Day Fifteen - Youngstown

I went to bed early so I could get a head start. It didn't work out that way.

I headed out around 6:15 and headed east toward Drumheller. About 13 km in I spotted a cyclist ahead that a group of us had passed a couple of days ago. 

After I caught up with her we introduced ourselves and exchanged our stories. Her name was Lisa McKenzie from Edmonton and she is biking with her dog to St. John's. 

At that time I felt some sloppiness in my back tire and thought I might have a flat. I stopped my bike and flipped it over and found that my tire had totally come apart. 

I pulled out my phone and had no service as I was surrounded by hills. I walked to the top of the hill and proceeded to call everyone at camp to ask them if they had  a tire and if so could they bring it to me. 

The campground didn't have very good cell coverage. The location at the top of the hill had intermittent cell coverage too.  Then I got a call from an Ontario number and I picked it up. It was Duncan and he said he could go back to the truck and grab a tire for me. 

By 8:30 I had fixed the tire and was on the road. Sam and I road together until we went into Delia where I saw a bunch of tour bikes park beside Mother Mountain Tea House that looked to be closed. 

We headed in and found all the riders happily sitting down and and drinking cold drinks waiting for they pie and/or lunch. I ordered the peach pie and scarffed it down. I also filled all my water bottles with the very good water they had. 

We continued on and ended up in a five man pace line. I really appreciated being in a pace line as the wind was brutal. At top speed we were going 19 km an hour and slowest at 13 km.

We arrived at Youngstown to the gym where the very generous people of the town prepared a potluck dinner. Thanks to the good people of Youngstown. A very good end to a very tough day. 

Memorial to those riders that died during a past Tour du Canada in the hall at Youngstown AB

Lisa McKenzie just outside of Drumheller AB

Bikes lined up outside of Mother Mountain Tea House in Delia AB.  Good pie!