Monday, 2 August 2021 was a holiday here in the Province of Saskatchewan. We had a bit of a sleep in. I didn't have the greatest sleep, so it was late morning by the time I dragged my ass out of bed and got out for a ride...
I ended up doing a 42Km ride Southwest of town.
There are a LOT of forest fires in Saskatchewan right now - indeed all across Western Canada. Wind from the north has been bringing it all the way down to us - hundreds of kilometres away!
Cows.
Black-Eyed Susans along the side of the road.
What a terrible name for a flower...
Little "Summer Road" section of Township Road 360.
Another "Summer Road" section of Range Road 3065. Some of this section would be pure mud - or even underwater if there were a lot of rain. Also further up the road there is a very loose section of sand and silt. Not so bad that I've ever had to walk it, or anything. But it's a bit squirrely riding through at times. Still, I like these summer roads. the feel a bit more "off the beaten path" and there is NEVER any traffic on them.
More Cow.
The Salsa - laid down by the side of the road so I could climb up and get a better shot of the cows.
Lots of little wild roses all along the edges of the roads.
Long roads. Distant haze.
Hawk, of some sort...
MORE cow.
STILL more cow.
it's the beginning of August and some fields are golden and dried out looking like they are ready for harvesting.
Others, just across the road are looking a little green - though also very dry. There has NOT been a lot of rain this summer!
SON OF STILL MORE COW!
Heading into Cedar Villa Estates - I was struck by the contrast of the fields on either side of the river.
Nearing the Chappell Marsh Conservation Area. The water level of the marsh north the road is quite low - but there is still water there.
The wetland in the Chappell Marsh Conservation Area was completely dried up!? No birds in sight!
Power Lines. Golden Fields. Haze.
This past week, progress has been made on the street in front of our house. The giant block-long trench has finally been filled in - but most of the street is still blocked off by fencing...
So we still have to go out the back with our Kayaks.
Because 42Km of riding wasn't ENOUGH activity for one day of vacation, Amanda and I went out for a paddle in the mid-late afternoon
It was likewise very smokey and muted out on the river.
There was hardly any wind at all and the river was so smooth!
We didn't see a single motor-powered vessel the entire trip, which was nice for a change!
Amanda approaching pelican who was chilling on a sandbar in the middle of the river.
Pelican again.
There were just swarms of stand-up paddle-boarders.
Every woman we saw on one was wearing a bikini - made me wonder if there was a more stringent dress code for operating them than an Olympic event? Also about a half-dozen of the boards we saw had a dog on them. Every single one of those was also operated by a woman - even when they were out paddling with a male partner - which was about four of them.
Made it to the south bridge this time. (last time we stopped just short of the bridges).
Cool reflections
Distant haze.
After a short stop on a sandbar in the middle of the river for a drink we started back downtown.
Amanda, adding a bit of colour to an otherwise muted grey/brown landscape.
And the pelican again!
Selfie Fail #1
Selfie Fail #2
Probably for the best. Who wants to see a picture of ME!?
So we can just float back, right?
Lots of geese by the water treatment plant.
heading back home, dodging road construction vehicles and piles of dirt and gravel.
And into the alley behind our house.
In all we paddled just shy of 6Km.
Not the worst of Mondays. I was pretty tired by the end of it.
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