On the road again!

Calgary to Drumheller. DAY: 151.76km. ODO: 1,423km. AVS: 21.4km/h. MXS: 58.0km/h. ATM: 7:04.

Though I suspected that perhaps my Achilles could use a longer rest, it was feeling considerably better, if still somewhat tender, and I decided to depart. I had still been unsuccessful at connecting with my cousin Ann-Louise and her family, but I was getting restless and had had quite enough of Calgary (my apologies to my Calgarian readers, but I find little favour with your chosen home).

I abandoned all hope of finding a quiet route out of town and just headed out 16th, which is the Trans-Canada, eastbound, intending to head for the town of Beiseker to the northeast, which is en-route to Drumheller, home of a dinosaur museum that has been recommended to me by many that I have met along the way so far.

Near the town of Irricana, I spotted a couple of American Avocets, in mating plumage, feeding along the banks of a slough.

Upon arrival in Beiseker, I met a German couple (from Stuttgart) travelling by RV in the same direction as I, as well as a local Beisekerite by the name of John, who was quite chatty. I picked up some lunch and dinner materials at the grocery store before continuing on my way. By this time, the Achilles was bugging me quite a bit again, which started to get me a bit down, as it seemed a harbinger of the end of this adventure. I decided that I would undertake to arrive in Edmonton, where I could visit a doctor or physiotherapist (although I suspect that all they would tell me is to stay off of it for a while and “come back and see me if it worsens”, which seems to be the first phrase taught in medical schools. I also decided that I would try to ride lightly, and keep my distances short, so as not to overdo things.

By the end of the day, I arrived in Drumheller, 151km from Calgary, for a total of seven hours and four minutes of actual cycling time, much of which featured strong head- or cross-winds after Beiseker. So much for taking is easy. Once the body-brain gets into riding mode, it’s hard to stop, until the juice runs out.

Here’s the Red Deer River Valley:

Because it was close to town, and my juice had run out, I stayed at the River Grove RV Park. Yuck! Think of the Green Point Campground near Tofino. Barking dogs, crying babies, car alarms, and liquor-fueled debates on various aspects of professional sport. Welcome to the Hotel Proletariat (I know, I’m a snob…).

I would like to leave tomorrow for somewhere less vulgar, but since this is the first camping long weekend of the year, this might be as good as it gets.

I’m sure you’ve noticed in your own travels those roadside markers placed, presumably, by the loved ones of traffic victims. Usually a cross, frequently adorned with flowers or other knick-knacks, and sometimes with a photo of the deceased. Though it may seem to some to be in poor taste, I have decided to make it a side-hobby to document some of these along the way. Such as the lovely marker pictured below. However, let me point out that, should I meet my demise along the road, under absolutely no circumstances should a roadside marker of any variety be placed in my memory. And especially not one with a photo. If you wish to remember me, buy a bench at Beaver Lake in my name, or hold a wake. But no roadside markers!

STILL in Calgary

I’m actualy getting a little anxious to hit the road, as things are getting a bit dull here. Calgary doesn’t really have a neighbourhood in which I like to hang out (that I’ve found so far), and I’m tiring of the continuous presence of the crack demographic. Reality it may be, and I wouldn’t want to be the type to divert my gaze by hanging out only at The Gap, but it is beginning to depress me.
I still haven’t decided whether the Achilles problem will prevent me from carrying on for a bit longer. It has improved, so I’m hoping to leave tomorrow, but we’ll see.

Still in Cowtown. Or is it hogtown?

Calgary (sightseeing). DAY: 0.00km. ODO: 1,271km. AVS: 0.0km/h. MXS: 00.0km/h. ATM: 0:00.

Is Calgary Cowtown or Hogtown? And why is one of those monikers assigned to Toronto? Someone please enlighten me.

I’ve been wandering all day, but I’m not sure what I’ve done. Second Cup is now threatening to start charging me for WiFi use, and I’ve only used it for a total of 2.5 hours. I guess I’m not drinking enough tea or something. Apparently the information superhighway is a toll-route. Damn that Klein. Maybe I should buy him a beer.

Ah, the joys of hostelling! Last night I got about 4 hours sleep, thanks to the peculiar nocturnal emanations of my dorm-mates. One, a machine language programmer from Fort St. James, who is otherwise a fine individual, snored out his best imitation of a jet ski. And another chap, with whom I have not conversed, talked in his sleep in a manner that sounded like either a series of whispered prayers or a soft monotone commentary. Perhaps he was praying to St. Jude for the snorer to be recalled to heaven.

I managed a lengthy conversation in the hostel last night with a 23 year old (who just moved to Calgary from Sault Ste. Marie) on the topics of employment, material wealth and the pursuits of happiness, which was the first conversation I have had on this trip that didn’t cover the topics of the weather or the insanity of cycle touring.

Seeing Calgary

Calgary (sightseeing). DAY: 0.00km. ODO: 1,271km. AVS: 00.0km/h. MXS: 00.0km/h. ATM: 0:00.

Finding an internet connection in Calgary has proven to be challenging. WiFi cafes are scarce, and the one close internet cafe I found would not let me connect my laptop. However, I have since found a Second Cup that provides free WiFi, so all is good (except that I’m drinking a lot of tea).

As my Achilles is stll causing problems, I didn’t cycle at all today, choosing to walk and take the LRT instead. The hostel I am staying at is on the fringes of downtown, where all the junkies hang out. There is a needle repository box out front, and a shooting gallery in the alley behind. It’s not one of the more modern hostels I’ve been to. This afternoon they posted signs on some of the dormroom doors indicating that “preventative fumigation” would take place on Wednesday. My room is one of the few that is exempt, which leads me to suspect that as soon as the spraying starts, any bugs will make a beeline to my room where it’s safe.

I had dinner with my sister, Karna, tonight, at her favourite haunt – the Ranchman’s Club. I’m not exactly the ‘western’ sort, but it was interesting, and the people watching opportunities were great.

On the way home, I happened across a bike shop with a very large poster in the window that shows a guy riding a bike below the words “Quit Your Job”. Can’t argue with that!

Finally – rain

Banff to Calgary. DAY: 152.45km. ODO: 1,271km. AVS: 25.2km/h. MXS: 64.5km/h. ATM: 6:02.

As I departed Banff, it occurred to me that I should stay an extra day to rest the irritated right Achilles tendon. It is the only part of my body that I have ever really injured, besides a little whiplash and some unfortunate hair incidents. Twenty years ago (astonishingly, I was twenty at the time) I slipped on some shag (!)carpeted stairs and tore the tendon slightly. I was on crutches for a week or so, and it was fine after that. It has never given me any trouble since, despite activities such as running, racquetball and Wreck Beach stair climbing.

Nonetheless, I carried on. I took highway 1A, rather than the Trans-Canada, which again was a good choice. Though longer, it is scenic and quiet. Less motorised traffic is always more pleasant. Except for a couple of magnesium processing plants, it crossed much first-nations, mostly rolling, grasslands.

As usual, it was sunny and hot, but thundershowers had been predicted. Ahead of me I could see two large black clouds spewing sheets of rain and occasional bolts of lightning, with a clear space between them, roughly where my highway was headed. The clouds seemed to be moving north, but barely moving at all, so I thought I might make it through the gap. However, about 25km west of Cochrane, the southern cloud moved over me and the rain hit. I stopped and put on my rain gear, but by the time I was finished, the rain were abating. Five minutes later the sun was shining again.

I had thought that I would stop at Canmore or Cochrane, but the former was uninspiring and the later was close enough to Calgary that I thought I may as well go all the way. I arrived on the outskirts of Calgary at about 6:00, but I wasted an hour looking for a route downtown that doesn’t involve a shoulder-less freeway. Eventually I gave up and just took the Trans-Canada into town, to the chagrin of the traffic behind me. I found a couple of “bike route” signs, but they inevitably ended up at a dead end or otherwise nowhere, with no continuing signage. I chose the Calgary hostel as my bed for the night.

By the end of the day, the Achilles was quite sore, and it now has a tender lump in the middle of it. I guess I will be resting in Calgary until it’s better. Just as well, as I have relatives here I can visit.