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When we started on this trip, we knew we would be doing lots of camping. All of us had varying levels of camping experience, but certainly none of us had done anything of this magnitude, essentially camping for 2.5 months.
Well allow me to tell you something: camping in the rain sucks. A lot.
The tents get soaked and you have to put them away wet, which can make them moldy if you're not careful, so you have to dry them out. Your gear and clothes get damp, as do you. It's not fun, and it makes it that much harder to get up in the morning when you hear the rain hitting the tent's fly, because you know you have to go out and bike in it.
That was our situation this morning as we left Maple Creek. Rain was coming down steadily and it was cold. Our only solace was the fact that we had a tailwind to start, a veritable rarity for us so far. Nevertheless, we got absolutely drenched, and the cold was enough for us to want to stay ON the bikes just to keep warm.
When we stopped for lunch in Tompkins, we were about to go into the grocery store, when the owner of a restaurant across the street started talking to us. We figured that warm food and some shelter would be better for us than making cold sandwiches out in the rain, so we went in. It was fantastic. The soup, sandwiches, and fries we shared were just what we needed to keep us going.
Unfortunately, when we got back out, our tailwind had turned on us, but thankfully was not too strong. Unfortunately again, however, it got stronger and stronger as we got closer to Swift Current, even as the rain cleared up for us. The last 30km were just a brutal struggle into the wind, bringing us in to town for a 140km day.
Tomorrow we'll start late, as we need to get the chains on our bikes checked out (they're all pretty close to done). The wind is supposed to be blowing right at us hard (~15-25mph, same as the last 30km today), so we're not sure how far we'll make it. The winds are your boss in the Prairies!
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Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Singing in the rain to Swift Current
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4 comments:
Hi Boys - rain does suck so we wish you a sunny, tail-wind day today! xoxoxoxo S&R&S
Courage les garcons - of which you all have alot of - it just has to get sunnier and drier with the winds changing to your back. xxxx's
The summer weather has to start sometime- there, here and everywhere. Hopefully it won't be too long before those tail winds and sunny sunny days start. Also hopefully, Keith especially, sunscreen is in your bags. You guys are great! 7 provinces to go!
xxxxx's Fluffer
To Keith and friends,
I am enjoying reading the blog. You think it is rough now, wait until you hit Newfoundland and the fog :)
Maybe I will see you as you roll through Corner Brook in July.
Keep up the good work,
Love from Nelda
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