Valleyview is the gateway to the Peace River agricultural region of northwestern Alberta. I am now north of 55 degrees latitude, and the sun is just setting at 10:15 pm. I have cycled 1553 miles so far, and tomorrow I should get beyond Grande Prairie, Alberta, on the approach to Dawson Creek, BC. Sometime Sunday, I should be starting up the Alaska Highway.
Today, I got a good test of riding in continuously hilly terrain, as the highway to Valleyview winds through some forested foothills after dropping down to cross the Athabasca River. Moose warning signs were periodic, but my main concern was the blast of wind from trucks as I coasted the downhills. Having wide paved shoulders on the main highways is great, but I have to be constantly watching for stray gravel, shredded tires, miscellaneous metal parts, roadkill, broken glass, and any number of other things people throw out.
I have a few aches and scrapes, and my knees usually ache for several hours in the evening, and I know they will this evening, after today's 134-mile effort.
Thanks to those who have sent emails; it's always good to hear from people. I hope you all are enjoying this blog format. It sure beats trying to write lots of postcards.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Edmonton, Alberta
Thursday noon. Just a quick note as I pass through the northern outskirts of Edmonton, where I had a blood draw as part of the clinical study I am in on a new cancer drug. Yesterday, I had a strong SE tailwind rolling through the green hills of eastern Alberta and made 149 miles to Fort Saskatchewan, just east of here. I am now heading to Highway 43 and the Grand Prairie region, on the approach to the Alcan Highway.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Lloydminster, Alberta/Sask.
I've made it to the province of Alberta, 1171 miles into the trip. I am still running about a day behind the pace of the trip in 1967, but as I've found out, keeping up with 19-year olds isn't easy. I have had three good days, hot but little wind, rolling through the Saskatchewan plains and their biggest cities of Regina and Saskatoon.
Yesterday evening, I got caught briefly by a spectacular prairie thunderstorm, so black and ugly it wouldn't give my camera a light meter reading, taking refuge on the lee side of a large hay bail, my bike and I under my Integral Designs Sil Poncho, waiting out the wind, rain, and hail, thinking about the times that things have been worse. But they did get worse. The town I was heading for was listed as having a hotel and a city campground, both of which were closed, so I spent the night camping in a small park with a large number of vicious prairie mosquitoes.
Today, I passed the point in '67 where I caught up with Howie Graham, one of the foursome that were on the early part of my trip in 1967. The memory I had of seeing Howie ahead on the curve of the highway with the view of the North Saskatchewan River valley matched the spot I saw today, even though the road now is a four-lane divided highway.
Tomorrow, I make the final push towards Edmonton, the mental half-way point as I head into the forests and foothills. I am mostly beyond the wheat belt, but there are a few more agricultural areas to pass through on the approach to the Alcan Highway.
Because I have only gotten to a computer every 3 or 4 days, and I have been calling home via cell phone more often, my daughter Kaitlyn, will help from now on with more frequent updates, so keep checking in!
Yesterday evening, I got caught briefly by a spectacular prairie thunderstorm, so black and ugly it wouldn't give my camera a light meter reading, taking refuge on the lee side of a large hay bail, my bike and I under my Integral Designs Sil Poncho, waiting out the wind, rain, and hail, thinking about the times that things have been worse. But they did get worse. The town I was heading for was listed as having a hotel and a city campground, both of which were closed, so I spent the night camping in a small park with a large number of vicious prairie mosquitoes.
Today, I passed the point in '67 where I caught up with Howie Graham, one of the foursome that were on the early part of my trip in 1967. The memory I had of seeing Howie ahead on the curve of the highway with the view of the North Saskatchewan River valley matched the spot I saw today, even though the road now is a four-lane divided highway.
Tomorrow, I make the final push towards Edmonton, the mental half-way point as I head into the forests and foothills. I am mostly beyond the wheat belt, but there are a few more agricultural areas to pass through on the approach to the Alcan Highway.
Because I have only gotten to a computer every 3 or 4 days, and I have been calling home via cell phone more often, my daughter Kaitlyn, will help from now on with more frequent updates, so keep checking in!
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