My nemesis: the road to Pense. It defeated me last time, left me scant kilometres short of my goal, shaking with heat exhaustion and mumbling imprecations upon its unwavering straightness. I could not allow that defeat to go unavenged. So, this morning Christine drove me out to that village and left me there. I would walk all the way home or perish in the attempt. (Well, “perish” is a little overdramatic. “Call home for a ride and have to do the walk again another day” would be more accurate.)
I’ve never walked east, into the city, from Pense before. It almost makes it into a new walk. I saw new things, or saw things I’d seen before from another perspective. But it’s still the same straight plod across the prairie, whichever way you’re walking.
There was a heavy, sweet, funky kind of smell in the air, like chokecherries, but there weren’t any chokecherries around. I wonder if it wasn’t the stink of agricultural chemicals–herbicides and fertilizers. I don’t know. It hung around for hours. Eventually it went away as I got closer to the city.
The road was wet in spots–no surprise, given all the rain we’ve had in the past few days–but I was wearing my new gaiters, which are made by a company with the unlikely name “Dirty Girl” (don’t Google that: this is their web site) and they kept the mud and stones out of my boots.
I ate an early lunch (or second breakfast), then ate another lunch a few hours later. But most of the time I was striding forward to the east, or at least stumbling in that direction. After 20 kilometres or so I reached Pinkie Road and headed north to 13th Avenue, which runs right into my neighbourhood, although from the off-leash park I took the more scenic route along Wascana Creek. After seven hours and 31 kilometres I was home and drinking a well-deserved beer. And no blisters! Maybe my feet are finally toughening up, or maybe wearing a different kind of socks helped. It’s hard to say: I’ll need to go on more walks this week to be sure. After all, I leave for my walk in Ontario in less than two weeks and I want to make sure I’m ready.
Hey Ken
Well done on a good long walk- good news about the feet (and the gaiters). I have no idea what that smell was (not being a local) but it reminded me of that very ‘rich’ smell we often had on the camino – particularly in Galicia when it was damp. Two weeks to go, wow, that’s coming up fast. I hope the final preparations go smoothly. Glad you didn’t perish!!
Nice to see it greening up there. Was that a ‘hill’ I detected in one of your photos? I hope you pushed your training pace up it. You head off in two weeks and you sound as though you are getting closer to ready. Well done. I’ll be floating along in a kayak when you begin, but I’ll catch up to you when I return home. Happy training!
Very nice gaiters Ken! And very glad to hear the blisters are no longer blistering!
Pleased to welcome you home to Ontario in the next few weeks!