Here is a link to a playlist of all our videos from Canada.
On Monday morning we left Alberta for Saskatchewan. We had a few days to enjoy a real Summer holiday, relaxing at the family cabin by Clearwater lake in Kyle. We drove through cities with seemingly odd names like “Medicine Hat” and “Swift Current”- didn’t quite get to “Moose Jaw” but I heard that name on the radio. The First Nation heritage in this area is undeniable. I dozed throughout the drive but managed to see enough of the landscape- plateaus of mostly empty land, with the odd oil drill here and there and sadly only invisible Bison. We stopped at a gas station and whilst I washed my hands in the services a lady walked by with a bright coloured parrot perched on her shoulder- amazing!
We paid a visit to Goodwin House at the Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park, which had an exhibition detailing the ecosystems of the area. I was surprised to learn that 1.5 million years ago the land was home to camels, mammoths and giant ground sloths. Carolyn showed me her favourite bird and flower (meadow Lark and Prairie Lily, also known as the Western Red Lily).
The South Saskatchewan river passes through this area. The province’s name (Saskatchewan) is derived from an anglicized version of a Cree word denoting a swiftly flowing river. The landing served as a historic crossing point for the Plains Indians, who had used it for thousands of years, as well as settlers who began to use it in the late 1800’s to cross over the river to the North.
Outside Goodwin House stood the Red River Cart which was an invention created two centuries ago by the Metis people in the Manitoba area further North. This cart was very unique in design as the wheels could be removed and then fastened to the bottom of the cart, transforming it into a raft, thus allowing the travelling trades people to cross the river safely.
From Saskatchewan Landing we then came to Kyle, where Brenda pointed out the United Church where Gary and Karen were married, and the house in which Karen grew up in. It began to drizzle then so we drove around Kinsmen Park where we took in the cement statue of Wally the Woolly Mammoth. Karen’s father discovered the bones of a Woolly Mammoth as they were unearthed by a scraper blade during road construction in Kyle.
The Road to Clearwater Lake pics
By the time we reached the cabin the rain was really coming in strong, so we went for a drive around the lake, hoping the weather would ease up. Upon our return, Brenda dashed out to the cabin to retrieve rain-jackets for us and soon we were all unloaded in the cabin, feeling snug by the heater. The following morning the sun decided to join us, so I enjoyed a speedy walk around the lake with Brenda whilst Bodra got some time with Carolyn. Then we headed out to the Beechy Farm.
On our way we stopped at the Kyle cemetery to visit the gravesite of Cyril and Genevieve Howell and also to check out the drive-in across the road. How thoughtful to provide easily accessible entertainment for those who have passed on!
The farm which had once been home to Carolyn, Gary and Brenda is now a Hutterite colony, so we were only able to gaze at the farm from the car. Judging from all the farm equipment, their completely self-sustained lifestyle must be fairly successful.
We were lucky to notice a cement marker along the side of the road- the only remains of Brenda and Carolyn’s school, “Wistful Vista”.
We next went in search of Beechy’s scenic Sunken Hill- a great adventure involving some off-road driving through farmland. We spotted a Hutterite hooning around his field on an ATV, but he wasn’t bothered by our appearance. Sunken Hill was formed fifty years ago, when a hill which had been grazing cattle suddenly dropped, leaving a deep depression the size of a parking lot. We crossed farmland, passing through a couple ancient gates, following signs to Sand Castles in the hopes it would lead us to Sunken Hill. Brenda throught she could see the area in the distance, but when we came to our third gate and the road appeared to become more of a trail, we backed off from our hunt. We found a great view of the South Saskatchewan River, but not the Sunken Hill.
We left the dirt roads behind us as we made our way to Beechy township. Brenda drove all through the small town and Carolyn and her reminisced about the different people they used to know.
On Wednesday morning we dropped Brenda off at a nearby service station where she caught a bus back to Saskatoon. We spent the next couple of days in idle- reading, watching TV, napping, playing frisbee, walking around the lake and taking pictures of nature. (I was really chuffed with my pic of a Tree Swallow and sunset on the lake.) Perfect for a holiday! Clearwater Lake pics
You have to giggle at Saskatoon seasons- Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and Pothole season. On mid-day Friday we entered Circle Drive in Saskatoon and soon met up with Brenda, having a good gander around all the different hair-dressing supply outlets. We visited Brenda’s “Rusholme Beauty Salon” where Bodra received a much needed tidy-up! In the evening we sat in Brenda’s backyard beneath a Marquee, tucking into our delicious dinner from EE Burittos. Vasko, Brenda’s partner, joined us and shared the many scented-treats of their garden with me (Chocolate Mint which I had never tasted or heard of before!).
Later that evening, Bodra’s cousin Jamie arrived to take us for a drive around the city. Sight-seeing in the evening is pretty special, especially when you are in Canadian country which has spectacular skies and sunsets. Jamie showed us all the different areas of Saskatoon city, the river-side fancy homes with tree-lined streets, Saskatoon University. We climbed the stairs to the old railway bridge which crosses the South Saskatchewan River where Pelicans wade, and took in a great view of the city.
Then Jamie took us to one of his locals, and we enjoyed a few pints of a tasty Great Western beverage.
On Saturday Jamie took us all out to Paradise Beach aka “Bareass Beach” (it attracts naturists) and the Berry Barn. The Beach is 25km outside of the city, along Valley Road, but there was no ocean (or nudies), just the South Saskatchewan River with sandy banks. This river is pretty mighty. It flows from the Eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, through cities and farmland, before arriving in Saskatoon, and from there it carries on for more than one thousand kilometres, joining the North Saskatchewan River at the Forks, forty kilometres East of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The South Saskatchewan River originates at the confluence of the Bow and Oldman rivers in Alberta and Montana. These rivers come together to form the South Saskatchewan River just East of Medicine Hat, Alberta.
The Berry Barn was our final stop for the day- a family-run country-style diner set up inside a barn. We dined on delicious orchard-fresh berries with our pancakes and waffles. I was pleased to find my Inunnguaq magnet in their gift shop (yay!).
Before our flight to Harrisburg, we had one last walk along the river with Brenda and Carolyn. On our walk we noticed that a riverside splash park for toddlers was designed to represent a map of the Saskatchewan river. Great to see education and fun being united!
On our return to Brenda’s home, Jamie’s girlfriend Cynthia was there with her sweet fluffy dog Trixie, so we were pleased to see them both and say our final farewells.
During our flight to Minneapolis I was fascinated by the aerial view of Canada- really a checkerboard landscape!
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