Perfection . Great weather , wind and sky.
The first stop was a motorcycle shop in Sherwood park just outside of Edmonton. Family run, with a variety of accessories that surpass any other shop I've ever been. I got a pair of riding gloves, so comfy, and emergency rain boot rubbers, both for next to nothing. Family pricing with Friendly service. The best score was a clip that attaches to the helmet straps to turn the helmet into a quick release. I'll include photos of the shop soon. It's called Sherwood motorcycles and power products.
The road less travelled was a wise choice. Route 14 rather than 16 east. Nothing but cross canadian trains honking joyfully to me as I pass. Those CN conductors know a freedom rider when they see one. Everyone waves, taxi cabs, truckers, even train conductors. The quiet countryside let me count 21 Mississippis with no hands on the baron highway. The music was blasting at 120km/h, when I noticed a rhythm that wasn't in synch with the tune. Turned out to be a 2 inch hole in the middle of my new back tire. Aha! A tow to the farmtown Irma and now, awaiting a shipped tire from Edmonton (being in the middle of somewhere which looks a lot like nowhere). The prairie winds welcomed me with a cross gust yesterday that must have originated round Pluto, hence, only 21 Mississippis. We learned from the events of Day 1 of this journey, that safety, as in, checking one's tires is very important, every time one stops for a fill up or otherwise. We learned that one should carry ample food to be stranded in the sticks and we learned that black flies can and do fit between even the finest orthodontic work. All is well because, sunrise is here... Day 2 begins and who knows what adventure today will bring....(though I got wind of a free BBQ in town).