It was a blast...

I'm home!  Decided enroute after leaving Winnipeg that a drive through Ontario's south on a long weekend would not leave a pleasant memory for this trip so did the 'short' trip, going along 17 through Dryden this time and keeping on 17 after Thunder Bay to through the Sault and turning South once reaching Sudbury.  A few detours going West once I got around Georgian Bay and I arrive here late Thursday afternoon.  Three camp nights and I was home.

Another reason for coming home sooner - I had developed a rash after another tick bite near the top of my breast bone and couldn't see it without a mirror (trying looking for your breast bone). I suspect it was there for a few days.  Helped by my friends in Lomond we got it off, but the redness didn't fade, and so go some antibiotics (again) then eventually set up an appointment with my GP in Guelph... short story - not a Lyme Vector tick (thanks to other friends who know all things 'ticking'), and the rash so qualifies as an allergic reaction to Rockie Mountain tick saliva (yuck!). Treated and on the mend.

Well, only a few pictures to share, but then Ontario's North will be familiar to most of you.  Again, the magnificence of Superior North needs to be experienced if you haven't already.  'True' hunter green forests, cascading lakes marking deep hollows in the Canadian Shield, and of course the never ending expanse of Lake Superior. Go there!

One stop over just past Thunder Bay, following the advice of my friend, Gail:

More time in the North for me next trip :)

On the road again

From Dinosaur Park I soon found myself in Saskatchewan staying at a local park -$5 a night with a shower! then to Melville's Regional Park - again shower, this time with room enough to include some of my laundry :)

I was amazed at the amount of moisture and water by the roadside as I crossed the central province between Saskatoon and Regina on highway 15.  Part of this was right next to the railway - watching kilometer ++long trains go by in the opposite direction.  I managed one photo of train coming toward me then waved at the engineer and he waved back just as he passed me.

I missed taking pictures of my last campsite unfortunately - reached Manitoba and turned off 5 from Dauphin to go into Riding Mountain National Park. Staying at Moon Lake was a really treat for Molly where she finally had space to run off leash and leap after sticks thrown into the lake... it was hot Thurs and didn't take much thinking for me to join in some swimming and beach antics.

I decided to take  the road crossing Lake Winnipeg at the narrows, so set my GPS (mistakenly) for a place called Ashen. It took me on a hwy 325, which was the longer route, and marked as poor surface road on my map but I missed this.  325 was the first address number I remember as a kid - I thought at the time it would be somehow special.  The road was actually  unremarkable and well paved despite the map.  Ashen had no remarkable features and carried on from there going south, but happened to take a picture of a sign honoring a hockey player who had grown up there - I saw a lot of these types of hockey player signs in the small towns I passed through - particularly in south Saskatchewan.  

The weather was not looking hopeful and I found myself only 2 hours from Winnipeg, so here I am at my brother's in a very dry and welcoming placed once more (laundry in the machine this time.)  My brother just now told me Ashen is the place my mother's father first settled when he arrived in Canada.  Wouldn't you know - at the end of Hwy 325.

Bro

It was an excellent meet up with my brother Jim and nephew Ben, at Dinosaur Prov. Park in Alberta.  One nasty rain storm and just a 'few" mozzies but otherwise, perfect  weather.  The landscape is magnificent.  Visit to Drumheller Museum was impressive, and then of course escape to lake near Brooks (largest man made..) to cool off and enjoy the waves and breeze while enjoying grand company.

The Vulcan Vortex over Lomond

A rainy night with clouds coming in from all directions that morning.  I got moving, trying to find a break in the sky where I might stay dry for a while.  There it was, a bit east, a bit south.  I headed there and in about an hour of driving where blue sky was opening I up I saw the field - 'make it and they will come' - RVs stacked against one another near what looked like a small town of a few streets with open landscape all around otherwise and roads leading through or out.  I stopped for the sun.  Someone rolled out of his RV and crossed the road toward me.  'Are you coming for the free breakfast?'  'What's that about..'  Its Lomond's 100th year celebration.  Parade happening at 1030".  'Sorry, I don't know much.  I'm from Ontario.'  'That's OK. I'm from Newfoundland'

So I went for the pancake and sausage breakfast, meeting some welcoming people, and stayed for the parade.

The British racer green car caught my eye and we had a conversation.  Very soon I was being invited to Glenda and Chris's farm along with Marcel the driver, where I set up camp with these wonderful people - Chris and Marcel actually repaired one of my tail lights among other things, while Glenda and I had great discussions in her picking berries in her garden.  Lovely people, with exceptionally open hearts and so appreciative of the land they came upon 3 years ago.  It is truly amazing what they have done to a previously run down house and neglected property.  Labour of love for sure.

I will talk more about my visit with Jim and my nephew Ben at Dinosaur Park AB next posting when I have a chance to get some pictures loaded.  That too was exceptional

The Vulcan Vortex over Lomond

A rainy night with clouds coming in from all directions that morning.  I got moving, trying to find a break in the sky where I might stay dry for a while.  There it was, a bit east, a bit south.  I headed there and in about an hour of driving where blue sky was opening I up I saw the field - 'make it and they will come' - RVs stacked against one another near what looked like a small town of a few streets with open landscape all around otherwise and roads leading through or out.  I stopped for the sun.  Someone rolled out of his RV and crossed the road toward me.  'Are you coming for the free breakfast?'  'What's that about..'  Its Lomond's 100th year celebration.  Parade happening at 1030".  'Sorry, I don't know much.  I'm from Ontario.'  'That's OK. I'm from Newfoundland'

So I went for the pancake and sausage breakfast, meeting some welcoming people, and stayed for the parade.

The British racer green car caught my eye and we had a conversation.  Very soon I was being invited to Glenda and Chris's farm along with Marcel the driver, where I set up camp with these wonderful people - Chris and Marcel actually repaired one of my tail lights among other things, while Glenda and I had great discussions in her picking berries in her garden.  Lovely people, with exceptionally open hearts and so appreciative of the land they came upon 3 years ago.  It is truly amazing what they have done to a previously run down house and neglected property.  Labour of love for sure.

I will talk more about my visit with Jim and my nephew Ben at Dinosaur Park AB next posting when I have a chance to get some pictures loaded.  That too was exceptional

Where no (wo)man has gone before

Got myself to Vulcan AB. A bit south east of Calgary where I hear they are experiencing hail.  None here so far but its a day for laundry and sitting tight.

Here is a replay of the last week or so.

Cypress Hills would have been highly impressive if not for the rain.  100cms dropped on the second day - wheels were 3 inches deep in a hugh puddle when I decided to pack up and head 'out of' the hills.  Stayed that night in Maple Creek.  Still wet but not swimming.

Here are some pics when the clouds were opening up.

Getting to Writing on Stone Prov Park was an accident, originally heading forRaymond for cheap camping. Both mystical and magical...the far south of Alberta, where yet again the NWMP roamed.

will add more ...

Here it is.  Decided to go for Hwy 40 into the mountains after some encouragement from fellow campers.  It was a long haul, but got to Peter Lougheed Prov. Park at about 4pm Weds after starting out a 8 that morning.  The weather was moist but not raining as I arrived then turned into some spectacular scenary the next day.  Did get greeting by a grizzly during breakfast.  Molly's bark warned me and there he was 20 feet away across a brook.  Needless to say left relatively quickly after throwing food into the back of my trailer (someone called it a chuck wagon), then headed out to trails around the lake, taking in all I could for the next 4 hours.  Molly stayed on her leash - not needing another bear encounter.

Just miss the major downpour pulling out of camp.  Rain into ice on the road in fact at 1.5degrees as I drove down.  Arrived here in Vulcan at around 2pm.

Some pics...

Cypress Hills wash out then upward!

Made it to Peter Lougheed Prov Park in the Rockies 2 days ago!  Spectacular but photos will need to wait until I have better access

Cypress hills was indeed a wash out, however, some good moments spotting deer on trails, and then visiting the Fort Walsh national site.

The magic happened when I reached Writing on Stone prov park. Hoodoos! Quiet mystical and part of Black Foot culture.

Can't say more.  Its raining and I am on the road again.  Bye to gizzily bear near my camp site.

Yes there are rattle snakes

I am now in a place called Val Marie Saskatchewan, the entry point to the West Block of Grasslands National Park.  Up until now I've been enjoying some exceptional panoramic views of Southern Saskatchewan, following Hwy 18 to take me through Saskatchewan's Badlands.  Lost of open prairie scenes and expanses - playing some favorite tunes along with some radio country western music - just right, smiling inside and out all the way. Try Paul Simon's Graceland on an open, no end in sight road.  A little bumpy but it was part of the charm along with rolling hills and twisting roads.  Trailer held out just fine.  One of my fans popped off its hing but that's the only set back.  I have two others working just fine along with lots of ventilation with my new screen door.

Got to Wood Mountain - and learnt a bit about Sitting Bull.  Seems this is where he settled for about 13 years after Little Big Horn, with the North West Mounted Police watching closely.

So today Molly and I took driving tour through parts of the National Park - prairie dog sitings close up and some bison in the distant hills. A 5 km hike

through some badlands allowed for some breathtaking scenes (yet more).  Molly was off leash most of the time, but a prickle in my gut nearing the end of the trail cautioned me to put her back on leash.  Sure enough a rattle snake appeared on the trail - Molly lunged but I had her before she could catch the critter down slithering off into the brush.  No more off leash in this park.

Corner Gas

This must be the place where they got the idea.  Just west of Morden by about 60 kms.

Other cool shots along the BoundaryRoad Hwy 3 Manitoba.

Peace Garden - Manitoba - North Dakota border