Day 20 - Bow Island, AB to Walsh, AB

Yesterday’s rest day felt like it went on for a week. I wake up this morning earlier than usual because I’m chomping at the bit to get going!!

I’ve become resourceful! Using my leftover take away cups from Timmie’s I microwave water to make my morning coffee. I’ve also salvaged a bamboo soup spoon and knife to add to my cutlery collection. (Note to my husband and kids, if this behaviour continues after I get back, get me some help.)

I’m packed and ready at the door at 6:00 am. My chain looks rusty, so I oil it and let it sit as I write a thank you note for the motel manager and leave her a tip (she cleans the rooms too)!

My first destination today is Medicine Hat – 60 km away. The ride is pretty blah because the cloud ceiling is still really low. Off on the horizon I see the promise of better weather with some clear sky. One part of the ride that is pretty amazing is when the clouds temporarily opened up, they reveal a few massive wind turbines right there beside me…I had no idea they were there! Makes me wonder what else I’ve missed.

I notice the school buses (with their flashing lights on top) are out to pick up the farm kids early in the morning. Some kids have to travel a long, long ways to get to school. School will soon be done for the year - and I’m sure the kids are counting down the days. I’m having a snack break at a stop sign when a school bus pulls up from one of the range roads and I notice the windows are covered with mud! The poor kids can’t even see out of the bus! - maybe they don’t mind because they use bus commute as time to catch up on a few winks of sleep. Access to education for children on the prairies must be a challenge I’ll bet homeschooling and boarding schools sometimes need to be considered in really remote areas.

The cows and horses today think I am ‘the bomb’. They all stop eating and watch me as I pass by. One calf gives me a little “moo”. Two playful horses see me coming and decide to run alongside me for half a kilometer until they get to the end of their field. That must have been neat to see from a passing vehicle – it was pretty cool as the biker. Of course I talk to all the animals – sometimes I sing for the too – they like that.

I get to Medicine Hat and send Brian a picture of the city sign “the gas city” (I could go so many places with that line, but none of them feel appropriate for a blog – like who puts that on their city sign!?!)

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In Medicine Hat, I look for a bike store called “Cycle Path” which makes me think of “psychopath” (I can’t be the only one). It is located on the southern part of Medicine Hat and I take a local’s route to get there - up a hill and through some fields. The shoulder is narrow. Part way up the hill I notice a bike path and cross over the road to ride on it. After a little bit, I realize I’m on a “Cycle Path”. I laugh to myself realizing that maybe the store name is not so odd after all – this time, it might just be me.

I get there 15 minutes after the store opens and the staff are incredibly helpful with getting me the tire tubes (they even tape them up - which protects the tubes from dirt and grit which can make holes). They take a quick look at my derailleur and indexing to make sure everything looks okay (it does). I must have done something right when I was monkeying around with it yesterday.

I’m still feeling great after the 60 km so I keep going until I get to Walsh, AB - right near the Alberta/ Saskatchewan border. I want to cross over, but the next stop is 40 km away. I remind myself that this is not a race.

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I stop at a motorcycle campground in Walsh. There don’t appear to be any Hell’s Angels here (whew). The campground is low budget- $10/ night. Campers can tent or rent an RV for the night, but they don’t have electricity, water, or toilet. There are no showers. I inspect the RV and there is no signs of mold, bugs or mice. I rent the RV as it will give me shelter from the rain - besides, the ground is very muddy and covered with lots of wet rabbit poop. “This is different”, I think to myself. I’m feeling a bit down about tonight’s accommodation when I get a text from a fellow biker who did this trip last year. He said, “enjoy every moment”. I reflect on his words and realize this is an experience - one that I would otherwise never get to do. I’m safe and I’m comfortablish - so I’m going to live in the moment and enjoy it as best I can.

Day 20 – June 2, 2026

Start Time: 6:15 am

Stop Time: 12:45 pm

KM Travelled: 109.7 km

Elevation: +414/ -462 m

Special stuff: Resourcefulness, The biking community across Canada, Unique experiences