July 5, 2019
We decided to have a shower in our tent shower before leaving today. Debbie made breakfast and I set up the shower, something that gets easier each time. The shower is also quite rewarding and a great way to start the day.
Working as a team it did not take us long to break down camp and get on the road. We headed north on Hwy #10 out of Riding Mountain Park. It was indeed an impressive park and one we would highly recommend. We expected to see animals as we left the park but were disappointed. As we left the park we crested the edge of the ridge and we suddenly realized that we were quite high in elevation and Manitoba stretched out in front of us.
We stopped in Dauphin and Debbie picked up some groceries and I bought another collapsible water container. We knew we would be going into areas where water may not be readily available at the campsites.
The drive north through to Swan River was impressive again with rich cropland and farms stretching out for miles. We were basically paralleling the Saskatchewan border.
We stopped in Swan River for a coffee and fuel stop and a break. Then it was off to Whitefish Lake Campground. Debbie had researched the park and spoke highly of it.
We have used our GPS to assist us in getting to many of our destinations. We used the maps to confirm our directions but used the GPS as we went. About 20 kms north of Swan River our GPS directed us to turn west onto a secondary road.
Since we have started this trip I have often second-guessed her (GPS) and sometimes I was wrong and sometimes she (GPS) was wrong.
It wasn’t long before we were on a well-maintained gravel road. Debbie checked the map and confirmed that we would now be on gravel for at least 30 kms. After about 10 kms, she (GPS) directed us to turn north on a range road that did not correspond with the number on the sign. I decided to do what she told us and soon we were driving down a country lane lined with trees and bush. It was just wide enough for our rig and we looked at each other wondering where we were going. Suddenly we went around a curve and up a small hill and ended up in the middle of a farmyard!! A big black lab greeted us and a lady stepped out of the farmhouse. I rolled down the window and sheepishly told her that the GPS was obviously wrong. She smiled knowingly and replied, “Yes that happens often. You have to go another mile and then turn right!” I apologized and turned the rig around in her yard. She said that the last person that ended up in her yard drove through her wheat field!! We slinked out of there. At that moment Debbie had a new name for our GPS – “Miss Taken”. A very appropriate name, and she had lost some more credibility with me. We made the right turn that our farm lady suggested and continued on the dusty gravel road for another 18 kms. Suddenly the welcome sign for Whitefish Campground appeared, we heaved a sigh of relief and turned into the campground.
We toured the sites and noticed quite a few occupied campsites with rigs that were well established for the season. We found a lovely site overlooking the lake and the playground. It was late in the afternoon and after setting up the camp we started the barbeque, walked to the beach and marveled at this beautiful campground. There were a few campers in the seasonal sites, but only three in our daily sites.
We also noticed that the water supply here was on a hand pump from a well. We had not refilled our tank so we were now going to have to ration our water until I could figure out where I could get some. Luck came to us again. Suddenly a big grey pickup drove over to our site and a man introduced himself as Howard and asked if we were comfortable. He had seen us driving around looking for a site. I told him we were but we were low on water. He told us not to worry about that as he was “going into town” to fill his 500 liter tank that he pulls with a trailer to his site for the summer! He assured us that he would fill us up tomorrow! Another stroke of luck!
This was definitely going to be a good two nights at this place.
Quilting in a Kayak 