Day 29 - Brandon, MB to Portage la Prairie, MB

June 11, 2026

Start Time: 6:45 am

Stop Time: 2:00 pm

KM Travelled: 124 km

Elevation: +221/- 362 m

Special Stuff: Living in the moment, Meeting more bikers, Cozy towns

Today I give myself the allowance of a later start. Only 122 km for the ride and I’ve got a tailwind. I fill up with a big hot breakfast and hit the road.

There is road construction work as I head out of town with no shoulder for bikes, so I ride on the section that has been scraped away. At the end of the construction zone, I stop to check my tires to see if there are any of those steel shards poking into my tire – nope – all clear.

Two hours into my ride, I feel that old familiar drag feeling – I’ve got another rear tire flat. I walk up the highway to a side road. It’s a busy country road – I see a school bus pass by - seems like there might be a school down here given the traffic. I don’t make eye contact with the auto drivers as I don’t want to encourage people to ask if I need help.

You would think by now I’d be getting pissed off with all these flats. The reality is, I’m more curious than anything. I think that only having this bike ride to do, and nothing else, I have space to just live in the moment. No other deadlines or commitments that would make having a flat tire frustrating.

An hour down the road, I stop to take a picture of the scenery. There are more trees here in Manitoba. I notice I’ve stopped in an area with a busted-up tire (the danger zone), so I slowly bike away while having a snack. In my rear-view mirror, I notice a dark shape coming up behind me along the highway shoulder. Maybe it’s the two biker fellows from Whitewood! I stop to finish my snack and to see what’s up. The biker approaches and whizzes past me with a wave, a smile and a “good morning” – it’s Mystery Rider! I guess Brandon was not his final destination. I ride a little slower as I have no interest to play hopscotch again today.

McGregor is one of the last stops before Portage la Prairie, so I get some water and snacks and have a bathroom break. I’m hanging around outside the gas station (drinking my chocolate milk and eating gummies) when I notice a biker, and then a second biker! My curiosity piques and I get going and ride behind them – observing. Are they new people? Are they the two from Whitewood? Without trying, I catch up with them (must of been the gummies) – it’s the two fellows from Whitewood!!! The roadside is wide enough that we can ride two by two. It’s so nice to ride and chat! I learn that both are investigative journalists! (Oh, what fun careers!) We ride together until the turnoff to a Portage la Prairie where we stop to say ‘good-bye’ and I share my blog information. They continue to Winnipeg. (Later that evening, I do my own I investigative work and within a few clicks, I’ve found their social media platforms.) What a great journey for two good friends!

I get into Portage la Prairie and try to get the lay of the land. I notice a giant can of coke (apparently the world’s largest) and I can’t help but wonder what they are hiding ‘in plain sight’ under that coke can exterior?

I see a Day’s Inn on Google Maps, so I make a bee line there. After turning around a few times, I realize, it does not exist. Drat. I hang out at Dairy Queen for a bit to sort things out, so I don’t look lost on the street. I figure out my plan and walk my bike across to the other side of the street and hop on to get to my motel, but, I can’t seem to control the steering. Oh no, that can only mean one thing! I have a front tire flat (first one on the trip).

I’m eager to get to the motel – 1.3 km down the road where I will change the flat and have shelter from the storm that looks to be rolling in.

Out of nowhere, a biker pulls up beside me – a new person! This fellow (The German) has flown in from Germany to ride from Vancouver to New York via Toronto! He’s very friendly and we have a great exchange. He’s mostly camping and tells about having spent 4 hours in the bathroom during one of the tornado warnings - somehow his tent and supplies survived. He also witnessed the Brandon storm (from a hotel room) and said it was very dark with dust in the air. As he rides off, he points out my flat…I reconsider the wisdom of pushing my bike with a flat and decide to just change it right there on the sidewalk – I’m done the tire change in 15 minutes – including the chit chat with passers by.

I arrive at the motel, just as it starts to rain. The motel owner tells me I’m the first solo female biker guest that she’s had check into her motel. The motel is cozy.  Portage la Prairie is cozy too with some stone buildings, trees, and lots of resources.

With two flats today, I venture out when the weather breaks in search of Mike’s Bicycle Shop (to get some more tubes). The shop is close by - according to Google Maps. My ground search comes up empty. I ask a fellow sitting is his truck if Mike’s is around here somewhere. He tells me it is no longer an operating business. I thank him and let him know there are a few things on Google Maps that aren’t here anymore.

Back at the motel, I use a bathtub with water to find the holes in the two damaged tubes (thanks to my cousin’s husband who taught me how to do this) and salvage one with a patch. This is my very first tire patch - it seems to hold.

With two flats in one day, I will definitely get new tires tomorrow when I get to Winnipeg. I got recommendations for Schwab tires from both the journalists and The German. I will check those out online.

I’m glad that I have visited Portage la Prairie – there’s lots going on here, It would have been an easy town to by-pass.

I’m excited for Winnipeg tomorrow. My brother is on his way from Alberta to visit with me on my day off!