A Glimpse of the


RICHES of WESTERN Canada


BY HILDA BORN


Hubby Jake and I live in Abbotsford, BC, and in August we chose to aim for Friesen Printers in Altona, Manitoba and decided to savour every mile along the way. First we drove to Golden BC, then down the Osprey Trail to


Windermere. Near Chase, there is one Osprey nest, but in the East Kootenays on Highway 95 I spotted about a dozen nests on pines or power poles. One Osprey Mom was even feeding her babies high in the sky. Deep blue lakes sparkled nearby. Te Windermere campground cost us $33 and was handy and clean, with friendly neighbours who rent here year-round and come to swim and fish whenever they can. We headed east on Hwy 3 because Jake was eager to get to pioneer


celebrations in Pincher Creek, Alberta, but road construction and poor directions made us miss the historical event. Instead we went all the way to Coaldale Alberta. Tere the


Owl’s Nest dry camp was a true contrast to our previous night, but cost only $7. Before we finished supper, the campers beside us from Raymond Alberta brought us five gallons of fresh water. Fortunately, we still had some blueberries to give Al and Donna in return. Next morning I awoke when Jake excitedly explained, “I heard the meadowlark!” Around us the Prairie breeze swayed the sea of shimmering foxtail. Heading east across Alberta the land was lush and green aſter


this spring’s abundant rains and all the Prairie dugouts were full. Coulees pastured cattle of every variety from Charolais, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Shorthorn and Black and Red Angus. Great fields of sugar beets, potatoes and beans were in the St. Mary’s River irrigation where McCain’s huge warehouses are ready to process the crops. Te shortest route to our destination was Highway 1, which


made us wind through four Prairie cities in a single day. We got lost in Medicine Hat, and rush hour in Regina gave us some anxiety because a single light change doesn’t get you much farther, especially on Saturday aſternoon. Fortunately we didn’t touch the motorcycle that sneaked in front of us just as a traffic cop pointed his radar at him. A gracious student in nearby Buffalo Lookout RV Park gave us their last full hook-up spot for the night – and were we ever grateful! Going east, giant white pillars with waving arms dominate


the landscape and mesmerize your view. Energy-catching wind farms have sprung up, not only at Pincher Creek, but also east of Regina, in southern Manitoba, and near the Hutterite colony at McMahon, Saskatchewan. At the Manitoba border Information Centre they offer free


coffee and maps. We chose to avoid Winnipeg, and Brandon, and found Spirit Sands RV Park, a true haven of tranquility. Although some distance from Glenboro, Manitoba, it was reasonable and had all the amenities.


18 RVT 149 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 RVT 149 enlarged.indd 18 8/22/12 9:07:44 AM


Helen Funk, Hilda Born and Sarah Dyck in Swift Current, Saskatchewan at the Ponderosa RV Park. Helen and Sarah were Hilda’s former neighbours.


We found our next stop in the friendly town of Carmen beside


their Rec Commission to be a welcome spot. Janzen Motors serviced our truck in the morning so I was free to wander through their well-organized MCC thriſt store. In the book section I spotted the next volume in my favourite fiction series, and in ladies wear a green-striped top fit me exactly. Retired farmer Frank Funk gave my husband a field tour of the countryside while Laura Funk helped me shop at the Co-Op for all our future needs. Another surprise stop was in Roland Manitoba, the pumpkin


festival town, and more importantly the origin of the 4-H movement in Canada. As our goal we had set Friesen Printers in Altona Manitoba as


they had done some work for us in the past. Tey were founded in 1907, still are one of the largest independent Canadian companies owned by the 500 employees. Te company grosses nearly 45 million dollars a year. Unfortunately, Friesen’s don’t give tours in summertime, but the town was worth the stop. Te sculptures in their Art in the Park are intriguing. Te nearby town of Winkler also had a most impressive memorial park. Almost every Prairie town featured a colourful flora centre.


Souris Manitoba, which suffered much flooding this spring, still displayed a bright hanging basket tree to upliſt everyone’s spirit. We surprised Jake’s niece in Virden Manitoba by a call and visit birthday. She gave us a great tour of Virden, the oil


on her 50th


capital of southern Manitoba. We saw more oil wells there and in southern Saskatchewan than in Alberta. For our return we chose the Redcoat route of Highways 2 and 15,


which were bordered by cornfields and endless acres of round hay bales. Tere were full pullouts with historic markers, and Carlisle was a fine shopping stop for fresh baking, and King’s Department Store sale helped me find bright and solemn ties for Jake’s formal occasions. We got our second abrupt downpour at the regional Park in Assiniboia, Manitoba. It was $23 and like other Prairie towns was beside the Aquatic Centre. Weyburn Saskatchewan is well established and the Gravelbourg


Cathedral is impressive. Passing through Pambrun Saskatchewan, we parked in the shade at Millar College. Tey immediately gave us a tour of the modern Christian and Athletic Institute, far from any city. We declined lunch because we were eager to get to Flowerville beside Highway 4. Slowly we drove through the village of my birth and childhood.


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