Alberta done now
Day 15 – Sunday, June 21, 2009 (correction in counting days)
No riding – a rest day in Canmore AB. The boys went to the car show and Len and I did the Arts Walk for the annual arts festival. Also caught up on email and enjoyed the hot tub at the Canmore Chateau where we were staying. At end of day, Richard, Anna, Don & Aaron went to visit Katie. Len and I stayed close to home and went for dinner at Sage Bistroin a log cabin. Had marvellous bison stroganoff and local trout.
Day 16 – Monday, June 22, 2009
Blind Guy did an interview with CTV at Cochrane. I cycled behind them (well behind them) for a distance of 18 km to Calgary AB. We all arrived on west side of Calgary at around noon. In afternoon, I cycled into NE Calgary, doing another 20 km. On the way into town, I rescued a stuffed RCMP beaver from the ditch and he now cycles with me. When I returned to campground, we had a dinner of bbq pork with Diddy’s mustard sauce, Potatoes Anna, and a green salad with asiago dressing accompanied by a wine that Denise & Grant brought from Naramata Bench La Frenz – 2005 Montage – a blend of Pino Noir, Merlot and Cabernet – vinted by Jeff Martin (formerly Australian). This was same winery I visited on Day 5.
Day 17 – Tuesday, June 23, 2009
We drove to Edmonton AB. On the way, we stopped in Bentley AB to visit Grant and Lynne Patton, who run the Bentley Cycle & Trading Post. We also met Les and Carla who ride Catrikes. Dinner was left-overs as Blind Guy and team went into downtown Edmonton on a scouting mission to prepare for the TV interviews tomorrow.
Day 18 – Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The day started with the team in two separate places. Richard had two great TV interviews: one with Breakfast Television – CITY TV and one with CTV. While they were doing that, Len and I visited the Kinsmen Sports Centre where he had his swollen knee checked by Mary Young. She described his injury as “dodging a bullet” and cautioned him to RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) and limit his cycling for a few days. Once that business was taken care of, we separated again. Anna and Aaron took the truck in to have windshield chip fixed. The rest of us headed for the west side of city to start cycling. The boys rode a total of 81 km and I rode the last 23 km in to Vegreville AB, home of the world’s largest Easter egg or Pysanka. On my way to the campground, I picked up a bottle of German white wine called DREAMS. Just what I needed to go with the bbq chicken, noodles, and salad. The day was topped by Anna’s treat of ice-cream and fruit salad.
Day 19 – Thursday, June 25, 2009 – Good Samaritan Day
I left at 8 am to cycle to Vermillion AB. The boys followed an hour later and caught up before lunch. They continued on all the way to Lloydminster which is a border town. So the Alberta portion of the tour is now completed. I managed to cycle 72km before Len came to rescue me from a major thunder-storm. We picked up some groceries on the way home. Because it was pouring, there was no bbq today. So Len prepared dinner of sauteed pork, mango quinoa, and stir-fry vegetables on the gas stove. Highlights of the day: Blind Guy (and the team) changed a tire for two young girls on the road; Judi was videoed by two NB fellows who shared their oranges and gave her the energy to keep going in the early afternoon.
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