Day Fourteen - Hecla Island

Was packed and ready to go soon after 9:00 a.m. the next morning.  I had listened to the weather report the previous evening and it sounded like winter was heading my way so it was time to head back to southeastern Alberta.  But before that I wanted to make a short detour to Hecla Island.  And even before that I needed a hearty breakfast so I walked the few blocks to the cafe in the old Gimli Hotel where a banner outside the front door declared: home cooked meals.  A Denver omelette sounded like the perfect way to start the day.

After a hearty and delicious breakfast I was on my way to Hecla Island.  Most likely the biggest difference between Hecla Island now and fifty years ago is the causeway.  Many years ago you needed to ride the ferry across to the island but now all you need to do is hop in your car and drive there.  Even with the new ease of travel, the island still seems to be a pretty laid back place.  I didn't make it up to the northeastern tip of the island but that's just the perfect reason for a return visit.  Enjoy the photos!

By the time I finished my tour of the island it was almost 2:00 p.m. and the closest town with restaurants was Riverton, about twenty minutes away.  As it turned out there were two restaurants side-by-side on Main Street...hmmm...toss a coin?  Better yet, ask that couple who were walking by on the street.  Once they knew I wanted fish and chips they both turned and pointed to the same place with a nod of their heads.

The waitress took my order almost as soon as I sat down and in no time I was eating the best fish and chips I'd had in years.  The fish was yellow pickerel (also known as walleye) and had been caught in the lake just that morning.  It was so good in fact I ordered one more piece...and they didn't even charge me extra for it!  A rare event like that calls for nice big tips for both the waitress and the cook.

Then it was onward to Dauphin and my home away from home at the motel there.  Had a nice visit with the desk clerk and after checking into my room went out for spaghetti and meat balls.  The night air had a definite nip to it.      

Photographed in Hecla-Grindstone Park and The Village of Hecla on Hecla Island, Manitoba on October 21, 2022.

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.