A TOODLE-Y DAY, WITH TWISTS

Great weather again – sunshine and 25 degrees. Not bad for mid-September when it can just as easily be 9 degrees.  I have a couple more weeks in Winnipeg and Peter came in this weekend for a visit.  I had a plan to collect some more roadside attractions, so I shared the route and he followed along on the adventure to explore more of Manitoba and be photographer. 

The route was to the east to the Whiteshell area of Manitoba that borders Ontario.  I could see on the map that Night Fury and I would even get some twisties!  This is a rare thing anywhere between The Rockies and Ontario. It’s pretty much a straight shot along the Trans-Canada between Winnipeg and West Hawk Lake, the first stop for roadside attractions. One could say it’s boring, but beauty and interest is where you find it. One can choose to be bored or choose to observe the variety of the colour in the trees this time of year, which means there are a variety of trees! What are they – birch, poplar, pine, red osier dogwood. What do I know of them?  I know that poplar trees have extensive root systems that grow shallowly and laterally that stretch 2-3 times the tree’s height searching for water and nutrients. It’s hard to get rid of poplars if you’re a farmer clearing land.  I know you can distinguish between poplar and birch by looking at the base of the tree. The bark of birch trees is whiter, and the bark of poplar trees appears black at the bottom of the tree. And the the red osier dogwoods, flaming into beauty in their red gowns!! Such are the meanderings of the mind when one chooses not to be bored.  

West Hawk Lake is a small resort area west (not surprisingly) of Winnipeg about an hour and a half. It is also the beginning of a route north along a delightfully twisty road - Hwy 307 to 211.  I use the term “Hwy” loosely, which means it’s paved.  Sizeable lakes are scattered every few kilometres along this road, giving rise to a series of resort communities.  While twisty, it’s not a “pin-the-throttle and carve the curves” kind of road.  One can cruise along it at a good clip, but must keep in mind that this is not a BC climate.  The roads in Manitoba, especially ones that curve through a marshy landscape full of lakes, cannot compete with Mother Nature when she lays her cold, harsh hand of winter over the landscape. So be on the watch for broken pavement, the odd pothole, and the odd bounce in the surface. Add to that the aforementioned resort communities with speed zones and one must be paying attention. Still, Night Fury and I booted along it with both speed and due caution and thoroughly enjoyed it. 

A couple of attractions that are not listed on the Manitoba list of roadside attractions, but well worth a stop were the Bannock Point Petroforms, and the Seven Sisters Falls dam.  The Bannock Point Petroforms are attributed to the Anishnaabe people as a spiritual site referred to as “Where the Spirit Sits” and it is quite remarkable.  We discovered that it is an extensive site and we need to do some research to truly appreciate it. Taking the tour would be the best way to engage with the site and its legends.  There is also the Nutimik Lake Museum a few minutes further up the road that talks more about Where the Spirit Sits and I am keen to come back and do it all justice.  This area of Manitoba is bedrock, so it is also a thrill to Peter’s geological soul. There’s nothing like standing on rock that is more than a billion years old to remind you of your own insignificance. Our species doesn’t even register as a blip on the radar of time.  That’s how important the pettiness of politics, religions, and opinions is. Human beings can carry on fighting and obliterating themselves off the face of the earth one way or another and it won’t matter a bit. The earth will keep turning. Evolution of another species will follow us.

The Seven Sisters Falls dam has been producing hydroelectric power for Manitobans since 1931. We stopped to walk the dam and it is truly a marvel.  It’s hard to imagine the construction of such a behemoth, though we know them to be everywhere.  There is a great view of the surrounding lake from the damn and the doors were mostly closed, meaning we could see the colourful pink granite and I yearned to have some of it to make my yard pretty too.  At least when the power goes out, we can go outside and yell “Open the dam door!!”

A little detour to Pinawa to collect the heritage sundial revealed another very pretty little town.  Peter reminded me (if I ever really knew) that it was a purpose-built town. Originally for its hydroelectric project and later the modern town planned to support the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited Whiteshell Laboratories.  We were delighted to see the old “Solo” store logo – a grocery store logo from both our childhood days that we thought had disappeared when Merchants Consolidated went bust.  We stopped for lunch at the local golf course and added it to the list of places we would like to revisit.
​
This little adventure of collecting roadside attractions is often just riding through the communities and taking a photo with the attraction that is there, but it turns into much more. As I ride through so much terrain, I see how it changes, notice how the quality of the air and the smells changes, marvel at the ecosystems nature has created to sustain life.  It also keeps me curious – what else is there to see and explore here? What do I want to come back to and see more of?

Oh, the irony of asking you to read this blog on the internet, but also tell you to get off social media, shut off your TV that sucks the life out of us with depressing news and dumbed-down, uninspiring shows and GO BE CURIOUS!  As I explore where I can and when I can, I am reminded that all the opinions and fussing are all just noise – destructive noise at that. Inspiration lies so far beyond that if you chose to look for it. 😊