So I left Winnipeg this afternoon after an awesome breakfast with my gracious host. I looked for some ice sculptures that are supposed to be part of the winter festival coming up but it looks like I’m missing it by about a week. Oh well, onward I went.
I headed Northwest. Zig-zagging my way up and around Lake Manitoba. About 2:30 pm it started snowing pretty good and with the exception of a few lulls it hasn’t stopped. I managed to get a few shots still. Found an old rusty combine that needed some love and then an abandoned caboose in the middle of nowhere. Overall an interesting day.
I’m in Dauphin Manitoba tonight watching the snow. Think I might treat myself to a Tim Hortons and read some more of my book.
All the best,
W
Winter Posts
Well, as I left Flin Flon and started South I soon realized that my prior night’s assessment of the available photo opportunities was very correct. I can see the appeal to some people of the Northern part of the prairies but after 3 hours of the same trees and a few lakes that all start to look the same with nothing in between I started to miss home. This Northern detour didn’t produce much in photos, partially due to the gray gloom of the sky. Some subject matter actually works with this sort of weather, (watch some of my upcoming photos) but I wasn’t feeling it when looking at the lake shores and birch trees of the Manitoba North.
As I watched the gas needle drop through a tank of gas I started to doubt myself and this trip. Partially due to the fact that the creative energy of the day had not been expended. I continued on as planned and pulled into Winnipeg just after dark. I stopped at the first Starbucks which for some reason doesn’t have WiFi access, (to which I found out after grabbing a coffee). I figured I could use the time to work on some of the photos I’ve taken. I eventually asked if there were any all night coffee joints in which I could work as I was back in my game after seeing some of the shots from previous days again. Apparently there isn’t much for all-nighters in the “Peg” but they told me that the Starbucks on the other side of the mall parking lot had wireless, which is where I am now. Outside as they’re now closed.
As I thought about my days so far on this trip I started to weave my own version of a common saying, “Everyday is a gift”. I believe this to the bottom of my heart, but with this amendment. Everyday is a gift, some days you get the shiny new bike, some days you get socks, but regardless, with every gift comes a photo of us opening it, cherish the shot and move on.
My two bits.
So I left North Battleford Saskatchewan and figured I can’t call it a cross CANADA road trip with out seeing some North. I started out heading North and getting some more good light for a few photo ops. The good weather followed me for awhile and then it got cloudy again.
I pulled off into an area called Sandy Beach and had a very strange thing happen. I was getting out of the truck and in the cold weather I may leave it running or sometimes leave the keys in the ignition allowing me to keep power to my inverter that charges my camera batteries etc. Anyway, I usually keep my second key in my camera bag but lately I’m hopping in and out and sometimes both sets of keys are in the truck. This time I thought “I should really put the extra key in my pocket” and I put it in my jacket chest pocket. I got out, took my shot, got back and drove down the road and around the corner. Not even half a mile. I got out to take another shot of a cabin I’d seen when I drove into the beach. I took my shot, turned around to open the door of the running truck and BAM, I was locked out, except for the fact that I had just decided to start carrying my extra key on me. Call it being in tune with the universe or sheer shit-house luck, whichever you chose I was damn happy that I paid attention to the old gray matter in my skull when it told me to be more careful.
As it appears the gray matter took a vacation soon after that because for some reason I figured it was a good idea to make my way to Flin Flon Manitoba. Yes, you read right, Flin Flon. I drove through the night because there was a few moments where the moon was peaking through and had I known where there was some good moonlight subject matter I could have got some good shots. As it appears, the only thing up here are lakes and trees, (Candle Lake looks like it could be really nice in the summer). When the wind is blowing and the sky cloudy and gray the photo ops were few and far between. I got tired and pulled over about 20 mins outside of the “Flin” and went to sleep. I woke up to another gloomy day, some light snow and slippery sections on the roads. I decided then that I’d head back down South.
So I got a late start to the day today but was happy I did. I felt refreshed and back on top of my game after feeling a little down and questioning what the hell I was doing out here yesterday. As I grabbed a Tim Hortons and looked through my map book I decided to head North. I’ve been dodging any sort of “weather” chasing the light so to speak as there has always been good light on the horizons, just not where I’ve been. I discarded this notion and decided to head North regardless. Today, the good weather was chasing me. As I headed out of Swift Current I soon got to a little place named Kyle. On the Northern side of Kyle I found a yard full of random junked cars from the 20s, 30s, 40s etc thrown in amongst some tractors and machinery for good measure. It was cloudy when I got there but all of a sudden after shooting for about 45 minutes the sky broke open and gave me some great light. I shot here for another 45 mins or so.
As I left there I soon got ahead of the sun and back under cloud cover, but as I stopped at each of the 3 or 4 stops I made I was soon met by the awesome late afternoon sunlight again. I got some of the best shots of my trip today. I will try and go through some and post some very soon.
I stopped in Biggar, SK for a burger at Hannigans, the second meal I’ve gone “out” for with the exceptions of the odd coffee here and there. I stocked up on some fruit and veggies this morning in Swift Current too.
So here I am in North Battleford. I found an internet cafe named Crandleberry’s and have about an hour. I’ll be working on some photos until the friend gent kicks me out at closing, then off to find a quiet parking spot for a nap.
Category: Highlights
Tags: burger, coffee, Crandleberry's, Hannigans, Kyle SK, north, North Battleford, saskatchewan, sunlight, Tim Hortons, weath Leave a Comment
