Didn’t really have much time to check out the prairies so only stopped twice in SK. First stop was at a small RV park just off the Trans Canada highway in a small valley near Maple Creek.
About an hour south of where we were staying was Cypress Hills interprovincial park (it’s in both AB and SK). Unfortunately it was totally booked the weekend we were in the area so we couldn’t stay there. However, it was worth the drive to see the scenery around Fort Walsh which is a National Historic Site. I’ve got a picture of a plaque that will give you the history lesson if you’re interested.
Dave and I also did a couple of 2 hr bike rides thru prairie back roads. Literally nothing to see for miles but cows and fields and fields of either pasture land or some kind of grain. Surprisingly enough, there are more rolling hills in the landscape than you’d think. You really notice them when you’re biking in really loose gravel or on 2 track dirt paths. Great way to bake in the sun...absolutely no shade to be had & it was extremely dusty so needed to bring lots of water. You also had be careful not to end up with one of the hundreds of grasshoppers that went flying into your body like little bullets down your throat! They hurt! Fun just to bike in the middle of what felt like nowhere....the houses and farms are miles and miles apart.
After that, drove to Regina (just missed the big AC/DC concert by a day...thank God because the town was apparently a zoo because of it) where we hooked up with my friend Pete that I met in 1st year university. Haven’t seen him for almost 25 years so it was great to get together and drink quite a few “adult beverages” while catching up on each other’s lives.
Those of you reading this who know Pete and were part of the gang that hung out back then might remember a small stuffed monkey called Mikey that I had. Well Pete and Dano stole him from me not long after graduation and they proceeded to take turns taking him with them when they travelled. Every once in a while, out of the blue, I’d get a picture of Mikey in some far off place, like on the beach in San Diego, in Chicago or near the Golden Gate Bridge. Once he even ended up on top of the “exotic” city of Sudbury sign and on the Chichiman ferry. I always had some of those pic pinned up at my desk at work because they always made laugh.
When I knew that Dave and I would be traveling, I mentioned to Pete that I might be thru Regina some time to visit him, he said he had something to give me....and after all this time, he still had Mikey! He’s done some extensive traveling in that time but had lately been stuffed in Pete’s daughter’s toy box so he’s now been freed and is part of our road show.
Ina, Linda and Linda.....Bill has a friend now! :-)
So just wanted to explain to those of you reading this why a small stuffed monkey will be showing up in pictures from time to time from now on. I’ve got to carry on the tradition! It’s amazing how much fun we’ve had doing this and how Mikey has made us laugh over the years, I guess some of us never really grow up but I’m good with that!
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