Saskatchewan

Today we rode into 50km/h headwinds gusting to 70. The forecast called for rain and strong winds coming from the east. They said it was going to rain, and we knew that we had to ride. We have to keep riding east to get to the coast on time.

Our goal for the day was to ride for as long as we could, and take breaks whenever we needed them. The wind was blowing in our faces, and there were dark clouds on the endless prairie horizon. We began our day at a swift pace, and tucked into the stretching rolling saskatchewanian land.

We wanted to reach Regina by a certain day, but sometimes its better not to ride in bad weather. This is what we've learned today. As we finally approached a small prairie town of 293 called Chaplin, we stopped into a restaurant for some real homecooked food.

Our bike started a conversation, and as we sat down to look at the menu, a man introduced himself and asked where we were staying. He told us that he had a small one bedroom down the road, yellow house, number 7, and that we were more than welcome to stay there. We thanked Keith very much for his offer, but replied that we had to be on our way to make it to Regina on time. Keith smiled and left.

We paid our bill and set out on the road. This time Ian sitting out and Ben Gulliver sitting in as 3 man. The boys set out down the wet rainy and wind blowing highway, as the van blazed the way close in front. About 9 km down the road, it started to rain. Terrential downpour. This was in combination with the 70km/h gusts. We had a quick team meeting, and turned back.

We knocked on Keith's door. There he was sitting on his couch watching the news. Keith was happy to see us, and was excited about what we were doing. He offered us his roof over our heads in a night of bad bad weather. On a windy rainy cold and shivery night, we have a roof over our heads. Tonight we are in a warm house in the middle of the prairies, because a perfect stranger is now a friend.

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