LLoydminster

Loydminster straddles the border between Saskatchewan and Alberta, its an oil town, we are parked in a camping just across the road from a refinery or upgrader as they call it here, it converts the heavy oil to a lighter crude, which is easier to transport. There is no smell, many years ago I worked in Sarnia, Ontario which is another oil/gas town and I can still taste the air when I think about it. They have made incredible strides in cleaning up these dirty industries here in Canada. Don't know about the rest of the world, my industrial experience is limited to Sudbury, Sarnia and the nuclear power station at Pickering, I then went back to being a rural electrician in England and later on,France.
The drive was not as scenic as the last one but interesting none the less. the slow change from farming to farms with nodding donkeys and the odd oil tank, to oil with a bit of farming.
This afternoon after arriving here we went to The Barr Colony Cultural Centre, lots of pictures by a local artist, I'm afraid to say I was not impressed. A collection of stuffed animals by another local person which I thought I would just walk straight through, but to my amazement we found fascinating. The final exhibit was all about the oil and gas industry and the finding of, here in Lloydminster. Well worth the visit. we enjoyed it so much they had to chuck us out, they wanted to go home, and we had just got to the really interesting part with all the diesel engines and pipes and things to do with the stuff when they actually get it out of the ground, maybe I'll go back tomorrow.
Todays distance was 139km.

The Battlefords, Saskatchewan.

The drive from Prince Albert was, I think, the most picturesque (the prairies are not flat - well some of it is - but not all) Rolling hills, different colours depending on the crop: yellow-rapeseed to Europeans canola to Canadians, green wheat, grass for hay which is a lighter shade of green, contrasting with the blue of the small lakes dotted around. The vistas around Blaine Lake are stunning, one of the best drives of the trip to date.   We had intended to stay at Batoche and visit the historic site of the Métis uprising but we couldn't get into the camping, pity because it looked really nice.  So on to North Battleford and The David Laird Campground where we spent 2 nights. Visited The Allan Sapp Gallery, wonderfull paintings of First Nation life seen from their point of view, well worth a visit. distance Prince Albert to North Battleford via Rosthern 296km.

 Grass cutting on a Canadian scale at North Battleford

 The David Laird camping

Ruth planning the next part of the trip to The Eiling Kramer Campground in Battleford distance 11km.

 And here we are in the trees next to Fort Battleford.

 Our view looking back towards North Battleford

 Fort Battleford.   

A  North Western Mounted Police Fort, which played an important part in the 1885 uprising.

This is a really good camping, we stayed three nights here.

 Between North Battleford and Battleford is the North Saskatchewan River, a big river; there is a little island which is a nature park, this flower we found on one of the trails.

 Another Saskatchewan Provincial Flower

 Two frolicking butterflies

This is my trail, I live here, go away

  The disused bridge between the Battlefields, no traffic, only used by pedestrians now to visit the island.

 Monday  15/07 we plan to move on to Lloydminster.

Austin Manitoba to Prince Albert Saskatchewan.

We have wifi again, catch up time. After we left Austin we had planned to drive to Onanole, camp up and visit Riding Mountain National Park the next day, sans trailer. Best plans etc. both campgrounds were full. No other choice to just carry on through the park and stay in Dauphin for the night. the drive through the park was wonderful, arrived in Dauphin mid afternoon no room at the inn so to speak. In truth they were still cleaning up from the floods a few days before. On to highway 5 and head west and after a few km. we arrive at a blink and miss it place called Gilbert Plains stop at a little diner called the firepit for a very late lunch,    

its after 3pm by now. After feasting on the best all day breakfast we have ever had cost $4.90 each the owner tells us they have a little campground in the village next to the golf course, so of we go. This little village in the middle of Manitoba has a really posh golf setup by the side of a river, with a little camping along side. Great place to stay. distance today 273km.
Saturday 6/07/13 Left Gilbert Plains after breakfast on highway 5 heading for Roblin and Duck Mountain Park and Saskathewan. The drive on the Manitoba side was good lovely views but as soon as we crossed the border the weather changed and the rain came down in stair rods. we were diverted of the main road because of washed out roads after an horrendous drive we finish up in Yorkton, some how get parked up all through very heavy rain. Both of us wet through and through, showered and changed and the rain stops the sun comes out and we have a wonderful evening. Distance today 263km.
Sunday 7/07
We discover they have here in Yorkton a ravine and grassland which they have let go back to its original state,  so this morning we go off to visit "The Ravine Ecological Reserve" What a trip! its an old farm just outside the town last farmed in the early 60s  and then abandoned and used by the town council as a landfill they evan pulled down all the buildings. It seamed some of the local people did'nt approve of this legal form of vandalism and started to clean up the site by hand, by and by after many years they received government support and it turned into this wonderful little piece of prairie.  They cut a walking trail with a ride on mower through the grass and woods and you just wonder along, just you the birds, butterflies, dragonflies and we evan
caught sight of a snake. One of the trails leads to a river with a boardwalk type of bridge where you can see water birds.

 Spot the grasshopper. A wonderful place.

  

Monday morning we left Yorkton for Prince Albert distance 387km a long drive through ever changing scenery, one thing of interest was a line of CN grain cars between Kinistine and Prince Albert over 20km. long.   

Prince Albert is a nice town spent Two nights. caught up with the shopping and visited the Diefenbaker  House. Next stop The Battlefords.