Our last three days have been driving through some of the biggest fields we’ve even seen. Saskatchewan farmers have huge fields and the implement dealers who supply them are gigantic! Field upon fields of grain or fallow were all we saw for miles. We found Moose Mountain Provincial Park for camp on Wednesday. It was HUGE. Then, starting on Thursday we came face to face with the climate debate. We saw THOUSANDS of pickups and 18 wheelers as well as miles of pipe being laid with the multitudes of oil or gas wells operating. Just as we had experienced in Alaska regarding the gold rush, the Bakkan oil/gas rush has brought 10s of thousands of folks up here. So, the oil/gas rush is obviously a big economic boon to the area, but will it last and will it have a positive or negative effect on the environment up here. We saw many businesses linked to the boom, but didn’t see a lot of evidence that the local farmers/ranchers were benefiting. No new pickups or home improvements at the ranches we passed. There are, literally, areas as big as the gold rush towns popping up all over to house workers and/or store equipment. We also wonder if, just like the gold rush, if the billions of dollars of equipment would be left in the fields to rust away as the gold miners did or if it will all be carted away when they are finished with it. Then, we were blessed with a campsite in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We had wanted to stay there on our way out, but it was snowing; so, we took a different route! Seeing Teddy’s cabin as it was in 1884 was a real treat.
We’ve had a tremendous experience this past month and a half. We hope you’ve enjoyed following along. Ken has a thousand pictures that he has to peruse and Bonnie’s iPhone is almost full, as well. Her journaling each night will help to keep track of all of it.
Thanks for the opportunity to share an opportunity of a lifetime!
As Always, Ken/Bonnie
We have loved following along. It will be good to have you back home, so glad your adventure was awesome! Carol
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