Cold, Wind, and Boredom

August 3^rd, 2026

Balgonie, Saskatchewan

Woke at 8am and sat in chair for a bit.

Then took a long hot shower to try and wake up.

Packed up the bags and changed into most of the riding gear.

I was going to have breakfast today as there would not be many lunch options on the way from what I had seen, and I got half price breakfast as a hotel guest.

Walked over to restaurant and had eggs benedict and a Coke.

Back to the room I put away the last things and started to load the bike.

Took first bags out and holy smokes is it cold outside today.

Next load I wore my jacket, finished securing the bags and went to go in for next batch.

Door will not open, card is not working for me to get into the building.

I had to walk around the front of the hotel and get a new card.  She tested it and it was dead, would not even reprogram.  This was card I had been given last night to replace the one I lost.

Went back to room, and this time took both room keys with me in case one stopped working.

Loaded the bike, and yeah, one of the keys stopped working on the room door bit later.

Last load was the backpack and riding gear as always.  Quick check of the room and we left.

Finished loading the bike, geared up and rode up to the front of the hotel to drop off the keys.

Then we verified I still had good amount of fuel, so would just stop about 120 miles down the road at a nice stop I had found to fuel up and would then grab something to eat or drink as that would be around lunch anyway.

Got onto the road and headed east.

Flat, dull, boring, empty.   Not many other words to describe it.

Occasionally, there would be something cool looking with the slight hills and the color of the particular crop in the fields, that would make me record some video, or a river valley breaks up the flatness, but mostly just rode past nothing.

I had to stop after an hour to put on the rain jacket, was just too cold out, was starting to shiver.

Finaly reached the Circle K I wanted to get fuel at.

I pulled up to the pumps same time another guy did on a CanAm 3-wheel bike, and we exchanged a few words while filling up.

I moved bike up to front door, same as the other rider had and went inside.  Waited my turn for the restroom and then bought a few small taquito things for lunch and a tea to drink.  When I checked out the guy gave me a Mtn Dew in a can, guess it came with the two taquitos as part of a special deal?

Back outside I talked some more with the guy on the CanAm, he was heading to Alaska, so had some questions about the roads and fuel stops and such.

Told him what I could, then he left and I ate my food and got back on the road.

Few hours later I stopped again to use restroom and bought a candy bar as I was feeling big hungry, or stomach was getting upset, hard to tell sometimes.

Another hour down the road and I was ready to stop for fuel again, getting close ¼ tank, and that is usually when I try to fill up.  Also, stomach was starting to feel very unhappy.

Pulled off at a small truck stop, and headed for the restroom first.  Intestines were very unhappy.

After that ordeal, we fueled up the bike and got back on the road.

Not too much farther to go, but getting close to 5pm, and skies were still very overcast, and was raining off in distance in at least 2 directions.

Made it to the north side of Regina, and skirted around the city, going through a few work zones, but at least missing the congestion in the city.

Took a small highway out of the area heading east that ran a few miles north of the main freeway.

The hotel sits on that freeway, but right where this other highway intersects, so was able to get to hotel with out going on the freeway today.

Pulled up to hotel in the small town of Balgonie.

Office was closed!

I was working on calling the number on the sign when car pulls up and it’s the hotel manager (actually owner I found out later).

He got me checked in, and then we got into long conversation about my trip and his own travels in Canada years back.

He was very helpful and making sure I had everything I needed.

Motel is an older property, but it’s had some work done on it, and he seems to put in every effort to make sure people are happy.

When we finished talking, I got the bike moved over and unloaded.

Then before I even got out of the gear I wanted to walk over 2 buildings to a pizza place for dinner.  Riding pants were warmer than my other pants, so would change later.

Got outside and it started to sprinkle lightly.  Glad I covered the bike tonight.

Got to the place and the hotel owner was actually there getting his own pizza.

Talked with him while we waited for our food.  His arrived and he left and mine arrived then as well.

I stayed and ate, though I think the restaurant had actually closed, but a lounge is part of the building as well, and that was still open.

Once done eating I left and walked back to the room.  Owner was sitting in his car outside eating his pizza still.  Not sure if he lives on site or in a house in town.  There is a space that is likely living space for the hotel owner/manager, but perhaps he is not using it?

Back in room I got out of riding gear and will now work on blogs and maybe get the video I did yesterday uploaded.

Will also copy footage off the cameras as well.

Will try for an earlier night tonight, long ride today, and similar for tomorrow.

Catch ya down the road.

Todays Route