Geese on the Icelandic River

Look under and behind the bridge...Canada Geese are everywhere.

They would soon be migrating for the winter months...to the southern States or maybe Mexico.  They'll be back next spring.

Photographed in Arborg, Manitoba on October 19, 2022.

Day Thirteen - Saint Michael's on Willow Creek Road

Woke up early the next morning and pulling aside the blinds covering the balcony door there wasn't the faintest glimmer of light over Lake Winnipeg.  A short phone call to the coffee shop downstairs to confirm they were open...yes they were.  After ordering a breakfast sandwich I dressed then rode down to the main floor on the elevator.  Considering it was only a little after 6:00 a.m. there was already a small crowd of mostly "over-60's" drinking coffee and shootin' the breeze.  I was still half asleep so decided to take my order back upstairs, catch up on some emails and wait for the sun to rise.

The sky was turning pink...what in heaven's name am I doing sitting here?!  I quickly put on a few more layers of clothes, grabbed my camera and dashed down the stairs.  Was at the seawall within a few minutes enjoying the sky turn from pink and mauve to brilliant orange and gold.  What a great way to greet the day!  Back in my room I looked through my early morning photos and decided to post one for my readers...they too could share my good fortune.

By the time I was organized and packed up for my day trip it was nearly 10:00 a.m.  That meant it was time to get rolling but one thing first...I wanted to make a phone call to a dear friend's sister who lived just down the road.  Even though we'd never met we quickly established a good rapport.  We made plans to meet up for lunch in a few hours.

In the meanwhile I explored the area west of Gimli where I came across the lovely Saint Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church and Cemetery, photos of which are interspersed between dialogue passages in this post.

After an hour or so enjoying the grounds of Saint Michael's it was time to meet up with Anne for lunch in Winnipeg Beach.  We spent the next several hours chatting, partaking in a light meal and enjoying each other's company.  What a lovely way to spend an afternoon!  Our visit together was definitely the highlight of my day (and I hope hers as well).

After saying our goodbye's she went home and I toured the countryside for a few more hours.  Drove back into Gimli just as it was getting dark and after a stop for gas was soon having a lie-down in my room.  An hour later I was out the door and faced with a big decision: where to eat?  There were three restaurants just across the street from the hotel...Chinese won out.  A big bowl of wor wonton soup hit the spot.     

Photographed near Gimli, Manitoba on October 20, 2022.

Bee on a Coneflower

Something to brighten up a winter's day.  

Photographed in Veteran's Park in Baldur, Manitoba on August 18, 2022.

King Buck

King Buck is a respectful tribute to the abundant white-tailed deer that provided the pioneers with food during the early years.

A special thanks to the Troschuk family for acknowledging these beautiful and bountiful animals of the prairies.

Photographed in Poplarfield, Manitoba on October 18, 2022.

Day Twelve (Part Two) - Gimli Seawall Gallery

And now for something more traditional...the feature attraction of the seawall are the numerous murals that make up the Gimli Seawall Gallery.  Enjoy!

By the time I had finished my photography for the day it was time for a nap.  Had a much deeper sleep than is usual for a late afternoon nap...I think the sea air wafting in through the partially open balcony door had something to do with it.  Was slow to get moving but once I was up and at 'em my first duty was to download all the photos taken that day onto a pair of back-up hard drives I carry on road trips.  I wouldn't want to lose all my photos because of some software glitch or other computer ailment.  Backing up the daily photos, along with filling the car with gas, are end-of-the-day road trip habits.  I prefer my mornings to be unencumbered by menial tasks. 

Now, with my duties fulfilled, it was time to eat.  The hotel restaurant offered a Rueben on rye which turned out to be a good choice...with a beer, or was that two.

Photographed in Gimli, Manitoba on October 19, 2022.

Day Twelve (Part One) - Gimli Seawall

I was up early and it was breakfast time.  The previous night when I filled the car with gas I asked the young guys working there if they knew of a good breakfast restaurant in town.  Both recommended the diner out on the highway.  So, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I was off for the most important meal of the day.  Pork sausages, eggs, toast and hash browns sounded like an excellent way to start the day.  Friendly staff and patrons, a little chit-chat and good food.  Back at the hotel I checked some research, packed up my stuff and was on my way.  The next four hours was a leisurely drive through the countryside visiting numerous old churches and cemeteries.       

It was mid-afternoon of Day Twelve that I finally reached my destination: Gimli.

Checked into the big hotel on the beach then grabbed my camera and was out the door for a walk along the seawall.  The sight of all that water was captivating to say the least.  The angular structure of the seawall tends toward a modern minimalist photography style that I enjoy...everything is made up of angles and converging lines. 

The concrete seawall is a little over a thousand feet long and incorporates two distinct angles along the way.   A pile of large boulders at the end is where the seawall turns into a stone pier that continues for another five or six hundred feet in a loose J-shape.  The combined length of the seawall and pier is just under one-third of a mile.

More tomorrow.  

Photographed in Gimli, Manitoba on October 19, 2022.

Day Eleven - Dancing Forever

I stopped to photograph many places during the day but this headstone was easily the highlight of the day.  

What a beautiful epitaph. 

First rays of sunlight...my first thought upon opening my eyes was "coffee."  On with some clothes, out the door and down the stairs to the lobby where there is always fresh hot coffee.  Over the past few months I've become friendly with the receptionist here and as we have a shared interest in gardening there's always lots to talk about.  Coffee and chat...nice way to start the morning.

The weather report for Gimli and area had improved considerably over the past twelve hours so after consulting a map my destination for the day was decided...I was off to Arborg (a small town about half an hour northwest of Gimli).  After a quick phone call to order a breakfast sandwich I packed up the car, thanked everyone for a pleasant stay and headed downtown.  After picking up my takeout order I drove over to the beautiful old Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection.  Over the past few months it's become a tradition to park by the church for breakfast.  There's no particular reason I do it...I just enjoy the ambiance.  

With my belly full and a hot cup of coffee in the cupholder I was on the road.  Lots of stops for old churches and even more cemeteries over the course of the day...all of which were new to me.  Made it to Arborg by mid-afternoon and after checking into the hotel went to visit the Arborg Heritage Village.  While walking through the exceptional collection of vintage buildings I met a lady who was out walking a border collie.  We had quite a nice chat, solved all the world's problems and even more importantly, were both very happy that the sun was shining and the sky was blue.  By the time I made it back to the hotel is was time for a nap.  Didn't wake up until it was almost dark and lucky for me there was a Chinese food restaurant just a few blocks up the street from the hotel.  Stopped at the hotel bar for a beer then up to my room to make a few phone calls and look through the photos from the day...it had been both an enjoyable and productive day on the road.       

Photographed at Poplarfield Community Cemetery near Poplarfield, Manitoba on October 18, 2022.

Bunny at the Post Office

After an enjoyable weekend with Daisy out in the Cypress Hills we were back in town and I needed to pick up the mail.  This grumpy looking bunny was there at the post office to greet us...everyone has a bad day once in awhile.  

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on December 11, 2022.