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Alexandra Palcic & David MacDonald
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Alexandra Palcic & David MacDonald
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Alexandra Palcic & David MacDonald
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Alexandra Palcic & David MacDonald
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Alexandra Palcic & David MacDonald
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Alexandra Palcic & David MacDonald
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Alexandra Palcic & David MacDonald
Story & photos by Alexandra Palcic & David MacDonald
"We need to GO somewhere this long weekend" suggested Dave out loud, and I wholeheartedly agreed, as I added ”Not too far, but far enough away to make it a trip."
A little bit nervous and a whole lot excited would best describe us. We’d just picked up our brand new MoHo (Motor Home), a Leisure Travel Vans Unity IB, and were still in the testing (and learning) all systems phase. For the full juicy details on how we got to be here, you can link up to our story "Build It, We Will Come".
We'd spent the last week making our new 25 feet of space feel like home, purchasing bed sheets, pillows, carpets, pots, pans and Corelle dishes. Always planning ahead though, we’d spent the last few months ordering some items online and having them shipped direct. The Napoleon BBQ was, fortuitously enough, on sale at Canadian Tire when we went looking. Back at home, it stored quite smartly in the exterior drivers side compartment, along with the quick connect hoses to the in-house propane system.
We pored over our new maps and apps when suddenly our fingers came to rest on - Spruce Woods Provincial Park!
"Just a few hours away from Winkler..."
"Perfect."
"Let's hit the road…"
"Or, Frapper la Rue..." we laughed, in broken Frenglish.
For the next few hours we got acquainted with our new 25-feet-on-six-wheels, tucked comfortably in our seats, and thrilled with our great all around view. Everything was solid and silent as we hit a few road bumps. It did take a few tries to figure out the navigation system but once we did it was easy to use, although sadly but understandably, not adjustable while driving. Just a minor hiccup, and before long the radio was belting out some good ole driving tunes.
Registration at the Kiche Manitou Campground office was quick, and armed with our campsite information we went looking for our numbered lot, with one quick side swerve to eyeball the dump facilities and pick up some free firewood.
“There it is... “ I pointed to Dave, and ever vigilant of the overhead branches that might scratch our solar panels if we got too close, he slowly backed into our lot. Thanks to our iPhone, we had a leveling app that made sure we were sitting balanced.
There was a small walking path just behind our lot, which snaked around a winding rivulet and I looked forward to stretching my legs.
We powered out the canopy for some shade, laid out our carpet so we wouldn't track dreaded sand or leaves inside, unfolded and feng-shui'd our chairs, and opened windows to let the breezes through. Voila, park and play!
I was just coming out with two refreshing cold drinks in hand when Dave came around the corner and asked “Is it arrival beer time?” We sat down in our chairs with a satisfied sigh of smiles, we cheered and a toasted.
The next morning, armed with water, lunch and the park map, we headed out for an exploratory hike. The shade of the trees made for an enjoyable start, but soon the overhead canopy of green disappeared and the sun got more intense.
It was getting slightly more difficult to walk as the brown dirt beneath was giving way, and wait, what? All of a sudden we were walking on sand. A seemingly never ending landscape of shifting mounds of... sand. Sand as far as the eye could see. We'd stumbled into a desert, but here? In the prairies of Manitoba?
They call this place the Spirit Sands. Long ago, the First Nations tribes believed that sand was one of the first elements of creation. They believed that being close to sand brought them closer to Kiche Manitou, their Great Spirit. Here in the sand dunes of Manitoba they searched for visions that would guide them. This was a place where fighting was forbidden, and where rituals were performed.
After lunch, we continued on, and the sand beneath our feet hardened to grass as we reached what we thought to be a mirage. The sign read: The Devil’s Punch Bowl.
Underground streams have eroded and collapsed the hills to form a bowl shaped depression, which holds an eerie lake of clay silted water. The afternoon sun cast shades of blue and green across its mirrored surface. Another natural wonder, and time to head back.
We relaxed that evening next to the crackling fire, the burning logs giving way to sizzling red embers, which slowly faded to ash. A peaceful silence enveloped us like a cozy blanket, and it wasn't long before that our yawning faces were lit by the rising full moon. Time to lock up and settle into our large and comfortable bed, with only the silence of the twinkling stars left to lullaby us to sleep.