Day 8
Date: May 29, 2009
Distance: 77.8 km
Time in Saddle: 4 hours 33 min
Maximum Speed: 52 kmh
Average Speed: 17 kmh
Chase driver: Rob Nickel (aka Magellan)
Riders: Ken
The day started off bright and sunny with a tail wind that picked up through the morning. We were making pretty good time until the other shoe fell.
Todays ride was marred by dirty, rotten, scoundrels. I did not meet the scoundrels but found evidence of their malice and shinanigans along the trail.
Magellan and I parted ways at the trail head and I sailed down the trail past the first couple of blue and white arrows that are the directional markers on the trail. I then came to a few posts with no signs on them at all. As I passed the naked posts I made my own decision of where I thought the main trail ran. As it turned out I guessed wrong. The trail plunged down a steep slope where it ended abruptly at a river. I had to bush whack my way out and cross the stream where it narrowed by way of a biodegrading beaver dam where I got a double booter. (I took a picture.)
You might think that would be the worst of it, but no, just wait. At about 3:00 we started organizing our time to make the short ride back to Morden for a reception with the Mayor and the Morden Food Bank at 4:00. (Very nice folks doing a lot of work to break the cycle of poverty and hunger in their community.) I figured I could cover an 8 km stretch of trail before going back to town. As I stared the trail it was evident that this would be tuff sledding. Steep down hills, streams to wade across and punishing uphills were the order of the day. Again I wasn't seeing the trail markers and then I came upon a sight that I had to take a picture of. (See the pic I took) Can you believe it? Some dirt bag collected all the trail markers and piled them up! Good thing I had Magellan with me. I called him on the phone and he talked me out of the bush.
Tomorrow I am riding into Altona with Al Freisen, local radio personality, for a Pork Barbecue put on by the good people at The Manitoba Pork Council. Should be fun, it starts at the CFAM station in Altona at 11:30 so if your looking for a banner to wave or a cause to support come on by.
Until next time, thank you for your support. Ken
