Day 18 -- Saskatchewan

Summary:

Progress ... slowly but surely

• Explore rural Saskatchewan
• Distance Traveled: 666.5 km
• Time on the Road: 10 hrs

Lighthouse in Cochin, SK

Today was an adventurous day of exploring.  I spent more time on gravel roads that ever planned ... but the CRV held up well, other than it is now in DESPERATE need of a wash.  

The day started with a stop off to visit a lighthouse in the middle of the Prairies ... I don't know why a lighthouse was put on top of a hill in Cochin, SK but it was ... it was good to get the blood flowing as I climbed up the steps ... it was only 153 steps.

Unfortunately the mosquitoes were not going to let me through unscathed.  I swarm descended and blackened the sky around me as soon as I turned into the parking lot (must buy even MORE potent bug spray!).

I was surprised at how pretty I found the countryside today (gravel dust aside).  Old grain storage facilities seem to be in every little town (or remnants of towns).  And old buildings populate the fields, making me ponder who used to live there so many years ago.

I spent probably 3 hours on gravel today trying to find a "Wonder of Canada" (as determined by CBC) ... the Twisted Trees of Saskatchewan.  They're really quite amazing ... no one knows why these Aspen trees grow in every direction instead of straight, like the other Aspens not 10' away.  

Twisted Trees/Crooked Bush 

Random Statue, Manitou Beach

A little shack

Did you know that there's a mineral lake and resort in the middle of Saskatchewan?!  Manitou Beach is a beautiful with lots of fun sculptures.

other random old buildings

Random Fairy Tree in a field, somewhere in SK

I'm tucked away in Moose Jaw, SK for the evening.  I'll visit Mac the Moose on my way out of town.  Tomorrow will take me into Manitoba.  Halifax, here I come (in like 2 weeks).