MAY 16
May 16 to 17
We spent two nights in Wabigoon Ontario and then left leave for Winnipeg. Our reservation at Whiteshell Provincial Park was cancelled due to flooding so we will go the longer distance to Winnipeg (where it’s raining!). (Update: May 24, the province ordered a mandatory evacuation of some areas of Whiteshell.)
State of emergency declared in Manitoba's Whiteshell region
Rapidly rising water levels have caused deteriorating and dangerous conditions
CBC News · Posted: May 20, 2022 9:53 PM CT | Last Updated: May 21
Vehicles slowly drive through a washed-out Provincial Road 312 in Whiteshell Provincial Park in 2016. (Camille Gris Roy/Radio-Canada)
The province has declared a local state of emergency in eastern Manitoba, according to a news release from the department of environment, climate and parks. Rapidly rising water levels have caused deteriorating and dangerous conditions in Whiteshell Provincial Park, as well as a significant threat to public safety, the release says.
People are being warned not to travel into the park area. Many highways are flooded, making travel conditions treacherous, the release adds.”
Yesterday, two over landers pulled into Wabigoon Lake RV Park. I haven’t seen one since Alaska. These folks are from Germany and had their rigs shipped from overseas. Interesting way to travel for sure. They are basically all terrain vehicles built on military truck chassis and can go anywhere for long periods of time off road. They are usually all diesel with large tanks and carry 3-400 gallons of water. They can be off grid for extended periods of time.
May 18 to 22
We left in rain and it rained most of the way to Winnipeg. As we approached Kenora, we saw an electric road sign saying “Small Car Detour” and puzzled over that direction. Jerry saw all the transports going straight through and figured we could too. Soon, we saw that the road ahead was about 6 inches below water! They were letting traffic through one at a time guided by two flagmen … it was kind of scary but we made it through OK.
Along the way we saw a bison farm. Of course, we had to stop once again (in the rain) at the centre of Canada. Misty wanted to be documented visiting the centre of Canada despite the rain.
However, once out of the truck, Misty was not impressed – too much rain and mud. We made it to the Arrowhead Campground where we stayed back in 2018. It’s just southeast of Winnipeg near Ile des Chênes. We had two extra days in Winnipeg and thought that would be good because the city has a lot of neat paved multi-use trails. Unfortunately, we had rain, more rain, lots of rain, a little snow and it was cold and windy and did I say COLD!
We went nowhere. We did laundry, sorted and put away our laundry, and caught up on banking including sorting out various problems with our COSTCO Mastercard … a different nightmare and a long story.
One morning’s breakfast was pancakes. Not just any pancakes. The flour (Brule Creek) is grown and milled in the Thunder Bay region and sweetened with local (Canada West) Maple Sugar. Yum!
We also visited the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG). Two hours was not enough time to see everything but it was the maximum time our old decrepit bodies could endure. The WAG has the largest collection of Inuit art in all the world. There are pieces from all around the Arctic – from Alaska, Canada and Russia. They have beautiful displays of Inuit carvings, textiles, poetry, clothing designs, prints along with paintings. There is lots of information to read and absorb. It’s well worth the visit if you are in Winnipeg.
Prepping for a wedding
2 Not sure if this is a fur coat or a dress but it's cool.
4 Jerry indulged in some potato chips made by an Indigenous Company
5 A dress decorated with sealskin flowers. The tapestries are intricate embroidery.
After visiting the gallery, we drove to the Assiniboine Zoo and Park. We didn’t visit the Zoo but the park has lovely paved trails through gardens and woods and past sculptures. When we return it is a place we want to cycle.
Finally, we got a day without rain and it was slightly warmer. We cycled a nice paved multipurpose trail called the Bishop Grandin Greenway Trail. Wish Guelph had something as substantial as this. There are other trails here. We rode 25 km of this one.
Cuts in the stone represent the “lots” farming plots along the river and the antler is like a hand.
Turnings from a Winnipeg Urban Elm
May 23 to 24,
We drove through the scenic and quiet farm lands of southern Manitoba on Highway 2. It’s nice to be off the TransCanada highway and see small town farming communities.
We camped in Ninette (pronounced Nine ette) on Pelican Lake. Our site was beautiful right by the lake. When we pulled in, I noticed huge birds flying overhead … pelicans! I tried hard to get a picture. The camp is municipal run, full service and a great find. Looks like a super seasonal place if you enjoy boating and fishing. We stopped here so we could meet up with an old friend who recently moved to Ninette. We had dinner with him at his new house overlooking Pelican Lake.
On Tuesday, we were just about ready to take a short drive to “The Grocery Box” in town to grab a few items we needed. As Elizabeth was opening the truck door, she heard a thump and saw a huge bird falling from the sky onto the road in front of our site. It was a pelican! We think it must have hit something like a tree branch and was stunned. It must have been flying blind – Ha Ha!
A couple of seasonal guys were working on a dock nearby and were just as intrigued as us. The pelican must have really been out of it because it allowed one man to picked it up and move it off the road onto the shore. Elizabeth was even able to pet the bird. It had beautiful soft white feathers and black tipped wings. We were concerned for its welfare but there really wasn’t much we could do. When we returned from our excursion, the bird was gone. The fellows told us that it made it to the lake and swam away.
May 25
Travel to Weyburn. Beautiful farms. As we approached the town, Clifford (the big red truck) started making a strange sound as if he were dragging something underneath the driver’s seat. It was quite puzzling. We couldn’t see anything under the hood or the body of the truck.
May 26
I was very concerned about the truck and called a Toyota dealer in Moosejaw who agreed to look at it. I drove the 150 KM to Moose Jaw and, of course, once I was there the truck would not make the noise for the mechanics. It started to look like a major repair – about $3000 and two or three days to do the work once they got the parts. It seemed like we would be stuck until Tuesday next week. In addition, the warranty claim involved extensive documentation of the problem meaning they had to disassemble the engine! Elizabeth was at the trailer so I called to let her know. We decided to move the trailer to Moose Jaw while the work was being done. So, she began to worked on cancelling the next few camps and booking one in Moose Jaw, while I arranged for a rental car.
Elizabeth here – I just finished cancelling Swift Current and Medicine Hat and arranging for refunds when Jerry called. He told me that after picking up the rental car and going back to the dealer to get the truck to drive back to Weyburn, Clifford made the noise again! The mechanic heard it and realized it was NOT the timing chain idlers … it was the heat shield on the catalytic converter. It had come loose. I groaned and began to call everyone back to explain that we don’t have a truck breakdown and please can we have our reservations back and I cancelled the campground in Moose Jaw. I do hope all the refunds and recharges work out. Boy was I embarrassed. Thankfully, it was a quick inexpensive fix and Clifford is fine.
I returned to Weyburn. It took all day but was worth it for the peace of mind. BIG shout outto the folks at Moose Jaw TOYOTA, who took us in without an appointment and were willing to help us out with our problem. I can’t thank them enough and all I can say is Toyota’s the best.
So that’s enough for now:
Until next time,
Jerry & Elizabeth, Misty, Miss Adventure Two, The Guys, FJ (who is sunning on the dash) and Clifford the Big Red Truck
The museum looks just incredible. I know that Frank would love to see that.
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