Coming up for air

Yikes! It's been awhile since I've posted to this site. It's turned out to be a very busy summer. Ah, the life of being self-employed....

A few weeks ago, I got an assignment that took me north of the Battlefords. I figured the drive would make a good opportunity to grab some snapshots of various sights and attractions along the first three days of the GASP 2009 route, instead of staring blankly at Highway 16 for an hour and a half each way.

Here are some of the highlights of that trip.

A little ways out of Saskatoon, a few kilometres west of the Grandora turnoff, GASPers will come across services at Sandy Ridge. There's a gas station with snacks and plenty of shade. (Sorry, no photos of this one.)

Asquith

A couple of hours into the ride (42 km), Asquith may not look like much from the highway, but take a moment to cruise into town for a snack. There's a nice, historical general store downtown, along with a grocery store and cowboy-themed restaurant. Plus, there's a quiet park where you can enjoy your snack.


Biggar

OK, I can't resist: New York is big, but this is Biggar. The town was really bustling when I got there. The campground is southwest of town. Head south of town on highway 4, across the tracks and past the highway 51 turnoff. It sounds like a long ways, but it's just outside the town. The motels are at the northeast end of town. Restaurants are downtown, plus a big one next to the motel near the entrance to town. The museum, downtown, has much to offer. The railway roundhouse is very close to the campground.


Landis

Landis, a little less than two hours (38 km) from Biggar on day two, makes a nice pit stop. There's a store and a restaurant, plus some shady places to rest.



Wilkie

I stopped for lunch at the Blue Moon Restaurant, but there are a couple of other restaurants in town, too. The campground is in the regional park, just west of downtown, and there's a municipal swimming pool just across the road from there. Let's hope for hot, hot weather that day (although maybe the farmers won't be wishing for the same).

Battleford

I found this wonderful ice cream stand, the Ice Cream Oasis, in Battleford, just down the street from a remarkable restaurant, My Friend's Place, that featured Middle Eastern fare. I have fond memories of Pennydale Junction, too, another restaurant close to the campground. I first stopped at that restaurant on my way to visit friends in Edmonton shortly after moving to Saskatchewan in the early 1980s. I was surprised to hear CiTR playing on the sound system. Having been active in the development and expansion of that radio station, I knew that cable carriers were making it available with their packages, but I had no idea it was making it this far east. The restaurant was a laid back, casual, kind of folksy place in those days. It's very upscale and posh now, a great place for either fine dining or a simple hamburger, but it no longer plays CiTR.

GASPers staying at the motel will find that there's a really scenic route from Battleford to North Battleford, via Finlayson Island. The historic bridges were closed to motorized traffic a few years ago, but remain open for pedestrians and cyclists. Taking those bridges, instead of going way out to the main highway, is a much shorter route to the motels, plus it's more scenic. The Fred Light Museum, near the campground and close to the route over to the motel, is worth a visit. Fort Battleford National Historic Site is right next to the campground. Don't forget that the National Parks people are doing an historical re-enactment of the Siege of Battleford, firing off the cannon for the event. It's something you won't want to miss.

Scenery

The Battle River valley, between Wilkie and Battleford is one of main reasons that we've taken the tour route where we did. There's some spectacular views and much of the trip involves meandering through the rolling valley. It comes at you by surprise, after cycling along flat prairie out of Wilkie. Maybe bring a few carrots or an apple for the very friendly horses.