We decided it may be good to have an alternate method of cooking for the colder, rainier days. So many say how wonderful an Instant Pot is so we give it a shot. All that know Allan know he’s a RTFM (read the fuckin manual) kind of guy…We have limited, OK perhaps no extra space. This 6qt model is just too big for most of our cupboards. They make a 3qt model, that may be more for us.
We later learn it is really sulfur. The goal is, Bailey never sees snow!
We see many grain silos
Some oil wells
Trains and more silos
Alberta!!!!We pass a sign indicating vehicles over a certain weight must report to the inspection station. Does that include us? Allan errs on the side of caution, after seeing the chaser vehicle
Turns out it isn’t required for us, would have been interested to determine our weight but we couldn’t figure that out.
Back on the road I finally get a photo of the “Important Intersection” sign. We foolishly thought all intersections were important!Almost there
What’s that??? Turns out it’s the Water Tower Restaurant.
This is the first site we’ve been in that is both pull thru (Bridgeview calls it that) and a back out. It’s a nice, long site
With this view from the front seats
We see a river, off we go
We spot a ship wreck!
Some lovely scenery
The Lethbridge Viaduct, commonly known as the High Level Bridge
Construction began August of 1908, the bridge was completed June 22, 1909 and officially opened on November 1, 1909. It cost a whopping $1,334,525.00 to build. This bridge is still the longest and highest of its kind in the world reaching 5,327.625 feet long (1.6km) and 314 feet high (96 meters). In its time is has been described by some as one of the wonders of the world! We thought the Peterborough one was impressive!
We’re in Lethbridge to see Allan’s childhood friend, Wilf and family. The evening ended with a surprise visit from Wilf’s parents And then Shelly, Wilf’s sister and her husband Jim. Forgot to take that photo!
Parked without my help but WHOOPS we are supposed to be site 31, we are in 30. Allan was going to wheel around for try 2 but the park Manager drove by to say “Leave it” 🙂
All set up! Notice the train cars and plant in the background!
Do a quick walk, it is a small park so takes no time.The vehicles that drive on the highway appear to be floating
We booked our campgrounds for the entire trip prior to leaving Sutton. We like to keep our drive times to about 5 hours knowing that likely ends up being 6+h.
Today’s drive, a whopping 1:52 minutes. Oh well, it will be nice to have an easy drive day.
Wake up to……
NO, not snow but we each did a double take.
We leave at 1020a, 68,485k
We encounter much flatness and many walls of hay! Speed limit, who came up with that number
Nice, here we go again – Bailey’s GPS is telling us to turn down this road. The bad thing about this GPS is, it doesn’t like to reroute. It’s stubborn!! Keeps wanting us to do a U-turn so we can turn here.
Enlist the aid of Maps on my cell. It know the road is closed and sends us back to Hwy 1. Turn off Hwy 1 onto this road. Photo doesn’t make it look bad but it was the worse road to date. Everything shook, rattled – it was deafening. I should have done a video.
Not to be left out Maps is now telling us to turn onto private property drive ins. The road ends, Bailey’s GPS is saying turn right, Maps wants us to turn left. At this point we have more faith in Maps but turning left doesn’t make sense. We call Turtle Crossing, “turn left then we are on the right!”
We arrive at 132p, longer than the anticipated arrival time thanks to the crazy directions.
Allan checking in.
The first park rule “Turtles have right of way”. Makes us think we will see lots of turtles. We are on the lookout.
All set up.
The tow cables after a bit dirty after that bumpy, dusty road.
September 11 – Our stroll around the park.
No turtles spotted yet… Allan is searching.
Beautiful sunset
and fire
Allan is much miffed…
NO gators in Florida or the Carolinas
No bears in Ontario
Road signs say:
Deer next (how ever many) km, NO deer sightings
Moose next (how ever many) km, NO moose sighting
NO prairie dogs in the Prairies
And now these are the only turtles we see. Disappointing.
Maybe we’ll have better luck in Banff National Park, they say it is home to 53 species of mammals.
Leave at 830a, seems to be a popular time for us, 67,989k
Weather turns dreary, scenery not as scenic
Standard reduced to one lane section
The strangest things pass us!
Manitoba coming up, 2km
Made it! Hello Manitoba!!
More better, Hello Divided Highway!!
Clouds and more clouds
Now the dueling GPS begins. Not one of our favourite games. Which one do we believe??
We choose to not do a u-turn! Good choice!!
Made it! Arrived at 235p
First campground we have been in that builds elevated electric rooms. Flooding issue?
Allan begs to differ, beer o’clock is now.
September 09 – Explore downtown Winnipeg day. Turned into a “drive by” day, was much too peopley to walk around.
We go back to the campground which is really in the outskirts, in a town called, St. Francois Xavier We still need some steps so thought we’d walk to the town. Nope it is over 3h walk each way on the side of the highway. There is a gravel road next to the gas station/check in building, there is a turn close to the start but we decide to give that a go.
Pleasantly surprised to find ..
The dirt road ended up in an estate subdivision filled with large homes. We managed to get our 10k steps today.
Our GPS often pays tricks on us. This time it sends us down a bumpy road and wants us to turn on a dirt road. The dirt road has a turn we can’t see around. I get out, walk to the corner to find another corner. This can’t be right. Allan calls and no it isn’t right, we should not have turned.
We get back on the road we shouldn’t have turned off, drive another 5ish minutes and here we are, arrive at 315p
Thinking we have a back in site, we decide to unhook Bob prior to check in. Bob loves Bailey and decides he doesn’t want to get unhooked. Suspect that bumpy road whacked something out of alignment. Allan struggles with it, wiggles and jiggles, poof! They are unhooked.
All set up
We won’t be able to have a fire as the pit is too close to Bailey but the weather isn’t that nice anyways. Allan has a, much deserved
Found our golf cart! Think it’s the park’s owners, they may object!
Walk to Davy Lake
Walk into town
Why oh why would they have so many charging stations in Ignace. Never saw this many in Toronto! These are for Teslas only!! Not much else in town.
Weather here hasn’t been great, rain, sun, rain, partial sun. Wonder if this is typical.
September 08: Time to leave. First for us! Stinky slinky leaking everywhere!!
The only other hose we have doesn’t reach, the plan is to circle around and stop closer to the sewer. We find the communal hook ups first so use it. Another first, we pump quicker than the sewer can handle. Stop, stop!! Finally we are empty. Such an exciting morning and it’s only 830a!
This photo does not show enough the potholes on the road leading into/out of the SSM KOA. This place takes the prize of being the bumpiest!Cloudy skies…
That peek-a-boo hole beside the lawn chairs opens up to the sandy lake.
Clouds reflected in the lake
We venture out for a walk and encounter yet another sign
Just passed the bear sign, we find the hiking trail that goes around the lake
Allan “Want to go?”
Me “Of course” while thinking, they wouldn’t really put a trail where bears hang out!
Beautiful, but looks like a bear would be happy in this trail…
We forge on. “What’s that rustling sound?” Allan researched what to do if you encounter a bear; do not turn & run. Stand your ground, make noise and throw stuff. Problem we have no stuff!
It’s a very scenic trail…
The trail opens up to view the lake
Back in the wooded trail
We make it out!!
Celebrate with, of course, a fire!
Turns out this is one of our favourite campgrounds.