Winnipeg with Kerry & Donna
A two day road trip took me to Winnipeg from Whitecourt, Alberta. Along the way I skirted the edge of a major thunderstorm in Saskatchewan... to the east of me was a storm front, paralleling my route, with black skies and lighting flashes (and later I learned had multiple tornados touching down)... to the west there were clear sunny blue skies. Then on into Manitoba and sun glinting off a lot of ground water. A vast section of the province was covered by an emergency declaration due to flooding, but the roads I was on were all passable. The only 'tight' spot was where the highway goes through Portage la Prairie and dips deep into a valley where the Asiniboine River was up to only a couple of metres below bridge top level and the current flowed fast and furious.
Winnipeg Folk Festival (#41)
After a couple of days hanging out, Kerry and I headed out to set up camp at Birds Hill Park to attend the Winnipeg Folk Festival. A small misunderstanding meant Kerry had to set up the tent (in the rain) on his own while I returned to spend that first night in a comfy bed. I rejoined Kerry the next day (actual first day of the festival) and we explored a bit of the festival camping area we were set up in. Quite the huge area with food trucks, camp stores, party setups, gaming areas, and tents tents tents. There seemed to be nearly as much partying going on in the camping area as there was at the festival grounds (and more so after midnight).
The music at the folk festival for me is a mix of new discoveries, blasts from the past and a few new but known artists. I enjoy whichever artist happens to be playing at whichever stage is happened to be at. There are 8 day time stages and 2 main evening/night stages. Along with 2 taverns, multiple food venues and a whole shopping village.
Musical memories for me included the 4 big ladies on the bill: Bonnie Raitt, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Calypso Rose from Tobago, and Joan Baez. Buffy was in the best shape of the 4 but their voices were all still strong and the performance ability entertaining.
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| Bonnie Raitt |
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| Buffy Sainte-Marie |
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| Calypso Rose |
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| Joan Baez |
Then there were the new discoveries. I loved Elephant Revival, Baskery, and Big Machine. I was also entertained by many more. Offspring of famous people were common this year: Sarah Lee Guthrie (daughter of Arlo, and granddaughter of Woody), James McMurtry (son of author Larry McMurtry), Amy Helm (daughter of Band drummer Levon Helm), along with others including two performers who are redefining what you can play on a ukelele!
The 5 days of performance were mostly in clear sunny skies and pleasant evenings. Right up to the final 2 days when we had a half hour downpour on the Saturday which cleared back to blue skies, but pretty much rain all day on Sunday. But the performances went on!
Out to the old ball game
Back to the city and a few days to relax. The three of us headed out to a Triple-A baseball game between the Winnipeg Goldeyes and the St Paul Saints with the home team taking the game 7 to 2 and the division lead along with it. We were in row 3 just behind first base - but no baseballs came our way. Later we dropped in on Kerry's 92 year old dad, Harold.
Lazy days at the lake
Kerry, Donna and I drove to the Fraser Family Cottage on Lake Armstrong (near Redditt, Ontario) on a nice sunny day. We settled in and I went for a bit of a swim. Drinks out on the new deck, dinner, and cribbage to finish the evening. Then to rumbles of thunder and occasional flashes of lighting we retired for the night. It rain overnight and was still clouding and chill the next morning. But that cleared up for the afternoon.
The three of us were just getting set to head out to fish the lake when Kerry's older brother Greg arrived. We unpacked him and continued on our way to trawl in the lake with no expectation to catch anything. But Kerry started us off with a jackfish and I then landed a big mouth bass. Donna hooked a couple but the managed to slip the barbless hooks before we could get them on board.
Wildlife was definitely in evidence around the cottage: birds, squirrels, rabbits and a 5-point buck all passed on by. Donna and Greg returned to Winnipeg on Monday, and Kerry and I headed out for an overnight canooeing / camping trip to a small sland in Axe Lake. Nice paddle there but then rain and lighting and thunder dampened the evening. The next day high winds looked to challenge our return but we managed quite well. One more day for us and we too returned to Winnipeg.
And finally a few more days hanging out and relaxing. But once again I head out in the road to return to Alberta. It was a wonderful visit to the middle of the continent.
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