I was hoping for an iconic sunny day in Saskatchewan to take the backroads and take photographs of the crops and harvesting and straw bales.

But it wasn’t to be. It was really foggy when we got up, so despite not raining overnight, the tent was wet again from the wet fog.

Eventually the fog burned off, but the clouds didn’t ever clear.

So I started stopping at every roadside attraction on this quiet forgotten highway. Leading us to discover some magic like the cairn for the young priest who founded the first parish in Grande Clairiere, Saskatchewan.

And a stone behind it to remember all the victims of abortion.

And another where a school location was memorialized. This one had a guestbook and a bathroom and even a little take a book/leave a book library!

And another to remember those that gave their lives in the First World War, and the pioneers too. It had a bathroom that had animal claw marks on the seat, animal poop all over the floor, and a nice big cave under the door (I used it anyway).

I’ve been looking for a sunflower field for days. I have great memories of finding sunflower fields on the prairies with Dad. Jeff looked up online some sunflower hotspots, but they didn’t pan out. Dad sent advice about asking in any farm supply store.

But I found one!!! Without even asking at a farm store! But it wasn’t until we were into Manitoba!

However, no sun 🙁 The sunflowers were so sad and depressed.

Down the road awhile we found another one! Another big field of sunflowers on the other side of the road. Only they were equally as depressed 🙁

We were getting hungry. Should we stop and cook somewhere? Or maybe one of these little prairie towns will have a diner! What little farming town doesn’t have a diner?

Every single one, apparently. No diners. No restaurants.

But we did find the world’s largest pumpkin!

It was in the town of Roland, which is also the place 4H was created! There was a museum, and it was open! But we just wanted someone to serve us food!

Why was there a mailbox at the pumpkin? I think just for this? I don’t know.

We pushed on until we ended up in the city of Steinbach, Manitoba. Of all places to stop for a lunch, that ended up being at 5pm, we landed in a Wendy’s for some salads (taco for me – you know the one with the chili!)

I was looking ahead for anywhere to camp and Whiteshell is really the best option, but it’s over 100km further and Cathy was all prairie’d out.

We’re back in a motel already! But the price was right, and the location was right across the street from where we already were.

By the way, hey southern British Columbia, look at these parking spots. That’s right, you can fit my truck in it twice. This is what parking spots were meant to look like.

Tomorrow we’ll be in Ontario! We’re over 5,500 km in now! And I’m plotting a route in Ontario that is going to keep us busy for awhile! Stay tuned!

Good night!