Day Nine - Sculptures

Day Eight had been a long day on the road so sleeping in on Day Nine was top priority.  Having accomplished that small feat it was then time to pack up and get  rolling.  The breakfast room at the motel had already closed so I went around the corner for a ham and egg breakfast sandwich.  You gotta love all-day-breakfast.

Not far south of Brandon these stone and concrete sculptures caught my eye and imagination.  A little touch of mystery and intrigue (...and I know what you're thinking) on the prairie landscape.  

It turned out to be my lucky day for exploring as I ran across half a dozen places that hadn't turned up in my research.  

Stopped for lunch in Wawanesa for a slice of delicious homemade lasagna at a great little restaurant downtown then continued on with my day trip.  Had phoned my sister in Brandon earlier and we planned to get together for supper.  It was early evening by the time I got to her place and after going out for a chicken Caesar salad we spent the rest of the night at her house catching up.    

Photographed on October 16, 2022.

Tree

A solitary tree alongside the road in the rolling hills near Heaslip, Manitoba.

This one is a survivor.

Photographed on October 16, 2022.

Day Eight - Pipestone Creek Bridge

Found this scenic little spot late in the afternoon of Day Eight.

Morning...

Up early and after  checking the weather forecasts near and far my destination for the day quickly became clear...off to Brandon where the weatherman promised mild fall weather.  But first I needed a hearty breakfast so back to what had become my "go to" restaurant in Yorkton.  I love the "build your own omelette" choice available on many breakfast menus...omelettes are always a good choice in my world.

Back at the motel that couch looked awfully inviting (again) but decided to pack up my stuff and hit the road instead.  I had several sites marked for visits between Yorkton and Brandon, some of which I'd seen before and others not, so I chose those that would be new to me along with a few return visits to favourites.

Already past midday...

Once on the road it's easy to lose track of time while weaving through the countryside visiting historic schools, churches and cemeteries and before I knew it, it was already past 3:00 p.m. and lunch was long overdue.  A quick search for restaurants nearby gave me a hit in the town of Wapella which was only about twenty minutes away.  It was a Saturday and the place was packed with young teenagers.  Do you remember how loud a group of young teenagers can be?  I was very quickly reminded so retreated to a table in the quietest corner to enjoy a classic Denver sandwich...but you know, that said, kids need to have their fun and I wish them the best.  As for me, good diner food just hit the spot on a cool October day.  

Was soon back in the car and in less than half an hour spotted the one-arch bowstring bridge you see here.  The valley setting with an array of fall colours, the creek and the bridge all made for a captivating sight to say the least.  This was a lucky find.  

A note: The road is not closed even though there is a sign that says just that.  (I think the sign is there for legal liability concerns..."we're not responsible if the bridge falls into the creek while you're crossing it" and all that.)  My guess is the farmers in the area are the only ones who use it on any regular basis.  I drove across it and it worked just fine! 

Evening...

Made it to Brandon just before dark.  After checking into a motel I went to an all-you-can-eat sushi place for a late supper...great food that just kept coming.  By the time I finished it was late and I was too tired to go visit my sister...I'd call her from the road tomorrow, maybe we could get together for supper the next day.

Photographed north of Langbank, Saskatchewan on October 15, 2022.

"З Днем Святого Миколая!"

"Happy Saint Nicholas Day!"

December 6th is widely celebrated in Europe as The Feast of Saint Nicholas.  

In brief...the history of Saint Nicholas can be traced back to a bishop of the fourth century who was known for his generosity.  When his wealthy parents died young, Nicholas used his inheritance to help the ill, the struggling and children in need.  He is believed to have died on December 6, 343 and was canonized as a saint within a century.  Over time, celebrations and traditions developed to honour his spirit of generosity.

There are many stories and legends about Saint Nicholas.  One such story has Saint Nicholas tossing bags of gold through open windows...on one occasion some of the gold pieces landed on the wet shoes and socks drying by the fireplace.  That led to the custom of hanging stockings or leaving out shoes for Saint Nicholas to fill with presents.  On the eve of his arrival, children would place their clean and polished shoes outside the front door filled with carrots, an apple or hay for Saint Nicholas' donkey.  

Share a meal with a friend to celebrate.

Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church was photographed near Drobot, Saskatchewan on December 19, 2019.

Day Seven - Holy Trinity in Canora

This lovely church is the central feature of the Ukrainian Orthodox Heritage Church Park of Hope in Canora, Saskatchewan.  Whenever I'm staying in Yorkton I do my best to drive the short distance north to visit this Byzantine-styled church attractively painted pure white with pale azure blue trim.  It is adorned with three magnificent domes incorporating two different diamond designs and the trapezoidal-shaped windows are inset with stained, frosted and clear glass.  The design elements combine to give the church a definite "old world" presence.    

The church faces west and there are many tall trees close around it as well as a hedge and a few large lilac bushes (making it a bit of a challenge to photograph).  The best time to get photos is late in the day according to the season (but not too late as to cause shadows over the front of the church).  These shots were taken in the early evening and highlight the facade of the building along with the dazzling domes.  

As you can see here, the southern side of the church had already fallen into deep shadow but the silver domes coruscate in the evening light.

The view from the street.

The adjoining park area is small but there's plenty of room to have a summer picnic in the shade of the big old trees...or maybe build a snowman in the winter (in that case, don't forget to bring along a thermos full of hot chocolate and some shortbread cookies). 

Earlier in the day...

I went down to the breakfast room around 8:30 a.m., collected a light meal and took it back to my room.  After eating I decided to lay down on the couch for a minute....just for a minute.  Well, I'm glad I'd left the "do not disturb" sign on the door handle because I didn't wake up until past noon...sometimes a three hour nap is just what the doctor ordered, so to speak.  Anyway, even with that late start I still saw several of my favourite sites and even found a few new ones before sunset.  Holy Trinity in Canora was just the best ending for my day trip.  

Then it was back to Yorkton and a return to the same restaurant as the night before...this time for a chicken Caesar salad.  Not having a schedule to follow is the most enjoyable way to travel.

Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Heritage Church was photographed on October 14, 2022.