Calgary (sightseeing). DAY: 0.00km. ODO: 1,271km. AVS: 0.0km/h. MXS: 00.0km/h. ATM: 0:00.

Is Calgary Cowtown or Hogtown? And why is one of those monikers assigned to Toronto? Someone please enlighten me.

I’ve been wandering all day, but I’m not sure what I’ve done. Second Cup is now threatening to start charging me for WiFi use, and I’ve only used it for a total of 2.5 hours. I guess I’m not drinking enough tea or something. Apparently the information superhighway is a toll-route. Damn that Klein. Maybe I should buy him a beer.

Ah, the joys of hostelling! Last night I got about 4 hours sleep, thanks to the peculiar nocturnal emanations of my dorm-mates. One, a machine language programmer from Fort St. James, who is otherwise a fine individual, snored out his best imitation of a jet ski. And another chap, with whom I have not conversed, talked in his sleep in a manner that sounded like either a series of whispered prayers or a soft monotone commentary. Perhaps he was praying to St. Jude for the snorer to be recalled to heaven.

I managed a lengthy conversation in the hostel last night with a 23 year old (who just moved to Calgary from Sault Ste. Marie) on the topics of employment, material wealth and the pursuits of happiness, which was the first conversation I have had on this trip that didn’t cover the topics of the weather or the insanity of cycle touring.