On to Manitoba ....

OK, my third border crossing from North Dakota to Manitoba was not as smooth as the others.  Again I was questioned about having a residence and to give assurances that I would be returning to the US at the end of my stay.  I'm wondering if that is becoming a concern for the Canadian government as it is getting to be a hassle at the border.  I had to answer questions regarding my financial status, ability to provide medical treatment for myself, proof that I had ties in the US to return to, etc. Wow.  I wonder if the US Border Patrol asks the same questions of the Canadians.  I'll have to ask my Canadian snowbird friends.

My first stop after the Boissevain crossing was to take this picture of Tommy Turtle.

And then onto the swinging bridge in Souris ... Completed at the end of August 2013, the new bridge allows Souris to the title of the longest swinging bridge in Canada.

I know it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but it was pretty cool to walk across.

Now I'm spending the weekend at Riding Mountain National Park.  No rain in the forecast, but it has rained non-stop all weekend.

I drove a three-hour sightseeing tour today.  I could have done it in the coach on my way to Duck Mountain but decided to take the Jeep.  This is what I saw ...

The Inglis Grain Elevators National Historic Site of Canada: This impressive grouping of five standard-plan wooden grain elevators is a rare survivor of the long rows that once dominated prairie towns. The row was built between 1922 and 1941, Manitoba's golden age of elevators.  Because so many traditional country elevators have been demolished throughout western Canada, the Inglis elevator row preserves rare examples of a formerly common sight.

The Ukrainian Catholics of Dauphin organized their first parish in 1916.  they held their first service in an old Anglican church that they had purchased and moved into town.  By 1936 it could not meet the needs of a growing parish.  This church was built between 1936 and 1939 by volunteers from the parish.  The Dauphin church is one of the best "Prairie cathedrals."

In 1990, the parish undertook the construction of a new church but respected their architectural heritage by preserving this landmark.  The new church was built about 1/2 block away.  At noon the bells played two very pretty "songs."



In Dauphin, I also stopped at the Fort Dauphin Museum, but it was closed, unfortunately.

As I was leaving the campground for my drive around Manitoba, I noticed they had a bear trap parked by the ranger station.  I've never seen one before.

Tomorrow I pack up again and head for The Pas.  The weather report is predicting thunderstorms during the week.  Should be interesting.