Old train station and tourist info

Being in Fort Qu’appelle has really lent appeal to the idea of living in the prairies. The town is nestled into a river valley but the flat prairie is very close. People are friendly. The two women in the tourist centre kept me there for  for at least an hour chatting.

View of the Qu'appelle River Valley

I headed to the museum which apparently is only open from May to Aug 31 so I went for a walk on the trans Canada trail. It runs along a marshy area adjacent to a lake. I saw some incredible, large birds flying over the water, not seagulls, way too big, not herons either. Could they be pelicans. I headed over a wet path toward the lake. Suddenly I was besieged by thousands (no exaggeration) of mosquitoes. I decided that the trip to the waters edge was not worth it. The bugs were so heavy on my arms and jeans that I could slap once and kill a handful. I am not too squeamish, but this was more than enough. Once I was back up on the main path they were manageable again. Annette says the birds probably were pelicans. I wish I had been able to get some pictures but the price was just too high.

Mosquito paradise. So beautiful

Tonight I took Annette to the craziest little French Canadian Bistro. On the menu, maple beans, tortiere, beets, salmon in pastry, crepes just to mention a few. The woman who runs the place, probably the same woman who decorates with Christmas trees, lights, pink flamingos and a huge assortment of other curios, was really talkative and friendly. I learned more about the community in the 20 minutes that she talked to us, than I could have found anywhere else.  She will stay in my mind as an ambassador of the town.The food was good too.

Well, tomorrow, Winnipeg, so off to bed. Talk soon.

Fort Qu'Appelle