Day 34

Looking back at fifty, I remember the specific, hollow sound of Day 34—the sound of a bicycle being disassembled and packed into a cardboard box. After two thousand kilometres, those machines had become extensions of ourselves, but checking them into the Winnipeg train station early that morning turned them back into mere luggage. It was a definitive signal that the "Trial" was over.

We spent the afternoon wandering The Forks and the downtown shops as "normal" tourists, joined by Christine, Erin, and Matthew. They were the true lifers, the ones whose sights were still set on the Atlantic, and they spent a good portion of our final meals at Mandragon and Baked Expectations trying to recruit Wendy and me to keep pedaling east. It’s a strange thing to be so close to a finish line and have someone offer you a new one, but Shayne’s mindset was fixed. He was ready for home, and eventually, we all realized that Winnipeg was the right place to stop.

Saying goodbye to the friends we'd made in that final dash across the Prairies was bittersweet. We wished them luck as they prepared to tackle northern Ontario, knowing exactly the kind of grit they were going to need. As we sat over dessert at Baked Expectations, the weight of the journey finally settled. We’d set out from Victoria as a group of four and ended as a trio in Manitoba, having crossed the Rockies and the vastness of the plains. The road was behind us now, and the train would take us the rest of the way.

We call the train station this morning and discover that we can check our bikes and gear in early. So we quickly repack everything setting aside the few things we will need as carry-on for the train ride. We ride back to the train station, buy our tickets, and disassemble and box our bikes.

Once all of our luggage is checked in, we go next door to The Forks and meet up with Christine and Erin for lunch. We wander around the marketplace until Matthew arrives and then head downtown. We do a little shopping and discover a beautiful old fashioned toy store. We have an early supper at a little restaurant called Mandragon.

We hang out together for a little while at the motel. Christine, Erin, and Matthew are trying to convince Wendy and Blue to keep riding. Once I had set my goal as Winnipeg my mindset has been fixed and I just cannot imagine myself continuing to ride. I am ready to go home. Blue and Wendy eventually also come to that conclusion. We go across the street to a restaurant called Baked Expectations for some dessert and talk for a little while longer. We say our goodbyes to those who are continuing the trip across the country and wish them the very best of luck.