The trip from Winnipeg across the Trans-Canada 1 took us two jumps. First, to the town of Indian Head. The drive was across the prairie and was mostly flat with some river valleys. This type of geography lends itself to farming where one can see the Farmers take great pride in the land. The fields are well cared for. There are great open space and a lot of water standing in low spot in the fields. We overnighted at the campground in Indian Head. It was easy to get in and about. It’s located right on the Canadian National Rail Line. So, we were not disappointed when the night train made sure everyone could hear it rushing along the tracks. The campground was so near to town, we could walk. This counted for our evening walk we nearly always do after a day of driving. There are many ways the folks of this town take pride in working to stay relevant and active. The residential neighborhoods have a nice presentation for family life. There is a small downtown area with the usual type of stores such as pharmacy, hardware, grocery and restaurants. A large grain Elevator stood next to the CN Line. Very quaint. A statue of an Indian Head, on the west side of town, is a landmark for the area.
The next day we drove to Saskatoon in Saskatchewan. We decided to stay an extra day to explore the area. The Saskatchewan River is the center of outdoor activity for Saskatoon. The parks and open areas around the river provide a walking and biking trail space for families. We walked the Park on the North West side of the river. There are many trails to walk on both sides of the river. We were able to bike the southern portion of the trail and saw the new gazebo being finished near the skate board park.
We when out to Cranberry Flats, a conservation area south of the city. It is a beautiful area with a big view overlooking the Saskatchewan River. We walked all over the area and noted the several types of plants that live in sandy soil. Come to find out, the “soil” is like sugar sand. Years ago it was used to make glass. So the sand was an industry for the city. There was also a version of wild cranberries. The signs indicated this type of cranberry is bitter. However, the birds like to eat them.
We were able to find our way around the city very easily. There are a few campgrounds in the area. We chose Campland. Since it is situated on the prairie, there is a constant wind blowing during the day. It does calm down in the evening. The grounds are very clean and easy to get in and out. However, a highlight was the couple who pulled in the lot next to us. They also had a Florida license plate. Sure don’t find many Florida license plates in Saskatoon. We had a nice visit and continued on when we met up in our next town, Edmonton.
