# 8 Battlefords to Saskatoon

#8  Battlefords to Saskatoon

We woke to a bright sunny day and NO wind. Go figure….it is moving day.  We head southeast on TC-16 to Saskatoon.

The landscape remains the same: Miles of straight roads and never-ending fields.  A man we met along the way asked why we were going to Saskatchewan.  He said this is where you can sit on your porch in a rocking chair and watch your dog run away for a week!

Still fascinated by the size of the farming equipment. We have seen farm equipment across the plain states too, but it didn't seem as big and arrayed in such large quantities.  Even in the little towns!

We did spot this nest along the way.

At one point, a healthy beige coyote sprang from the median and crossed our two eastbound lanes. Was I quick enough to get a photo…NO.

As the straight highway leads us across the land, we suddenly notice a really nice bridge off to the side of the road.  Our first thought is a bridge to nowhere!  As we pass by it I can see a dirt road crossing the bridge, perhaps leading to someone’s home. The fact that no bridge structure stood on the highway made it an odd sight on the prairie.

 

      

Our Saskatoon destination ended at Campland RV Resort just 5 miles west of Saskatoon down a dirt road. The owners created a park that they would like to visit.  The park is well thought out. Thick pads of grass separate each site.  Amentias include a nice pool, laundry and store.  Unlike some RVers, we do read the rules of each place we stay. 

The owners fiercely protect their grass. The first rule: Driving or parking on the grass will result in an immediate charge of $250 against your credit card. Repeat offenders will be charged for each additional offence.   Apparently water lines are below the sod, so tents, mats, extensions off the RV are not allowed.   Another rule we found fascinating:  Please clean up all the sunflower seeds from campsite. Do not drop seeds on grass area.   Do you think they had a problem with seeds?

Even when traveling chores need to be done! Before we fully set up, Derrille vacuumed, I cleaned bathrooms and mopped floors.  Then we headed for town to find a laundromat.  It took us two tries to find one we liked.  It was pricey!   Washing machines took $4 per load. Dryers needed a quarter for every 5 minutes, and they weren’t real hot.  Laundry cost us $37!  We have paid that in the states sometimes, but not often.

We dined at Boston Pizza on pasta. The portions were more than generous, so we had enough for two meals.

With the sun still high in the sky we decided to drive through downtown Saskatoon.  With a population of about 246,000, Saskatoon is the largest city in all of Saskatchewan. It sits on the banks of the Saskatchewan River.  Opposite of the mostly one storied buildings in Battleford, large multi-storied buildings shout you are in the big city now!

Modern architecture blends with old stately buildings.  The modern structures of glass and steel sit next to stone carved buildings of yesterday.

Several beautiful parks along the river invite people to come in and sit awhile. The serenity of the parks could be felt as we passed by. At one part, a crowd of people gathered on the hill to hear a concert being conducted from the river bank.  A steamboat tour vessel passed lazily by.

We followed the road by the river and found old churches, large hotels and parks along the river.

By accident we crossed the river and found ourselves close to the University of Saskatchewan, so we drove through it.  Like downtown the campus mixes traditional buildings with the new ones.

On the east side of campus a large barn sprawls across the land. Cows graze in the pasture out front. Experimental seed plots sit beyond the cows.

Agricultural buildings cover a good dead of the area. Another large section is delegated to veterinary sciences. 

Innovations and research claim their areas too.  Of course a large medical center sits on campus. The schools of Education, Law and Engineering look like most other campuses.

 Several old churches seem to have been re-purposed from a place of worship to a college of some kind associated with the university.

We enjoyed our drive about and headed home.

Another enjoyable day!