Day 66 Portage la Prairie to Winnipeg.

No Pictures today Itinerary JDRF

So the promise was to meet the guys at Headingly at noon some 80km away, so we aimed to get on the road by 7:30am. The noise of rain and swishing tires was our constant companion during the night so we were a bit slow getting started but sometimes things go well and this morning was one. We were on the bike in drizzle just after 7am and passing Timmie’s with a fleeting thought of some hot coffee and a breakfast muffin.

We waited for a Prairie train to cross the road loaded with containers from China on its way to the east and the homes of unemployed Canadians. We cross the TCH bridge and made a decision to use it as all the traffic was leaving Winnipeg, and as visibility was reduced, we opted for the noise and the wide shoulder, rather than use the guys recommended route along the 26.

We sped along for the first 35km on a beautiful new shoulder of jet black asphalt, which with the rain on it gave the impression riding over a big black hole. As we’ve said before, all good things come to an end, and so did this, with 5km of shoulder construction which meant that we had to ride on compressed shale covered in a thin layer of tar. Before we got to Headingly we had 5km more of this to ride. Fortunately the TCH route was 12km shorter than we would have ridden on the 26, so we arrived at the appointed restaurant very early, very wet, and very dirty. We warmed up on soup and under the blow drier in the washroom, while waiting for the lads who duly arrived at the appointed hour. We had lunch then proceeded to Neil’s house lead by Neil and Ken, Bob acted a rear gunner and sweeper, did I mention a cold beer?

Everyone collected for supper at Len and Pattie’s , and 3 hours of fine conversation.

Average 18.7kph,

Height climbed 100m,

Today’s distance 88km,

Total Distance 4756km

Sorry no pictures today, it was just too wet and nasty. A great day none the less. Two days in Winnipeg R&R.

I think that’s all the news that fit to Blog. We had a very nice Night, night and slept like logs.