What luck I had to meet Nellie’s sister Lorraine in Winnipeg. I just want to thank the powers that be for amazing sisters. What would the world be without them? Lorraine treated me like a sister and gave me insights into why I love Nellie so much.
On the way through Winnipeg it was raining hard. I let Karma take the lead. I had an address and no directions. She took me right down town, past Portage and Main. A big fan of the rock band the Guess Who, I was thrilled to be there. Maybe the way back will be sunny and I will find a parking spot and gawk. That day though, I simply clenched the steering wheel and hoped that Karma knew what she was doing. She did.
On the way out of town, Lorraine gave me a by pass, the road was sunny and I missed the traffic of down town completely. Much easier but not nearly as much fun.
Prairie Grass Preserve
Yesterday I went to the Prairie Grass Preserve that I once heard Peter Gzowski talk about. What a thrill to be there. What an adventure finding it. Vincent had a mud bath, but the hot, humid air brought the sweet scents of the un-tilled prairie field to me and it was everything I had imagined it might be.
After taking a 2 h0ur hike and being impressed at the loving way that volunteers have labeled many of the plants, I headed east again for Turtle Mountain Provincial Park. On the way the sky got black and I ended up setting up camp in the rain. Vincent wore his raincoat last night.
Volunteer labels
Vincent in a rain coat
Today I got up and had breakfast, then headed to Souris for a walk across the swinging bridge, a car wash and some technology. I am staying at Turtle Mountain one more night before heading to Saskatchewan.
Long suspension foot bridge - not as sturdy as you might think
When people have said that I would find the prairies a boring drive, I always thought they would be wrong. I love sky and I have not been disappointed. The landscape is startlingly beautiful and the people seem to be just as friendly as the sky is wide. I have been surprised at how flat Southern Manitoba is. I wonder if it is just as flat in the north. Turtle Mountain Park is in a more rolling area but the sky still goes on forever.
Could this be Vincents roots?
I am having trouble finding internet service these days. Hope to talk soon.
What I miss most about the west is the flatness! I love driving across the prairies. For me when I look out across the prairie my heart sings with the expanse. “Where the sky is bigger than anywhere else, as far as the eye can see” from Connie Kaldor’s song Bigger Than Anywhere Else. Go have a listen – it makes me cry I am so attached to those prairies … http://www.myspace.com/conniekaldor
So Vicki say hello to my beloved prairies. Do this, stand on the edge of an expanse, slowly look up and take in the prairie grass as your gaze travels further and further until your eyes meet the sky and then your gaze never stops, you have the sky and beyond and there can be a peace for me like no other. hello prairie …. love faye
Ummmmm. I love those sentiments…and I do love the way the whole thing pulls together. I would like to spend a winter here…or two. I love winters and can just imagine it all wearing ice and snow.