# 10 Saskatoon Boat Ride

#10  Saskatoon Boat Ride  6/6/18

The Prairie Lily steamboat ride down the Saskatchewan River gave us a relaxing, enjoyable hour on the water.  It may rank a high on the memorable events this trip. 

We had a chuckle over this box of Time Horton’s on the bar.

This comes equipped with a bar! 

We choose to sit upstairs.

The tour balanced the information part of the tour with time to just enjoy the ride.  The University of Saskatchewan sits on 13,000 acres of land on the bluff above the east side of the river.  It holds international recognition in leading research especially in cancer research and nuclear medicine. 

The city of Saskatoon sits on the west side of the river. The riverbanks hold a variety of beautiful parks.  One has a veterans memorial gazebo. We saw it yesterday from the other side.

Another park displays a pagoda.  Sculptures stand not only in the parks but throughout town.

These tents house their Shakespearean Theater

Five churches and several big hotels are positioned across the street from parks.

 One very distinctive hotel, the Delta Hotels by Marriott Bessborough, stands out in the Saskatoon skyline.  The Canadian National Railway built between 1928 and 1932 in the Chateau-style, as were many of the railroad-built hotels.  This style often has gargoyles; grotesquely carved human or animal features around the eaves.  However, the “Bess” as the hotel is locally called, has beautiful carved animals native to Saskatchewan on its eaves.

Originally a ferry connected the east and west sides of town. Today several bridges handle the city traffic.  The Broadway Bridge was built during the depression to employ men who no longer had jobs. The men worked for twenty-five cents per hour.  Once they earned $35, they were laid off to allow others to work too.

The Commuter Bridge replaced the ferry landing. The first bridge only accommodated cars. When that bridge was replaced the design included both vehicle and walking lanes.  The CPR, Canadian Pacific Railway also built bridges: some for trains, some for cars.  I think they built the one dedicated to Gordie Howe the hockey player.

The university bridge connecting the city to the university was built in 2007.

Canadian people use their parks and trails.  The walk, run, jog, ride bikes or find a spot to just sit and enjoy. 

Farther up river we passed the Saskatoon Rowing boathouse. Some people were out in kayaks or racing shells. The rowing club practices here.  Jet skis and motorboats also enjoy the water.

These people were just sitting by the riverbank watching whatever went by.

Check out this boat house!

On the east river bank we passed what is called Spadina Crescent East.  Early rich settlers claimed lost these prime parcels of land from the bluff clear down to the river’s edge.  When the government was established they ruled no one could own along the river bank. The river belongs to everyone.  Except this land was owned and developed before the government ruling.  Today the original homes have been replaced with multi-million dollar homes.  The lots sit on well-manicured landscaped properties. 

 City trails crisscross the city. One trail passes between the boat parking lot and the dock. As we waited for departure time, many people entered and exited the trail here. We saw walkers, runners, and bikers.  Both young people and seniors enjoy the trails.  As trail users approach this entry point they see the trail ahead is blocked off for repair.  Riders saw the road block and just turned up the grass covered hill to the street without even slowing down.  Something I couldn’t do!

What a lovely relaxing day!