Manitoba and Beyond

There had been a major solar flare in the last few days, and the sky was clear as we went through Northern Ontario. So I assumed there would be a good show of Northern Lights. After my supper, I went back to the dome car and watched the sky hopefully, but (alas!) unproductively for these lights. After a bit, I resigned to going to bed instead. Some reading , and then quietly rocked to sleep, for an excellent night's sleep.

By the time I woke, we were almost at Winnipeg. Certainly out of the Northern Ontario woods and into prairie with some houses thrown in for good measure. By eight o'clock, we were in the station, fed breakfast, and ready to go. We had signed on for a tour of the city, since we had four hours in "the Peg". And we were glad we had done this - we went to the downtown, the Assiniboine Park (where we saw a white bison), the legislature building, and St. Boniface parish, where Riel was buried, and the church (basilica) was magnificent. So it was worthwhile, and the city is quite impressive.






Than back on the train, and heading west. I have a confession to make: I had defended the Prairies as being not really flat, but having gently hills and valleys. This was based on my impression of the Saskatchewan I had been in a student. But the part of the Prairies around Winnipeg is FLAT, no argument. You can seen forever, and there is nothing but land, with very little in the way of distinguishing features.


As we got a bit further West, we went beside the Qu'appelle valley and this was beautiful.


Then we went through Brandon, and on into Saskatchewan (Melville, actually). A quick stop for smokers, and then on we went. Sunset over the Prairies, soon to have supper.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Somewhere in Saskatchewan