Four wheels move the body.
Two wheels move the soul.
- Author Unknown
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I said it’s not true, the
government would never
allow that to happen.
Apparently it is.
After trucking my Yamaha
1300 V Star motorcycle over
the Goat Trail, I unloaded on
Novlans ramp in Paradise
Hill and headed down the
open road for Moosomin. As
it was early in the morning
and the air was still a little
heavy. It was if you were
encapsulated in every scent
along the road. The differences
between the sloughs and muskegs
the various crops, the sweet scent of
canola crops as the seeds filled the pods,
were all intimately with you as the black
top passed beneath.
Following the work day in Moosomin,
I struck off for Kirriemuier, Alta. and
Natasha’s birthday wiener roast. I
stopped in Battleford to purchase a map
as I had never been on Highway 51 west
of Biggar. It all looked good pavement
all the way. Negative on that. The ride
down to Biggar was great, I saw some of
the best looking crops on the whole tour
just north of Biggar. But as I turned west
onto 51 and saw the landscape closing in
I knew there could be situations ahead
that might be more conducive to a dirt
bike.
Nevertheless, we are not quitters so I
kept on passing the crops swaying in the
breeze, farmers getting some hay off in
between the rain and of course the trail
now with full surface failure. This was
not a ride one might envision Easy Rider
making. My mind could only think of
three words Goat Trail two. Highway
51 eventually turned into a gravel road
and as I said I refused to believe our
Saskatchewan government would allow
this to happen, but here was the living
proof. What you saw on a new map as
a paved road was now gravel. What do
you do but go with the flow? Touring
on gravel is an advanced lesson, and
you might as well get that in along with
driving in the wind and rain all in one
day.
Needless to say I persevered popping
out in Alberta where there was a pretty
good guarantee they were not turning
the paved roads back to gravel. By the
time I turned south into Kirriemuier,I
read the inspirational sign at the
entrance to town (which I understand
has become signatory to the town since
Natasha moved in and the travelling
public watch with great anticipation
for the new proverb). It was now
pushing 10:30 p.m., my first ride in the
dark. I pulled over when I saw the fi re
and Natasha popped up on the road. I
thought she came over to greet me, but
she didn’t know who it was, she was
just checking out who was crashing the
party. As I was removing my helmet, she
made idle conversation asking me what
I was doing here.
Then surprise, surprise – off came
the helmet and only a half helmet so it
wasn’t as if I was shielded in or anything,
shocked her to say the least. I may have
mentioned after that I would send down
a photo or two so she would know what
I look like. So it was a good
surprise that evening and
by 8 a.m. I was back on the
road. The ride from Altario,
up past Bodo and Hayter
then on to Lloydminster
was outstanding - a clear
morning no wind to speak
of.
In Lloyd, I hooked up
with a fellow rider and we
headed up Highway 16 to
Edmonton got caught in
a thunderstorm and had
to take refuge under a gas
station canopy. After the rain and a stop
at several bike shops we headed east on
Alberta Highway 45. We pulled in at
Willington where former Ministikwan
resident Don Thompson can be found
playing his steel guitar in the Western
Gospel Cafe, which I understood was
rocking on Friday nights, perhaps only
in the winter months though as it was
quiet last Friday evening.
By 9:30 a.m. I had reloaded in Paradise
Hill and my partner Len headed back to
Meadow Lake. So in all I clocked over
1,200 kilometres on that tour, a good
tour before we set off for Montreal on
Aug. 25
LONG WEEKEND FUN AT THE LAKE
Ministikwan Campground was
an active park over the August long
weekend. The annual horseshoe tournament
saw 44 teams turn out to throw a
few ringers. Don found several campground
residents to sponsor new back
boards for the pits and a new sign board.
To those who donated to the cause, a big
thank you.
Mike celebrated a milestone of
achieving his 50th year, he and his bride
also celebrated their 25th year of marital
bliss. Congratulations on both counts.
A supper in their honour was attended
by many seasonal residents and friends
followed by a little music and a few
sociables.
The lake saw some good fishing and
water recreation as Sunday was a stellar
lake day. Boats were seen from one end
to the other while the isolated beaches
had sun bathers along with skiing
and tubing enthusiasts. The lake level
continues to rise getting close to near
normal levels after receding for many
years due to the drought conditions
we had been experiencing. Over the
weekend we navigated with the big boat
around and in-between all the islands.
That’s something that hasn’t been done
in years other than with the canoe and
even then between the Bear Islands we
had to carry it.
I did happen to notice there are golf
cart driving lessons now being offered
in the campground. So sign up early to
insure you get a spot and learn how to
avoid a runaway.
The St. Walburg Annual Blueberry
festival is coming up on Saturday, Aug.
27. I am sure as usual there will be a
quadding adventure leaving the campground
early that morning. If the blueberries
are anything like the Saskatoon
berries they should be plentiful this year.
Just watch for your four legged friends
on the other side of the patch.
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