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Canada Road Trip 2023
  • Scott Paul
  • Scott Paul

Canada Road Trip 2023

An open-ended adventure by Scott Read more
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  • Scott PaulCanada Road Trip 2023Traveler

    Where it All Began

    September 5, 2023 in Canada ⋅ 🌙 12 °C

    There aren’t too many people whose birth certificate shows them being born in Erickson, Manitoba. I wake up each morning to a woman who claims this sleepy town as her birthplace. It’s located outside Riding Mountain National Park where Coleen’s father first cut his teeth in public service.

    The hospital is no longer there but the town has really leaned into their Scandinavian heritage. Street signs are topped by Viking ships while a giant longboat with red and white striped metal sails sits menacingly at the end of main street, its dragon prow head and Norse shields evoking a menacing sight.

    The story goes that Coleen’s parents and older brother had been at a “fowl supper” fundraiser. Wasn’t too long after that a super-stuffed Inez knew that she’d soon be cooking for more than three. A short ride down the highway to Erickson and the love of my life joined the human race. And she’s been running ever since. Some days it’s hard to keep up with her.    Read more

  • Scott PaulCanada Road Trip 2023Traveler

    Turning 100

    September 6, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Our society has a thing about celebrating the number 100.

    From seniors achieving the century mark, to countries marking their 100 anniversary, to companies boasting 100 years of operation, we make a big deal of the time odometer tripping into three digits.

    Not caring to buck the trend, Coleen and I marked our 100th day on the road with a day of cycling, hiking, singing, and dining out in Riding Mountain National Park. It was a picture perfect fall day, the sun’s rays warming not burning. Rain and wind took a day off and we revelled in the beauty of the park.

    Our centennial supper included bruschetta, baked salmon with a fruit salsa, linguine in a creamy red pepper sauce and sea scallops. Chocolate tiramisu capped off our celebratory centennial meal. A day, a meal, and milestone to remember.    Read more

  • Scott PaulCanada Road Trip 2023Traveler

    Iconic Saskatchewan

    September 7, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We had barely passed into Saskatchewan, when our attention turned away from the land of the living skies to just … the land. Vast fields of grain and large round hay bales littering the fields. A little further along the September harvest was in full gear — gangs of John Deere combines bringing in the crop.

    Saskatchewan Rough Riders green flags fluttered from farmyard flagpoles. Prairie elevators broke the horizon, train tracks still running by them. We drove past a mix of incongruously named hamlets — Mikado, Kamsack and Stornoway — before passing through the “hockey factory” of Kelvington where no less than six of their boys have made the NHL.

    And somehow along the way our jet lag transition came to pass. We share the same time with Saskatchewan’s western neighbour. But it is feeling late … yawn. Catch up with you tomorrow.    Read more

  • Scott PaulCanada Road Trip 2023Traveler

    Klinger

    September 8, 2023 in Canada ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    I’m dating myself, but I was a big fan of the TV series M.A.S.H. One of the characters was a private who went to great lengths to be discharged on the basis of mental fitness — he cross dressed in the earnest hope of being sent back Stateside.

    I was reminded of Klinger as we hiked a trail in Greenwater Provincial Park with the same name. However this trail was dedicated to a Saskatchewan lineman who died on the job nine years ago. His nickname was Klinger.

    Klinger’s family and friends built a trail that today had us meandering through forests of birch and poplar, climbing to vistas of the local lake, and sidestepping bear scat.

    That and the Sasquatch signs made for a lovely, albeit anxious at times, hike in the Saskatchewan woods. And the trailhead port a potty signed for bears seemed to be at odds with our trail discoveries. Seriously, does a bear shit in the woods?    Read more

  • Scott PaulCanada Road Trip 2023Traveler

    Searching for a Prince

    September 9, 2023 in Canada ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    No signs of royalty here in Prince Albert National Park. At least none we saw here at Waskesiu Lake as we cycled around today.

    I subscribe to the travel principle that you never know what your day is going to look like. Waking up this morning I would have never imagined that our day would have included a morning movie, an art gallery, and churros.

    And yet you would have found Coleen and I munching happily on popcorn at 11:30 as we watched The Miracle Club on the big screen as part of the town’s weekend film festival. The movie featured an all star cast and was delightful.

    Later, cycling helmet tucked under an arm and one hand holding a glass of French wine and in the other a warm churro, I wandered through a local art gallery admiring the paintings and sculptures.

    So a uniquely different day for us as we sought out royalty (to no avail) but ended up enjoying film and art in this beautiful park.    Read more

  • Scott PaulCanada Road Trip 2023Traveler

    Hometown Heroes

    September 10, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Yesterday we had breakfast in front of the home donated by John Diefenbaker to his hometown of Prince Albert. The pride of P.A. has a museum, road and bridge named after him. He was also my first prime minister though I was much too young to remember this fiery prairie populist.

    Leaving Saskatchewan, we saw a billboard in Burstall, shouting out the name of Chad Jassman, a wheelchair basketball Olympian to all passersby.

    From big city to small town, Canada celebrates their local sons and daughters who have grown up and gone on to do great things. Typically these are athletes, ranging from NHL stars, curlers, figure skaters, rodeo champions, etc. — sometimes prime ministers and Paralympians. I have enjoyed the civic pride as it helps me connect the place with at least one person.

    The siren of our hometown— Lethbridge— was too loud to ignore and that coupled with some very chilly nights in north Saskatchewan turned us into road warriors today — travelling south from Prince Albert, the forests and lakes giving way to ever longer horizons, coulees, and cheaper gas.

    Coleen and I are now home. Finn’s odometer has tripped over 18,000 kilometres over the past 104 days and nine provinces. It’s been a good ride and I am ever so happy that you joined us on this road trip.

    So don’t be surprised when I look at my watch should you ask “Did you have a good holiday?” I might just reply.

    How long do you have?    Read more

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