Thursday July 16, 2015

We had breakfast in the campground and noticed a lovely oily film on the coffee, great water! We headed out to the Esso Station and there was the first shocker for the day. We bought 4.5 litres of water and it cost $13.35. To buy 4.5 litres of gas would have cost $5.17, water is 2.5 times more expensive than gasoline! Now you know where the saying Highway robbery comes from. Remember water is a precious commodity, conserve it.

After grumbling about the rip-off at the gas station we headed out towards Gull Lake. We had a really fast ride, the wind was at our backs, the sun was shining on our faces and the hills (308 metres) rose gently to greet us. A lovely days riding, and every sip of that expensive water was like drinking a fine wine.

We stopped at a rest area with three historical signs – telling the story of the history of ranching in the area. In 1886 a Yorkshire Baronet – Sir John Pepys Lister-Kaye (what a name) bought 10 blocks of land of 10,000 acres each.

Each block was one farm!

We watched these two freight trains squeeze past each other at a curve on the track. I am glad we didn’t have to wait at the crossing for these trains to clear.

One was full of containers going east bound the other was full of potash going west bound. Saskatchewan is the world’s largest exporter of potash.

This photo was taken a couple of kilometres outside of Gull Lake.  It shows, Saskatchewan oil, Saskatchewan grain and Saskatchewan trains. Three major industries in Saskatchewan.

We arrived in Gull Lake before noon. We decided to find a restaurant for lunch and then decide whether to carry on to Swift Current (another 56 kms) or to stay in Gull Lake for the night, as originally planned. I am not sure what hit me as I was eating my lunch, but I suddenly became very lethargic. We opted to stay the night in Gull Lake. I was ready to push it, with this wind we would have got there in no time. Ralf put his foot down and said no, “plan your ride, ride your plan” or something like that.

Why do I keep pushing myself when I am obviously not 100%? I had a bad back, but still wanted to ride, I have a cold, but still want to ride. I enjoy riding. I enjoy getting on my bike and listening to the thrum of the tires on the pavement, feeling my legs going around, and looking at the scenery. I just enjoy riding.

We made the right decision to stop. We headed to the campsite and set up the tent. Ralf went to get provisions for tonight and I fell asleep with Hank. I was awoken after about half an hour by the rumbling of thunder. A storm came through, hail stones bouncing of the tent, thunder all around and the wind picked up.

The tent survived and no water in the tent, the new fly is waterproof and hail proof. At one point in my dozy state I thought I should put some clothes on, if the tent got blown away with me in it, they would find me with my tank-top on and nothing else – not a pretty sight. The storm blew over and I was fine.

Prior to Ralf going to the grocery store he decided to take some photos of the old grain elevator in the Town.

There is a new grain elevator being built a few kilometres east of the Town.

After taking these shots, Ralf managed to get to the grocery store, before he got soaked to the skin.

It was very windy for the rest of the afternoon and got quite chilly.  We opted to go back to the restaurant for dinner rather than attempt to cook in the cold and the wind. It was so cold we had to dig out our puffy (down) jackets and zip our legs on to the shorts. I contemplated on putting my socks on, but decided against it.