24-29JUL07 - Brandon, Manitoba (underway is the only way!)

Upon arrival at Ed and Elaine’s in Shilo, Manitoba, it was the usual routine of setting up camp. In RV parks we always hope for a pull through spot so we don’t have to back-in, and expect all utilities centrally located on the driver’s side for easy hook-ups. When you use someone’s driveway you can run into some interesting challenges. On our long trip in 2004 we ran into low hanging power lines; very big and low hanging tree limbs; no level spot in the drive way; and having to run water lines or power cords long distances. Ed and Elaine’s driveway is plenty big enough, but we ran into problem with electrical. Their breakers were 15 amp and our air conditioner kept popping circuit. Luckily after our 2004 trip Dan has accumulated all sorts of heavy duty extension cords; adapter plugs and surge protectors. Dan had a device that allows two heavy duty extension cords on two different 15 amp breakers to be combined into one 20 amp breaker. Since Manitoba was also experiencing record heat, not running the AC was not an option.

Ed is the oldest of Corrie’s three younger brothers and works at the local Canadian Army post as a civilian in boiler maintenance. Elaine also works on base, but Ed and Elaine have developed a private business that doesn’t quite fit the prairie/farming landscape. They started recreational diving many, many, years ago. This hobby has grown into a very nice business – C&L Scuba. They teach recreational diving to people that drive hours all year round to get qualified; and because of this they are one of the largest dealers of Mares diving equipment in Canada.

Thursday was spent doing as little as possible as the effects of the drive from Texas caught up to us. The only thing accomplished was washing two weeks of dust off the Toad. Friday it was off to Ed and Elaine’s cabin just outside of Riding Mountain National Park. The reason for this was twofold: to escape the heat, and so Ed could check out some scuba students during their open water examination. Friday night the students showed up and so did the other dive masters. Corrie, Dan, Elaine and Gumbo sat around battling the mosquitoes while the divers disappeared into a special area of Clear Lake inside the park.

Saturday morning was the last of the open water diving and the rest of the weekend was devoted to R&R. First Dan and Corrie walked across the highway to local farmer’s market to get fresh veggies. Corrie found stand that made fresh jams with the local berries. Dan wanted to buy one of every jar that had a berry he had never tasted. Corrie limited him to two, so we got Saskatoon berry and Goose berry. Then it was off in Ed and Elaine’s pontoon boat to tour Clear Lake. Ed and Ron Curtis (one of the dive masters) had just started fishing for pickerel (Dan is not sure but this fish may actually be what Americans call walleye, not pickerel), when the rains came. So it was back to the cabin to dry off. In the early evening it was back on the lake to finish getting our limit of pickerel.

Sunday morning was bright and sunny, so it was decided to attack the pickerel again. While we waited for Ed to launch the boat we were attacked by every mosquito in the National Park. Once underway the mosquitoes disappeared. After cleaning the fish, we cleaned and locked up the cabin and headed back to Shilo. Upon return we took advantage of the C&L Scuba indoor pool while we contemplated the fresh pickerel dinner that awaited us. The fish dinner was excellent, topped off by vanilla ice cream with goose berry jam!