August 9

Saturday, August 11th, 2007

Last night gave me a much needed boost of energy and confidence. It was a late night, but I knew I had to make up time today, so I started from Mannville nice and early this morning. It poured rain all night and the weather was supposed to remain rainy and cold for the next 2 days. My only hope was that the rain would keep the winds at bay. I must not have skated through the wetness for more than an hour before it started to subside. The clouds remained and looked threatening, but the pavement started to dry a bit.

When I arrived back at Innisfree, we stopped at the Petro gas station to fill up. The manager had been at the dinner last night and made a donation. But today she wanted to make another donation from the business. What started out as a stop for fuel turned out to be another one of my most successful collections to date! By the time I headed back on the road, Innisfree had contributed over $1300! C’mon, Canada! Follow this wonderful town’s example. We could all spare an extra dollar or 2.

I headed North out of Innisfree because we were told by some locals that there was a secondary road running parallel to the Yellowhead Highway and had just been paved last summer. It sounded too good to resist. It was about 15 km North before I turned West again on Highway 631. Sure enough, I was staring down the road to Heaven! Smooth, black pavement and not a car in sight. The wind was blowing from the Northeast which amplified my progress towards Edmonton. I’ve said time and time again that wind is my worst enemy. I can handle hills because for every incline, I’ll be coming down the other side twice as fast. It always balances out. But when it’s windy, I can’t make up the time. But I’ve studied enough sciences in my day that I should know better. Everything always comes back to equilibrium. Yesterday was a bad day, but I’m making up the time today. Eventually my luck ran out when this lush road bent toward the Yellowhead and I had no choice but to get back on the main highway.

We made a quick stop in the town of Mundare where we were planning to stay for the evening. The campground seemed decent, but I wanted to get a few extra kilometers in before the sun went down. And I knew it was supposed to rain all day tomorrow, so the closer to Edmonton I can get tonight, the better. Mundare provided a few highlights today. As we rolled into the center of town, a giant structure standing at least 50 feet high was erected and towering over our heads. It wasn’t a typical statue or monument, though. It resembled a spiral strand of DNA. I was staring at Canada’s largest Ring Sausage! Apparently this little town is famous for their Ukrainian sausages. We felt obligated to pick up a pack for lunch tomorrow. Hopefully that won’t slow me down too much.

The other highlights in Mundare were the 99.9 Cent gas and the big blue buffalo. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen gas under a dollar, so this was pretty exciting. The buffalo was painted in traditional Ukrainian art. Lots to see and do in Mundare!

I continued down the highway and completed about 115 km when I decided to quit for the day. I was within 60 km of Edmonton, so i wasn’t too worried about reaching the city tomorrow, even if it does rain all day.

Every province has unique characteristics that I can’t help but notice. I knew I was in Newfoundland because every kilometer was actually 1200 meters. I knew I was in Ontario because the rest of Canada seemed to revolve around me. I know I’m in Alberta because every vehicle on the road is a pick-up truck. We live in a diverse country and I love seeing all the differences across the land.

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August 8

Thursday, August 9th, 2007

Every time I’m about to enter a new province, I get excited as a little school girl. The feeling of accomplishment and the sense that I’m getting closer to home gives me an unexplainable rush. Today’s rush didn’t last too long, though.

Although this was the first time I received an escort from an RCMP, it was one of my least enjoyable rolls through a city. I didn’t have far to go, but I was crossing from one province to another. I struggled to keep up to the officer as my feet rattled helplessly in my boots from the extremely rough asphalt. I had a bit of relief when we reached the far side of town and I stopped for a break at the ‘Welcome to Alberta Sign’. Many people have been telling me to expect great things about the roads in this province, so I’m patiently waiting to see the improvement. I’m only a couple of kilometers in, but I would have hoped I’d see a change by now.

It wasn’t until 35 kilometer into Alberta that the road conditions finally improved. It felt like the pavement had been summoned by my negative energy. I was angry and in pain, but I could now take comfort and regenerate on the soft, placid shoulder. My relief was joyous but short-lived. Road Gods shall giveth, and Road Gods shall taketh away. Jerks. The pins and needles I was feeling through my entire lower body prevented me from reaching my full potential. By the time I stopped for lunch at 12:45, I only had 40km behind me. Things weren’t looking good. At this rate, I’ll make Edmonton just in time for Labour Day.

The one glimpse of optimism on the day came in the form of my first Alberta roadside donation. But, alas, it came from a car with a Saskatchewan license plate.

The head wind and horrible road held me back to a measly 78 km for the entire day. I was only able to muster a few kilometers at a time before I was forced into the RV for a break from the elements. I ended my day near a town called Mannville, which is about 150 km East of Edmonton. I’m sure a lot of you are getting sick of my rants about the lousy conditions I have been faced with. But I need to elaborate a bit more about today. You all know the feeling of pins and needles in your feet. Well, imagine that sensation for a few hours straight. Now imagine that sensation AND rubbing your feet continuously down a washboard. Now add in the feeling of sweaty socks that start to chafe. Being subjected to all of this at the same time forces me to hobble down the road awkwardly. I have no choice but to alter my stride (if you can still call it a stride at this point) to the point that I look like I’m tip-toeing in agony. As a result of this form, I have to shift my weight from side to side in an unusual way that my body doesn’t appreciate. My back begins to ache and sends shooting pain all the way up to my neck. The only way I know to avoid the pain is to correct my stride back to my typical gate. But unfortunately that is not always an option. I have to determine which pain is worse and which I can handle. So hopefully this gives you a bit of insight into my trials and tribulations.

I’ve noticed a strange difference in the drivers of Alberta already. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a complaint. It just strikes me to be weird that there are distinct differences between the driving habits through the various provinces across the country. The majority of transports, cars and trucks who are passing me while I’m skating seem to have a tendency to veer to the left as far as physically possible without steering into the ditch or median. There usually is a shoulder for them to drive on, but I find it funny because I have more than enough room for them to get past me if they just stay in their lane. Call it courteous, call it over cautious, call it what you want. I can’t help but notice these simple provincial obscurities.

Having survived what was potentially one of my top 3 worst days, I was looking forward to a hot, home-cooked meal. And where else would I find that but at the Rec Center in Innisfree, Alberta! Innisfree was about 25 km down the highway, but we had been specifically invited to the community dinner thanks to my mom’s cousins, Marnie and Harvey. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I knew it would be a nice change for my mom not to have to cook, or from the usual Boston Pizza. The population of Innisfree is about 150, so I was dumb-founded when I walked into the hall to see over 300 people eating and waiting in line for food. What I hadn’t been told was that there was also going to be a country entertainer performing after supper. I was introduced to Brett Kissel while he was doing his sound checks. I never could have imagined that one of my worst days so far could also end up being one of my favorites. Before Brett started his set, he called me up on stage and introduced me to everyone. Throughout the rest of the night, Brett continued to include me in his show and call me up to the stage. The exposure was incredible and the locals seemed genuinely impressed. I was more impressed with Brett’s talent. This kid could sing. I couldn’t name the last CD that I purchased, but I was happy to pick up Brett’s at the end of the night. Remember the name. Brett Kissel is a rising star. And the Canadian Country Music Awards agree. He has been nominated for the second year in a row as a rising star. What makes him special, though, is his kind heart. With his help, the little town of Innisfree combined to donate over $800. If everyone in the country were to follow this example, I would surpass my goal by a long shot. It only takes a loonie or toonie to make a huge difference. Thank You to all the people of Innisfree for making the highest contribution per capita of any city in Canada. A special Thanks to Brett, Lucy and Kevin.

I will be arriving in Edmonton on Friday and will be making a stop at the University Of Alberta and the Student Center to present the school with a donation of the money I have collected so far. I will then make my way across the city to Sherwood Park where I will be at the Boston Pizza on Broadway. Hope to see everyone there!

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August 7

Thursday, August 9th, 2007

Winds are expected in the afternoon today, so I made yet another huge sacrifice. I got up early again. I know what you’re thinking. “That’s incredible, Rich! Skating all day long, AND you wake up early?!” But I assure you, I’ll be just fine. Heck, I know people that get up at 5 am just to go to work! It’s been working well for me to beat the Prairie winds by getting up and starting first thing in the morning. And today I had a goal of making it to Lloydminster.

My plan was working because I reached Maidstone by lunch time. I stopped at the Petro Pass on the West side of the town where I took a break and had a 15 minute nap. I never expected a gas station in Maidstone to be so eventful, though. The 2 girls working in the store were very encouraging and generous. I then had the chance to meet the Manager, Kelly, and her boys Drayson and Landon. We were in a gravel parking lot, so I was a bit surprised to see Drayson come trotting around the corner on a pair of rollerblades! I got a great picture with myself and the boys each holding one of my skates.

I was just getting ready to leave when the TV news crew from Lloydminster pulled into the parking lot. They had tracked me down for an interview which would be aired on CTV and CBC. Having a camera pointed at your face also helps with exposure. A few people who stopped by for fuel took notice of what was going on and made some donations. Like I said, It was an unexpected surprise in Maidstone.

Almost the second I began skating after lunch, the road turned to poor quality again. I wasn’t going to let it stop me, though. I pushed through the uncomfortable pain in my feet and made it to the edge of Lloydminster. Total distance on the day… 115km. What an amazing way to finish my blade through Saskatchewan. Weaver Park Campground graciously donated a site for us for the night. So I was able to have a hot shower before heading to Boston Pizza for dinner.

The border to Alberta runs down the 50th meridian and directly down a road in the middle of Lloydminster. Half of the city is in Saskatchewan and half is in Alberta. I’m still on the Saskatchewan side, but I’m looking forward to entering Alberta tomorrow. The roads of Saskatchewan haven’t been as bad as everyone told me they would be. But Everyone has also been telling me that as soon as I enter Alberta, the pavement becomes incredible. Look out Edmonton! I’m on my way!

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August 6

Tuesday, August 7th, 2007

We left Radisson with North Battleford in our sights. As the day progressed, it quickly became apparent that today is a perfect example of why I have my Ipod. The road was long, straight, flat and monotonous. My only escape today would be music. I had to concentrate on listening to the songs and singing along loudly. The road wasn’t the smoothest pavement, but it wasn’t the worst, either. Saskatchewan seems to use some sort of an oily tar to patch road work rather than using new asphalt. On one hand it works well because it makes the road exceptionally smooth. But on the other hand, it’s very soft and slows me down forcing me to work a bit harder. That being said, I much prefer this over rough, painful roads any day.

I continued to work my way across the inconsistent highway which kept switching between the soft tar and very rough asphalt. I was nearly in North Battleford when a car pulled over. The man who got out was a reporter for the local newspaper. I didn’t even know we were expecting him to come out. But as I glanced in his car, I noticed his family was waiting patiently inside with luggage and pillows. As it would be, this guy just happened to come across me on the highway and wanted to stop for an interview. He had no idea I was coming and it was a complete coincidence that he was here now. Impeccable timing!

Since I reached North Battleford earlier than expected, I decided that I would skate a bit longer toward Lloydminster. This way i should be able to make it to Lloyd tomorrow evening. The wind had started to pick up from the West as I left North Battleford, but the road condition improved drastically. There was just one problem now. I suddenly went from the flat Prairies to significant rolling hills. My first thought was that I took a wrong turn at Saskatoon and had somehow time-warped back to New Brunswick. The hills, the trees, the roads. It all felt familiar even though I’ve never been here.

On our way back to Boston Pizza in North Battleford, I got an e-mail from a family who had seen me in Moose Jaw. They told me they were in North Battleford and wanted to meet me. I invited them to Boston Pizza, but they were just passing through so we met at David Laird campground where we were given a site for free for the night. The Tierney family was just on vacation from Burlington, Ontario and had stumbled into my path a few days ago. We had a great chance to chat and share some of my experiences. I got some nice pictures with their young boys before we had to head off to Boston Pizza. It was wonderful meeting you, Tierney’s. Stay in touch.

I was looking forward to this restaurant. Manager Megan had seemed overly energetic and excited about my arrival. So it was a bit of a surprise when she wasn’t there to greet us when we walked in. It didn’t take us long to figure out that the store was having a bit of difficulty and Megan had her hands full for the moment. We would later discover that a bunch of employees had called in sick so they were very short-staffed and extremely busy. But even as busy as they were, another server named Megan took a minute out of her time to make a simple but effective announcement to the store. The chaos began to subside and Manager Megan finally had enough time to come out and chat. She told us about the palm-palms she had intended to have her staff shaking for me when I walked in, but it just didn’t work that way. No worries, Megan. Overall, we had a great response from Megan’s announcement. We were very pleased with your restaurant and the hard-working staff. I couldn’t leave with out getting a photo with some of the employees. And who could ask for anything better than a Megan Sandwich with me stuck in the middle!

I had just enough time when we got back to the campground to call CKNW, a Vancouver radio station, for another interview. My parents and I have been able to work out more arrival dates more accurately. At this point, it’s safe to anticipate my finale in Vancouver for Saturday, September 8th. I expect EVERYONE to be there. Get your skates out now and join me for all of or part of the blade from Horseshoe Bay to English Bay. I’ll also be updating the dates for various other cities between here and there.

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August 5

Monday, August 6th, 2007

Today marks the 3 month Anniversary of my start from St. John’s Newfoundland. And what better way to celebrate than to sleep in! My efforts from the last couple days have put me slightly ahead of where I thought I’d be, so there was no sense in rushing off this morning. Besides, we had some errands to run.

Diana had a fantastic pancake breakfast waiting for me when I walked into the house. I’ve got so used to my usual breakfast that I forgot how delicious other foods can be. By the time I finished eating, I had just enough time to get ready for an interview with Global TV. They came right to the house where they asked me some typical questions and took some footage of me skating around the street.

After doing our errands and having another great lunch served to us at Diana and Neil’s house, we finally headed out so I could get in a few kilometers before the sun went down. Just as I was leaving Saskatoon, Global TV showed up again to get some additional footage of me in action.

I didn’t have much expectations for distance today. I just wanted to get within range of The Battlefords for tomorrow. I was quite happy when I reached Radisson about 65 km out of Saskatoon. North Battleford is only 70 km away. Tomorrow should be a walk in the park.

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August 4

Sunday, August 5th, 2007

My hear sank a little bit this morning when I looked out the window. I looked up at the trees and could see the leaves blowing in the wind. It was only 6:30 am and already I could tell the gusts would be a factor today. Typically the wind will pick up in the afternoon when the air starts to get hotter. But the elements were against me today for some reason. Was it payback for my previous day of 150 km?

I tried to make the best of the situation. My pace was slow and steady. I was working harder than yesterday, but I was only managing about 10-12 km/h. My slow speed must have presented a threat to the local wildlife, because it wasn’t long before I was face to face with an extremely irate animal. With a piercing screech, the animal closed in for the attack. I was unexpecting, unprotected and vulnerable. But my cat-like reflexes allowed me to dodge the first onslaught. What made the situation even more difficult was that I was facing an aerial attack. The animal was some unusual species of ferocious bird. Either I was too close to a nest, or the bird just didn’t like the cut of my jib. Whatever the case, he was some pissed off with me. The squawking continued as he bombed towards my head. Again, I was able to roll out of range. I was now flailing my arms in a sad attempt to deter the bird from attacking again. No such luck. He came at me once more with claws drawn. As I veered out of his sights, I now realized that I had an additional concern. I was paying so much attention to the bird that I wasn’t aware that I was wandering out into the lane with speeding traffic flying past. I had no choice but to stop and grab my only line of defense. You may remember it from my encounter with the vicious dogs near Welland, Ontario. Now that I had the infamous Oscar broom in my grasp, I was fearless. I swung it a few times in the direction of the bird to show him I meant business, and before I knew it the battle was over. The bird knew he was no match and retreated to the trees.

I was staring down the long, straight, flat highway when something unusual caught my eye. There was a formation off in the distance that I wasn’t used to seeing. As I got closer, the structure began growing. By the time I was directly adjacent to it, it was towering above me. Believe it or not, I was looking in awe at a downhill ski hill! Being from Vancouver, I’ve become a bit spoiled by Whistler, Big White, and some of the other larger resorts around BC. But this monster was incredible. I can only imagine the amount of man power it must take to operate its single lift. It was truly a funny and unique vision to see this weird little hill sticking up in the middle of a field. Mount Blackstrap… THE Saskatchewan ski hill.

The wind still hadn’t let up by the time I was within reach of Saskatoon. In fact, my struggles were amplified with each passing transport as they hurled a cyclone of spiraling air directly into my path. Now I had to battle the fierce winds in my face, as well as hold my balance from the unpredictable gusts generated from vehicles going by. All-in-all, not my most enjoyable day. It was down right miserable.

At least one good thing came out of my skate today. CTV came out to interview and film me for the afternoon news. I also gave a quick phone interview for the local newspaper, too. Other than my media coverage, these are the days of my journey I dread. Hate is a very strong word, but I’m comfortable saying that I really do hate these days. I work 10 times harder than normal and only cover half the distance. It’s mentally and physically exhausting.

From the edge of the city, I could see that Saskatoon had a thick smog looming over it a lot like Toronto usually has in the summer. But this smog seemed a bit different. I could almost see it moving. Some areas appeared to be more dense than others. As I got closer I noticed that it wasn’t smog at all. It was dust. The area is so dry and dusty that any traffic moving on the dirt roads around the city stirred up a billowing cloud of brown. They combined to make it look as if the city was one giant blowing dust bowl. But once I got into the business and residential areas, the dust settled and wasn’t an issue.

We weren’t sure if the Police would be able to provide an escort for us since it was a Holiday weekend and they were short-staffed. So we were pleasantly surprised when 2 cruisers and a motorcycle all showed up to lead us through town. It’s a really good thing they were there to help us, because many of the streets were blocked off for an event called the Fringe Festival. But they got us across town with no issues.

We stopped at Diana (another cousin of my mom) and Neil’s house briefly before we all headed over to Boston Pizza for dinner and reception. The managers at the store were well informed and enthusiastic. They were happy to make an announcement to the entire store so people were aware that I was there. I still love the simplicity. It always works well.

After dinner, Diana and Neil walked us down to Broadway Street to check out the Fringe Festival and some of the Street Performers. It was funny and a nice change from our regular routine of sitting around the RV all night.

Since I was able to arrive in Saskatoon earlier than expected, tomorrow will be a nice chance to sleep in and get some more errands done. But I anticipate leaving late in the afternoon to get a few kilometers in before the sun goes down.

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August 3

Sunday, August 5th, 2007

We may be driving an old 1978 camper van, but this morning she was born again. Before we even left the Moose Jaw city limits, we watched as the odometer rolled over and became all zeros. I was a bit slow with the camera, though. I caught a shot as it reached kilometer 3. My theory is that since the odometer shows zero kilometers, the engine should now run like it’s brand new, right?

For the younger people reading my journal, you are likely familiar with the rapper, Eminem. It’s interesting to note that he talks about a rough area of Detroit called 8 Mile Road. Well, I think I’ve stumbled across the truth behind the controversy. A short distance North of Moose Jaw, I found the real 8 Mile Road. I even got a picture of it. It didn’t look too rough to me. There were no drugs, gangs, violence or weapons around. In fact, I didn’t even see any houses. Just fields as far as I could see. Although I suppose it could be like Capone’s tunnels in Moose Jaw. There could be an underground life that the public is not aware of. Or maybe it’s just a myth. Or maybe it’s just a coincidence that this road is also called 8 Mile Road.

I was skating through acres and acres of nothingness. The flat ground seemed to stretch out in all directions before disappearing into the horizon regardless of where I looked. Because it was still early, there really wasn’t much traffic either. The sense of isolation was very humbling. It makes you realize just how small we all are. But at the same time, it was incredibly peaceful. I took the opportunity to get into my best Superman pose for a photo that really shows how desolate the Prairies can seem. All I was missing was a flowing red cape. I left mine in Vancouver.

As I continued on, I started seeing signs for Qu’Appelle Valley. I couldn’t understand because I could see forever but there was no indication of a valley anywhere. The next road sign I saw was one of those yellow signs with a truck going down a steep hill. Was this for real? And then I saw it. Out of nowhere, a huge gorge with a river running down the middle appeared in front of me. It was a bizarre feeling not being able to see it until I was actually at the edge of it. And the signs didn’t lie. The hill led me down the south side of the embankment to the water below where we snapped a few photos of this natural phenomenon. I then had the pleasure of fighting my way up the other side. It was tough, but only a couple kilometers long. So it was a nice change for me.

It was only 10 am when I reached Chamberlain and I already had over 50 km behind me. I was making great time. But then I had a slight set back. A suspicious, large, dark man was standing near our RV. As I walked up to him I realized he had a gun! Suddenly I was staring down the barrel with my arms high in the sky. With my knees knocking together, I mustered enough courage to make an attempt to wrestle the gun away from him. But that was easier said than done. He had such a strong grip, it seemed like the gun was welded to his hand. It turns out it was welded. And it turns out that the man was actually just a metal statue. And it also turns out that it wasn’t even a gun he was aiming. He was a statue of a Prospector and he was pointing his surveying tools. I must have looked pretty foolish.

When I left Chamberlain and headed up Highway 11 towards Saskatoon, the road quality could only be described as painful. Yup, another stretch of pitted pavement for me to endure. This couldn’t go all the way to Saskatoon, could it? After nearly an hour of torture, I was ready to quit. I figured that Maybe I should just go back to Moose Jaw, hop on the Trans Canada and head for Swift Current instead. It was almost as thought the Road Gods were hearing my thoughts, because they knew I’d been pushed to my limit so they presented me with an apology. A beautiful, newly paved highway. It was a moment of bliss for my tenderized feet. I think the Road Gods felt so bad that they even got a hold of the Weather Gods and convinced them to give me a treat, as well. Now, with roads smooth as glass and winds pushing me from behind, I was barreling down the highway with ease cruising at 40 km/h! When we stopped for lunch in Craik, I had 80 km under my belt.

Originally my goal for the day was to reach Davidson. This is roughly the half way point between Moose Jaw and Saskatoon. But when I rolled into Davidson at 3 o’clock I knew I had to take advantage of the ideal conditions I was having. One neat thing I learned about Davidson is that it is home to Canada’s First Certified Organic Research and Development Farm. It was pretty cool to think that this farm was completely organic and has been going strong since the 60’s. What’s even more amazing is that while we were stopped for a quick break, a man came up to the RV to chat and turned out to be the founder of the farm! What a coincidence! Elmer Laird had started the first organic farm in Canada back in 1963. He’s now 83 years old. He was also telling me that he and his family never go to see a doctor. Elmer said to me that the last time he saw a doctor was when he was 13 years old and that was just to get his tonsils out. So what does that tell us about healthy living? Prevention is the key. We need to work together to help find a cure for cancer, but we also need to focus on prevention methods.

I talked a bit before about the sense of isolation the Prairies give you. You can stand there and be completely surrounded by nothingness. So when I came across an A&W restaurant standing in the middle of a field, I was caught a bit off guard. It was an interesting scene to see an A&W with nothing around it except dusty wheat fields. I’ve been on my skates for almost 3 months now, and I’m still seeing things that are unimaginable. I love this country.

The tail wind was tossing me down the road all day long until I finally decided it was time to stop for dinner. Looking back, I really think I could have done another hour or so, but when I arrived in Kenaston at 5:30 pm, I had finished a whopping 150 km! A new personal best! Part of me wishes I had have continued on for a while longer just to see if I could have hit 200. But I’m still happy with 150. Especially since it took very little effort. This puts me a bit ahead of schedule. Instead of arriving in Saskatoon on Sunday, I’m now going to roll into town tomorrow afternoon.

We sat at our table reflecting on the delicious lamb dinner we had just ate. My parents sipped away at their green tea that they drink religiously every night. I’m not really into it, but as I sat there staring at my Mom’s inukshuk-printed mug, an interesting thought passed through my head. Imagine that teacup could talk. The stories it could tell. The tales it could tell of it’s travels across Canada. I guess they would sound an awful lot like the journal I’m sharing with you.

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August 2

Friday, August 3rd, 2007

After yesterday’s wind debacle, today was off to a better start. Jane had arranged a massage for me at her spa in Regina. I knew I had to skate to Moose Jaw today, so I asked if I could have the massage as early as possible. The massage therapist, Sonya, had an availability at 9:15 am. A bit later than I’d like, but no way was I going to turn this offer down. Imagine my surprise when Jane called us at 8:30 am in a panic because there had been a mix up. I was supposed to be there at 8:15! Nevertheless, we hustled over to the spa where I met Sonya and had a fantastic back and foot massage. Thanks Jane and Sonya!

I grabbed some food and tied up some loose ends before heading out to the Trans Canada around 11:30 am with my sight set on Moose Jaw. The road was smooth and the wind was light. It was still a bit in my face, but nothing dramatic like yesterday’s brew-ha-ha. Actually, today’s skate was about as average and uneventful as I’ve ever had. The only excitement came when I bladed up to a sign for the town of Briercrest. Most people wouldn’t even give it a second glance, but I had to stop for a photo. Briercrest is about half way between Regina and Moose Jaw. Maybe a bit closer to Moose Jaw. And it’s about 25 km south of the Trans Canada. The reason I wanted to stop is because my Grandma Lemon was born there 92 years ago! And I was recently told that her brother was the first baby ever born in Briercrest. I know you’re reading this Grandma. So be sure to check out the picture we took of the Briercrest sign!

I arrived at Moose Jaw’s landmark statue at 4:00pm. Mac The Moose. A 30 foot tall moose monument that is now barricaded by a chain link fence. When I came through here 3 years ago with Crystal, we were able to walk right up to Mac for a picture. But apparently the city officials have been having difficulties with local hooligans who seem to find humour in spray painting the moose’s private parts. I suppose it does sound funny. But it ruins the photos for everyone.

While we waited at Mac for our Police escort, a younger guy came up to get a picture with me. We got chatting and I discovered he was from Newmarket, Ontario and was on vacation with his parents. Luke and his folks were amazingly supportive and made a substantial contribution to me. Several other people at the tourist attraction gathered and also made significant donations.

When Officer Waldo showed up to guide me to Boston Pizza, we decided that I would lead the parade and he would follow the RV with his lights flashing. So we set off down Thatcher Road towards the city. The people of Saskatchewan have been very receptive with lots of horns blowing and hands waving. I was looking forward to skating through Moose Jaw and getting some exposure. I was a bit disappointed when I rolled into the Boston Pizza parking lot less than 2 kilometers from Mac The Moose. This will go down as my shortest escort through a city.

Boston Pizza wasn’t expecting us until our standard 6:30 meal time, so we got back in the RV and headed downtown to check out some additional tourist traps. The one I was anticipating the most was the Tunnels Of Moose Jaw. Apparently in the 1930’s and 40’s, Al Capone used Moose Jaw as a hideout and had created an underground tunnel system during the prohibition years to escape American authorities. I guess all the other tourists in town had the same idea as me, because when we got there, the tours were sold out!

With nothing better to do, we checked out a couple of old buildings, a beautiful park and then headed into the casino. I’m not a much of a gambler, though. Probably because I have about as much luck as a woodpecker on a metal pole. But that didn’t stop my Mom from feeding a slot machine a quick $10. Apparently her luck is just as good as mine.

The Boston Pizza was great. The Manager, Warren, was very encouraging and willing to do anything he could to generate donations. He made a superb announcement so the entire store could hear about why I was here. The simplest things, like an announcement, always seem to be the most effective. Mayor Dale McBain was on hand to meet me and welcome me to the city, as well. It always helps when Mayors and politicians get involved with me because the media become more interested. The Moose Jaw Times Herald ran a nice article in today’s paper and also showed up for a picture with the Mayor so they could run another story tomorrow. Special thanks to a few of the waitresses and hostesses for their donations, too.

Kim, Joe and Emily, who were at Boston Pizza last night in Regina, also came out tonight to show support since they live in Moose Jaw. They were also providing a place for us to park the RV for the night. Emily, an 8-year-old firecracker of a girl, drew and coloured an incredible picture of me rollerblading. Emily, I’ve already put the picture up in our motor home. Thank you so much!

NEW PHOTOS ARE UP!

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August 1

Thursday, August 2nd, 2007

The cool, calm, early morning starts have been working well for me, so I wanted to continue the routine today. But immediately I knew that something wasn’t right. I was on the road leaving Qu’Appelle by 7:00 am. My start time was normal. The storm over night had whipped the heat and humidity away, so the morning air was crisp and cool. The temperature was normal. But as I headed West towards Regina, the wind hit me like a bag of bricks. This ain’t right. Everything was perfect for me except the wind factor.

I’ve said all along that my 2 biggest enemies are rough roads and strong wind. I suppose I can look back now and say “At least the roads were smooth”. Regardless, today marked the second worst, consistently strong wind to date, overtaking the previously recorded second worst day on PEI. To give you an idea of what I was trying to cope with, Regina was 50 km from where I started. I took one break for 30 minutes. I didn’t arrive in the city until about 12:30 pm. I was averaging a speed of about 9 km/h as opposed to yesterday when I was coasting effortlessly at nearly 40 km/h. Talk about frustration.

As I said, I really can’t complain about it. I knew there would be days like this. And it could have been worse. Imagine I had faced these winds while coming through the hills of Northern Ontario, or the rough roads of Manitoba! My day could only get better. And it did.

Just before arriving in Regina, CTV sent a news crew out to meet me on the West side of White City. They took some great footage of me battling the elements and aired the story on the 12:00 and 6:00 news. It’s always great to get the TV exposure. Now I need to work on getting the National coverage rather than just local.

Upon reaching the edge of the city, 2 police cruisers were assigned to escort me downtown. Together we devised a plan that involved me skating a bit differently than normal. The police were a bit concerned knowing that my speed was so slow today. So they recommended having an officer in the lead followed by the RV, then myself, and the second cruiser on the tail. This would hopefully counter some of the wind I’d been facing all morning. The idea seemed to be working, but it was very hard for my Dad to judge my speed since he couldn’t always see me behind the big motor home. So as we approached the Albert Street where I would be turning south and escaping the wind, I pushed past my Dad and got back into our typical formation. Maybe next time we’ll try the Flying ‘V’. After all, it worked for the Might Ducks in the first movie, right?

I rolled into Boston Pizza in Rae Street exhausted from the monotonous morning winds. Not only did I have a chance to meet with Brent from this location, but coincidentally, Brian and Andrea from the Corporate Marketing in Vancouver happened to be in the city. When they heard I was in town, they immediately came over for an introduction. I was fortunate to sit down with all three of them and discuss how BP has been helping me and can continue through Western Canada. They are truly remarkable people, and I can see why Boston Pizza is so successful with employees like Brian, Andrea and Brent.

I had a couple of hours to kill before the actual reception, so we headed over to Donna (my Mom’s cousin) and Gordon’s place, where I grabbed a quick shower and cleaned up a bit. I have to look and smell my best when I know people are coming to BP to meet me!

Back at Boston Pizza, I was greeted at the front door by a friendly couple from Labrador. Peter and his wife just happened to be in town and read about me in the paper. They badly wanted to meet me and read that I would be at BP tonight, so they came over. If I had bought some off-roading rollerblades before my trip started, I would have considered going up to Labrador. But I think 10,000 km is far enough for now.

I still hadn’t even stepped into the restaurant yet when another man came up to me. With a heavy British accent, I knew right away that this was Bruce Hope. But me ears were playing tricks, because it was acctually a New Zealand accent.  I should have picked that up!  Randy in Winnipeg had called Bruce and let him know that I was in town. Bruce brought his amazing family, Marlene, Sean and Stephen, to meet me. They are all very involved in speed skating and really enjoyed the opportunity to see my skates and hear some of my stories. And I enjoyed meeting all of them even more.

Donna and Gordon had also made some calls and arranged to have many friends and family show up at Boston Pizza for dinner. In all, there were probably about 15-20 people in the party. Thank you to everyone who showed up. Including the amazing contribution from the restaurant themselves, I collected nearly $700 in donations tonight. One of the best Boston Pizza outings yet! Hopefully this is just a taste of what’s to come!

Just a last quick note. I apologize for any silly spelling or grammar errors. I’m typically throwing my thoughts into words around midnight after a long day of blading and PR work. So I don’t often read over my own work (bad habit, I know). My Mom and Dad have been great with proofing my journals, but sometimes they get too busy and fall behind, as well. So if you see anything odd, just give us a day or 2 and it’s usually fixed. Be patient. We don’t have a PR team ahead of us, or a technical team looking after the website, or a GPS mapping our route, or an accountant balancing the money, or a chef preparing our meals (except when we’re at BP!). We have to do it all. But we wouldn’t want it any other way. Well, my parents may debate that.

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July 31

Wednesday, August 1st, 2007

Another early morning from Whitewood helped me beat the heat. There was already a breeze at 7 am, but I was having a tough time determining what direction it was coming from. It felt like it was in my face, but I was able to maintain a reasonable speed. I could see some gray clouds forming on the horizon, but the forecast wasn’t calling for thunder showers until later in the evening.

If you recall my analogy of the old computer game, River Raider, you should remember the object of the game was to dodge as many stones and as much debris on the pavement as possible. Having mastered the art, I was now graduating to a new challenge. The highways of Saskatchewan had now introduced me to a real life version of Whack-a-mole. But this game wasn’t quite the same as the carnival game you’re thinking about. Instead of moles popping their heads out of holes and me trying to whack them with a paddle, the Saskatchewan 13-striped gopher would dart out from the grass beside the paved shoulder, scurry along the edge of the road almost taunting me, then disappear back into the weeds. My objective was to roll over their tails with my wheels. Let the games begin. Actually, I wouldn’t dare roll over one, even if I could, which I couldn’t. The buggers were like little brown streaks of lightening.

Speaking of lightning, I would have my second encounter with the awesome power sooner than expected. I had already skated about 50 km and it was only about 10:00 am. The clouds that had been forming were now looming overhead. I had slipped into my rain blades just in case the weather turned on me. I had heard that Prairie weather can shift almost as fast as the top of Mount Everest. Sure enough, and without warning, an intense fork of lightning slammed into the earth not far from where I was skating. It was close enough that the flash and the thunder were only a split second apart. I was hoping that I’d be able to see the lightning work its way across the plains, but it decided to begin its fury directly over me. Without thought, I jumped in the RV. We were only about 100 meters from the town of Grenfell, so it was a good opportunity for a break. With any luck, the energy of the lightning would be strong but quick and I could get back on the road.

As quickly as it arrived, the weather system moved on, but not before I had a chance to give a couple of interviews for radio and the Regina Leader-Post Newspaper. It was still morning, so I wanted to get some more mileage under my belt before stopping for lunch. They say that when I storm moves in on the Prairies, the wind comes from the East. They weren’t kidding! I took off down the shoulder of the Trans Canada with the wind hurling me along at an unsurmountable speed. Even my Dad made a smart-ass comment about having to use the gas pedal for the first time ever. My stride felt natural and easy. With little to no effort, I was holding a consistent speed of nearly 40 km/h. After taking my usual 2 hour lunch in Wolseley, I managed to roll over 105 km by 3:00pm! And I wasn’t done yet. Although I stopped skating earlier than normal when I reached the town of Qu’appelle, I had put out one of my best days yet. An awesome 125 km!

People often ask me if this trip has been what I expected. Well, I know bad conditions happen, but today is a perfect example of the way I imagined most of my journey. Call me optimistic. Call me positive. Or maybe just call me naive. I’m a bit concerned with the weather for tomorrow. The clouds are rolling in quickly again. And although the temperature is dropping nicely, the wind is really picking up. We’ll see what happens in the morning.

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