My bike wasn't finished last night, but by 10:30am I was on the road, with new brake pads up front, fresh hydraulic fluid all around, and brand new set of Metzler Tourance tires. My plan today was to ride around 300 miles to the town of Grande Prairie Alberta. The weather was sunny with just a few clouds. West of Edmonton the land grew hillier and there was less agriculture. Pine forest grew along the road side, and towns became few and far between.
Although I got a late start, for me, I was determined to enjoy the "journey." Around noon I stopped at a rest area. The folks in Alberta have a few things to learn about rest areas. It was mainly a huge, flat parking lot with a men's and ladies bathroom in the middle. No trees, no shade, no picnic tables. I guess they expected people to just sit in their cars with the sun beating down on them.
I couldn't do anything about the shade, but a few years ago my daughter Katie gave me a small chair that folded up with a small bag to hold it. It fits in my travel box. I often use it on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and it really came in handy today. I sat, overlooking a pond, and read for about an hour.
Back on the road by 1pm I cruised along at 120kph (about 75mph), and I wasn't the fastest vehicle on the road. At my last gas stop I called ahead for reservations at the Super 8 in Grande Prairie. I have found waiting until 3 or so in the afternoon gives you the option, if the weather is bad, or there is a problem with the bike, to stop early for the day. This added flexibility is worth the risk of not getting the motel you want. There have been many times over the years, including this trip, when I had to push to get to a hotel I had reservations at. This can be uncomfortable, and it also could be dangerous. As Vince Lombardi said, "...fatigue makes cowards of us all." The more tired the greater the chance you could make a stupid mistake. That would ruin the day!
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