THE EXPEDITION CHAPTER 20: The City, the Caribbean, Mexico, the Amazon, and the Northern Coniferous

In which Ann almost makes it to the east side of Manitoba before intervention is needed again…

Date: August 11, 2019

Wild Oaks Campground to Prawda 50 km

Much of that highway is divided. The two narrow roads are separated and framed by conifer forest and undergrowth. It used to feel remote, and it’s still beautiful, and still feels a little wild.

There were so many dead animals by the road though, all sorts. Large cats, spotted and striped… a hawk… something too big to be a coyote… and there still was never a vehicle-free moment.

But we were visited by one of the very much living locals – a few hundred yards ahead, a very young moose wobbled out of the woods wondering about the world. The mother had to be near, and would come collect her stray child soon enough, and wouldn’t take kindly to strangers, so I quietly backed up the caravan even farther. Sure enough, in less than a minute, the errant wobbly one was being herded back to safe, supervised foraging grounds, and sure enough, the mother did check around. She looked at us for a few moments, but apparently decided we were small and slow-looking and didn’t seem interested in trouble, so she nodded, and kept going.

Thank goodness that didn’t happen a few minutes later, when I could no longer be quiet, because the bar holding the trailer to the hitch finally had enough of carrying a few times more than what it was built to. It bent, and there was no way to keep it from scraping along the gravelly ground. I couldn’t have been quiet if our lives depended on it. I suppose the annoying noise kept the animals away though, because none bothered us.

We scraped along for a while, resigned to a long slow road ahead, till the only home we saw all day popped out of the woods; a neat farmhouse tucked into the trees. The very sweet older couple who live there tried to figure out some sort of temporary fix, or think of someone who might be able to help, but were at a loss. Ecogypsy activists in the middle of nowhere with broken-down dog trailers aren’t something most folks happen to be prepared for. They were pretty sure I’d find help when I reached the two big gas stations in Prawda, though.

The 50 kilometers from Wild Oaks to Prawda had felt do-able in light of the shorter day before. There wasn’t anywhere to stop sooner anyways, and the dragging trailer made it all the more important to get there. Eventually, we did. It was getting dark, we were tired and hungry because I hadn’t wanted to lose time stopping to rest and eat, and the place was too busy to be able to talk to the manager about pitching the tent – and about possible trailer repair folks. A couple of the staff did let him know, and told me to find a table in the restaurant there, order something to eat (he’d passed on a message that I not be billed for dinner) and get comfortable. So we did.

He did have a bit of time later, and after hearing me out, gave me permission to camp, pointing out where. He said he’d think about the trailer problem and get back to me, and that I should find him first thing in the morning.

I collected our things and set up camp on the far side of the greenspace, as requested. A belt of all thick trees sheltered us, and we were far enough from the all-night business for a good piece of peace. Between the managers reassurance, the meal, and the grueling walk, Mr Myrtle and I slept soundly that night.

Date: August 12 2019

Before first thing in the morning, I’d already packed everything up. By first thing in the morning, I’d even turned into a person, and went into the restaurant looking for the manager. He’d apparently called saying he’d be an hour or so late. I was to have breakfast.

It turned out he’d been up ridiculously late after finishing work (which was late enough itself) trying to find anyone within a radius of about 50 kilometers who could fix the trailer. He’d gotten up early to continue that, but hadn’t found anyone.

He had decided I should make a big sign – he’d get someone to find me something to make it on and with – and find a ride. Everyone stops here for food and gas, either beginning the NWO stretch or coming out of it. Being such a busy place, I’d find a ride in no time. If need be, I could pitch the tent again for another night or two, but he doubted I’d need to.

Somehow, he manged to help look for a ride too, while working. People came looking for me to talk even if they couldn’t take us anywhere, and helped other ways, and I met so many good people that day. Some, I’m even still in touch with. That afternoon, a lovely First Nations gentleman offered us a lift to Kenora, where there was a good bike shop.

#moose #Prawda #WalktoWakentheNationexpeditionbook