Saskatchewan
Contrary to popular opinion. Saskatchewan is actually not a flat province. Although there aren't any especially large hills, the terrain is always rolling gently along. Moreover, this province is actually the most difficult to cross in all of Canada.
What?!
It's true and it's because of the wind. Biking against the wind all day is more exausting than climbing up a mountain. At least when biking up a mountain, you know that eventually it is going to end and that there will be a nice and relaxing ride down the other side. Not so in the praries. Pressing against the wind requires deep reserves of determination and energy along with an early start to the day to beat the havoc that the suns thermal powers wreak upon the atmosphere.
Bike touring across Saskatchewan is not especially complicated as far as a route goes. Generally heading east will eventually deposit any traveller in Manitoba, however the route that I took when I biked across Saskatchewan wasn't particularly straightforward.
The first place along the TransCanada highway that I arrived at in Saskatchewan was Maple Creek. I slept outside the tourist information building just off the highway and in the morning made my way to Swift Current. The trip went very quickly as I was aided by a significant tail wind which literally blew me into town. Along the way I was assaulted by mosquitos out for blood (literally of course) and also baked complements of the Sun.
From Swift current I headed to Moose Jaw while being persued by an ominous and looming storm. The winds hurled me down the highway with significant force and I completed the 170 Kilometer trip in approximately 6 hours. Arriving in Moose Jaw I was in time to watch the Canada Day celebrations and the fireworks. I also got my bikes chain replaced here in a reasonably priced bike shop. The library has internet access, so I was able to send out an email to friends and family as well.
The ride from Moose Jaw to Regina was very short (less than 80 kilometers) and very uneventful. The winds once again pushed me down the road and I arrived after only a couple of hours.
Instead of continuing along the TransCanada I biked south from Regina along highway 6 and then east along highway 306 to the town of Riceton, Saskatchewan to visit friends. This proved to be a bad idea because highway 306 east of Riceton is gravel and it had rained the day before and moreover, the wind was blowing against me. I was forced to plow through the gravel muck, and eventually removed my fenders just to keep progress at an acceptable rate. Finally I made it to highway 36 which I took to the town of Weyburn. Only briefly stopping to pick up some food, I made my way to Stoughton Saskatchewan along highway 13 where I stayed the night in a back yard.
The next day I fought against the wind to Carlyle. Along the way, I went through a large construction zone where I bent a wheel slightly. I was forced to unhook the back brake to keep moving, until I was able to have it trued in Carlyle. At this point I carried a spoke wrench with me for the rest of the trip.
Leaving Carlyle I crossed the Manitoba Border and biked to the town of Reston.
Next Province - Manitoba