186km. Let’s say that again – 186km on the ninth straight day on the bikes.
With a tail wind today and forecasts of a strong cross-head wind tomorrow we decided after about 60km that we should ride our luck – and the wind – and push on for Winnipeg today, even if it meant riding more than 20km farther than either of us has done in one day before. It also meant a complete skip of the scenic route in favour of our first foray along Highway 1 (the Trans Canada Highway) in the 4,000km of this journey so far.
At breakfast in Gladstone (37km in) locals told us we should go for Winnipeg. The winds here have grown stronger over the years and they knew the forecast 57km/h southerly tomorrow would most likely materialize. So we stocked up on sandwiches at the local bakery and decided to make a call about 20km down the road. There we decided to go for it, but opted for a northern, quiet, route. It was a risk that didn’t pay off as we found thick gravel that would have made it impossible to cover another 120km in one day. So we headed south along a farm track, ducked through a grain elevator yard and rejoined the highway. Thanks to the tail wind and flat topography we reached Portage La Prairie (our original planned stop for the night) by lunchtime and were glad we wouldn’t be twiddling our thumbs there for the afternoon and night.
But it was quite painful riding the rest of the way. We had to stick to Highway 1 as the shortest and only guaranteed paved route. No looking around at the scenery of flat fields, short stops to stretch aching muscles or grab a quick bite only, and a few white knuckle roadworks moments squished next to enormous trucks. But the drivers were great, moving away from us when they could.
We finally crossed the Assiniboine River again and survived roadworks and traffic jams through the industrial outskirts of Winnipeg. But then Google Maps showed us a bike route all the way to our hotel near the airport. What a lovely last 15km – all on bike paths through areas being rewilded for biodiversity, through neighbourhoods and along creeks. It wrapped around the south of the airport and took us right to our door. The pain reminded us what we had ridden but the bike paths made the memory more pleasant.
The logistics had worked – our bike bags were waiting for us and we have a spare day to enjoy the Peg tomorrow.
Today’s distance: 186km on Treaty 2 and Treaty 1 land
Today’s climb: about 70m – all in one hill within 5km of the start
Total distance: 3,989km
https://transcanadatrek.travel.blog/
#transcanadatrail
@transcanadatrail
Leaving Neepawa. Our motel was on this road. It was not a quiet night. 
The only hill of the day 
Stretch stop 
Amazing sandwiches are born here – Gladstone bakery 
Farm track to rejoin the highway 
Not the actress we presume 
Beating the traffic to the train stop 
Bron so amused at this highway riding 
Gill just walked off into the distance in disgust 
Trucks are looong here 
Trans Canada Epic 