Day 18

Looking back at fifty, I realize that Day 18 was the moment we truly committed to the vastness of the Prairies. We started the day by finalizing our navigation through the maze of Calgary—a sequence of side streets and paved trails that led us through Confederation Park and eventually back to the Trans Canada Highway. Leaving the city felt like a milestone; even though the mountains were still visible on the horizon, the road ahead was clearly a different kind of challenge.

The ride was a sensory transition. The primary entertainment was the army of little prairie dogs scurrying alongside the road. However, the physical toll of the trip was mounting—Wendy was feeling miserable and achy, so we had to pause and redistribute her gear among the rest of us. I remember the wind shifting from a helpful nudge to a punishing headwind as we turned south toward the "thirteen-mile corner".

Reaching Gleichen felt like finding an oasis in a storm. After discovering the local B&B was full and the campground lacked water, a local named Kathy saved us. She arranged for us to stay at the G&C Jubilee seniors' recreation centre just as dark clouds were rolling in. Having an indoor space to cook and rest was a luxury we didn't expect, though the day ended on a heavy note. One of our friends had a serious health concern that required a call to the hospital. We went to bed with a lot of worry, waiting for the morning clinic to open.

We choke back one last cafeteria breakfast before we reassemble our gear. Blue and our friend finalize our route out of Calgary. As we push off, it is barely overcast and the temperature is in the high teens. We zigzag north and east through Calgary side streets and paved bike trails before we finally rejoin the Trans Canada Highway. We are out of Calgary.

The ride is very easy with a few gentle ups and downs. Scenery is unremarkable except for the little prairie dogs running about in the grass. Late in the morning, our friend catches up to Blue and myself to tell us Wendy is not feeling well. We redistribute her cargo to help her keep up; I end up receiving their tent, so I am now carrying two of them! Even with the extra weight, I still find I am slowly pulling away from the others.

We reach Strathmore for lunch, and it starts to drizzle while we are inside. The ride in the afternoon involves hills that stretch into long, slow climbs against the wind. We reach "thirteen mile corner" and turn south against a headwind. To save everyone the trip in case Gleichen has no services, our friend and I detach our trailers and ride into town. We meet a woman named Kathy at a gas station who makes several calls and eventually arranges for us to stay in the seniors' recreation centre.

As luck would have it, the recreation centre is not being used, so we are able to bring all of our gear indoors just as the rain reaches us. After supper, our friend tells us he has discovered blood in his bowel movement. He calls the hospital in Strathmore and they advise him that he can wait until tomorrow morning to visit the local clinic. We go to sleep tonight with a little apprehension and worry.