-in - I had cycled a little farther than budgeted and suffered a terrible night.
There was still wind buffeting the tent, but not as haranguing as last night. The sun shone across the fields directly on to the tent and so dried some things out, tent included. Clothes (fleece and polo top from last night) remained damp however, as did the bottom of the sleeping mat.
Instead of firing up the stove for porridge I ate the remaining bagels and muesli bars thinking I would restock in Foam Lake.
The rip in the tent fly was as wide as the panel but didn't look too tough to tape or be stress-bearing.
It wasn't bad changing into the damp fleece until I loaded the bike and stepped out beyond the shelter of the bale.
It was only 8km to Foam Lake (on the road at exactly 9am). I'd cycled past the Co-op to Shop Easy instead (didn't see the Co-op 1st). Inside they had President's Choice-brand - just like in Super Store, but no Lime and Chili chips. Loaded up on 18 muesli bars (cheaper to get the bulk pack) and bagels (in the nice plastic bag). At the checkout got chatting with the cashier who recommended I take Highway 11 not the Lake Superior Highway 17 because of the twisty-turny road and the bad weather that blows off the lake. "B.C. has bears. I know because I used to come from there", he said. "Truckers take the H11. There's only moose." But he did share my concern at the lack of towns along the way, but thought the streams potable.
Outside I got chatting again, this time with a retired guy who wanted to talk as his wife did the shopping. His corn in his garden was flattened by the wind. After telling me about his brother in Auckland and his children and grandchildren in Red Deer, Alberta his wife came out and ushered him off.
With the wind right behind me the bike just flew along. Straight flat roads with good shoulders and an overcast day. Ideal.
I stopped in Theodore after and hour and a half, already with 50km on the clock. I didn't stop again until Yorkton, at times the bike was cruising mid 40s and I'd run out of gears.
The town of Yorkton turned out to be a city with all the amenities. It didn't take too long to find the library and I was lucky enough to get an Internet computer straight away from 1:30 to 2:30.
I wrote to Cathy and mum & dad about last night. It was a freak storm, I hope mum knows that...
I left passing by a bike shop for a Take-a-look mirror (none) to find a place to dry out some items.
A small paved area with tables was nearby but the wind was still howling, the wind-chill a factor even though sunshine peeked through now and then.
As I was sat beside the mat and sleeping bag liner pinned down on the seat next to me while eating sardines from the can, a librarian on a cigarette break came over to talk.
I decided to got back to the library to ask to repair/tape the tent and soon it was spread in the children's reading area getting patched up.
Heading out of town I was surprised to see a Super Store and had to stop for some Lime and Chili tortilla chips as it's my easiest connection to Cathy's house (and they're tasty too). Next door at Canadian Tyre with a fuel cannister for $1.49 more than MEC but I am close to running out and then 'new' stove will take it too.
Continuing out I needed to refill my water bottles with fresh since the water at Foam Lake was so heavily mineralised, so stopped at the Tourist Info. The bored guy there told me of what he'd heard of the storm: golf ball-sized hail, a downed power line that set a tree on fire and a measurement of 65km/hr. This was 100km from last night's camp.
Back on Highway 16, the wind behind and I pedalled on. Now the right Achilles heel plays up (sore) again. By Bredenbury I decided to find water and a phone.
Ayran was crossing the street from the grocery store as I pulled up outside the small community's general store. Finding out I just wanted water he invites me to his place to fill up and volunteers his experience with the storm: two power cuts, both knocking out his alarm clock (he resets it but uses excuse to sleep in). Fills up Platypus x 2 (takes a while) and says road to Russell long up and long down.
Cathy not home when I call at 5:10pm her time so leave a message.
Eventually find an access road by wheat field and make camp behind a bushy tree (in case). Already deer has walked past and I now know creature in forest noise August 2nd.
