total km: 2713.4
Due to the campground being 7km outside of town, the distance from Portage to Winnipeg was only 60km! We were so stoked, it was a great short day for us. Even with no tailwind we would be in winnipeg in about 3 -4 hours (with breaks) post departure.
Halfway in hunger started acting up, and we stopped for lunch in Elie, a tiny town where the active CN and ViaRail lines cross the main street. As we ate our ham and cheese sandwhichs (yes we bought more, and remembered our ham this time) about a 1/2 block from the tracks, we watched the trains just come flying through town! So far we have not been closer than a few km from the train and just watch them from the road. But when you are that close to them you realize just how fast they go and how much damage they could do.
Elie is a little bit bigger than Austin, maybe by a block or so, and the people are also pretty cool. It’s one of those places where we think that everyone really does know everyone. It’s always in the small towns that we get a lot of gawking looks, especially when the towns have Tim Hortons full of seniors (not that Elie is big enough to have a Tim Hortons). Those guys really know how to stare unabashedly.
A beautiful "outhouse" stop just outside of Austin:
When we reached the 60km marker, we remembered that Winnipeg is not like the other Elies or Austins of the prairies, but is actually huge. We had only reached the outskirts. It took us another 15km just to get into town to a McDonalds where we asked where the known campground in the city was. The manager didn’t know, but sent us to the Legislative Buildings where there is tourist information.
The Legislative Buildings sit grandly atop the cliffs over the Assiniboine River, and are just stunning. Turning onto the beautiful tree and grass lined Memorial Avenue you see and approach them from about 1km away and are just blown away by their grandeur and beauty.
We found out that the closest campground was actually a 20-30 minute drive southwest of downtown. Needless to say we went for the centrally located “Downtowner.” It’s a hotel that was recently purchased by Hostel International Winnipeg. And since they haven’t turned the top floor into dorms yet. We get our own fully furnished, private, with bathroom/view/houskept room for the same price as a room with none of these amenities at the real hostel.
B&K
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