Day 12--July2--Herbert to Regina

Up at 5 a.m.  So is the sun!  The boys leave just after 6.  Not much to say; the scenery is pretty much the same as yesteerday across this vast land.  The day is a scorcher and the boys will be feeling it.  At the end of the day I learn that the wind coming at them from the East plus the heat helped to drain them.  Caught up with them about 60 km out and filled up water bottles.  We had all seen the salt deposit along the way.  A welcome change from the scenery.  Also, as we left Herbert we could see quite a large shallow lake (Reed Lake) where there were duck blinds.  And a dead deer at the side of the road--probably hit by a car rather than a hunter!  I wonder if this is the area that Mitch Speigel used to come to hunt?  Also, keep thinking of Tom Ward as we cross Saskatchewan; where did he grow up?  Driving along after the salt deposit, I come to Belle Plaine near which there is a huge mine complex for potash.  Take picture for Andrew.  Another stop is at Mortlach, a cute but dead town, where I get a cup of coffee.  Stopped at Mortlach because it is the name of a town in Scotland, near where my grandparents came from!  I guess the scots made it to the prairies as well as everywhere else in Canada!  We  have agreed to meet for lunch in Moose Jaw.  I end up at the McDonald's for a fruit smoothie again, plus wi-fi, plus air conditioning, plus I can re-fill water bottles with new ice-laden water.  The riders arrive, exhausted and hot, very hot.  After lunch, they set off again and so do I.  The highway after Moose Jaw is not in good condition and I really feel sorry for them.  Onwards to Regina for me and I get checked in at the Ramada downtown just after 2 p.m.  The promised pool and hot tub are closed for yearly maintenance!!  But the room is nice and there is free washing machine and dryer.  Yeah!  Too hot to make a decision to move elsewhere anyway.  The boys arrive about 4.   They have not had a good day and truly deserve their time off.  However, they report having stopped at a dismal-looking bar at the side of the road in one of the godforsaken towns.  There they got a few minutes of air conditioning, some fresh ice water from the very amenable bartender, and some restorative gaiterade!  We relax for awhile in the hotel room, no energy for touring Regina.  Then off to dinner nearby at a nice restaurant called Memories.  We all promise not to waken early in the morning!!
Madge