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Our Motto: Home is, where our RV is.
Travel Journal July 2009
Area of operation
Travel Journal July 2009 (begins in Grass Range, MT)
- The first week of July was spent in Grass Range, Montana. After receiving and installing the toilet repair parts,
then installing a new hard drive on the laptop, we spent time on more pleasant things.
On one outing we went to “Doc’s OK Corral” (Restaurant and Casino) in Lewistown, where we had supper and blew a
dollar on the slots. We spent a very quiet 4th of July in Grass Range. There were no fireworks and only a few loud
bangs in the distance. We had a camp fire almost every evening since we had plenty of wood that had to be used or
thrown away before crossing into Canada. It is interesting that both countries have this restriction. They tend to
blame each other for the plant diseases.
On the 9th we left Grass Range, north on Montana 19 to US 191, crossing over the Missouri river (see photos) at the
James Kipp Recreation Area where we stopped and had a picnic before continuing our trip to Havre, Montana. We
spent the night there at Wal-Mart, where we planned to get our prescription refills. Unfortunately, Renée’s
glucose test strips could not be refilled until July 21st. This was too long to wait so we counted out how many she
still had and determined that if she tested only every other day, she would have enough until we return in October.
She has her diabetes under control and after a close examination of the instructions, this was a reasonable solution.
Before leaving Havre, we took a local tour called “Havre Beneath the Streets” (see photos). This was a very
interesting and most unusual tourist attraction.
Montana Highway 233 goes north from Havre to the border crossing at the Port of Willow Creek, Saskatchewan
(see photos) The young female border agent on the Canadian side took her job very seriously and tried to be very
thorough which made it somewhat comical with questions such as: 1) How much dog food do you have with you? 2)
How long will it take your dog to eat that much? 3) How much milk and milk products do you have? The reason for
the last question was clarified at the first grocery store and on the Internet. Milk products in Canada are up to
four times more costly than in the US! A gallon of milk (actually four liters) costs around five dollars.
After successfully crossing with our dog food and milk products intact, we drove a few miles before the road
switched from blacktop to gravel, travelling about 20 miles to the first town (Consul) where we exchanged our
cash. We inquired if a campground was nearby and we were informed that it was about forty minutes away.
Distances in Canada seem to be expressed in minutes instead of miles or kilometers. We are not sure how they are
able to determine how fast we are able to travel.
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park lies on the border between Alberta and Saskatchewan. It is a beautiful wooded
area and meadows (see photos) with plenty of camping areas and facilities. Unfortunately, we arrived on a Friday
evening and all of the sites with water and electric were taken. Wood for the campfires was included in the price
and since we didn’t have a fire and only spent one night, we replenished our take along supply.
The following day we drove north on Highway 21, stopping in the town of Maple Creek at the visitor’s center and
then had a picnic lunch in the local park (see photos). A little further east, in Gull Lake we stayed at a small
campground for three days, before heading further north. On July 14th, with rain and temperature of 54°F we left
Gull Lake. We stopped in the town of Swift Current and went shopping at a large wholesale club where we found
one of the dishes we were looking forward to since our last trip to Canada: Seafood Lasagna. This prepackaged,
frozen dish can’t be found in the US. We have searched and researched, but it doesn’t seem to be exported.
In this part of Saskatchewan there are several Hutterite communities. The Hutterites live in a communal society
where the size of the community is controlled. When it reaches a pre-determined size, another community will be
established and groups will leave and form a new community. The women make the clothing and tend to be dressed
in a fashion fitting the late 1800’s, but very plain. The men also dress plainly in dark clothing and after marriage, all
men grow a beard. They are very productive in farming and related industries. In this respect they are quite
advanced. The Hutterites are spread throughout several of the provinces. When they saw Chuck with his beard
and Prinz Heinrich cap (often confused with a Greek fisherman’s cap) they immediately greeted him and kept asking
“Where are you from?” Since he was also dressed in dark plain clothing, they thought that he was from one of their
other communes. He was followed by several of them. But after speaking with him they realized they were
mistaken. It was very amusing. They thought he was a long lost brother.
Nearby in Swift Current was a large tire dealer and we decided to have a few of the RV tires replaced since it was
time. We then spent the night at Wal-Mart and the temperature dropped to 41°F. The following morning we headed
toward Saskatoon. We had acquired a brochure that lists provincial, region and local parks which have camping
available. Many of the small towns have a small campground adjacent to their recreational facilities and as we found
out, they are inexpensive and not crowded. We stopped in the small town of Elrose which had four camping sites on
the back side of their Uniplex, which is a combination building with gym, pool, hockey stadium, etc. No one was there
when we arrived but the back door was unlocked, with a sign indicating that the bathroom and showers were located
in the building. Inside was completely dark without windows. After roaming around with a flashlight, Renée found
the bathroom, but no way to register and pay. Later a lady showed up that charged us $5 a night (the brochure said
$15). She stuck a small rock in the door to keep it from locking if we needed to use the facilities. Initially we had
trouble with the circuit breakers but after finding the box on the outside wall, we had plenty of electricity with a
combination of 20 Amp plugs. On the first evening while taking a walk with Lobo, Renée located the sewer/dump
station in a field nearby and we spent a comfortable four days there, with only one other camper on the last night.
Lobo was able to wander in the nearby fields. The only true inconvenience was that the building was all metal (see
photos) and reflected the heat during the day and we didn’t have enough power to run the air conditioning during the
day.
As we left Elrose on Sunday, July 19th, the temperature was 82°F. We had attempted to make a reservation near
Saskatoon, but through the internet and telephone calls, we could not find any place with openings. When we arrived
in Saskatoon we drove to those places we couldn’t contact earlier, only to find that they were all full, except one
park that offered to let us park in a nearby field for $15, without any hookups. We declined and parked for free at
Wal-Mart. The temperature dropped to 61°F so it was a pleasant night for sleeping. The following morning we
continued to search for a campground but had no success. There was a small town 30 miles from
Saskatoon that had a small community campground but when we called we received a message that the town office
would not be open until Tuesday. Chuck found the phone number to the town service station and called it. They said
the campground was completely empty! So we headed for Vonda, population 334. Chuck first picked up a satellite
dish in Saskatoon since we were now out of the normal area for Dish Network and a larger dish was needed for
reception.
As we drove to Vonda we noticed that there were no signs to the campground. The first sign was about five miles
from the main road, just as you entered the town. The campground was completely empty (eleven spaces) (see
photos), very orderly with new picnic tables and a new building was being erected with kitchen, showers and toilets.
The electrical hookups were normal 20 Amp sockets but several did not work. We usually check to see if the
electricity is on before parking and setting up. Experience is a good teacher. With a long extension cord, we
managed to get the required power. The sewer/dump station was also reachable with a long hose.
Shortly after our arrival, an older couple drove by and welcomed us to Vonda. The man also told us that his
grandson was building the new structure for the campground. We spent the day getting set up, including the new
satellite dish. The following morning we were about to depart for Saskatoon when the man drove by and delivered
fresh lettuce from his garden! We have met some very nice people in our travels, but this was the first time we
were delivered fresh vegetables, but it wasn’t the last. During our stay in Vonda, Ernest Beaulieu (see photos)
came by several times to give us lettuce, potatoes and onions fresh from his garden!
Our first trip to Saskatoon did not go as planned. Shortly before Saskatoon, we broke a fan belt and had to be
towed to the nearest GM dealer. After inspection at the dealership, it was found that the idler pulley had locked
up, breaking the belt. Total cost of repair was $320 Canadian. After this diversion, we did our shopping. We
passed a place called “New Island Chinese Restaurant” which offered a buffet so we went there for supper.
However, there was no buffet as such. Instead each guest is given a plastic coated menu and a grease pencil. The
guest marks the desired items on the menu, gives it to the waiter and then the food is prepared and delivered. This
process goes on until the guest has had enough. The food is fresher this way but takes entirely too long. The
portion sizes are also only a guess. We would evaluate it as a good idea that needs some work. Only one of the
workers was conversant enough in English to be understood so this also made it difficult.
The next few days we spent “at home.” On Friday, the mayor dropped by to welcome us to Vonda. He had stopped
by to inspect the progress on the new building. The following day we returned to Saskatoon for a little sightseeing
(see photos). Lobo also was able to take a dip in the Saskatchewan River (see photos).
The weather was quite pleasant and at times cool enough to wear a sweater. Lobo had complete freedom at the
campground and roamed the nearby ball fields. We decided to extend another week and as Renée was at the town
office to pay, a man entered who invited us to the Vonda Beach Party the following Saturday. It seems that
everyone knew that were there.
That afternoon we drove to the nearby “Champêtre County” (see photos) where a local farmer has converted his
land into a campground, bed and breakfast, conference center, saloon, etc. Using the weathered wood from old
buildings, he has constructed a facility in the form of an old western town, also moving old local buildings to his little
“town”. It cost us $10 each for the grand tour.
Afterwards, we drove to Prud’homme, a few miles northwest of Vonda. Over a hundred years ago, the Ukrainian
immigrants built small Greek orthodox style churches in each of the small communities and we have begun a photo
collection (see photos) from each small village. Although most of them still stand and are in good condition, they are
seldom used for services.
On the 29th it was quite cool (61°F) as we took a trip to Batoche to view the site of the 1885 Rebellion. On the
return trip we had to cross the South Saskatchewan River twice by ferry (see photos). It appeared on the map
that Rosthern, on the other side of the river, was a larger town and we were hunting for a place to have supper. We
found a small hotel/restaurant where Renée tried the Ukrainian special of Borscht, Perogies, cabbage rolls and
sausage, which was quite good. Chuck, on the other had, chose a ribeye that was so over-tenderized and over-salted
that it was not edible.
That evening Chuck got up to go to the bathroom and saw that Lobo had crapped in his bed, and then moved to the
floor nearby and slept. He has always woken us up if he needed to go out, and we can only surmise that his senility is
taking over. We have never had a dog that has reached this stage since they have either died or been put to sleep
before this stage. He does have times when he “isn’t completely there” but seems to enjoy life when he is.
On the 30th we stayed at the campground except for a short trip to refill the propane tanks. On the following day
we took a trip around the neighboring towns to photograph the churches (see photos) and to Saskatoon for a
shopping trip since we would be heading north on the following Monday. We wanted to get the shopping done before
the weekend since we would be going to the Vonda Beach Party on Saturday August 1st.
To be continued…..
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