(apologies for delay in posting - we're having real problems accessing Internet (and, interestingly - I wouldn't have thought of this - problems accessing gas stations in relatively more northern Manitoba and Ontario).
If this text does load onto the blog (and I stress if), I may still have to delay photos which are more difficult to upload with slow Internet.
Last preliminary observation: I read Ian's comment in response to earlier posting - in which he comments that he's concerned re no reference to baseball games and chronically misunderstood, genius architects (a reference to his and Brian Wallace's annual motorcycle trips in which they go off in quest of major league baseball venues, and Frank Lloyd Wright architecture). We are apparently a more simple lot - I'm not sure exactly what it is of which we are in quest - we talk a lot about this being a once in a lifetime opportunity, and our common desire to get to Newfoundland, and to visit all 10 provinces (alas, no territories this trip), but no profound meaning beyond the distinct pleasures of open road, and the wind against you, and seeing this remarkable land in which we are blessed to live, and spending time in very good company...
Anyway - on to business: after a great dinner and evening with Jim and his wife Cathy on Canada Day evening, we set off for the first time as a foursome, leaving from under Jim and Cathy's great motorcycle gate (see photo)
First stop Drumheller - the photo of me under the Welcome to Drumheller dinosaur is actually a photo of me rescuing Flat Stanley from the dinosaur's grasp (if you look closely)
Drumheller is strikingly beautiful as you descend from quite flat, prairie like fields into a Lethbridge coolie-likie series of ravines of glorious sedimentary rock - no wonder folks hunt for dinosaurs in the endless layers of colourful soil.
Then across the balance of Alberta, and into Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan certainly has its beauty - the area east of Saskatoon I thought was particularly pretty with many, many small ponds (not quite lakes) that are obvious bird habitat. I thought lots of my old friend, Mr. Trethewey, the great supporter of Ducks Unlimited.
Stopped for lunch in a small town, and Flat Stanley led the charge toward Subway (see photo).
Pounded on the miles (kms), determined to get across Saskatchewan and into Manitoba - a 3 province day!
Got to the Welcome to Manitoba sign as the sun was setting - I was amused to see the juxtaposition of Welcome to Manitoba, and rural crime watch (see photo)... will be fun to show my good friend, chief judge of the Manitoba Provincial Court, Ray Wyant, that visitors are encouraged as their very first inroduction to he province to watch all the crime.
The setting sun was glorious in our rear view mirrors as we headed east, and minutes later made a tranquil picture of the twilight-enshrouded bikes.
Stopped for the night at Russell Manitoba Country Inn and Convention centre - who knew there would be a (very nice) convention centre in little Russell.
About 1025 kms on the day. Not quite up to the 1000 miles that are required to qualify for the coveted "Iron Butt" designation but, as Jim said, it was a "good start"!
No comments:
Post a Comment