Elapsed time 16 d 14 h 06 m; Distance travelled 3112 km(1933 mi)

“The fire’s burning inside, for sure” Ashleigh laments in a voice note.

She’s talking about the never-ending hunger that sees long distance cyclists scarfing down improbable amounts of pastries and Coke at gas stations, but metaphorically, it explains the hunger for adventure she has too. As Ashleigh settles into week three of her PanAm record attempt, she’s been putting in longer days, clocking as high as 305 km (190 mi) on day 14.

Talking about food is a common theme in her audio diaries as she reminisces on various snacks and food stops. She elaborates on a breakfast sandwich the size of a dinner plate that was served with a steak knife, and adds that restaurant to her ever-growing list of places to return to with a more leisurely mindset - another common theme in her audio diaries.

An overnight stop at the Liard River hot spring offers a taste of leisure and a brief respite from the relentless rhythm of record setting:

“The first step in the water my whole body was just like oh my god, this is the best thing in the world right now. And I think now what I’m going to do if I’m dying and there’s like water nearby, I’m just going to like, go in the water and feel better.”

There’s no shortage of water bodies as she cruises by the lakes of the Yukon and northern British Columbia on her way to Alberta. She’s over the continental divide and stampeding her way to Calgary, where we expect she’ll hit checkpoint 3 this week; stay tuned for tales of bison and thunder and bears (oh my!).

- Aryn