Cycling Across Canada: The Prairies

by Kane · September 8, 2017

Mountain farewell – this was one of my last pictures as I left the mountains and descended down to Alberta. It was beautiful to catch the mountains one last time as I left.

Guest post by Kane Mercer

Get the background on my cross-Canada cycling trip in memory of my dad.

Riding my way down from the mountains, I noticed the landscape change significantly. I was no longer in the Rockies and had descended down into the prairies of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Personally, I grew up on Vancouver Island so my favourite scenery tends to be mountains and oceans, but I can’t deny that the oceans of grass in the prairies also hold their own special charm.

While I was riding my bike from Calgary to Medicine Hat and then along the Number One Highway eventually reaching Winnipeg and Falcon Lake, I noticed that the rhythm of cycling in the prairies is a lot different than cycling in the mountains because there are no trees to shield the wind.

On one day from Calgary to Medicine Hat I was averaging 35 to 40 kilometers an hour cycling with the strongest tailwind at my back that I have ever experienced. On another day I had a storm blowing wind in front of me and it was really difficult even to go 8km/hr at full power. So, rather than things like elevation and road quality being the biggest factor, I thought that the wind direction played a much bigger part in the prairies.

In fact, I was so affected by the wind that I was compelled to ride my bicycle through the night in order to avoid a wind storm that was facing me in the morning. That storm turned out to be so strong that I had to seek shelter in a bird-watcher’s hut in the midst of the storm.

I also discovered that through the wide-open sky clouds and wind there was an opportunity to take pictures of dynamic skies, sunrises and sunsets. I think that I shot some nice pictures with my cellphone, but my attempts to capture the beauty of these breathtaking moments on camera will always pale in comparison to the full sensory experience of actually having been there. In the quiet moments of the morning that I was actually cycling through, the effects of the radiant light of the sun could be tangibly felt. It was amazing!

In summary, I wish that I could say that the prairies were uneventful, but through the storms and winds, I feel like I could have a deeper experience as I moved forward for hundreds of kilometers with only a few trees to distract me from my internal realm.

Finally, I just want to say that whoever said that the prairies were flat definitely didn’t cross them by bicycle! Sure, they’re relatively flat compared to some other areas, but there are also sustained, never-ending hills that work the calf muscles, too. When the wind was added to the mix, it made the terrain quite challenging indeed.

Now, I’d like to share some of my favourite pictures from the plains between Alberta and Manitoba.

For a daily account of my cross-Canada journey in memory of my father, or to learn more about my charity, please visit: rideforrand.blogspot.com

The new sights as I make it to Alberta and roll down into Calgary.

The Siksika First Nation is the home of my ancestors. I decided to cycle through and got caught in a wind storm! Thankfully the winds were blowing me east.