Medicine Hat, Alberta to Winnipeg, Manitoba

Left Medicine Hat, Alberta 

May 10

Traveling along Trans-Canada Highway - heading towards Saskatchewan

Swift Current, Saskatchewan

The province of Saskatchewan remains the 'breadbasket' of Canada.   With almost 91% of the total cropland, Saskatchewan accounts for more thant 2/5 of Canada's total field crops acreage - more than 36.7 million acres (more than Alberta and Manitoba combined).

A large farming vehicle heading to the gas pumps.   Well known for grain farming (rapeseed, alfalfa, barley, canola, flax, rye and oats), Sask is also the world's largest producer of potash which is used as fertilizer.   A small percentage of potash is use in commercial and industrial products, such as soap.

A brief slow down in traffic flow just east of Swift Current:    

An early morning train derailment. 

An oil well license must be obtained before drilling; If no drilling information is noted for one year, the license is automatically cancelled.

A typical scene;   grain elevators.

Road traffic is minimal, the roads are good, dry and very little wind.   Temperatures around 8 c (47 F) late morning.

Occasionally, you will see an old farm house or barn way out in the open field and new grain silos beside them.

An old farm cabin.

Grain Elevator at the bypass (Trans-Canada Hwy 1) into Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

We are now approximately half way across Saskatchewan.   Left Medicine Hat at 7 am.

Arrived at Town and Country RV Park at 3 pm (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Photo courtesy of website

Staying a couple of nights here in the site beside our friend Debbie. 

Photo courtesy of website

A large, family friendly RV Park (quite this time of year), with over 300 sites.   Next door is a huge amusement park and waterslides.   Close drive to town, nice large sites and very quiet (no trains!).

FORTWHYTE ALIVE

With our one full-day in the area, Marc ran some errands while I went to Fort Whyte Alive (Nature Park).

In 1907, The Canada Cement Company used much of what is now FortWhyte Alive to mine clay and gravel.  In the 50's, floods and other sources of clay made the site obsolete.   Eventually, the Wildlife Foundation of Manitoba had insight into the potential to protect the habitat and began work to restore the land.

FortWhyte Alive is an environmental, education and recreation centre in SW Winnipeg, along the migratory path of Canada geese.

The sod house tells the story of the resourcefulness of pioneer prairie families.  Made with grass roots and sod, cut with a plow into large bricks and packed with topsoil.   Rodents, snakes, insects and spiders were common visitors.   Heavy rain would eventually drop through the earthen roof.   In cold winter weather, the house double as a barn where livestock shared space.

                                     A Plains Teepee

FortWhyte Alive is located on Treaty One land (traditional territory of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of Metis Nation).

Humans had driven bison to near extinction in Canada by the late 1800's.    The FortWhyte herd began with donations from Parks Canada.   They have 70 acres of pasture and the herd consists of over 30 bison.   (Original descendents were brought over to Canadian Parks by a man nicknamed "Buffalo," a man names Alexndre Ayotte, at the turn of the century).

An old rickety wooden fence lined with the poplar trees bursting with green foliage.   Spring has arrived.

THE SWAMP

Besides providing water for the birds, the swamp provides a base for healing medicines:

Black-capped Chickadee

Willow shrubs were used to treat fever and headaches.   Willow bark contains the chemical compound salicin (a relative to this compound is the active ingredient in aspirin).












Downy Woodpecker


Arrow-leaf Coltsfoot is a perennial plant found in moist sites.   Leaves were rolled up into tight balls, dried and then burnt - the ask was used as a salt substitute.









A migrating, nesting Canada Goose.   The geese were scattered all over this park and surprisingly calm when coming close to them.   A few hissed at me but I didn't get chased.

FortWhyte(660 acres) is well respected for offering objective, balanced programs that provide environmental educational programs, outdoor recreation and committed to exploring historical, current and future integration between humans and the environment.   Close to 30,000 school children each year take part in the programs.

FortWhyte is home to five clay pit "ponds",  measuring up to half a km long and up to 8 meters deep.

Sail boats, canoes, row boats, fishing equipment, cruiser bikes are all available to rent here.  


Off in the distance I spotted some large white birds;   so, off I crept along the shoreline.

Was surprised to see American White Pelicans.   Did not realize they come through a large area of Canada (a few places in BC, through Alberta, Sask and Manitoba).  They breed in interior N. American, moving south and to the coasts, as far as Central and South America in winter.



During breeding season, both males and females develop a pronounced bump on the top of their large beaks.   This growth is shed by the end of the breeding season.








White pelicans feed primarily on schooling fish bu also will eat salamanders and crayfish.      They do not dive for their food - they scoop them into their pouches then hold their bills vertically to drain out the water.   They are also known to be thieves and will steal from other birds, like cormorants.

A COMMON TERN

Preparing to dive for fish

The terns have one of the longest migrations of all birds, with an average round trip of 35,000 km each year.   They can be found breeding across most of of Europe/Asia and parts of N. America.

After breeding season, they migrate south to spend winter along the tropical coasts of Africa, S. America and SE Asia. 

I know the red-winged black bird is a common bird.   Just had to post this picture of this fashionable bird - looks like he is wearing Epaulettes!   

He is signifying his rank!








YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS

One one pond, noticed these little birds flitting all over the surface of the pond.   On looking closer and many shutter-releases trying to capture the speedy birds, I find these warblers hunting insects.

DOWNTOWN WINNIPEG

The Red River is high

Made a quick stop to walk around The Forks in downtown Winnipeg.  The Forks is a historic site, meeting place and green space located at the confluence of the Red River and Assiniboine River.

At the south end of the Norwood Bridge we cross the Red River.   On the left is a beautiful restaurant, overlooking the river.   (Summer festivities bring a large amount of boaters and tubers floating down the river).


On the North side, after crossing the Assiniboine River we get to the start of the Forks (trending shops and cafes).

Across the bridge we come to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights building.   

An amazing structure but we were running out of time so did not check it out.

Upper Fort Gary Heritage Provincial Park (across from the Human Rights Museum)

Saint Boniface, historical district of Winnipeg, at the confluence of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers, was founded in 1818, led by Bishop Joseph Provencher; a chapel was built there to honor St. Boniface (Boniface meant "good fate" and was the name of nine popes, several saints and missionary).


On our way back 'home' I felt some eyes watching me . . . .

Au revoir Winnipeg.

Leaving Town and Country May 13 - heading into Ontario.