To Herbert, you say?! There is actually a place in Saskatchewan called Herbert, believe it or not. Unlike many of the other named places along the way, this one does not have a sign saying NO SERVICES under it. In fact there are quite a few listed: info booth, grocery store, restaurant, museum, motels, gas. However, I wouldn't want to give you the impression that this is a bustling place, because it isn't and certainly wasn't yesterday! Except at the railway station where they were serving watermelon and cake for Canada Day. But I missed that. I'll take you backwards to after the riders' departure yesterday with their little Canada flags flapping behind them. We had risen to a blue sky morning but after breakfast it totally covered over and by the time they left it was foggy! Yes, foggy. Lovely and cool to ride in but I was a bit worried about visibility. But when I passed them on the highway (wide paved shoulders and rumble strips) they were easy to spot and then the fog soon wore off. Did the usual stop to top off their water. Intended to stop at a coffee shop but really, there is nothing. Passed one picnic spot near Gull Lake but that was too soon, so I pushed on and near Swift Current found another picnic site in a copse of trees. Perfect. Drove into Swift Current where fortunately, the Coop was open! Huge place selling clothes, groceries, hardware, pharmacy supplies, furniture, etc. I stocked up with the few groceries we needed then headed to McDonalds where I spent an hour or so using their wi-fi. Treated myself to a fruit smoothie!! It was blazing hot by this time but each time I spoke with the riders they were doing just fine thank you. Drove back to the picnic site and found a table under some trees and there was a little breeze, very pleasant. A few minutes later the intrepid cyclists appeared. Gordon phoned ahead to the only motel in Herbert to make sure they had a room available. I arrived here about 2. The Lone Eagle Motel is nicely off the road, picnic tables under the trees on a patch of grass, and flower baskets hanging along the motel strip. A good sign. Nice lady welcomed me and then left for the Canada Day celebrations. When I opened the door to the room I was met with the 1950's. Very depressing. Turned on the air conditioner, unloaded the car, then sat under the trees with my book. Didn't want to be in the room! At least it was clean. When Gordon and Ward arrived around 4 they balked as well, and Gordon determined that the air conditioner was doing nothing. Anyway, the owners arrived back, changed our room (not much better but the air conditioner worked), and Gordon went to work cleaning Ward's bike from stem to stern. Shortly after 5 it was finally cool enough for me to get on my bike for a little ride around the town. The Chinese food restaurant that was supposed to be open, wasn't. Neither was anything else, but the Coop had just closed--still had their door unlocked though, so I went in and begged to be able to buy something for dinner. Figured we could BBQ some hamburgers and sausages, add potato salad from the Coop, and finish off our carrot and celery sticks, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers.
When I returned here, no BBQ, but after some sulky persuasion the owners came up with an electric frying pan which he plugged in outside our room and some paper plates and plastic cutlery. Still had a bottle of red wine, so we were in business!! Oh, and did I mention the trains that go by quite frequently? Actually, they are quite a romantic sight out here in the flatlands. Very Canadian, eh. Off to bed at the crack of 9 with the sun still up. I read outside for awhile as I had not bicycled 200 km in the day! Saw the beginning of the sunset but I think the main event probably came after 10 o'clock. So, a discouraging day in many ways but memorable as well.
Madge
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