Winnipeg to Russell

Day 21

Up and away and on the road by 9 and back in the saddle again. Most of the journey was dead straight boring roads with not very much with regard to interesting scenery but it was hot and the sun was shining so not all bad. Had the usual run out of petrol scare as usual thought I had more than I actually did and whizzed pass the last petrol thinking there will be one along soon guess what nope so the standard creeping along waiting to see when the engine will cut out I do not know why I keep doing this will be less stressful just to fill up in a timely manner and stop more often but I always seem to screw myself somehow. One short part was vaguely interesting through Riding Mountain National park but that was only 60km out of 600km, which was straight flat, rough roads for the most part and looks like it will be like this till I get across the Prairies. Today’s culture was a stop at Elgin grain escalators. In the middle of nowhere 4 old grain escalators and the lad there me a grand tour of the place, as I was one of only 3 visitors that day. Nice break from the bike. Back under canvas tonight a girl in Winnipeg VIC told me about her home town Russell that has a free campsite right in the middle of town (town? one street!) and that is where I am no typing this and watching the sun go down was only me and a Czech bloke called Tad but has filled up with some RV’s This is better than some of the paid campsites I have stayed at only problem no showers so may be a bit pongy tomorrow. Think I will head to Saskatoon tomorrow or maybe further and get this dull bit of countryside done and dusted. No hostels or cheap motels that I can find between here and Edmonton so may mean more camping yuk and was looking for places for new tyres and service for the bike and it looks like the last place to do this in Canada is Edmonton cannot find anything further north than this so will have to figure how to do all this and will I need a new set of tyres then it is difficult to guess will definitely need a service as considering the distances I am planning to do what to look after the kit that is going to get me there.

Winnipeg Lower Fort Garry

Day 20

Looks like I have lost my ability to sleep in or maybe that just living in a shared room environment only 3 of is in a 6 man dorm so you think it would be quite but the first bloke was up at 6 and I final got up at around 8 ish even though I am still tired. Sunny day again and the plan is to go to Canada parks lower fort Garry one of the national historical sites here in Canada about 30km from Winnipeg. Spent a good couple of hours in there as I love these kind of places interactive historic places can tootle around them for ages and this one was especially good. Headed back into Winnipeg with the intention of grabbing a few art galleries which I thought was free but turned out not to be so wondered round a department store and watched England loose to Italy in the penalty shootout in the television department so England true to form glad I have not been following this as it is not so big over here. Went back to the hostel for a little lie down which was nice as had the place to myself and then cooked myself some dinner Thai Chicken and prawns (I say cooked nuked (microwaved)) and am mucking around with the computer debating on whether or not to go see if I can find another festival or just chill out here. Back on the bike tomorrow.

Went to the electronic music festival which was still going strong great just to chill and watch the folks look like hula hoops are all the range again as that what the in accessory to have along with flashing lights cool :-)

Winnipeg

Day 19

Supposed to be a rest day but I do not seem to be very good at these so was up and out looking for you guessed the nearest Tim Horton’s for breakfast (Should ask them to sponsor me as the number of mention they are getting in this blog) and spent the rest of the day wandering around Winnipeg it was another gorgeous day weather wise. Headed down to the forks for an aboriginal festival but as I was up an out so early for a Saturday this had not really started so crossed the bridge St Boniface and admired the ruined cathedral (burnt down in the 60’s) and they have left part of the ruins and built another not so grandiose as the old one (guess not so much money around for cathedrals these days) interesting enough. Went to the Louis Riel museum traitor or hero you decide talked to a very informative young guide in the museum who told me her version of the story and it one of those things on what side of the river or fence French or Brits on what your view is on this very interesting though she was half French and half Anglo so I presumed her tale was unbiased :-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Riel for those of you like me originally have no idea on what I am whitering on about. Wonder about the Forks for awhile and bumped into French girl who was also staying at the hostel in Thunder Bay and took a nice walk along the river to the legislative building where we where also allowed just to wonder in and about with no escort or controls. I do like the way the Canadian give total access to the public building should be like this everywhere. Been on my feet all day so went back to the hostel for some dinner and then hit the town again back to the aboriginal festival as that should be getting going by now and spent a pleasant evening watching various bands and people watching and just updating this before I go to bed. Have decided to stay another night and go to Lower Fort Garry a historical type museum just out of town and also sorted a route out for Monday which looks interesting to the Saskatchewan border fair old drive but takes in a national park and another Park Canada historical site thanks to the very helpful and friendly people in the Manitoba information centre these place have bee a wealth of information.

Thunder bay to Winnipeg

Day 18

Seriously long day in the saddle think I did more than 700 km today and it was hard going. Got out reasonably on time and started heading out of Thunder bay where it went from quite well built up to nothing within miles and before I knew it I was in the middle of know where with very little petrol and when I typed fuel into my GPS is kept pointing me backwards 60km in the direction I had just come from dilemma do turn round and go back and refill or do I push on and I needed to make the decision fast or I was going to run out anyhow. After a while I bottled it and did a U turn and started heading back there was no one around to ask until I saw someone had broke down on the side of the road and asked him. It turned out that there where 3 petrol stations in Uppsala (Not Sweden), which was about 40 km in the direction, I wanted to go so after another quick calculations decided to go for it. (Bloody GPS not one of these stations showed up on it but all fully functional they probably have to pay to show on the GPS, which is not much use to me!

Found and Esso station in the middle of no where so filled up the bike and had breakfast as I had not passed a Tim Horton’s and was not expecting one for a while on the route I was taking. Long ride between forest and lakes interesting enough but me bum ain’t half sore. Later in the day in Dryden talking to a chap outside Tim Horton’s (afternoon snack of a cinnamon roll and French vanilla drink) and as you do we were talking about sore bums and he mentioned a place up the road that sell sheep skins which are good for long distance riders. Now I have always thought they looked a bit silly and served no purpose but 30 minutes up the road I saw the place and I stopped to have a butchers. Well to cut a long story short I am now the proud owner of a black sheepskin tied to me saddle. It only cost 60 buck so worth a try. Does it work well difficult to tell as I had already done 400km today so was already stiff but I think it did make a difference so maybe there is something to this?

Crossed the border (feels like and looks like a border to me) from Ontario to Manitoba and dived into the tourist info to swop me Ontario tourist blurb for Manitoba tourist blurb and maps and then dived on to a fantastic little back road on my to Winnipeg and thought if the roads are going to be like this when then it all good however this was short lived as the last 80km to Winnipeg the road was straight with not one corner for mile after mile and considering how many clicks I had done today very hard to concentrate. Spotted a bear, which mad me focus a bit more for the final run to Winnipeg. I had also crossed a time zone today so gained and extra hour. Booked into the hostel and had a vegetarian burger for me dinner (Tim Horton Offset) and wonder into town as there was free techno electric music festival so plonked myself down there and chilled to the music. Tough but another good day. Rest day tomorrow and there is another festival this time aboriginals at the forks as well as electric festival at the old exchange square (talking like a local already) went to bed a tired little bear.

Hearst to Thunder bay

Day 17

Quite a strange day got up at about 8.30ish and did a Skype call to the folks back home who are also looking after my affairs so they are holding up bank statements with me saying file keep through away archive got myself a great little secretary (me Mum :-)) So that business at home sorted now for business here. Finally looked out the window and it is pissing down so going to be a damp day today. Slowly sorted my kit out as I was in no hurry to get wet and when loading the bike I noticed that one on the main screws holding my panniers on had worked it self loose so out with the toolkit to remedy. Should have been easy but did not have the right tool needed a large screwdriver which I did not have so tried tightening with Canadian $ coin with a set of pliers for some extra mechanical advantage only end up bending the coin so looks like I am going to jail for treason as I have defaced her majesty coinage I thought it would be stronger. So I packed the back and rode round the corner where there was a workshop that dealt with huge American trucks should have some proper kit there. Asked to burrow a screwdriver which they let me have no problem even asked one of the mechanics if he could have a go at the screw as I was not strong enough to turn it as it was sort of jammed he managed to get it seated probably and I was ready to hit the road in the wet. First breakfast no need to ask where (Tim H) and then to fuel up, as it was 200km to the next petrol station so did not want to be caught short. The road was also straight with no corners for that amount as well and I thought I would be bored shitless but it was quite interesting going for miles with no one around with only the odd truck to overtake. It rained for the first hour and then stopped and started all day so wet dry wet dry etc. was the order of that day. Scenery improved later and the road even had a few turns in it as well. Stopped in a place called Geraldton where I saw an interesting building on hill, which turned out, to be a glorified tourist info spot called a Discovery Centre a very chatty girl working that gave the grand tour, which was great as it was raining again outside. Go to Thunder Bay at about 5.30 ish and found a great little hostel just outside town which is cheap as chips and run by an old couple who have set up the hosteling backpackers guide to Canada so very interesting eclectic place.

Going to be another early night and the decision is weather or not to do Winnipeg tomorrow 700km about 9 hours driving of to break it into 2 parts but not much in between and I do not fancy riding late at night as there often moose on the road and talking about moose I saw my 1st one today and they are enormous think I would loose out if I hit one of those luckily this one was at the side of the road and not wondering in the middle. All in all a nice day even through kept getting rained on but that added to the interest I guess a bit.