Back in the Hat

Well that was short and sweet. We really hated to come home, but water is a big issue -- or the lack there of!! Our fresh water tank was leaking (on the ground) and we were running out of water. We had this problem a few years ago and had a patch job done. I'm not sure if it can be patched again or if we will need a new tank. That could be a problem!!?  There is no potable water in the campground, so when you run out, that's it! And our hot water line is also leaking. That one means a wet floor. ugh...

Anyway, we did have a good time. It was great to be out in the 5th wheel again. More biking and walks and I did manage to paint and hide a few rocks around the campground.

There were a few more campers that arrived for the weekend. That was unfortunate for our nesting goose as a family ended up parked right beside the nest. The eggs didn't survive those interested little fingers and the prodding.  

It was disappointing to see some larger 'gatherings' without social distancing or masks in place. With rising numbers in Medicine Hat (200 +) I expect we will soon be added to the provincial restrictions list and find our activities limited again. I just hope this isn't my first and last camping post for the season! Oh, and curling on TV?? Not going to be happening for a few days. We are hearing co-vid amongst the broadcasting crew. The curlers have been cleared and will be back on the ice, we just won't see it for a few days -- or maybe not at all?

Dark clouds rolling in Saturday evening at Golden Sheaf park leading to a short light rain.

We're Camping!

Golden Sheaf Park, Seven Persons, AB

Site #20: $38 (x4) p only

Our set up at the park went smooth. I guess it's kind of like riding a bike!
We had a great spot overlooking the reservoir. There were only about 6 units in this loop. The seasonal area was pretty busy with campers either all set up or out doing yard work before bringing their units out. 

We had a off work pipeline fellow parked behind us. With a chihuahua. OMG do those yappy little things ever loose their voice? I swear he barked 30 min nonstop when we arrived until the owner finally shut his trailer door. Luckily he was away much of the time!

It was great to be able to walk somewhere different for a change. We enjoyed cocktails around the fire, had some great cookouts and more campfires. The weather has been awesome.

All in all it's a great break from home isolation. Good sleeps, fresh air, a robin continually serenading us, and some nearby nesting geese.

We are missing the start of the Women's World curling, but I'd say it's worth it! Oh, and we just paid for 2 more nights!

Our Co-vid Times Campout 2021

Well I'm sipping my morning coffee in my comfy home chair waiting for Ron to get up. The 5th wheel is out front and we are preparing for our first outing since September 2019. 

After some minor fixes, we picked up the RV from the shop yesterday. Well, minor in problem, major in cost - like $900 worth! Once home Ron had to deal with a plumbing leak and our water pump is 'iffy' but we are packed and ready to go except for the fridge items and clothing. 

We plan to head to a nearby spot today to give this camping thing a try -- to make sure we remember how to do this, have everything necessary and hopefully will confirm all is working in the RV. The weather, in the 20C range looks great and just maybe we'll be eating lunch at Golden Sheaf Park 27 km from home!

2020 Spring Camping and Co-Vid

Well damn... Here it is the end of April and time to think about camping once again. We LOVE this time of year. Not so much Spring 2020. There is no 5th wheel coming out of storage and no RV packing has taken place. The Co-vid blues have hit. The world has changed big time.

This Spring we are figuring out how to avoid one another. What is the best way to disinfect our groceries. Should we be wearing a mask? And oh yes, "Have you washed your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds?" Another day of Physical Isolation and Zoom visits comes and goes.

Truth be known, our lives haven't changed as drastically as some. We are quite familiar with staying home and living a quiet social life. Yes, we missed some of those end of season curling games on TV that were cancelled and we had never experienced online grocery shopping before. (That has actually turned out to be quite the treat!!) We consider ourselves very lucky. Many continue to work amid this virus crisis. Many work from home. Parents are pushed to home school some pretty restless and bored children who want to be out with friends. These are crazy and different times indeed. Our day to day activity and our monthly pay cheque hasn't changed so much. Well, admittedly we ARE avoiding any and all thoughts or mail pertaining to that recent stock market plunge!! That envelope sits unopened.

So May camping is a no go. Hello Home Stay-cation. We have been for a few country drives. It was amazing how much snow is still in Cypress Hills. We slid backwards down a seldom used road that was covered in ice and snow. yikes! There have been walks through the pasture and the golf course below. This is actually the first time I have walked that course. Made possible due to the closed golf courses and new knees. There are some pretty cool old Cottonwoods down there!

We continue to enjoy the wildlife entertainment. Cock pheasants are having 'little discussions' while the ladies just go about with their feeding and nesting. The deer continue to hang about and it would appear that we also provide them with entertainment as they watch us through our windows.

And of course there are propane campfires on the deck below. Most include a little wine or a sip of Irish Cream. We would enjoy a few more of these fires if only this wind would disappear! So cheers to a very different Spring 'camping' 2020! Hopefully the next post will include our 5th wheel!??

The Bunnies & Us, Douglas Prov Pk

Douglas PP, near Elbow, SK
Site #242 - $28 (x3, paid 2), p only/water off Sept 20

We travelled from Manitou Beach to Douglas Prov Pk on Sunday. OMG SK Hwy #15 was the worst 'paved' highway we have ever been on. We were certainly questioning our decision and almost changed plans midway there. It took us 2 ¼ hrs. to drive the 156 km. The best section was the converted to gravel section. The remaining highway was all broken and poorly patched pavement. Plus there was a 12 minute stop for construction. Seriously the whole stretch needs a complete re-do. Never again!!

Once settled, Douglas Park was an enjoyable stay. Unfortunately the water had already been turned off. After coming from Manitou where there was a boil water in place, we were not in a great position with our water supply. We drove back to Elbow and were able to get a couple jugs of drinking water. It was enough for our 3 night stay anyway. Note: we may have stayed an extra day if we had more water! 

This was another pretty quiet campground as far a campers go. There were only two to three units per night. We were the only unit on the last night. It would appear that the bunnies have taken over the park. They were everywhere. 

We went for a couple long hikes which had me a little nervous as there was a coyote warning posted at the now closed Administration office which may or may not still be a concern?? Anyway, thankfully there were no encounters! Once again we enjoyed the fires and the free wood. 

Most of our fires involve the umbrella. That is not because it was raining, but we've discovered the umbrella holds in the heat quite nicely and it also blocks the breeze on our back side. Perfect! 

The one slight downside to our stay was the ongoing construction at the Shower Facility around the corner from us. This involved power tools, air compressors and we weren't real keen on their choice of loud music. One evening they worked until 9 p.m. 

As said, we might have stayed longer, but for the water shortage. But also, we have been 3 weeks without doing laundry and are down to our final pair of undies. The final deciding factor was this little notice that has been popping up on social media. Gah! That "s" word.

On Wednesday we packed up and headed home. We won't winterize quite yet as we hope to camp a few more nights should weather improve. We've often enjoyed a camping Thanksgiving so maybe we'll get that chance again this year??

Later: Back at home. The sun is shining and it's 21C and hot!! Short weather again! We should be camping!!!

Life's a Beach

It was fun to return to these old stomping grounds, but I don't expect we will back any time soon. We had our $32. soak in the mineral pool ($16/person), toured about the resort area by bike and by truck, hiked and we enjoyed our evening campfires. 

The campground was fairly busy on the weekend. Some came to golf, some came for the mineral pool and it sounds like many came for the 'famous' Danceland entertainment. This Danceland pic was taken from the lookout point on one of our hikes.

Apparently the well known, always popular "The Fugitives" were playing. We'd never heard of them, but people came from all over and as far away as Calgary to see them - lol. They had arranged for a bus load from the Manitou Springs Hotel to the Hall. 

There is also an annual wood carving competition that takes place here every August. There was that entrance carving I posted earlier. We saw various carvings around the Beach and a few in the nearby town of Watrous. There were a number remaining at the community hall just behind our campground. We aren't sure if these have been sold to be picked up at a later date or just how it all works. I am glad we got to see them though. Very cool! 

 

 

There are also a few interesting iron figurines around the townsite. 

So that is about it from here. Tomorrow is move day. We haven't firmed up our next stop.

from Good Spirit to Manitou

Manitou Beach Regional Park, SK
Site #16 - $28 (x3), p/w, but boil water, wifi slow, poor at site

The great camping experience continues. The weather has been awesome. Although, we had quite the thunderstorm on Tues. night. It started rumbling as we sat by the fire and we were treated to quite the display of sheet lightning. It poured on and off overnight. We had planned to move on Wednesday, but then decided a 'drying out' day was in order. It turned out to be another perfect sunny day. We biked along some of the Trans Canada trail and we checked out another community just outside the park. These mushrooms are a common site in this area. I'm thinking they may have seen a lot of moisture here this year?

We checked out of what felt like our very own private campground this morning and we are now settled in at Manitou Beach Regional Park. Our last memories from here go back to 1996 and our second outing with our old 5th wheel. Ron took out a sign post backing in to our campsite and it had to be 're-planted'-- lol... We met up with Ray Finlay & Frankie that camp trip and we played a lot of Canasta between trips to the spa. Good times! We were back here in 1997 with the Finlays and again ourselves in 1998 but we haven't visited since. We are looking forward to getting reacquainted with the townsite tomorrow and hopefully a soak or two in the mineral pool. 

The carving at Manitou Beach Regional Park entrance.

Good Spirit Lake Prov Pk near Canora, SK

Good Spirit PP, near Canora, SK
Site #142 - $32 (x4), p only, Temp 26C

Finally a SK Park with a sign telling us to pick a site and then come back and self-register! No reservations and we are not restricted to the worst sites in the campground. The last time we visited this and the previous two Prov Pks was in 2002 or 17 yrs ago! Looking back to our stay in this park, I see that we were in this exact same site. Obviously our preferences haven't changed very much over the years!!

It was 26C when we arrived! Off with the jeans and sweatshirts. It didn't take Ron long to gather and chop our evening wood supply. A chilled white wine for me!

And it was hot again yesterday and today. It was the first time this trip that we were looking for shade! And for the beach with our bathing suits. Gotta love the sandy beach at this lake!

Once again we enjoyed biking around the park and through the various cabin subdivisions. All those beautiful cottages. It is rather like riding through abandoned neighbourhoods this time of year. There is not a soul around! These people are missing out on perfect lake weather. I noted with my morning temperature checks that we are the hotspot compared to all the places that our friends and relatives live. It is even warmer than Med Hat for a change. It was certainly a great time to visit!

6 nights at Madge

Another great stay at another great park. We truly love camping in the woods. Despite a couple mornings with a little rain, we have spent our days outdoors and have enjoyed afternoon and evening fires every day.

 

We are certainly taking advantage of the unlimited wood supply. The park activity picked up a bit this weekend, but we are again surprised by how few campers are taking advantage of the Fall camping. (And once again we question the stupid SK Reservation System this time of year! Let us pick a site and self-register. It could be SO easy! AB & BC have it figured out!!)

 

 We continue to put mileage on our bikes and enjoy our daily walks. Those colors! One rainy morning we made a trip to Kamsack for fuel. (for the truck and for us - diesel and liquor-lol) The sun finally put in an appearance this weekend. We soaked it up at the beach and watched all the boats on the lake that are here for the weekend fishing derby. And after the blue skies and sun, you get those beauty sunsets!

 
It is tempting to stay put, but we decided we will make a move on Sunday. I believe we will be heading to Good Spirit Prov Park near Canora.

Madge Lake, Duck Mountain Prov Pk

Duck Mountain PP near Kamsack, SK

Site #10 - $32 (x6, only paid x3!), p only, Temp 14C

It was a new to us drive along Hwy 8 through Moosomin, Rocanville and through the pretty Qu'Appelle Valley. We checked out a Regional Park near Langenburg but decided not to stay. It is a very pretty park on a Golf Course that is mostly filled with seasonal units. They have great private roomy sites, but the area set aside for overnighters was in the open. We pulled over for lunch in Langenburg beside this cute VW.

And then it was on to Duck Mountain Prov Park near Kamsack. It is another great park that we last visited back in 2002. Again, the park sits almost empty, but reservations are still in effect and of course, the 19 first come sites are the worst choices. There are basically 2 decent sites and one was taken. Oh well, we were lucky to get this 'other one'! We did love our view of the lake. 

Where most of S. SK was getting rain, we were able to do a bike around and sit out until late into the evening. Perfect! And once again, some free wood that keeps this chopper very happy!

We were out and about this morning. But then the rain found us. Damn! We are hoping it lets up for tomorrow as there are some great biking paths and places to explore. In the meantime we will make use of the canopy! And I believe a drive about is on for this afternoon.