Day 28: Maple Creek - Swift Current

km today: 142.5
total km: 2021.4

This was a tough day. The first 52km were ok as we were riding in a slightly forgiving wind. But after that we had such a strong head/tail wind that we were averaging 12km/h! That is snails pace for us. It didn't seem to affect people riding on a tandem bike nealry as much though. We passed the couple we had seen the day before as they were taking a break. But a few km down the road we saw a dark speck behind us getting closer and closer. We realized that it was the couple catching up to us. In an attempt to spare ourselves shame and them satisfaction we strategically had to take a break right then.

We actually got to talking and they are from Penticton and trying to ride across to Newfoundland in 10 weeks (no stops for them......poor them). Then they fly to Vancovuer and finish off the trip. They are jealous of our lack of obligations.

The wind was so discouraging, that we both flirted with the idea of stopping 56km short in Gull Lake. They took off and we followed a few minutes later feigning dehydration and we don't know what happened to them after. We decided that we would brave the wind.

Upon arrival in Swift Current we discovered that my (Katie) wheel was not turning well at all. An investigation revealed that I had broken a spoke on my back tire. Sticking to our number one priority though, we headed off for dinner at subway. After devouring three feet of sandwhiches, bottomless pop and a bag of chips we were ready to address the wheel. Failing to take the advise of most everyone else (wrap the broken spoke around an adjacent spoke) we decided to try and true the wheel ourselves possessing only one of three necessary tools. We never should have touched it! Our tune-up rendered the wheel useless.

Brightening our time of utter frustration was a quirky Montreal family camping next to us. They were floored and extremely impressed by our trip. They too were on a camping trip, an annual one, this year heading west to Vancouver Island. We got along smashingly with them, especially with Peter (the dad) and Fahima (the eldest daughter). Both are excited about our arrival to Montreal so that Peter can act as tour guide and Fahima help us find an apartment.

B&K