Day 137 - Winnipeg

I woke up feeling so encouraged today. Everyday was a gift now. Todays gift would be reaching Winnipeg. Before I hit the road I made several attempts to reach the Winnipeg media. I spoke with Jason from the Winnipeg Free Press and he asked me to call when I got to Winnipeg and he would try to send out a photographer. The others I would keep trying when I could get to a phone.

The night before I had tried to reach some friends of the family but there was no answer. I had been trying for a few days. Plan B was to stay at the Winnipeg Hostel. I made reservations for tonight and tomorrow night. My goal in Winnipeg was to contact and visit the Winnipeg Humane Society and I also needed a second pair of Etonic running shoes before I left the city.

I watched the traffic pass me and I couldn't help but smile and wave. Even if they didn't wave back it didn't matter today. I was happy that I would be in Winnipeg tonight. I was looking forward to whatever was going to happen. I had been so deep in thought that I just realized there weren't many trees but lots of open fields. Twenty-two miles later and I could faintly start to see the taller buildings of downtown Winnipeg in the distance. They'd dissappear for a bit and then I could see them again. As I got closer I thought how awesome it was to know I could almost touch those buildings and to think I almost quit in Ignace. Today I was ever so glad I didn't.

I stopped at the Petro/A&W and called Jason. I still had a few miles to go and he would send a photographer to meet up with me. I went a few more miles and came to the Welcome to Winnipeg sign. It was a beautiful sight and there was such a feeling of excitement that came over me. I went a little further and in the distance I saw a truck pulled over. It was Boris from the Winnipeg Free Press and he had taken some pictures. It was surely a pleasure meeting him. He called Michell, a reporter for the Free Press and I would call her once I settled into the Hostel. Boris was very kind and dropped me off there.

I met Tanner at the desk who registered me for two nights. She was so supportive that she paid for my second night and only charged me the member rate for tonight. She was so helpful in finding information for me about the Humane Society, shoe stores, the library and laundry facilities. I settled into my room and then called Michelle who was wonderful to talk to. They would publish the article in tomorrows paper.

I took a shower and chatted with my new room-mate Angela for a bit. I went for something to eat and then organized my schedule for tomorrow. My first priority was to get in contact with the humane society and find a second pair of shoes. I spoke with my sister Chris for a bit and then fell asleep looking forward to tomorrow.