Across the Prairies in 2nd Gear

  Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Hairdressers and car mechanics feature prominently on our list of 'challenges' experienced while traveling throughout Latin America over the past three years. It's not at all difficult to conjure up images of horror at seeing the results of so-called beauticians: the straight-as-a-poker, pure white highlights in Huaraz, Peru; the wash-and-wear perm that resulted in straighter rather than curlier hair in Quito, Ecuador; and the "basic trim" in Guatemala City that left little more than elephant ears on the side of a face! You might imagine then the anticipation of getting a decent cut with a few highlights from a well trained professional in North America.. After carefully researching the various possibilities to find the very best hairdresser in Port Angeles, Washington, the appointment was made with just enough time to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island. What can we say.......screams of fright were unfortunately the only defence against this latest attempt at highlights that resulted in a bleached disarray!

As with hairdressers, each time that DC3 required a car mechanic along the way, the selection was made with no previous knowledge of performance record. Nor was there any recourse should the work carried out be less than ideal, as we would no doubt already be in another province if not in the next country before evidence of a job poorly done would be visible. Inevitably, whenever DC3 went into a workshop for a particular problem, she would emerge with three new problems, to the point that serious consideration was given to postponing a few idiosyncrasies until our return to Ontario. We mention this in case anyone might have noticed DC3 crossing the Prairies, hugging the shoulder of the highway for five or six km each morning, or whenever she rested for more than an hour. Somewhat akin to her owners, she appears to require a gradual warm-up of the automatic transmission before changing from second to third gear. Fortunately, our VW guru Frank assured us in Santa Cruz that with a bit of patience on our part, DC3 should be just fine for the remainder of the journey.

As Canadians, we would certainly be remiss if we didn't spend a significant portion of our time discussing the weather. While Ontario residents have been basking in sunny days with glorious heat, we still have not managed - except for a few days - to emerge from the cool temperatures and rainy skies that have enveloped us since our re-entry into North America two months ago. Might Canada be telling us something, and should we fast-forward the plans for our next diversion to far-away, exotic places?

The sun accompanying our departure from Lacombe was a good sign, but unfortunately was short lived as we were again immersed in a low pressure system with intermittent heavy rains all across Saskatchewan.

04 Mired in gumbo

Expecting to see enormous tractors with accompanying farm machinery dotting the Prairie landscape, we were quite dismayed to hear that once again the unforgiving weather was wreaking havoc with the spring planting of grains. We could offer genuine sympathy to the farmers after getting DC3 hopelessly mired in the rich, black gumbo of a small farm track. So much for selecting a quiet place for a quick cup of coffee! And how fortunate that Mr. Shutiack - a local Ukranian farmer - just happened to be passing by with a chain in the back of his farm pick-up truck. Yet another example of an angel coming to our rescue.

Our walk down memory lane has definitely not abated, but rather has been gathering steam as we cross the country. Together with Marie in Saskatoon, we reminisced about days spent in Ghana and Togo in 1976/77. She excitedly recounted to us the recent activities of the "Go- Go Grannies", who through a Stephen Lewis Foundation initiative (www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/grandmothers.htm) are raising enormous amounts of money and support for the grandmothers of Africa who have become entrusted with the care of AIDS orphans. Further north-east in Melfort, our brains were given an exhaustive workout as we sat around Lorne and Gailmarie's farm kitchen table, recalling events from our CUSO days in Tanzania in the late '60s. Of course none of us will ever forget the repercussions resulting from the motorcycle encounter with the hyena!

A heightened apprehension was evident the next day, as DC3 wasn't able to change into third gear until 22 km down the road.

07 Hmmm...looks wonderful

Perhaps it was simply the heavy rain (what, again?) and even colder temperatures, as she settled back into her normal 6 km routine before reaching Winnipeg where the skies continued to be overcast, but at least the temperatures were gradually rising. Never mind the cold - Liz and Raymond provided such a warm welcome, with phenomenal gourmet meals seemingly prepared with ease at any hour of the day. We were very reluctant when Liz, a friend from the U of Manitoba 1974 CUSO committee, proposed organizing an "open-house van party". However, invited friends, relatives and neighbours seemed genuinely interested in "touring" every nook and cranny of DC3, who had been cleaned up and all decked out for the occasion. In fact, we wouldn't be at all surprised to hear that one or two of the couples embark on their own "driving tour of a lifetime"in the near future.

09 Checking out DC3

How fortunate that the sun actually came out for the van party, as by the next day we were again running to escape the downpours. Rain aside, we thoroughly enjoyed our lunch with nephew Colin, hearing all about his latest musical exploits and his plans to start a Masters program in Performance Organ - congratulations, Colin! Despite our already bulging waistlines, how could we not totally indulge in the scrumptious Sunday brunch at Winnipeg's revolving restaurant. Gwenna (Master's research supervisor in Ghana) and Charlotte pointed out the highlights of Winnipeg from the air as we revolved not once, not even twice, but three times in as many hours. As for the number of times we returned to the buffet tables, that will definitely have to remain a secret!

It appears to be taking us longer than expected to cross Canada, and friends in Ottawa are already facetiously pointing out that Christmas is also on its way. Perhaps we'd better pick up the pace a bit, although a few days of camping in northen Ontario is very appealing at the moment. What might lie in wait for us besides mosquitoes, blackflies or even black bears? Surely not more rain!