Day 28 - Whitewood, SK to Brandon, MB

June 10, 2026

Start Time: 5:15 am

Stop Time: 2:45 pm (1:45 pm without the time change)

KM Travelled: 195.5 km

Elevation: +354/ -551 m

Special Stuff: Weird adventures, Manitoba, Old Timers

Typically, I don’t get out on the road until 6:00 am or later. Knowing that today I have an ambitious goal to clock 190 kms, I want to get a super early start because there is a chance of thunderstorms starting around 1:00 pm. I’d like to get to Brandon before they start up.

Everyday seems to have a little extra adventure for me. I go to leave the hotel with my fully loaded bike at 5:00 am when I come across a closed gate between me and the reception desk - with a lock on it! I actually feel angry that a hotelier would lock guests in. On further inspection, the padlock is not secured. I open the gate and leave through the front door, realizing I’m leaving the hotel unlocked! Oddly enough, I think, this is “not my problem” but decide to text the after-hours number to let them know I’ve left the front door unlocked. They text back right away and tell me to “use the blue door before the gate” to get out. I reverse my steps, lock the front door and ‘secure’ the gate again and go out the blue door – which looks like it’s locked, but actually isn’t locked. I’m really starting to wonder about hotel security.

At 5:15 am, I’m off! I’m excited to get to Moosomin (such a great name for a prairie town)!

An hour or so into my journey, I come upon an accident scene. It appears to be a semi truck and trailer that has driven off the road on the eastbound twinned lane. I later learned that it was blown off the highway during last night’s storm – thankfully, it sounded like the driver was fine.

As I ride along, I think of the two bikers from breakfast yesterday. I’m hopeful that I will see them again. I expect them so pass me at any moment.

I get to Moosomin by 7:00 am, but sadly there is no time to stop – I need to press on.

Just outside of Moosomin, I feel a sluggish sensation – my back tire looks to be losing air. I look up and see Coyote beside me – I laugh to myself - Trickster! Thinking that it’s probably not good to stop beside a coyote, I keep pedalling. The coyote that has a beautiful thick coat of fur and runs alongside the highway on my right for quite some time, splashing through puddles, before crossing the highway in front of me. I raise my arm to alert the traffic that may becoming up behind me.

I managed to ride long enough to get to a roadwaydriveway. I change my tire in 30 minutes - my new record.

Since I’m stopped, I decide this is a great opportunity for a bio break. I find a place to go in the tallest grass I could find – taking care to time it so that I don’t flash any truck drivers on the highway. I stand up, very proud of having maintained my modesty, when I turn around and see a farmer driving up the road directly behind me – he got a full shot of ‘the moon’ (how humiliating). The farmer drove up to me, gratefully giving no sign of having witnessed the ‘incident’, and asked if everything was okay. I sheepishly responded that everything is ‘good’ and thanked him for checking in.

I continue to bike for a bit when the highway signs start to say “Manitoba”. I thought I had missed the Welcome to Manitoba sign, but a short while later, there it was “Manitoba - Welcome/ Bienvenue”. And just like that, 3 provinces DONE!

I look at my bike computer (Garmin Edge) - it tells me one time and my iPhone shows a different one. This is the only way I know that a time change has happened (it’s easy to lose track of time when riding). I’m now 2 hours ahead of my family out in BC. I also realize that I’ve lost an hour in my calculation for when the thunderstorm may arrive. I need to ‘drive it home’ if I’m going to beat the storm.

I’m enjoying my moment at the provincial landmark when a bike traveller pulls up. Someone new! He’s come from Moosomin this morning where he sat out the thunderstorm and is going to Brandon. I thought to myself how cool to almost be home. I have lots of questions – he does not ask many back. I read his cues - he’s not that interested in chit chat. I think I’ll consider him to be the “Mystery Rider”.

I head off, feeling the pressure to stay ahead of my new acquaintance, though, I did encourage him to pass me, as I’m a bit of a slow poke.

At the Virden 7-Eleven, I stop for a little break. The check-out lady complements my healthy lunch (egg sandwich, chocolate milk, a banana and 2 litres of water). As I’m eating my lunch, I see Mystery Rider riding past on the highway. The pressure to maintain my pace and  keep the lead is now off “Whew!”.

From Virden, it’s only 50 km Brandon. There is more direct sun than I expected. I’m geared up with wool socks, rain booties, raincoat, with a dark long-sleeve wool shirt underneath. I’m hot, but I don’t want to stop to change because time is of the essence.

Just out of Virden, Mystery Rider has stopped for a rest and is checking his phone. I pass him. About 20 km later, I stop for a break and more food, and Mystery Rider passes me again. I watch as he rides off into the distance and calculate that each break I take costs me about 1-2 kilometers. This is new metric that I find both interesting and motivating (to keep riding).

As I near Brandon, I find a backroad to get to town through Kemnay. When I get to Brandon, I’m completely spent and find a Tim Horton’s to rest, gather my thoughts and create a ‘next steps’ plan.

At Tim Horton’s I meet a group of retired men (the Brandon Old Timers) who are very interested in my adventure. There’s a lot of banter and joking amongst them - and with me. They are long-time friends – I imagine them as school boys growing up here in Brandon. They make me laugh and lift my spirits. I ask for a recommendation for a bike shop, and they let me know the best one and how to get there. As I leave, they wish me well on my journey. I am grateful to have shared this time with them.

As I’m leaving, I reflect on my good luck with the timing of the weather. The Brandon Old Timers told me that last night Brandon had 100km/ hour winds – and the sky was dark with dirt. A town close by was flooded out.

My next stop is the bike shop – A&L Cycle - to stock up on some more tubes. I get great service from the staff – and learn more about the steel shards on the highway and how to check for them (and possibly prevent a flat if I catch them early). I got some guidance on where to find a hotel close to the highway (and of course they are “up the big hill”).

I get to the hotel at 4:00 pm. I am exhausted, but I’m hungry and I need to get some laundry done. I was thinking to ride to Winnipeg tomorrow but remind myself that this is not a race. I also need to adapt to the time change. I decide that tomorrow I will ride to Portage la Prairie.

I’m in bed by 8:00 pm (7:00 pm without the time change) and fall straight to sleep.