Calgary to Winnipeg – Stage 2

Riding the Prairies. From Calgary, we will head toward Drumheller in the badlands and through Hanna and Oyen toward the Alberta and Saskatchewan border. This part of Alberta is known for agriculture, oil production, power generation, tourism, and coal mining.

Whoever claimed the Prairies were flat definitely did not cross them by bicycle. They are relatively flat, but there are also sustained, never-ending hills that will challenge your mind and body. Add wind and rain to the mix and the Prairies will take all you have. We will be travelling in wide-open spaces under  big skies. The landscape won’t change much as we cross Saskatchewan through Kindersley, Outlook and Yorkton and other small towns along less-traveled routes across the province and then into Manitoba.

Manitoba is at the longitudinal centre of Canada but we are not even one-third of the way into our tour across Canada. In Manitoba, expect strong prairie winds, exposed sun and mosquitoes. The small town friendliness and history of the settlements in the Red River Valley toward Winnipeg will change the way you think about this part of Canada. 

The day-to-day route below is for planning purposes. Bike travel requires some flexibility for weather, road conditions, suitable camping and other factors outside our control. As much as possible we will stick to this itinerary, but please use the information below only as a general guide. Frequent updates will be available for each stage of the tour as we travel along the route. If you are planning to join us, please allow a few days on either end of the date range when making plans.

We have 13 Community Action Events planned over the summer.

The over-reaching goals for each event are to restore a sense of community, heighten visibility and support the ConnecTour movement, which is all about learning how to be good neighbours in a post-pandemic world. We’ll seek out and engage with people, and share their stories with the rest of Canada. We will invite Canadians to tell their own stories in unique and compelling ways. We will also seek out new Canadians and members of the Indigenous communities in our ongoing effort to support Truth and Reconciliation.

These events will take form over the next few months. We are reaching out to each of the communities listed below to help us organize and deliver these special events. Ideas for events include:

• Bike clinics. These could be pop-up repair stations for basic repairs, or we might ask citizens in advance to donate old bicycles which we can fix up on the spot and give away.
• Presentations at community centres or local businesses: about our trip and why we’re doing it, by local immigrants on their experience in Canada, or on Indigenous or environmental issues.
• Discovery tours with “local” ambassadors.

Community Action Events and Locations for this stage.

Forecasting summer weather on the Prairies is one of the great challenges in meteorology. Summer weather is volatile, ranging from searing heat, to vicious storms, to cool outbreaks of polar air. The Prairies are a confluence of regions; the arctic to the north, mountains to the west, and the boreal forest to the east. With the exception of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, there are no features to block weather from coming across the Prairies. Daytime temperatures can allow for shorts, short-sleeved shirts, and dresses. But, be sure to pack for a range of temperatures and potentially cool or wet days. Always be prepared to dress in layers, and bring your rain gear. Expect strong prairie winds, exposed sun and mosquitoes.

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