We’ve just returned from a week with my dad at Lake Manitoba. It’s about 2 hours north west of Winnipeg (see google maps on the sidebar) next to the Narrows Resort. The cabin was beautiful, situated right on the water with ample grassed area for Moose to race his Uncle Beeg (Alex) every day.
Unfortunately we were not treated to any of the famed summer weather Winnipeg has had recently. Highs in the low 20’s to mid teens with wind warnings hampered efforts to get into the canoe. We did manage to go for a quick swim which was followed by jumping into the hot tub. This is the third year running I’ve brought Hanika to Canada to experience “unseasonably cold weather”. Last year there was snow in September. The year before there was snow for Halloween. I’m beginning to think my memories of warm summers are just figments of my imagination.
Luckily we had the resort next door to kill sometime in. It comprised a small convenience store with all the essentials, a Chester’s Fried Chicken bain-marie, a lounge with the mandatory VLTs and pool table and a restaurant. We had a couple of meals in the lounge which permitted children until 9pm. I see a bright future as a pool shark for Moose.
We went to Ashern for a grocery run one day. It’s a town of just over 500 people but services a busy highway and surrounding communities. We were able to find food and even a puzzle. Dad and I proudly finished the 500 piece puzzle in two days. At our low points we routinely blamed the manufacturer for pieces that must have been missing.
Despite not introducing Moose to canoeing he did manage to have his first bonfire. The Haiarts are famed woodsmen. Armed with a forrest worth of paper and cardboard, some wet branches and overpriced logs we managed a half decent fire. I masterfully whittled a branch into a marshmallow stick using a blunt steak knife. Moose was thoroughly unimpressed with my roasting skills and complained they were too burnt. He did delight in simply eating raw marshmallows off the stick though, so not a total failure of an experience.
Despite the weather it was a relaxing week with some beautiful Manitoba scenery.