Day 22 – June 30

FROM: Best Western Charter House, Winnipeg
TO: West Hawk Lake Resort, West Hawk Lake
LEG DEDICATED TO:

EXPECTATIONS: A short 2-kilometre hill with a 2 % average incline at 116 kilometres into our ride will be the biggest hurdle we have on this day, as long as the weather cooperates. An average historical high of 23 ° C and an average low of 14 ° C would be fine. The extremes, 8 and 31 ° C, would be less pleasant obviously, but as long as it doesn’t rain we will be happy. The POP of 45 % and probability of overcast skies of 40 % are not as reassuring as we’d like to see, unfortunately. Winds are usually around 14 km/hr on June 30 in West Hawk Lake, but if they reach their historical peak of 21 km/hr then we will hope as always that they come from behind. We are especially looking forward to our stay at the West Hawk Lake Lodge because we expect that this will be one of the most scenic spots on a journey that will be filled with majestic sites.

ELEVATION: start 235 m, highest 309 m, ascent 337 m, descent 213 m
DISTANCE: planned 160 km, actual ________, lost > 5 km detour _______
SPEED: average _______ , top (downhill) ______ top (flats) ________
WEATHER: rain _______, temperature low ______ temperature high _____
headwind _______, tailwind ________ other _____________
FLAT TIRE: Lori ______ Nancy ______ other mechanical ______________
PROBLEMATIC ANIMAL: wild ____ domestic (dog) _______ human _____
We were not disappointed with West Hawk Lake as it was as spectacularly beautiful as we had expected. The accommodations were also first rate. We had a lovely two-bedroom cabin with all the conveniences of home. It would be the perfect spot for a week or two, and we figure that most of the guests at West Hawk Lake Resort are of that opinion as well.
Getting to the resort was a tough though. We had a cross-head wind that was blowing as hard as 44 kilometres an hour, and that made things difficult. We also had a monstrous problem with horse flies, deer flies amd wasps. We couldn’t go fast enough to leave them behind and there were lots of them. Had to ride with our mouths shut.
We saw a mother bear with her baby just outside of Bear Lake, but we didn’t stop for a photograph because we were a little close. We also saw some beautiful white orchids which we did photograph as they weren’t so threatening.
We stayed off of the Trans-Canada all day, and that gave us a nice break from the heavy traffic. Highway 15 was a good choice, even if the surface was a little rough. We stopped at a convenience store at Rennie on Highway 44 and were just in time to see a pizza come out of tbe oven. We couldn’t stop long enough to eat one because we were concerned we might run out of daylight, but we ate it with our eyes and are pleased that we can let you do the same.