After I closed off the Blog last night the sky opened up with a strong thunder storm that lasted for a couple of hours. The tent did quite well, but some water did get in. I bought some waterproofing to apply some day when it stays dry for a while.
I was on the road very early this morning; 7:00 am
The majority of the fields around here are full of Canola as it is used to create Ethanol . It seems like every possible field has it growing. If it is worth what people say, there will be a lot of happy farmers at the end of this growing season. The bright yellow flower sure does look magnificent. They are also growing flax which is a blue/purple colour. I also passed many field growing alfalfa and these fields have small buildings scattered about and apparently they are for the bees to live while they do their important work.
And the expected long trains carrying product from the farmers fields to other parts of the world
I stopped in Gladstone Manitoba for breakfast today and found a very charming small town. I stood in the middle of the main intersction and took photos looking North, South, East and West. As you can see there was no traffic. On the same corner was the Gladstone Bakery who served toast and rolls with tea or coffee. So two slices of wholewheat toast, with tea, plus a freshly made donut got the day started.
Eventually I ended up on Highway 16 W, known as the Yellowhead Highway, then turned north on Highway 10 and rode through Riding Mountain National Park . Very pretty.
There were also the tell tale signs of the prairies, the grain elevators. I have attached a photo of a new brightly painted elevator terminal.
The next turn was to go west on Highway 77 where I rode through a beautiful little town called Barrow. All the yards were meticulous, and the buildings were clean and in complete repair. The welcome sign is cute..
A few Kilometers later I approached the border with Saskatchewan and as I pulled on to the shoulder, the front tire dug into the soft earth, causing the bike to stop and then slowly fall over. I couldn't keep it from falling onto its side. This is the first time I have dropped this bike, and I am very impressed how the saddlebag supported the bike and there was no damage at all. A passing car stopped and helped to right the bike and all was well.
I then took the traditional border picture.
As I pulled away I noticed a deer fly on my windshield and as I accelerated he held on all the way up to 100 Kph. He was using every bit of strength he could muster.
After the border incident, plus having a bike full of wet tent and fly I decided it was time for a motel so I'm checked into the Treeline Motel in Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan. My room looks like a Chinese laundry with bags, tent, fly and shirt hanging from all available places.
A helicopter has been flying in and out from the back yard of the motel as it is shuffling crew to and from a mining operation about twenty minutes north of here
Distance tavelled: 598 Km