Today’s ride ended up to be a solo outing as my better half was helping her local garden club with a public plant sale. It was nice to be on my own for a change of pace but I admit that I do miss her company as we rarely ride apart.
My primary goal today was to stop by a conservation site just off a secondary highway approximately 80km into my ride. I could have easily taken the most direct route and simply cycled the 36km to the site but where’s the fun in that?
I decided to ride a loop starting from my homebase and would ultimately stop at the Town of Delburne to see if there had been any changes since my last visit years ago.
I rode pretty much all of the first stage without PAS up until I reached a point 5km before my stop in Delburne. From that point on, it was pretty much back and forth as I struggled in the intense heat and constantly changing wind gusts which became more severe later in the afternoon. Several occasions on the return leg, the temperature reached a blistering 36C and even the livestock took shelter in the cool shade of the trees.
A quaint image portrayed by these three jacks casually munching near a run down barn that has likely seen better days. I thought of
@Mulezen when I took this pic.
Once again, I was forced to stop on several occasions so I could to escape the heat reflected off from the roadway. It was nice time to take advantage of the many marshes that lined either side of the highway. The ride otherwise would have been so mundane without these oases along with the wonderful accompanying chirp and shrill of the songbirds that inhabited them.
It’s a relief to see how the crops have greened up even with the severe lack of rain that has impacted the region.
My arrival on main street into town was greeted by the Delburne Bistro which I assume is only one of the few eateries to cater to both locals and visitors in this small hamlet. I remember playing a round of golf here as well as taking part in a few curling bonspiels during my younger years.
Only a block away is the Anthony Henday Museum which is closed on Sundays. The museum is housed in the former CN train station. The tall red structure behind it is an old water tower which still sports its level indicator ball on top. I stopped for a snack and admired the craftmanship of the scale models of various buildings from the Pioneer days.
I heard that they are starting to ban the big round bales of hay here because the cows aren’t getting three square meals a day.
I stopped at the Ghostpine General store near Pine Lake on Hwy 816 to replenish my water then rode another 2km up the road towards the Lockerby conservation site which was the primary reason for today's ride.
The land once belonged to a good friend, Ninian Lockerby, (now deceased) who donated the 319-acre parcel to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. What a wonderful legacy to leave behind knowing that it will be enjoyed by future generations. The site is home to native aspens, old hayfields/pastures as well as many wetlands. Wildlife includes coyotes, white-tailed and mule deer, moose, elk, ruffed grouse as well as many species of waterfowl.
There was no possible way I would be able to enter the site through the regular foot access gate so I ended up pushing the fully loaded Creo around the short 20’ long wooden fence. No big deal.
Once inside, I was immediately greeted by an open lush green space and rolling pastureland. I can understand why Ninian loved his little piece of heaven where he spent much of his spare time when not working at his downtown law practice.
I headed off and made my way north along 816 and stopped once again to find this small cemetery beside a cute church that looked to be well cared for.
A little closer to home I spotted this herd of bison grazing in the field along side the highway. I’m always gratified to see these majestic animals and can only imagine what it was like when they roamed free and dominated the prairie landscape.
More rolling green fields miles before arriving home.
That light is insane, riding in those conditions it was sure needed!
They are both in their 60's now so its rare to see them on the track now, this was just some parade laps showing off their old factory racing bikes!
