Day 23 – Deleau – Winnipeg – Selkirk – Sand Dunes, Missing motels and free camping
Gas Bought: 12.158L @ $1.195 = $14.63
Km’s traveled: 390.4km
Overall average: 26.8km/hr
Moving average: 43.8km/hr
Total time: 14hr 33min
Moving time: 8hr 54min
Stopped: 5hr 39min
Today while driving this morning, I finally broke into song singing 99 bottles of beer on the wall. The day started out slow, I came into a little town I can’t remember the name of, but they had a Subway which I stopped at for a quick morning bite. After my second breakfast, I continued on highway 2 towards Wawanesa.
Stopping just outside Wawanesa after a bridge, I could see all the damage from the spring flood.
While I was taking some photos of the damage, I ended up meeting a guy from the area, who was quite impressed with the trip. And told me a bit about the area and some things to see and do like a desert with sand dunes, a town called Holland and Wawanesa. We were soon greeted by a service truck informing us that there was a house coming down the road and they would need the whole road if we could kinda move within 2 minuets.
Saying goodbye to one another, we both made a quick exit. After the house passed and taking the guys advice I decided to head into Wawanesa to check out that small town and ended up grabbing a burger and ice-cream.
Leaving Wawanesa, continuing to head east on highway 2, I would end up coming across one more house being moved as well as four silos. For a total of 2 houses and 4 silos in a 87km stretch.
Where I missed the sand dunes when I was in Alberta I wouldn’t be missing these ones in southern Manitoba. As I was approaching highway 5, I could see a large approximately 10ft high Camel on the side of the highway. Here is the first clue of a desert in Manitoba.
Following the camel’s directions, I headed north on highway 5 about 10km’s before I finally came across the entrance to the dunes. I parked the bike and had to walk a good 20minuets or so before arriving at the dunes. When you first start out on the trail you will be kindly greeted by this sign…
“Danger”
“Former National Defence Range – Millitary explosives and hazardous debris on this site may cause death or serious injury. Do not touch suspicious objects. Call 911” For more information contact: www.UXOCanada.forces.gc.ca – 1-800-207-0599
Thats always a nice welcoming sign to read. Anyways continuing on I finally made it to the dunes but had to find my own way up, as the stairs were a little covered…
While at the top I was surprised to see a bunch of little yellow flowers resembling mini sunflowers.
After the Dunes, I was off to Holland. Couldn’t stand Canada anymore so I just scootered all the way to Holland
Realizing I couldn’t stay, where it just wasn’t my cup of tea, and I didn’t want to end up having to wear wooden shoes, I was off. Taking highway 2 right into Winnipeg I didn’t arrive till around 8pm, not wanting to stay in Winnipeg for the night I continued, I did what I needed to do in the city then was back on the road.
Leaving Winnipeg I tried to find a motel for the night. I was following the GPS for the only motel around when I found out it wasn’t there, there was nothing there, spose to be a motel according to GPS but it was just woods. Great. Not being able to find a place to camp or a motel, I was driving around when I finally came across a community center where there were 2 people out talking, I pulled in to ask them if they knew of any place I could came or a motel around. Finding out there was a campground two towns west about 10 minuets away in Selkirk. I thanked them and was off.
I never arrived into Selkirk till close to 11pm, Finally finding the park, I was able to get in and setup my tent for the night.
