TDC Revisited Day 3

Esterhazy to Winnipeg

Welcome to Day 3 of my retracing the route across Canada that I cycled, as part of Tour du Canada (TdC) in 2013. For any readers who would like to read my original posts for the legs of today’s journey, please check out:

• Esterhazy to Binscarth
• Binscarth to Minnedosa
• Minnedosa to Portage La Prairie
• Portage La Prairie to Winnipeg

Just after we left Esterhazy this morning, we drove past a potash mine. Of course I had to stop and take a photo, because, Esterhazy is the potash capital!

Before long we entered Manitoba. As we travelled into and out of the Assiniboine River valley, the road was very rough with sections that were under repair. I believe that the roads had been affected by flooding earlier this year. Even so, the valley itself is beautiful and I’m glad the road was open.

We drove through the town of Binscarth and past the campground that I stayed in 13 years ago. In Birtle I noticed that the coffee shop that we stopped at in 2013 was still open and pretty much looked unchanged, at least from the street.

As we drive past the fields, I am constantly reminded that we are still on the Prairies.

The real gem of the day, though, was the park in Shoal Lake! I had noticed the park in 2013 as we rode past and I stopped to take a photo of it (refer back to the Binscarth to Minnedosa post). At the time it looked quite nice. In the past 13 years they have turned the park into something the town should be truly proud of! Paved walking paths wind through the park past numerous benches, a lake and a bridge over a creek. The park is truly gorgeous! It is such a gem that I will post a little gallery of photos here in its honor.

In Minnedosa, I found the campground we stayed in on the Tour. In fact I think I pretty much found the area that we pitched our tents in, although I couldn’t be 100% sure, but close enough. The area has really changed with the development of a water park. It looked like a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon. Alas, we could not linger.

On the way out of town, I photographed the town hall and the courthouse. In 2013, I photographed the town hall but for some reason missed the courthouse. Both are very distinguished looking buildings.

As we continued on to Portage La Prairie, we passed fields of sunflowers. Unfortunately, other than the odd blossum, they were not yet in bloom.

From Portage it was on to Winnipeg for the night. Tomorrow we enter Northern Ontario.