Day 2: July 5, 2019

Day two also began early, but we were limited by the breakfast schedule - which opened at 6:00 a.m. We needed to put down a lot more miles to meet our schedule. 

Accordingly, we saddled up before breakfast so that when we were done, we could hit the road. Again, Brother Larry wrangled Magellan - and did such a fine job getting him out the door early that I think he found a permanent position.

Brother Larry and Magellan travel like they were on an ocean steamer. They have so much gear that they need to bring a cart out of the hotel just to transport it all. I think it is for all that primping. Looking that good requires a lot of material and resources. 

Nothing beats the fine breakfast at the Hampton Inn, except of course actual food. 

We headed north, into North Dakota and to the Canadian Border. North Dakota is so flat, that if you stood on a step ladder, you would be the highest point in the State. 

Of course, we needed to stop to feed Magellan. And, then on to Canada.

The border crossing in Portal, North Dakota was unremarkable. It was small. And once the Canadian Authorities heard that we were not transporting guns or narcotics, we were off. 

Across the border in Canada, we were surprised to see all of the indicia of energy. There were old, unreclaimed strip mines, we saw a strip mine in operation, and a tremendous number of oil wells. Magellan advised that there are no leasing rights for petroleum in Canada, all of which are owned by the Crown. 

Canada grows a lot of canola. The fields are lush green, with yellow tops. It is beautiful.

We spent the night in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan after riding 562 miles, for a trip total of 1,293 miles. We have our third and final long day for day three - about the same distance, all along the Trans Canada highway to Calgary. That is where the trip really begins.