Day 1 of my Cross-Canada-Motorcycle-Adventure 2025.

I’m going back 26 days now to write about the beginning of this adventure. I finally felt the cortisol slip away on or about day 6 or 7 of this trip. Why a belly full of cortisol you ask? Let’s just say I spent the last 16 months dealing with a work bully, an incompetent leader, and project owners who felt the need to micromanage every minute detail of the work without having any understanding of the actual work at all. That cortisol overload left me feeling shaky in the saddle that first day! Well, that first week, to be honest. I was grateful Brian rode with me the first few days. His presence has always been such a welcome calm in my hectic life!

Our plan was to get to Moose Jaw on our first day. We set out early and stopped off at my parents’ place for a quick goodbye and then headed out! Highlights of the day were getting busted while trying to secretly plant a Hula Honey on Brian’s trunk lid, chatting over our Lexin communications system, stopping for lunch in Coronation, spotting the headless horseman, and of course, sheltering in Elrose, Saskatchewan.

We had been on the road all day and were still three hours from Moose Jaw. Thunderheads loomed and we knew it was only a matter of time before it hit us. We came to a T-intersection and headed left. The wind was really hammering at us now, but the storm still seemed far enough away that we might just get only the edge of it. Two kilometres later, we turned around and headed for shelter in Elrose. The wind, the downpour, the lack of anywhere else to haul off and safely don rain gear screamed “turn around”. When we stopped in the sleepy main street of Elrose, Brian pulled out his phone to see if this town had a diner or anywhere, we could get out of the rain and wait for the storm to pass.

Meanwhile, a fella strolled over and asked if we were looking for shelter. I confirmed we were, so he pointed down the road and advised the rec centre was at the end of the street. “The place is open. You guys can stay as long as you need or want. The lights are on the left.” I thanked him heartily and led the charge towards the rec centre.

Well holy pie, Batman! What a great facility! We had the entire complex to ourselves. We had washrooms, water bottle refill fountain, outlets to charge our helmets and phones, and of course, a warm place to stay out of the storm. The kindness of that fella to point us in the direction of shelter without knowing anything about us, will stay in my heart for years to come. He renewed my faith in people and reminded me that above all else, be kind. This has been my mantra for most of my life, but being on the receiving end was such a welcomed treat.

We left about 45 minutes later and with Brian’s expert navigation, we rode the rest of the way into Moose Jaw rain-free. The guy’s a genius, really, and I miss him heaps on this journey!