Day 18 - Coaldale, AB to Bow Island, AB

Thank goodness, the tire appears to have held pressure overnight! YES!

Now I just need to brave the weather. There is supposed to be substantial rain and wind today. I’ve looked at the forecast and decide to try the 24 km to Taber and then see if I’d like to continue the next 56 km to Bow Island.

My cousin makes me a delicious breakfast of toast and eggs straight out from the barn this morning - so awesome! It is difficult to leave the warmth of their loving home - I’ve enjoyed our visit. If it wasn’t for this bike ride, it’s likely I would never have stopped by - it will be a special memory ❤️.

The ride to Taber is wet and windy (sidewind with a little push from behind). It’s better than being roasting hot or riding in a headwind. I don’t actually mind it. My chain sounds odd, I pull in beside a little roadside shop to get shelter from the wind and oil my chain. I notice that the chain is rubbing against the derailer a bit - I know this is not good - I move a few things around and it seems to adjust.

I make it to Taber in an hour and consider the first part of the ride, and what is yet to come while sitting in McDonald’s. I look at my weather apps and do a physical and mental check in.

The wind is going to pick up speed at around 1:00 - my intuition tells me I’ll want to be off the road when it gets to 30+ km/ hour winds. I am confident that I can make it, so I decide to “go for it”!

The first 50 km Bow Island goes smoothly. They are twinning the highway (making two separate lanes for each direction of traffic) and there is a beautiful unused tarmac that goes on for probably 20+ km. I don’t use the new tarmac as the biking shoulder is in good condition and has ample space for me.

There’s not a whole lot going on today. The commercial traffic is light as it is a Sunday. Personal vehicle traffic picks up as people head off to church. It’s misty out, but not foggy. My attention is focused on steering my ‘ship’. Our late dog, Meg (who passed away at the end of 2025) used to do this funny (and somewhat annoying) thing of walking sideways pulling on and leaning away from the leash. Today I felt like Meg. I get to do a sideways ride - leaning into the wind so I could manage the guts of wind and stay upright.

Having never ridden in strong crosswinds before, this morning is an important ride for my learning. For me personally, it seems that riding in winds in the low 20 km/ hour is okay. The mid 20 km/ hour is challenging, but doable. The high 20 km/ hour and into the 30 km/ hour is likely too much (unless it’s a tailwind (that’s a jet stream to be taken advantage of!)) (Looking at the weather report (below) I think I may have overlooked “guts” speed as a factor to consider - and that explains a lot!)

5 km out of Bow Island I find that I am struggling. The wind has picked up. It must be in the high 20’s or even into the 30’s. I have my hands on the brakes constantly to reduce the chances of going off the road onto the grass. An extra part of the challenge is that I need a bio break, but there is no suitable place to stop along this stretch of the southern Alberta highway.

I get to Bow Island and find a great motel. The motel manager is extremely helpful. She finds me a room - walks me down to it and starts up a portable heater that she has brought along. She says I can bring my bike in (without me even having to ask). This motel is amazing - it has a great restaurant, a lounge, liquor store, and laundry facilities. What great luck!

When I check in, the motel manager tells me the motel sign partly blew off with the wind today. She suggests staying two night because the weather is going to be bad tomorrow too. I want to keep going, but my gut tells me that it is best to listen to the wisdom of the locals. I do a check-in with Brian and secure my room for two nights.

I get back to my motel room and realize my hands are too cold to unlock the door - I need to warm up and get something to eat first. Lunch is in the motel restaurant which filled with locals enjoying their meals with their families and friends. I order an amazingly huge and delicious portion of lasagna! I eat it all - putting ample salt on it. The lunch, including my coffee, was only $23.00 - what a deal!

Now it’s time to rest. The wind whistles through the doorframe and I am cozy warm with my little heater.

Day 18 - May 31, 2026

Start Time: 7:20 am

Stop Time: 12:30 pm

KM Travelled: 83 km

Elevation: +185/ - 159 m

Special Stuff: Getting better detecting and resolving bike issues, and great little motels