This was a long day with many extremes.
Just after I started in south Edmonton, it began pouring rain with strong north west winds. I rode on the ring highway which is like a 400 series highway in Ontario where bicycles are allowed. It was so scary with the rainstorm, trucks whizzing by and the road being a series of deep puddles. At the exits and entries I had to figure out how not to become rode kill. I was soaked and cold. It took almost 40 km to get on Highway 16. After about 4 hours the rain slowly ended and eventually it cleared up and became a very beautiful and at the end clear day.
I biked till 10:20 PM and 184 km. The late evening ride was stunning.
The land changed a lot over the day as the present altitude is almost 200 m higher than Edmonton and the hills are getting more pronounced. Over the day there were lots of climbs, then valleys with rivers and swamps, and some farmland, then plateaus with large bogs and some lakes. There are a lot more trees now, mostly poplars and coniferous trees.
Edmonton seemed to lie in a flat plateau with lots of rivers, the North Saskatchawan River being the largest. About 50km west of Edmonton the climbs started.
The Second part of the day was very beautiful.
At a store where I bought some groceries, a woman approached me saying she saw me last night on TV and she finds the cause really important. She said she knows what it’s all about as she is sheltering a woman. She donated a fairly large sum to the foundation and when I pointed out that this is a lot she replied its worth it. The owners of the store also donated quite a bit.
I was contemplating after these gifts: On the one hand I was so touched by women sporting Change the Cycle in such a generous way, but at the same time I couldn’t help but think that their support fits within the same paradigm. Women are able (or are conditioned?) to support men in so many circumstances – What changes are needed for men to do the same.
Here’s a picture of the store where I met the two women
A picture of crossing the Pembina River
