Onwards We Go

May 6

First irrigation of the season.

 Today was a quiet day.  Wendy went to help a friend, Wayne had a harrowing experience because he harrowed the field, and I got caught up on the blog, updated a couple computer programs for photo editing, walked Morgan around the field (almost 4kms), and I took some cow pictures.  

Sunset irrigation.

One thing I learned, and I am sure it applies to a great percentage of farms,  is that the water to water the crops comes from the Red Deer River.  There are gates to control when it leaves the river.  The water follows a series of ditches to Chesterman Lake and then to the farm.  It is all flowing by gravity.  No well, no dam.  When the  pond was full, irrigation could begin.  I also learned a bit about the irrigation system and found that to be very 

My first campsite in Saskatchewan.

interesting.   My understanding is that Wayne’s system (pivot) pumps about 1100 gallons a minute.

Wayne and I managed to get in some more guitar playing or should I admit it was more like a lesson from Wayne to me.  I really need to learn to sing.  Some songs sound so much better when they have voice accompaniment.  

Wendy served a delicious meal again.  She never disappoints - plenty of 

Set up and ready to walk.

food, wine, conversation, and laughs.  

I wasn’t going to mention anything but two scotch before bed was one too many.  I will blame it on Wayne and Wendy and the great discussions we have.

Looking east from my site.

May 7

I will admit, I have a fabulous time and was a bit sad to leave.  I was feeling excited to head east because everything east of their farm is new territory for me.  Newfoundland or bust!  I was on my way again.  

I have had some concerns about wind so I have been monitoring an 

Looking south from my site.

application called Windy.com.  It is great and today there was wind but not too much but enough to cause my truck to guzzle the gas.  I had the worst mileage ever!  25.5l/100kms!!!  I am wondering what tomorrow will be like.  I was also expecting the gas to be a little cheaper here.  In Langdon it was $1.629 and in Swift Current it was $1.829.  I may have been able to find it a little less expensive but I did not have enough in my tank to go shopping.  I pulled into the first station I came across.  

Looking west.

Last year I joined an organization called Harvest Hosts.  This year they merged with Boondockers Welcome to become a mega organization.  What it is is a program where farms, golf courses, wineries, or even private citizens offer up camping nights for free.  If it is a business it is courteous to make a purchase, if it is a private home you offer to pay for electricity BUT it is a great deal.  I spent a bit of time this evening to study the winds and the distances between a couple places then check Harvest Hosts.  I have the next three nights booked for free.  I am staying one night in Weyburn, SK and two nights in Souris, MB because of the wind forecast.  The Souris location is a working farm. I am very excited.  

Morgan is travelling well.  She is not sure what to think about any livestock she sees or smells so we just take it all slowly.  The past couple days it was cows.  Tonight is was horses in the field across the road.  

Well folks, it’s time for me to hit the hay.  New adventures await for us tomorrow so we need our sleep.