13th August to the 3rd September

On the 13th August 2001 Tricia & I,boarded a Northwest Airlines flight from Gatwick,UK to Minneapolis/St Paul,USA on route to Saskatoon,Canada,after a 5.5 hour wait we boarded another Northwest Airline flight for Saskatoon about 2 hours later we landed at 11.00pm Canadian time.After the usual custom checks and having to dip our footwear due to Englands”foot & mouth” we were finally greeted by George & Wendy.It was the first time we had seen George in over twenty years and Wendy we had never met before.We sat up and talked for some time in the hotel and we had our first of many”Canadian” beers.

 

After a overnight in Saskatoon,we all started out for Nipawin,we called in on cousin Wendy in Tisdale and Aunt Elizabeth in Codette,and arrived in Nipawin mid afternoon.We spent the rest of the day settling in and that night we went to a sports club for a meal.The next day was our first fishing trip, after loading the pontoon we launched it into the Saskatchewan River that day was the first day of a truly wonderful three weeks, rounding off the day we went to a  bar in town to meet cousin Jim & Blanche his wife, who had come up from Regina.And had some of the chicken wings, that George had recommended, they set your mouth on fire,thank god we had “Canadian” to wash them down.

 

The next morning Tricia,Me,Jim,Blanche & Wendy set off for La Ronge up country,after a few stops we arrived late afternoon it was worth the trip Lake La Ronge is so big you cannot see to the other side and the water was so clear.We visited “ Robertson Trading Post” that was a interesting place they still traded furs,if you had any to trade,you could’ve purchased anything  from Sleds to chewing Gum.The planned trip to Nistowiak Falls was abandoned due to a puncture on the way,the road was untarmaced and covered with granite chips that were so sharp.There was a donut spare wheel which we change but that was deflated and started to come off the wheel,by the time we got back to La Ronge we were driving on the steel rim of the wheel.On the way back to Nipawin we drove into the bush to follow a logging trail,we drove for miles,it did not end there were trees in every direction for miles and miles but we did stop for a “Canadian” and some food.The weather all the time we were in Canada was very hot,but a dry heat so it was comfortable all the time.After a while we arrived in Prince Albert and another overnight stay,apart from cousin Wendy,Tricia,Myself Jim & Blanche went out to a few bars that night and ended up in a Burger King for pizzas and things.We stopped at “Daviders Store” on the river,after a trip around the town, a visit to the museum and a stop off at the liquor store we headed out of town and back to Nipawin.

 

We stayed there for one night at Georges, ready to head for Regina and Jim & Blanches home, that was after we had dinner at Aunt Elizabeth’s farm in Codette a few miles outside Nipawin.On the Sunday we started out for Regina and arrived there in the afternoon, although Canada is vast the road system is far superior then the UK`s and not much traffic on them, you travel long distances very quickly.

We stay with Jim & Blanche most of that week,and visited many places including the RCMP headquarters where we were lucky to see a passing out parade,then it was to Motherwell a living farm museum on the great plain and I mean great plain it is vast just flat in all directions there is a saying there that “if your dog runs away you can see him running away for three days”.We also travelled the Great Plain when we went to Moose Jaw,there we visited the “Tunnels” where the Chinese hid while being persecuted and the hotel where Al Capone lived,illegal booze was brewed in Moose Jaw during the prohibition and shipped into the USA.We also took in Regina’s Museum and Parliament House.We also had a drink in Bushwhackers which is a brew pub,where the beer is brewed on site.We attended the "Canadian national arabian & half-arabian championship horse show" in the Agridome,Reigina Exhibition Park and the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum.

 

Then it was back to Nipawin for a family reunion at George and Wendy’s home. The reunion lasted three days starting Friday until Sunday, it was great meeting cousins for the first time, and it could have gone on longer so to get to know everyone Saturday morning we all met at Pontrilas for coffee with Aunt Elizabeth, Sunday afternoon we all went to the local stock car track in Tisdale where Cousin Mike was racing. On the Monday it was chill out day we rested. That evening George, Wendy, Tricia & I BBQ`d, that’s when the BBQ caught fire from the drip can, the meat was well done that night.

On Tuesday George and I went on the farm and visited quarters that were being harvested and a ride in a combine. Thanks Brian for allowing us on the farm that morning for coffee.George took me around Codette to see the Buffaloo being farmed,they are some beast up close,George how did we get that vehicle of yours down that track?

 

Wednesday and Thursday we spent at cousins Wendy and Brian’s farm in Tisdale we had two great days there; I even helped out on the farm. And drove Mike’s stock car up the road (and Brian, if I had been paying attention you would not have beat me.) Thursday evening Wendy, Tricia & I went out looking for Elk and Coyote, we never saw any Coyote but we saw Deer, Elk and a Moose that night. We were back in Nipawin Thursday night to Georges and Wendy’s house. Next day was fishing day we again set out on George’s pontoon on the Sasketchan River. Saturday was for relaxing, that evening it was a farewell meal at Aunt Elzabeths, with George, Wendy, & Wendy and Brian. Sunday we travelled to Watrous with George and Wendy to say farewell to Hazel, Doug and Keith, sadly it was a farewell because Keith sadly died the following Christmas. We visited Roy and Ivy’s homestead in Young, visited Manitou Lake and took in some sites. Then on Monday morning it was on the Saskatoon where we caught a flight to Minneapolis St.Paul and a flight back home to Gatwick.

We both agreed it was the best holiday we had ever had, and decided we would return in five years, God willing