Kilometres: 465.7
Weather:
Winnipeg: Sunny, 24 C at 10 AM
Yorkton, Sask: Partly cloudy, 28 C at 5 PM
I really don't understand why it took me so long to ride so few kilometres. I think I hit every red light on the way out of Winnipeg, but other than that, it was pretty smooth riding all the way through.
From Portage La Prairie up to Gladstone (small town about an hour or so north of PLP) there were thousands of those little white butterflies. You know the ones. They fly like they are drunk 'cause they just can't fly in a straight line. Anyway, what ever was growing at the side of the road was their favourite plants. Unfortunately, they all too often flew in front of me. At times it was almost like, but not quite as intense as light snow flurries.
I also discovered that dragonflies eat these butterflies. I think it is also mating season for dragonflies and there were a few flocks? schools? squadrons? ... I don't know the right term. But I could see them flying on the road ahead of me and there was nothing I could do to avoid them. Between the butterflies, dragonflies and the odd bee, there was barely a spot on my windshield free of bug splatter. I was also covered. Boots, helmet, arms and legs.
I pulled over for gas in Neepawa, Manitoba (is it pronounced Nee-pa-wa or Neep-awa?) and stumbled upon the childhood home of author Margaret Laurence. I didn't go inside as I was already running behind schedule, but I took a couple of photos.
A quick note about today's pics: It's just passed 11 PM and I haven't even looked at the pics I took today. I'm just too tired to do that now and will post those pics tomorrow night.
After Neepawa, the bug problem diminished quickly. I stopped in Russel, which is just east of the Sask border. Originally, I had planned to head north to visit the grain elevator museum, but as it was already close to 4 PM, I stopped for lunch at Subway and then headed west. I will have to ride another trip out this way in the future as I have so far missed three things on my "to see" list."
I rolled into Yorkton shortly after 5 PM. I soon found out about the weather warnings popping up all over the province. After a quick swim in the pool, I began repacking my gear and getting my Gore-Tex ready. Currently, the bike is packed except for a few items and will be ready to roll in about five minutes. The forecast is calling for rain starting tonight and going all the way through tomorrow. There is a good chance of thunderstorms. From weather watching, I know that sever thunderstorms usually pop up in the afternoon. I plan on starting early in the morning and will hopefully miss the worst of the weather. I will most likely miss another tourist destination in Regina and just keep heading west towards my hotel.
