So, it appears Sir Sanford Fleming is responsible for my arrival time. Left Winnipeg at 7:30 am Central, arrived in Thunder Bay at 6:30 pm Eastern. My math tells me that’s just over 700km in ten hours. Respectable. But the time changes play havoc with my laptop for some reason. I think it has to do with Sasquatchewan, they don’t do daylight saving time.

But first

The Ballad of Winnipeg, by me

Arrived in Winnipeg Thursday July 7 from Portage la Prairie. According to google, that’s 91.6 km. A new daily record for slothiness. Goofed around a little for the day, then Friday morning, I went to:

My second saviours of the trip

Thousands of kilometers on straight roads will shave the profile of a motorcycle tire, especially on a fully loaded bike. The factory Dunlops by this time were showing that I had been on the straight and narrow for some time, especially the rear. Cornering takes armstrong, and feels unnatural on a flattened profile. I knew the time would come, and I’d made half-hearted preparations!

Way back on the 21st of June, I stopped into Wildwood Motorsports in Winnipeg. Remember Winnipeg? Where I had to replace my phone on the way out?

Anyways, while in town I spoke to this fellow. And don’t let that smile fool you, he had it on the whole time we spoke, back in June, and yesterday.

My lackluster foresight for warranty service for the Tiger nearly bit my bum between Calgary-Victoria-Calgary. I couldn’t get skins on short notice in Calgary (absolutely no shame on you Blackfoot. I ask a lot of people).

Knowing I’d need new rubber for a smooth ride back I called Glen at Wildwood, from Calgary. He was busy, but his service writer took my details and promised to call me back.

Abracadabra presto-change-o. Telephone rings in Calgary, it’s the Wildwood service writer (sorry I don’t know his name): “I’ve got a nice set of Metzlers that’ll fit, and I’ve put them aside for you, see you Friday!”

And, they also reattached my chain guard (we need to talk, Marina) which very nearly fell off in Moose Jaw (we need to talk, Moose Jaw). Zip ties for the win! Held all the way to Winnipeg, 650 kms.

Hey Wildwood, I’ll add some pix of the stickers you gave me, soon.

So the need for tires and some bolts, and the fact that the weather forecast for both Calgary and Moose Jaw was abysmal, had me making tracks for Winnipeg. From where I left this morning, for the Lakehead again. Which is where I’m writing this.

Two hours or so out of Winnipeg

Then you get this

Sorry Vermillion Bay, too symmetrical

Evermore eastward

So much information

It’s true, I’m headed for the pillow. But first a thank you.

I had a hundred views of my last entry. Cheers to you all.