Canada Is A Huge Country When You Are Driving It

 May 10 - Goodwill Farm, Souris, MB

Big round bales of hay. 

Morgan and I had an incredible day on Manitoba farm, Goodwill Farm, owned by Joe and Lynn Goodwill.  Like all farmers they are up and rarin’ to go early.  I knew how early they were up because Cammy (sp?) the dog came 

The willow tree that was changing colour before my eyes.

to check on me and Morgan.  Morgan knew she was outside waiting for us to come out.  

I walked Morgan and Cammy joined us.  They got along well so Morgan was given off-leash privileges.  Then the fun began.  They never stopped.  It was very much like Morgan’s buddy, Jake, at Fogmoor Farm.  Play, play, play, play.  

Laying out the stepping stones.

I noticed Joe and Lynn outside so I wondered over to see what I could do to help.  We first had a chin-wag about the monsoon that hit the day before. It was about 2” of rain and parts of southern Manitoba were hurting, yet again, from flooding.  

Joe was not shy about dishing out the jobs.  Today I was going to help him with the Purple 

A job well done!

Martin condominium, a Mother’s Day gift for Lynn.  He had purchased it second hand but it needed some tender loving care.  We tightened screws, Joe nailed, and bits and pieces were replaced.  That was good enough for now.  Morgan was glad because she didn’t like the sound of the compressor or the nail gun.  

Morgan making new friends too.

Next we worked on stepping rounds for the garden.  Lynn knew exactly where they were to go. I scored the sod around the stone and lifted the circle of sod into the John Deere side-by-side.  Then we carefully and mathematically cleared just enough soil out of the ground for the cement round to fit and be flush with the grass so the lawnmower didn’t tag it.  OK, so it wasn’t so mathematical but from the first to the last we were getting good.  Lynn was pleased and that is all that mattered.  

Next we went into the back field to pick up portions of a tree that broke off 

Branch cleanup in the field.

when Joe dragged it the stick pile.  Joe ran the side-by-side and me and the dogs walked along throwing branches, logs, and twig into the back.  In all honesty, Joe helped throw branches too.  

Morgan was having a hay day!  Stick everywhere.  She couldn’t figure out why we didn’t throw all of them for her.  

In the wee hours following the night I arrived, a calf was born so we checked on it.  The Momma wasn’t too fussed on having the dogs near.  That was OK because we were all hot and hungry.  Morgan and I went back to the Minnie Home for some water, lunch and rest.  The truth is, 

Alice C. twins waiting for the project to start. 

Morgan didn’t care about food, she just crashed.  

After lunch I drove Lynn and Joe a few miles up the road to fetch their motor home.  I knew it was windy but that is when I noticed just how windy it was.  It was pushing the truck around a bit and I didn’t have the trailer attached.  That was the kind of wind that you never let go of your truck door 

The dreaded swinging bridge.

as you get out.  It is prudent to point your vehicle into the wind before stepping out.  I have learned that you open a door and close it immediately.  At home, I open the door and leave it open while doing other things.  

I popped into town for a couple reasons.  I wanted to see the town and the swing bridge plus I wanted to fill up with gas.  It is really a sweet little town.  There are some beautiful historic houses that people have kept in pristine condition.  The big attraction is the 

You’d never get me on that one!

bridge.  I will admit that I looked at it a few minutes before I decided to cross.  I also waited until we were the only ones crossing.  Wouldn’t you know it, someone had to come towards me from the opposite side.  Oh yes, I could feel the bridge moving.  A person on the bridge coupled with extremely height winds made weak knees.  Morgan was fine with it all.  

When I got back to the farm I decided to ready the truck and trailer for a 0730 or 0800 departure.  Everything has a place.  All was stowed.  I hooked up the truck to the trailer and made a mental note that in 

Morgan meets a moose.

the morning I only had to unplug the electrical and remove the blocks from the wheel.  

I decided to check the batteries as I do each month. It’s a habit from living on the boat.  When I uncovered the batteries I noticed that the connecting cable from one battery to the other was out of it’s copper connection.  Oh geez I said.  Well maybe something a bit more foul came out of my mouth :) I just needed a moment to think.  Bam, it came to me.  I was on a farm with a farmer.  They know how to fix everything.  I waited for Joe to come in from the field and sheepishly asked for his help.  It took a few minutes but not only 

WTF!  It vibrated out of it’s sleeve.

did he get the cable back into it’s sheath but he souldered it in place.  It was good to go.  I put the covers back on the batteries and broke a nail.  #$%^&. Everyone knows how much I take care of my nails - NOT!  Hahahaha.  

When we finished fixing my issue, it was time for nighttime chores, water the 29-year-old retired stallion, now a gelding, feed the new momma, feed the rest of the herd, and take cookies to the horses.  

There are two Belgians.  One Belgian has only one eye.  Joe told me Patsy 

Joe to the rescue.

had a tumour behind her eye and it had to be removed.  

Morgan has gotten very brave on a farm. She first had exposure at Fogmoor when we first left 

home, the more farm time at Westview Farm with Wayne and Wendy, and now at Goodwill Farm.  

It was an excellent day.  I was pooped and a little sad to be leaving the next day but I knew 

more adventures were just ahead.  

Joe did all the work and I broke a nail.

After a day of such rain, yesterday was gorgeous although windy.  It was 

refreshing.  It was great to do some physical work after so much driving.  

I think Morgan was a farm dog in her past life.  

May 11

This morning I had coffee with Joe and Lynn before leaving.  They are such gracious hosts 

More cookies please!

and as far as I am concerned have set the bar high for Harvest Hosts/Boondockers Welcome.  

We got away at 0800 and moseyed our way down Highway 2 to Mitchell, 

MB.  The trip was uneventful.  I made good time with decent fuel economy.  I am at Country Living, another farm, but a working farm like 

I see you, Morgan.

Joe and Lynn’s.  Here I am quietly tucked in the back.  There is room for me to leash-walk Morgan and it is quiet.  I will be leaving about 0830 tomorrow morning.  

One thing I feel I need to do is empty my black and grey tanks soon.  Hosts do not offer dumping so it did take me a bit to find somewhere close to 

Cookies, we want cookies.

dump in the morning.  I will be going to a private campground and take care of business and add some water.  They will charge me $10 but that is OK.  One other local campground is still frozen and another has flooding problems.  I will take what I can get.

I asked how far it was into town.  About two miles.  It seems on the prairies 

Morgan keeping her distance.  

that metric does not exist except when you purchase litres of gas or diesel.  The my-generation folks keep telling me thinks in imperial.  It’s funny because not I have to convert metric to miles.  

One thing that crossed my mind while I was driving is that I always feel like I am going uphill when I head east and north.  I feel like I am going downhill when I head south.  So, does that mean when I head west to come home I will be going downhill.  We shall see.  

OK, two things that crossed my mind today while I was driving.  I have seen 

The new calf.  Less than 24 hours old.  

numerous pictures of the Prairies.  My coming here has brought those pictures to life.  I am seeing what they saw:  abandoned houses, long, straight roads, grain fields that go on for ever.  It is coming to life as I drive every kilometre. 

Morgan had a good run this morning before leaving, then another run at the park this afternoon and I believe she is still tired from yesterday.  She’s pooped.  It will be a short walk this evening for one last piddle.  

Tomorrow I will be in Ontariariario.  (No that wasn’t a spelling mistake.  It’s how they sing their song.) I head for The Ranch in Kenora.  .  It is a camping area but also a part of Harvest Hosts.  I expect to have light wind and some of it tail winds.  We shall see.

For now, we will call it a day.  It’s dinner time, shower time, and puppy walking time.  

Wishing you all things wonderful and an abundance of love.