We listened to an audio book on the drive, "Canoeing with the Cree" by Eric Sevareid. It chronicles his trip from Minneapolis to York Factory, Manitoba (just southeast of Churchill) which he did when he was 17, with his friend Walter Port who was 19 at the time. Over the course of three months during the summer of 1930, they traveled 2,250 miles by river in an 18ft canvas canoe with a very basic knowledge of canoeing, orienteering, and general outdoor survivalship. What a trip! They did what grown men with years of experience had never attempted. And they did this right out of high school on a 50/50 writers loan from the minneapolis newspaper.
(insert pic of book)
We arrived in Winnipeg in the early afternoon and found our way around town to Birds Hill Provincial Park. Driving through/around Winnipeg is interesting; about 30 years ago Manitoba funded a diversion canal of the red river so that if there was flooding imminent, that it would save the city from certain drowning. It's absolutely massive and surrounds the city for miles. It makes it seem like a walled city. The canal isn't used much unless it's flood season, and so the city has come up with crafty ways to use the newfound hills this creates:
They built a ski slope on the side of the canal. Pretty crafty if I say so myself, Especially considering a lot of Manitoba is flatter than a pancake.
So then we arrived to Birds Hill Provincial Park, checked in and setup camp:
I took that picture just for you, Pat.
Then we played with the adorably tame Franklins Ground Squirrel (it acts like a gopher but is cuter):
After that, we went for a "cedar bog hike" in the park, which was more like a "80% Aspen parkland 20% cedar bog hike" in essence. The part which was actually bog was quite muddy and we totally forgot to spray down, so we got chewed up by the bugs. But we did get to see 3 different orchids: big yellows, showys, and a Platanthera. And it was a little warm, about 85°.
After the hike, we went and got some chow just outside the park, at a little joint that serves Ukrainian food, so i shoveled in some pierogies(SP?) for supper. We also bought some delicious fruit which we will eat on the drive tomorrow!
After supper, we returned and explored the campground a little bit, checking out the shower facilities and the little convenience store there, which truly had everything you could need and some you didn't.
Josh's mother sent a bag of fresh strawberries along for the trip, which needed to be eaten since they were taking valuable cooler space, so we decided to make strawberry shakes. In a bag. The perfect camping treat!!
After this, Josh and I frolicked in the field of prairie smoke (insert Latin) and got some really neat sunset-light pictures:
And then it was shower and bed time! At 10:30 it was still 75° so a shower felt really great.
Overall a productive day, traveling over 500 miles and still being able to do a short hike in the park. :) we shall see what tomorrow brings!
Location:On the road/winnipeg
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