Day 116 August 30, 2011 Whitewood to Woseley 61km – Mike’s View

Today was as close to a perfect day as we can get.  Here is what happened.

We woke up in the town of Whitewood, next to the Whitewood Inn.  As Riley and I rose, and started checking our many social media accounts and responding to emails we had received overnight, Chris had started making another delicious breakfast of local bacon and french toast.

Chris had chosen that I should run with Riley in the morning.  I almost always run with him in the afternoons (when there is a headwind and heat), and he had recognized this and told me to join him for the morning.  Thanks Chris.

So, as Riley and I started off, I clapped my hands together and said "So Riley, what exciting thing will happen to us today?" in my upbeat and positive tone of voice.  Riley responded in his tired running voice "Probably nothing…"

Not too much after, we ran alongside what appeared to be the remnants of a semi-truck roll-over.  There was 1 side of the trailer lying in the grass, as well as much of its cargo.  The rest of the wreckage had been taken away, but they left behind a large number of tomatoes.  Riley and I then turned around and started throwing these tomatoes towards the MCC.  How often do you get to throw tomatoes?

Chris then came down to investigate the wreckage with us and take a few photos.  Just then, the sound of a train came rolling in.  We all looked at each other and knew what to do.  We each picked up a handful of tomatoes and stood at the ready.  As the engine rolled by, we waved at the conductor and then waited for him to be out of sight before we started to hurl these red and juicy fruits at the old rusty steel rail cars.  We are not against trains, or in any way angry towards the rail system, but just thought it would be a good way to change the routine of our day without doing any real damage or causing any mess.  We walked away with smiles and a good story.

As we continued running, it seemed like any other regular day.  Sunny, reaching a high of 29, with a slight head and side wind, but we should have known that there would be more excitement to be had.  As I was staring off towards the Saskatchewan horizon, Riley yells "Watch out!" I look down and leap.  I had almost stepped on a live and slithering snake on the shoulder of the road.  Riley, knowing that I don't enjoy snakes, laughs and says "You're having a pretty exciting day after all, aren't you, Mike?"

As we rounded the next bend, we saw what seemed to be a 'Closed Road', and decided that it would be a shortcut.  After taking a few photos on the road (made to look as if we were being reckless and playing in the highway) we made it to the end, and figured that it had saved us about 500m.  Shortly after that, a convoy of about 20 military vehicles passed us.  They were all very friendly and all waved.  That signaled the end of my run for the morning, and Chris then went out to run another 22kms with Riley.

At the lunch break, I went and put my head down for a short nap, but then woke up over 2 hours later at 5pm.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chris again for driving during that time, allowing me to sleep until I did.  Riley had only 5kms left at this point, so I quickly changed into my running gear and finished the day with him.  I thought that running with Riley at the end of the day would be easier, as he would have already run 55km, but I was wrong.  He was now dedicated to finishing quickly, and I had just woke up, was groggy and having a hard time keeping up.  The last kilometre felt like Riley and I were racing/sprinting to the finish.

We stopped for the day right next to a very cute little town called Wolseley, which, just so perfectly had everything we needed to complete this day as perfect.  First, it had a Rest Stop, which included gas, free dumping, overnight parking and soft serve ice cream (which we all planned on having, but were much too full after my famous stir-fry dinner).  Riley needed a shower, but since the towns slogan is "Town around the lake" we went to go find this lake and swinging bridge.  It had a quaint little beach and swimming dock into the lake that Chris and I took full advantage of, while Riley showered.

On the way back to the rest stop (where we planned to stay for the night), two gentlemen pulled up next to us in an exceptionally well kept antique car and told us about how much they support what we are doing.  The passenger had mouth cancer and was given a month to live.  We wish him the best month he's ever had, and more!

We stopped once more next to the grain elevators and the train tracks to take a few scenic shots of the town and sunset.  A perfect end to a perfect day.  It is now 9pm, and we are all settling in to bed. 

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

-Michael Downie