05:30 Calgary
22:30 Grand Rapids (MN) | 1,645 km
The journey home.
With my girlfriend flying out at 06:00, I decide to leave very early to attempt the distance between Calgary and Montreal in just two days. This will be no easy feat: it is a 3,700 km endurance race against the clock!
I have to plan this move carefully. It is imperative that the weather stays fair, as my tires are literally at the end of their life. To shorten the route, I modify my GPS settings. By default, it directs me through Chicago to re-enter Canada via Sarnia, but by going through Sault Ste. Marie (ON), between Lakes Superior and Michigan, I save over 300 km and 3 hours of driving. This allows me to plan for 18-hour driving days covering about 1,700 km per day.
I feel up to the challenge. Fortunately, a high-pressure ridge seems to be covering this part of North America and no precipitation is forecast.
The morning is perfect. I cross the Alberta plains with the warm, orange sunrise of the West as my backdrop.
I then quickly cross Saskatchewan to enter the United States in North Dakota. Naturally, I am treated to a search by US customs. What a waste of time.
The heat quickly becomes overwhelming and, by morning, I am suffering from severe stomach cramps. Driving becomes a true ordeal. I have to stop often to lie on the ground to relieve my abdomen. The pain persists all day and forces me to stop in Grand Rapids (MN) around 22:30, whereas my goal was Duluth, 150 km further. I couldn’t take any more. I frequently found myself screaming in pain inside my helmet.
Fortunately, the road was easy: long straight lines and quiet highways, with no curves or major intersections.
However, the lighting on my BMW proves insufficient for comfortable night riding. Despite the factory auxiliary lights, the beam does not cover enough distance or width. In a region where the risk of wildlife collisions is high, this is a major handicap. I will have to find a solution upon my return.
I quickly find a small motel for $45 (the big price difference between the USA and Canada!). I fuel up and fall asleep in seconds.
It’s perfect, because the alarm is set for 05:00 tomorrow morning!