We Love Manitoba.

We Love Winnipeg, this city kinda surprised us! It is certainly nothing fancy but it's nice. It has nice high and old stone buildings that give it a certain touch. We had a nice time wandering through the parks, through the city visiting different quarters or simply enjoying a canadian beer on the patio of a nice pub.

 

Unfortunately the Winnipeg Art Gallery was closed on Mondays so we did not get a chance to visit, it's a modern nice looking building in the citycenter, too bad we missed the art collection!

We love Riding Mountain National Park, if you want to see wild black bears in Canada you have to be in this park in the spring! We saw seven in two days and a lot of other wildlife, among them Manitoba's provincial Animal: the Bison!

A mother bear and two cups crossed our path while we were driving through the park! Bar cubs are probably the cutest things on earth and it was amazing to see them hopping around in front of us! Unfortunately they are gone as fast as they appear, they come and go. And so do the snakes (common Garter Snake). We also experienced this on Thursday, we had our first real bear encounter on a hiking trail and it openend my eyes. I kinda lost my fear for bears somewhere in the sanctuary but if you're hiking and you meet three of them unexpected on a trail during their lunch...your heart stops beating, your breath is taking away...until they start running, luckely for us in the opposite direction. And oh yeah, we couldn't hike the entire Gorge because we've lost some time getting stuck in the ditch on HWY 19, I guess I was too busy bearwatching...: )
 

We also hiked the Grey Owl trail, Archibald Stansfeld Belaney was a British environmentalist. He discribed himself as a half-breed and adopted the native ways of living. He called himself Grey Owl and lived in the wilderness of Riding Mountain National park in 1931. The trail is beautiful and you'll find his cabin at the end of it.

And we love SportsmanPark, our trip to Riding Mountain wouldn't have been the same without the most generous Canadian we've met so far. I can also tell you that it will be hard to take this King's throne!!! Thank you so much AJ! We will not forget what you've done for us! We had a great time at your campground. Take care man and keep enjoying life like you are doing...we wish you both all the luck as parents in a few weeks!

So if you ever visit RMNP, don't hesitate to visit Adrian and Holly's campground between Onanole and the park, hell yeah...great place-great food-great people, loved it!!!

The prairies are fun so far, Manitoba was beatiful and another great experience! Coming up: Saskatchewan, The Dukhabours in Veregin and between the monks in Saint Peters Abbey!

Take Care.

OneLove.

Thomas Hannah and Thurber.