June 27, 2019
It rained overnight, but it looked like today could be sunny all day! Debbie whipped up a bacon and egg breakfast and we readied ourselves to leave today for Moose Mountain Provincial Park.
Before we were to leave Moose Jaw, it was important for us to stop in at the Temple Gardens Mineral Springs and Spa. This historic place is built in the heart of Moose Jaw and a natural mineral spring is piped one kilometer into the pool. It is renowned for it therapeutic properties. Although we are not mineral springs “groupies,” we decided to go and take a dip. We thoroughly enjoyed the spa and felt great. It was time to head out on the road again.
On the outskirts of Moose Jaw is a small point of interest that I had been told about that I wanted to see. In the early 1900’s a Norwegian man by the name of Tom Sukanen had built a ship that he was going to sail to Norway from Moose, Jaw Saskatchewan! I wanted to find out more. We drove about 20 kms south of Moose Jaw to his place. Over the years the local antique car enthusiasts have restored the grounds to include many old cars and historic buildings and antique items of interest. Right in the middle of these buildings it the hull of the ship standing approximately 25 ft tall, from its keel to the roof of the cabin! The story is that Tom immigrated to Minnesota, USA, and then decided that he wanted to homestead in Saskatchewan. He left his wife and children in Minnesota and walked to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He successfully started his homestead and then several years later, walked, – yes walked – back to Minnesota to bring his family to Saskatchewan. When he arrived in Minnesota, he learned that his wife had died and his children had been placed in foster homes. Tom returned to Moose Jaw, (walked!), and continued to work his farm. He was well known in the community as a very strong man, and an inventor, building several unique tools and implements to use in farming. He longed for Norway, had researched his sailing route, – navigate the Saskatchewan River to Hudson Bay andthen sail across the Atlantic to Norway. He was a good carpenter and for several years built the hull for his ship. Unfortunately, his grief was taking its toll and Tom had to be institutionalized.
The wife of Tom’s neighbor was instrumental in making sure that Tom’s ship would not be destroyed. She rallied friends and the community to save this unique endeavor. Friends built a small chapel in memory of Tom, whose remains are buried near his ship.
We left Tom’s ship and headed east and south to Moose Mountain Provincial Park. The drive along Hwy #13 east is called the Red Coat Trail. It is the approximate route of the North West Mounted Police, as they headed west to enforce law and order.
We stopped in Weyburn for coffee and a snack and then continued on. The area east of Weyburn is a very large oil reservoir and there are many rocking pump jacks bobbing up and down as far as the eye can see. The huge fields of grain stretch out for miles.
We arrived at our reserved campsite at about 5:30. To our dismay, we learned that we had reserved our site for two nights not three! Because of the upcoming long weekend the campsite was full, which meant that we would have to leave or go to the overflow campsite for the third night. Oh well we will think of something. We could see that black cloud looming in the distance.
Quilting in a Kayak 