Travelling Back in Time

We woke up to another glorious day in Manitoba - the forecast was sunny with a high of 24 degrees.  Everyone took a shower this morning and let's just say bathrooms are a very important aspect of camping for Natalie and Andrea.  The campground with the best bathrooms were in Massey, Ontario - their bathroom floors were done in ceramic tile and we felt like we were in a hotel.  The bathroom at this campground in Manitoba was a little better than fair - there were lots of bugs flying around and the girls did not like the idea of sharing their shower with so many insects.   It certainly is a test of my patience as I have to deal with their screams and panic yelps as I try to get them to shower.   Natalie always asked Francois and David what the mens bathroom are like in the different facilities we visit and they always have the same answer, "They are clean and nice."  Natalie asked why the mens bathrooms were always nicer than our bathrooms and I explained that the bathrooms are probably not nicer, just that men have a lower expectation for how a bathroom should look than women.

Francois dreaming of homemade bread

After a delicious breakfast of French Toast and scrambled eggs prepared by Chef Francois Caron we made our way to Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site of Canada.  We travelled back in time to an era when the Hudson's Bay Company operated a string of fur trade forts.  There were many costumed guides representing the people who lived in the early 1850s.  As we walked through the different homes, Francois and I both commented how we felt we were sometimes visiting our grandmothers as the kitchens was similar to theirs.  

Tanya prepping the oven for the bread

Natalie Ringing the Lunch Bell

Francois also paid close attention to the carpentry work both on the inside and outside of the house.  It is so hard to believe the people from long ago did such intricate work with the most basic of tools.  For example, the picket fence that surrounded the main building was done in mortis and tendon (all with hand tools) and there must have been over a couple of thousand one inch pickets in this fence and each one appeared to be a perfect fit.

We also got to see a sample of all the fur pelts stored at the fort.  It was interesting to see how the pelts were made and we were even shown how a beaver pelt could be turned into a beautiful black top hat.

Andrea not sure how close to the coyote pelts to get

The kids enjoyed the tour and didn't seem to mind all the walking, but their favorite part was ringing the lunch bell, which was an old, large, metal triangle and a metal stick.  Each of them rang the bell using all their might to hit the triangle with the metal stick.

We had lunch at the National Historic Site and we met a lady, currently working for Parks Canada,  who spent one summer in Summerside working at the Brother's Two Feast.  We left Winnipeg shortly after 1:00pm and headed towards Brandon, our next planned stop. 

David sitting on the Bison pelts with one of the "actors."

As we are travelling on the highway we have noticed many people trying to read our license plate.  It must be difficult to read because when the vehicles are passing us we notice the passenger looking back to try to see our front license plate, which is not helpful because it is not our province plate.  Natalie, Andrea and David all enjoy looking for different licence plates and get really excited when we spot a new one.  Our latest discovery was a Utah and a Colorado license plate.

It was also interesting to see how high the water levels have remained as we travelled on the main Highway.  We arrived in Brandon to see a lot of the area near the Assiniboine River still  submerged under water.   One of the campgrounds in Brandon decided to remain closed for the summer months because of the amount of flooding in their area.  Francois commented how we are  lucky that we do not have to experience such devastation.  There were gazebos in park areas completely submerged in water.  There was a place on the highway where people could drop off their used sandbags  - we saw at least 100s of sandbags discarded.

It took us a considerable length of time to find a park in Brandon where we could let the kids use up some energy and we could make supper.  Most of their park systems are along the rivers and they are temporarily closed for safety reasons.  We finally found one at an elementary school.  The kids played their games on the playground equipment while supper was cooking on the BBQ.

 All in all the kids are travelling really well, but when we are travelling in the city in high traffic areas they seem to kick it into gear with their rowdiness and silliness, when Francois and I have the least patience.  I am getting a little better at reading a map, but I still don't think I would make a good partner for Francois on the Amazing Race.  Francois is great at reading maps, but he is also good at driving in the cities.  Since I am not comfortable in driving in busy places I guess I have to become better at reading the map.   

We are settling in for the night at the Day's Comfort Inn - our third one since leaving home - since the weather is calling for a chance of thundershowers.   David is getting really good at recognizing its logo - he points it out on the highway every time he see its.   The kids and Francois are playing in the pool and then we hope an early night to bed for everyone.  We are heading to Regina tomorrow and maybe meet up with a friend, Mary, who is training to be an RCMP officer.

Good night

Tanya