Wistful Wednesday: 1978 Canada Trip

In 1978 we made our first camping trip to Canada.  We headed into Ontario with our ultimate goal to be Sioux Narrows on the opposite side of Lake of the Woods.

Back then the US Canada border was pretty flexible.  Where are you going and what are you going to do when you get there.  Camp and relax..some were going fishing.

There were eight of us in June of 1978 on that trip.  Far Guys Mom (Evelyn) and Dad (Marvin), Me,  Far Guy, Trica (6 years old) Jennifer (almost 3 years old), Far Guys sister Janice and her husband Ronald (the fisherman.)

It was the first time that Far Guy and I and the girls visited Canada.

I was impressed with all the tiny islands on the Lake of the Woods, I wanted one then and I would still like to live on one  now.

Far Guys parents were retired and they had a Motor Home.  If I recall correctly we also took our vehicle and a tent.

Of course with children we stopped along the way, to let the girls stretch their legs and run off some energy.

Here Grandma Evelyn is the door guard and Jennifer has escaped…but Ronald has Trica under control.

I can hear Grandma say “Eugene get out here right now and watch those kids.”  She always called him Eugene with the emphasis on the EU.

I think he may have someone’s “blankie” in his hand.  Can’t forget our blankie…it was pink and flannel.

It was cool that June in Canada, we only got a day maybe two of sunshine at the sandy beach at the campground.  Then it started to rain.  We had a river going through our tent and the little girls got cold so they went into the camper to sleep.  We managed a day or two of rain checking out the local gift shop and driving around…but Sioux Narrows is almost nowhere.

I introduced the girls to Canadian licorice pipes at the gift shop.  A whole bunch of them in a box with red candy in the bowl of the pipe.  Back then they were not wrapped in plastic…you just reached in the box and grabbed as many as you wanted.  I think they were 10 or 15 cents each.  I long for that kind of licorice.

We headed back home..and it was still cold.  We stopped again to let the girls climb rocks.

Now about the “A” or “EH” or “eh”.  We vacationed many times over the years in Canada, both in Ontario and in Manitoba wherever we went the locals would end a sentence with “A.”  Nice weather “A”   Where you from “A”  So it has been a custom over the past 35 years that when we talk about Canada or our vacations there we always say remember that time in Canada “A”?

Of course I am sure you all have heard the joke??  When they named CANADA  they were all standing around thinking of a name and someone said C and they all shouted A, and some one else shouted N and they all shouted A, and someone else finally shouted D and they all in unison holler A. And that is how CANADA got it’s name…

I mean no disrespect to our good neighbors to the North, it was just something we noticed over the years.  Now I would like your input…have you heard “A” or “EH” or “eh” in Canada, and what area were you in?

Wistful Wednesday :1997

I ran across some old photos recently that brought back some good memories.

Back in the summer of 1997 we were fortunate enough to get away for quite a few days. We had a house sitter to mow our lawn and the dogs went up to Buxton to stay with Trica and Dick, I hired a dog sitter to play with and make sure the dogs were all happy ( We had three back then all Shelties: Moses, Captain and G’Day Mate..all spoiled)  We went camping up in the Wyoming Mountains with my other baby brother and she who sees robins first.

I really miss those camping days.  Campfires and frost on the tent and all that.

Far Guy says his camping days are over and he is too old to sleep in a tent.  He suggested if I wanted to sleep in a tent to go right ahead and set up the tent in the yard.

Anyways I wanted to tell you that after one of these outings we headed from Big Piney Wyoming  to Ogden Utah for supper.  Far Guy had been to supper at a really cool place ..so we drove the 198 miles for a steak and homemade bread served in a covered wagon parked around a campfire.  How romantic is that?  The food was great, the place was called the Prairie Schooner Restaurant and Steak House.  A nice little walk was in order after a great meal.

I had always wanted to wade in the Great Salt Lake.  Far Guy indulged me..it was not the beautiful lake I once saw shimmering in the distance on an earlier trip through Utah.  The closer we got the smellier it became.  Far Guy wondered if this was such a good idea after eating.

Far Guy was not amused. It was hold your nose smelly.

I walked out to the stagnant smelly water and took off a shoe.  It wasn’t the stuff that dreams are made of..but I did it.  I finally made it to the Great Salt Lake:)

193 Miles For Supper

North Piney Creek, Wyoming August 1996

Far Guy challenged me to tell this story. He wants you all to know what a romantic guy he can be!

We had been camping in the wilds of Wyoming for about a week, when we came out of the wilderness, all I could think about was standing for hours in my brother's very warm shower ( He lived in Big Piney, WY) Cold streams and partially warmed water in a primitive shower bag only go so far. Far Guy said, how would you like to go out for a really good supper on the way back home? Fine.. I am game.

He headed south and then west...no where near the way home. We stopped in Kemmerer, Wyoming at the JCPenney Mother Store, it was a very interesting diversion, I bought a few more clean T shirts. I am somewhat of a impatient, bored traveller and like to stop often. Far Guy not so much, he has the destination in focus at all times. Well one thing led to another, I know how to distract him, a few little kisses strategically placed near his ear, found us at at some scenic overlook for a little kissy face. Finally after 193 miles we are in Ogden, Utah. Far Guy once went to a restaurant in Ogden, but he can't remember the name of it, or exactly where it was located. He has been so many places, to so many Air Force Bases..could he be confused? By this time..I am thinking MOTEL! Forget the food, a real bed and then another glorious shower ..then you could feed me some chips and a soda. I am an easy woman. Far Guy has a need, a need to take me to this place where he ate supper one time...always an eye on the destination. The desk clerk at the motel, says OH yes, that place, you are close, it is only a few blocks from here.

We found it, Far Guy is like a little kid, so excited to share! We walk in, it is really, really dark. Then I notice a boardwalk, and a campfire, and stars twinkling in the ceiling, I hear some rendition of an old cowboy song, the boardwalk leads to covered wagons, private little covered wagons, lit inside with lanterns. We order Steaks, and Salads..they bring us an entire loaf of freshly baked bread, and butter..real butter. They also have real Coke, not Pepsi, so far this place is getting rave reviews from me. The steaks were perfect, tin plates and all, it was romantic, we played a little footsie under the table..we laughed and talked, enjoyed the campfire ( lit by some flame type light) the wolves and coyotes howled in the distance, Far Guy serenaded me as he sang along with some of the cowboy music. It was a perfect choice for a really good supper. During our meal, I shared about how I always wanted to wade in The Great Salt Lake, I had viewed this lake before when I was a teenager, but my parents wouldn't stop for some wading.

You want to wade in the water.. OK.. Far Guy has a new destination in mind now, so after supper we drove out to Antelope Island, it was a long drive, the closer we got, the more we noticed a strange odor in the air. About the time we both said, "How do people put up with this horrid odor?" It got worse, gag a maggot worse, then worse than that..finally we are there, we are both holding our noses..Far Guy says we should have done this before supper..not after..I did get to stick my toes in the water, amongst the swarms of little flies..while holding my nose. Later I soaked my feet in the tub for a really long time.

After more than twenty years, I wondered if this place of covered wagons still exists, indeed it does, it is called The Prairie Schooner. I highly recommend it, it is one of our fondest memories, not only the meal, but as a reminder that Far Guy is a bit romantic and he will go out of his way to make some of my oddball wishes come true:)