July 9 - Day 15
Drumheller
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Longest riding day of my life to date, from Cochrane to Drumheller, along a series of scenic foothill and prairie roads. We were warned that the first 40kms would be hilly but it was a little more than I was expecting since we were riding in the foothills yesterday and it did not seem too bad. The day started with a 200m climb over the first 8kms. You would think you were at the top of the hill and as you come over the rise, there was another in front of you. On its own, this would not seem bad, but with a scheduled 170km ride, plus the side trip to remember Colin, it felt daunting so early in the day. The winds were variable today as was our path. There were times when the two coincided to create a tail wind but at others it was a headwind and seemed to be most often a crosswind. It was never too strong so was not the biggest concern. My major concern was in making it on time to Beiseker to not miss the ceremony (more on that below) so had pushed myself a little too hard on the hills early in the day making the latter half a bit slow due to lack of real leg power and just taking it easy on those long stretches we could see before us. I did treat myself today to a filet mignon dinner, very tender and tasty, but used up 2 days of what I am budgeting for food eaten out. Not to matter, the budget is only a guideline and staying well fed is important on this trip. Most of the day was cool, the heat only really affecting me in the last couple of hours. The camp is 11kms past Drumheller so 3 of us stopped there to eat before heading to camp making today a 13 hour day on the road for me. Staying at a very large family campground, lots of kids playing, this is the first night I have used my earplugs.
Still caught a couple of glimpses of the mountains in the distance, I do not expect to be able to see them after today.
Canola fields.
Beiseker town mascot.
Straight road stretching to the horizon 20kms away.
Getting into some small canyons near Drumheller and the Red Deer River valley.
Colin Krivy Remembrance
Today we remember Colin Krivy. Colin started the Tour du Canada in 2004 but it was along this stretch of road just 5kms outside of Beiseker that he was struck by a vehicle and did not survive his injuries. It is a beautiful area and I hope his last moments were peaceful as he enjoyed this countryside, riding past the vast open fields. We were each requested to bring a stone with us and place it in remembrance. For myself, I had stopped at a beach close to Mile 0 in Victoria and picked a pebble as a symbol of the beginning of this journey, ending and being placed at this location.
The group gathering in Beiseker.
Dave preparing to film the procession.
Police and fire escort to Remembrance site.
Mart saying a few appropriate words followed by a moment of silence.
Mart's Speech
Welcome All - To respect the wishes of Colin Krivy's family, this will be a short and sober ceremony. We are here for 2 reasons. The first reason is to remember Colin and the tragic way in which he died. I didn't know Colin but I think I knew him after all. That might be strange but there is a simple explanation. He had the same goal that we all share, to cross Canada on his bike. He wanted to see and enjoy his country. But sadly, he was unlucky and not able to fulfill his dream. The second reason is to remember all the cyclists in the world who died and were injured. I'll put an empty water bottle on this place. This is a symbol of the emptiness that we feel when we lose someone. Let's have a moment for our own thoughts. . . . (Placing of stones) . Thank you all for being here and have a safe trip.
Arnie and John, TDC vets that rode with Colin last year, placing the first stones.
The rest of the group placing their stones.
Our little remembrance to Colin.
Thanking our escorts.
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