Day 28

Looking back at fifty, I remember the strange physical dissonance of Day 28—trading the saddle for a pair of walking shoes in the Regina rain. After five straight days of pedaling across the flats, my body was ready for a break, but my mind was still itching to see the local sights. I managed to convince Wendy to join me for a trip to the RCMP Museum, though we definitely underestimated the distance.

The hour-long walk was a wet one. We passed a Trans Canada Trail Pavilion along the way—a quiet reminder of the "trail" that had been so elusive in reality. Reaching the RCMP grounds felt like stepping into a different world; the parade squares and historical exhibits were impeccably kept. The highlight for me was seeing the cadets drilling in the rain. The drum major was a particular standout—I remember being genuinely mesmerized by the way he handled a baton that must have been four or five feet long.

We capped the evening with another home-cooked meal at Ruth's and a trip for ice cream. As we crashed that night, there was a palpable shift in the air. Regina had been a wonderful refuge, but with our sights now set on Winnipeg, we knew the final push was beginning. We’re almost to our new finish line.

After five days of riding, we are taking what will likely be our last rest day before we get to Winnipeg. While Blue and Wendy have decided to go to the RCMP Museum, I have decided to stay at Ruth's and spend the morning reading and catching up on my journal. I think I made the right decision because it starts pouring midmorning. By noontime the rain stops and the sun starts to break through the clouds so I decide to wander downtown.

After lunch and a stroll I come back to Ruth's. She is an art teacher at the University of Regina, so we ride over together and she takes me on a little tour of the campus and her studios. We spend another relaxed evening having ice cream.