Todays Goal 821 mi — about 12 hours, 39 mins
Well it’s time for another long ride. I asked my partner if she wanted to go to the east coast and I received a quick nope. Humm.
It’s been three years since I have been to Cape North to check up on uncle Earl and the condition of his home and I really miss him so I already decided I was going with or without my wife .
I really didn’t know how this was going to play out with the oil patch in such a state and the possibility of no work this summer. As it turned out it’s been good and I even was forced to turn down a ferry flight to Columbia because of numerous delays and time restraints.
I was told I must take time off and be back before August 20 so when I mentioned to my father that I was going and that TJ had passed on the opportunity to listen to me complain about other drivers across the country and back he said ” ah I wouldn’t mind going”.
I quickly told him it was on the motorcycle and he said “oh I don’t mind, we did it almost half way last year, and as long as there’s no tent involved it would be ok”.
I almost fell off my chair, he’s 81 and he wants to ride on the back of a bike across the country, with me. Yikes.
I call my Dad and said ” I have been given the green light to go so what do you think about Sunday”.
“ah Sunday sounds good, I just have to throw a few things in a bag and I’m ready”.
“Do you have travel insurance”?
“Ah no, I’ll call today and get some.”
He says “What time do you want to go?”
“I don’t know, what time do you want to go”
“Well I’m up at 5 so anytime after that is good, just text me and I’ll call. ”
“How about I pick you up at 6 Dad”
“Sounds Good”
05:30 and my phone is ringing my fathers ringtone.
“I see you are up”
“Yep I’m ready”
“Ok I’ll be there soon”.
06:00 Mom and Dad are standing in the driveway and Dad didn’t listen to Mom and use the stuff sacks, he’s stuffed his backpack and he’s carrying a bag of white socks. Yikes.
I jamb his stuff in the trailer and after Mom prays we are off to meet TJ for breakfast and coffee.
07:05 and we are off for our first stop which is Portage la Prairie MB.
I don’t know if you have ever travelled across the prairies but it’s very hard not to be bored. From east of Calgary to Portage it’s flat and pretty much nothing else. Here’s a photo of the view for 12 hours;
Yep 12 hours of fields and very few trees. Ah thank God for coffee and cruise control.
10:00 We stop for fuel in Medicine Hat.
Here’s what they are famous for;
A Teeppe
Exciting isn’t it.
11:30 Dad asks “How much longer to Swift Current”
“Oh about an hour”
Dad says “Well that will be 12:30 lunch time”
12:30 We have filled up with gas and our choices are limited fast food or a long wait. Fast Food, humm “KFC or The Dub Dad” Humm
“A&W, ah chicken fingers will be good, I’m not really hungry” and when I turn around he’s gone. I thought to myself, If you are not hungry why am I in this joint.
Well the place is packed, yep, just where I would take the family for Sunday brunch. Yikes it’s taking to long, it’s suppose to be fast.
I gobble mine down.
“Ok Dad I’m going to clean the windshield, I’ll see you out there”
Well it wasn’t a very exciting day for photos but we did eat.
20:00 We stop at Boston Pizza in Portage La Prarie it’s the only place open. It took our server twenty minutes to take our order. errrrrrrr
I love their pizza and dad orders healthy salad with a chicken covering it. Yummy.
We make our way over and check in at the Sunset Motel. It’s very nice and clean with recently renovated rooms. All for $88.00 Total.
Dad is having a soak while I fill in the blog. There is a lot of dudy dudy do, words coming from the washroom. He sings funny songs and when he comes out he’s all refreshed and says “do we have to wait till morning to continue” Yikes.
24:00 trouble with photos but I’m done
Have a nice day!
3rd Wheel Rides With Dad 