Day 17 – Blackstrap Provincial Park, Saskatchewan (+Chinese Buffet)

Day 17 – Blackstrap Provincial Park, Saskatchewan (+Chinese Buffet)

Wow! Day 17 already! Can you believe it? Only 5 more days before our return as heroes to Toronto. :D

We woke up at 0730 again, and were out of the hotel we were staying at by 8, so props to all of us.

As I mentioned yesterday, we’re starting to turn back to the East. But I don’t think anyone could have expected us to be in Saskatchewan today already!

We stopped for a brunch that was pretty much our lunch at McDonalds. What was so significant about that McDonalds? It was situated in a town that’s split by the Alberta/Saskatchewan border. From where we were enjoying our meal, we could see the exact stoplight that cut the town in half. (So people on the Saskatchewan half drive over to the Alberta half to fill up their cars with gas because it’s considerably cheaper!) We also discussed whether or not the people living right on the border have to pay any taxes at all. (We still don’t know the answer for sure. But I can tell you this: If they get taxed by both governments, that just sucks.)

We drove for about 7 hours (almost as long as our hike up Mount Edith Cavell!), but it felt nowhere as long as that.

Our original objective for today was Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; however, we decided to camp out. So destination switched to Blackstrap Provincial Park, just 25 km away from Saskatoon.

So as we’re about to reach the Park, we notice a small hill rising out of the flat Saskatchewan landscape. Now, I shall quote Billy: “What? That? That’s like a pimple! It’s probably only, what, 20 metres tall? How very accurate, Billy. Scarily accurate.

That hill is one of many alongside a once-river—now it’s a chain of lakes—which makes up Blackstrap Provincial Park. I’m now on top of that very hill. And let me tell you, the view is amazing! You don’t know how much 20 metres can totally change your perspective. Down at our campsite, you can’t get the same view as from 20 metres higher, up here. On this hill, you can see the lake, and all of the other lakes, up until the horizon. You can see the other campers (mostly in RVs, not like us, toughing it out in tents), you can also see the thin line of cars speeding down the TransCanada, small buildings in the distance. And at your back, a small fence (I wish I could say white picket, but it’s looking like barbed wire to me…), that leads to what seems to be a trail, more rolling hills, and our much missed deciduous trees (There were only conifers starting in Calgary).

It’s a bit hot out here, but nothing, I assume, like what Toronto is experiencing right now (mid-forties, I assume, if I heard correctly). The nostalgic sound of crickets chirping is everywhere. I may actually hear a cicada too, though I’m not too sure. There are a few crows in these parts (you can hear them caw-caw-ing away somewhere in the trees. What really is amazing is the number of butterflies here. You have the common garden-variety white cabbage butterfly, as well as one that just landed on the ground, so still, I hadn’t even noticed it until it opened its mellow sunshine wings, twitched its velvet black antennae, and fluttered away. Another one landed not too long ago. If you look now, you might be able to see it; with its pastel blue wings, so pale and delicate, with mahogany spots and thin grey lines.

Not everything here is quite as wonderful…As I mentioned before…Chinese Buffet tonight. All you can eat. Whoopee. (A sarcasm font is needed greatly, no? :D)

You may be thinking, what’s so bad about an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet? But did I tell you who the diners were? Or for that matter, did I mention what the main course was? Getting the idea here? Exactly. As you can see, we are entering mosquito country once again. The mosquitoes aren’t as bad as the ones in Dinosaur Provincial Park, though. And for that, I can’t even begin to tell you how grateful we are. :D

We’ve become like gypsies (Once again, everybody, I quoted Billy). So from tomorrow on, we’ll be camping out at different sites, never settling in one place, nomadic. We’re projected to arrive in Manitoba tomorrow actually, seeing as we’ll need another 3 days in Ontario again! xD

Ta Ta for now people! I want to get some of that Chinese buffet as well! (Kidding! We’re just having Instant noodles tonight!)

P.S. Sorry once again for the late post. We’re once again entering areas with little to no internet connection. So just bear with us! xD (As you can probably tell, this is actually posted on the 17th of August…so you all know what I mean.)

P.P.S. The events taking after the post: we ate the Instant noodles ;D And then we chopped firewood for our campfire. We then played cards in the firelight, until it got too cold for us. We went into our cozy little tents to sleep, and soon after, discovered that a storm was approaching. We camped through a big thunderstorm! (Now our shoes are all wet…)