Day 8 Winnipeg

Finally leaving Ontario! Now I do realize that we took our time getting here, but still that’s a lot of ground to cover just getting out of a place! The ride through to Manitoba was uneventful but the change in geography became quickly evident. The strenuous climbs through much of northern Ontario swiftly turned to rolling hills and open plains.

Our first fuel fill happened at the quintessential prairie gas stop. I couldn’t take a picture, politely! The lovely friendly owners, the McMunns, clearly believed the cost of gas came with a welcome, an inquiring short friendship, and a “see you safely on your way”! They never left us long enough to take a picture of the full service that they provide – the motel rooms (all 3 of them), the restaurant/bar/pool hall, the various items available from beer to ice cream at their counter service. Though to be honest the grey-green, sun scorched picture of ice cream may have inhibited much commerce in that particular commodity! We discussed the weather, the flooding, our trip, the cost of gas, and the fact that a reluctance to hop on the HST wagon means that gas is significantly cheaper here!

Winnipeg isn’t far from the border so our travel was short today leaving us time to shop for a few items and explore the city. While we were looking for new hiking shoes for David, I decided to ask the young guy helping us, if he had only one day in Winnipeg what would he go see. He quickly quipped that if he’d had only one day he certainly wouldn’t spend it in Winnipeg! He did tell us though that most people seem quite taken with The Forks. Of course he had no idea where they were or how to get there but some additional inquiry as we checked out had us on our way.

 An incredible find! The Forks, as it happens, are in downtown Winnipeg where the Red River meets the Assiniboine. Steeped in 6000 years of history, it was a splendid way to while away an afternoon. The site has witnessed many of the key events of Western Canadian history. The native people first used the place where the rivers meet to fish, hunt and negotiate their existence with neighbouring tribes. For the first European settlers and fur traders, the rivers served both as an important travel route and a meeting place to exchange goods. And of course, the Red River resistance led by Louis Riel happened along this very same waterway as Manitoba entered into Confederation as the 5^th province in the union. The National Historic site that has been erected indentifies its importance in establishing Manitoba as a gateway for the settlement of the prairies.

The Canadian Museum of Human Rights under construction

 

Cool footbridge over the Red River - that's a restaurant halfway across!

Although locals claimed,"There's no really flooding problem in Winnipeg,. Not like the south." This picture shows the river walkways in the park under 20 feet of water!! I would call that a bit of a problem. They say it happens every year.

Once again!

A tour boat drifting sideways in front of St. Boniface Cathedral.

Cool camo!! Can you see him?

Fulfilling our promise to drink our way across Canada!

... going local of course!

Thought some followers would like this!!!

I am sitting at a picnic table in the campground looking out over the surrounding fields. We’ve reached the one week mark and reality set in – it’s time to do a laundry! If the surroundings weren’t enough to distract me from the task at hand, the barn swallows certainly would be! The beautiful indigo and chestnut little critters swoop and dive all around me. Certainly not about to accommodate my presence in their flight path, I’ve come startlingly close to being dive bombed! But all is well as we relish another glorious day on the road.

For us today it was a place where Parks Canada has kindly created a self-guided walk through history. A spot where prairie dogs surprise and delight as they dart across and then seem to disappear into the lawn! A place where local beer (not forgetting our promise to drink our way – locally – across Canada) is served in outdoor pubs overlooking the river, And an area that has been cultivated to attract tourists by placing craft shops, restaurants, and historical monuments hand-in-hand along cobblestone walkways. A thoroughly delightful afternoon!