Sunday, 18 May 2025

Manitoba - Day 20

I must say I find the artwork of our First Nations people inspiring...and I'm not even talking about anything professional. I'm sure there are plenty of immensely talented local, everyday people. Proof of that is in the samples found in this hotel lobby.

About 50 kilometres from the hotel, along some of the most atrocious roads we have yet to find in Manitoba, lies the Little Steep Rock Hiking Trail. It passes through over 350 million years of natural history, including fabulous views from atop the Steep Rock cliffs, remnants of a prehistoric sea bed. Lake Manitoba is itself an echo of a once enormous ancient lake surrounding the old Lafarge Quarry.

It was still pretty cool for May, about 2 degrees when we began our hike. It warmed up a couple of degrees but the way we were dressed probably appears pretty silly to those back home or just about anyone else we know.

We strayed off the path a few times so we could get a good look at all that was there. The cliffs were fascinating from below, rising straight out of the water and surrounded by an incredibly rocky beach. On top you have to be extra careful because you can walk right to the very edge where one misstep on the crumbling limestone could be quite disastrous.

As we returned I saw a mass of large white birds swimming in the water. At first I thought they were swans but as we quietly drew closer it was obvious they were pelicans. Excuse me, I'm no ornithologist but I thought pelicans were native to places like Florida, not central Manitoba.

All in all it was a nice day for essentially our last one exploring Manitoba. Our remaining two days will be in Winnipeg preparing to leave on Wednesday. I'm sure we'll find something to post. Hang in there, we're almost done.











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