Day 18 Drumheller to Youngstown, Alberta

 90.8 miles, 2,370 ft ascent, 16.1 mph average speed

After all the sightseeing in Drumheller, I slept well last night.  Temperatures vary so much one never knows the best way to set up with one's sleeping bag.  I started by using it as a duvet, but the temperature dropped so much that I climbed in and zipped it up during the middle of the night.  Despite the basic support on the tour, I still have to depend on technology for medical necessities.  Here is a picture of the CPAP machine I use in the tent at night, running it off of a rechargeable lithium battery. 

 

 

 

In Drumheller, as I explained before, there are dinosaurs galore!  Below is the dinosaur that welcomes guests to the campsite office.  This area is a great place to bring children to stimulate interest in science and dinosaurs. Many entertainment establishments that cater to children.  Think "Barney World".

 

Back in the saddles, we climbed out of the Drumheller valley on a 2 mile uphill ascent.

 

Once out of the valley, a flat horizon greeted us.  These oil wells looked like bizarre birds with Tennessee Orange heads as they rose in the distance.

 

Still in farming country, we passed these huge grain storage bins and fields of rape seed that extended to the horizon.

 

When I came to this sign, I was puzzled and surprised.  Never knew a  moose to hang out in fields of grain, but this is Canada, and things are different.  

 

 

Stopped for lunch at a Tim Horton's where I imbibed this double double, i.e. two creams and two sugars in my coffee.

 

 

Tim Horton's is a bit like Panera Bread.  Not only do they serve coffee, but sandwiches, wraps, and pastries also.  No problem filling up here!

 

Riding alone later in the day, happily with a nice tailwind, I've seen more grain farming than cattle.  This is the largest of three herds I have seen today in the first 60 miles of riding.  Lush grain fields everywhere, and some groups of birch or poplar trees along the way.

 

 

So far we haven't seen fields of operating windmills that are plentiful across Kansas in the US, but here is a photo of windmill blades and tower parts to be assembled.

 

What a blessing!  The community of Youngstown has arranged for all of our riders to sleep indoors tonight in the community hall on the gymnasium floor, and they have graciously prepared a potluck dinner for us!  I learned that they have been doing this for 30 years!  We set up our gear in the gym to dry out, and proceeded to greet these kind people who understood what Jesus meant by "Love your neighbor as yourself."  A dry night indoors and a home cooked meal is a wonderful surprise for those of us who have been riding and camping cross country in pretty extreme weather conditions!  Thank you, Youngstown!  You're the best!

Here are some pics of our delightful fellowship.

One menu item stood out, and I had to sample.  We call these Rocky Mountain Oysters in the American West.

 

 

My dinner plate at the Youngstown Community Hall.  Obviously i wasn't shy, as these folks were so gracious.  There was still dessert to come.

 

                

 

Voracious riders enjoy home cooked food and Youngstown, Alberta hospitality.

 

Please meet the gracious people of Youngstown, Alberta, Canada who host us tonight as their guests and made room for us in their "inn"!  Their kindness will never be forgotten by those who experienced their gracious hospitality.

 

 

So much to be grateful for this evening.  Looking forward to a peaceful and dry night's rest in preparation for our ride tomorrow.  Don't forget to visit again for more of our adventures.