Leg 26 - Moose Jaw, SK to Strathmore, AB

Left the motel in Moose Jaw at 6:20 am with overcast skies and 54 degrees. There was no rain in the forecast and the overcast skies turning to sunshine by the time I would reach midway between Swift Current and Medicine Hat. Gotta love the names of these Canadian towns.

I put my over pants on and the turtle fur ear warmer around my neck to keep warm. Part of the experience of this trip is the exposure to different climates. In Florida I was worried about heat stroke, a worry I don't have in Canada.

I stopped for breakfast in Swift Current, SK where I met two guys from Minnesota making their way to Fairbanks, AK. Larry and Gene had left three days ago and had spent the night in Moose Jaw. Larry is 65 and Gene a little younger. Their plan was to ride to Fairbanks and then ride down to Anchorage and then back to Minnesota. Good luck guys and safe riding.

Larry and Gene from Minnesota

I left Gene and Larry in the restaurant as they arrived 45 minutes after I did and I wanted to get back on the road while my energy was still high.

I found out why my energy was low the last couple of days. I spent a long while in the motel bathroom last night. I must have picked up a little bug somewhere west of Minneapolis. I am all better today.

I stopped at a rest stop just before crossing into Alberta. There I saw a trucker that I had passed a couple of times after leaving Moose Jaw. Just outside of Moose Jaw there was an 18 wheeler and its trailer lying on its side partly obstructing the right lane. There was a single RCMP truck with its lights flashing warning traffic. I asked the trucker if he had seen it and if he knew what had happened. His response was that the two truckers must have simply lost control.

I asked one of the folks at the rest stop to snap a photo. 

Crossing into Alberta, Canada

The winds picked up pretty good about 100 miles east of Calgary, AB. I checked the weather forecast again at a lunch stop in Medicine Hat, AB. There were 17 mph winds with gusts to 25 forecasted, right at the upper limit of my comfort level. Calgary was also forecast with ISO thunder storms at 4pm, right around the time I would be arriving in Calgary.

I arrived in Strathmore, AB around 3:30 and decided to continue on to Calgary. I rode out of town about 10 miles and saw the ominous dark clouds just a few miles ahead. I decided to backtrack to Strathmore and get a motel for the night. Strathmore is just 20 miles east of Calgary which won't add much to my travel plans for tomorrow. Heck, why force the issue?

Overal, 435 miles and just over 9 hours.

Leg 26 - Moose Jaw, SK to Strathmore, AB

Tomorrow the weather is predicted sunshine and light winds for the trek to Kamloops, BC.