From: "Jean-Francois Charette" <jf_charette@hotmail.com>
To: [...]
Subject: Dealing with the Hellish winds of Northern Manitoba!!!
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2004 17:54:15 -0400

Well, at least now I can honestly say I know what it means to face the wind 
in the wrong direction. I always knew going to BC from Montreal by bike my 
first big challenge would be Ontario. I also knew the next big challenge 
would be the wind in the prairies. I'm not making the progress I thought I 
would be (130 or more Km a day) simply because the wind is so strong it's 
like spending the entire day going up the worst hills Ontario has to offer! 
My average speed went from 25Km an hour to a snail speed of 15Km an hour. 
The worst of it is that it drains all my energy and I'm left to wonder... Do 
I go that extra mile today and risk being in even worst shape tomorrow? Or 
do I stop without having even passed the 75 Km mark and hope tomorrow will 
bring better weather??? A lot of people I talked to have told me this is a 
pretty strong wind from the West.... However they also tell me it's not 
always like this. AHHHHHHH! It's so frustrating to be held back by something 
that's completely out of my control!

There have been a few people that have been asking why I took such a 
northern route once I hit Manitoba. The reason is quite simple actually. On 
several occasions, I have been told that in Manitoba there are no or almost 
no paved shoulders. I can just imagine what it would be like to bike along 
the trans Canadian and having to ride on the left side of the white line. 
Scary thought actually. That's when I started exploring different ways to 
get around the Winnipeg nightmare of hi-ways and was suggested to take the 6 
around Lake Manitoba. So far it hasn't been such a bad idea and even spared 
me a day and a half of head wind by heading northbound. I now find myself at 
Saint Rose Du Lac (This is where I was supposed to be last night but never 
made it) Let's hope tomorrow will bring MUCH better winds (Give me rain, 
sun, clouds... Anything but this wind!)

Steph - I'll try and get in touch with you to let you know the exact numbers 
of my travels... Thanx for the figures of my trip... It gives me a really 
good idea how far I have to go before I get to your place :)

Annie - T'es trop cute :) Merci pour la photo. J'ai encore ton bonhomme 
jaune mais je l'ai laisse chez moi (la chaine a casse)

Pier & Eric - I talked to Gilles yesterday and he told me he just doesn't 
have much time to write back. At least I now know they are all getting my 
messages. It would just be nice to hear from them. Thanx for letting me know 
how things are down there :)