Highway Man
Tom Cochrane rode the highway all night long. I did it in the daytime, like a grown-up, and I stopped for snacks. Three hours from Medicine Hat, a lot of cows, and exactly two pronghorn.
by Michael Dargie · September 17, 2026 · 232 words · 1 min read
Life is a highway, and I’m gonna ride it all day long. Tom Cochrane knew a thing or two about living and travelling, except he did it in the night. I did it in the day, like a grown-up, and I stopped for snacks. Take that, Tom Cochrane.
Today I drove back from Medicine Hat after a whirlwind tour with the team at Calgary Economic Development.
It wasn't a long trip – a scant three hours and a bunch of minutes. Along the way I saw many cows and, to my surprise, exactly two pronghorn. I don't know if I've ever seen them in the wild before, but there they were, standing around watching cars whiz past while they slowly, deliberately munched on long grass.
Fun Pronghorn facts: Pronghorn are neither antelope nor deer; their closest relative is the giraffe. They can run as fast as 98 km/h. Wut? Quarter horse? 88 km/h. Tiger? 65 km/h. Usain Bolt? 44.7 km/h, which is only slightly slower than your average house cat at 48 km/h. Pronghorn rarely jump fences, choosing instead to crawl under them.
That was the height of my adventure driving home. That, and the fact you can see the Rocky Mountains and the Calgary skyline from way farther out than I thought. There is something calming and centring about seeing the mountains rise in the distance.
Feels like home.
if you liked this
Get the next one in your inbox.
The hand-written monthly letter, 100 Days round-ups at your pace — take either, or both.
// comments · 0
Start the conversation.