Binscarth to Minnedosa

The cows and horse posed for the picture when I blew my air horn.
The Holy Cow Restaurant, likely a thing of the past.

We rode with Edith Troupe today and we found out that she is friends with the couple, Patty and Doug who run Bike Face bike store in Owen Sound. She knew them when she was living in Prince Edward Island. They moved their store from PEI to Durham in Ontario and then to Owen Sound. We have been in their store many times and plan to see them when we get to Owen Sound. Small world.
By Minnedosa Lake, a nice peaceful evening.


After our long ride to Binscarth yesterday we were looking forward to the ride to Minnedosa, 136 km. There was a time when this would have seemed endless. We were fortunate to have a fairly level terrain with the wind in our favour. We actually had the ride more than half done by the time we got to our lunch stop. We got into camp at 3:15 and the wind had picked up enough that we opted to stay in camp, wash our cycling clothes by hand and dry them on the line.

The terrain for the day reminded us of travelling in Bruce County and I had to remind myself where I was. We stopped in Birtle for coffee and The Holy Cow Restaurant was there. I had read about it on someone else's journal from a prior year and I was anxious to try it out. Unfortunately the side of the building had caved in and it was closed. We are finding the many small towns we go through have seen better days. We were told there were excellent cinnamon buns at the halfway point but we were dissappointed when we got there only to find the place had been out of business for a few years.

We camped on the shores of Lake Minnedosa for the night and it was very peaceful. The wind died down, the sunset was great and I sat at the picnic table doing my notes and downloading pictures. At stops like this it is a shame to have only a few hours to enjoy it.

There is usually something to look forward to the next day. It usually has to do with weather, terrain or food. In this case we were advised to stop in Neepawa at the bakery for a treat of cinnamon buns and coffee, courtesy of one of the riders,