I'm in Gimli now, and no, I did not just get eaten by the dwarf! (I think only Lord of the Rings fans will get this joke!)

Anyways, after posting my last RR, I walked back outside to find the heat just blasting me!


Just to show how warm it was, the asphalt was melting!

I headed to Duck Mountain, and hit the dirt fairly soon


It was real easy riding though, nice and solid with not much gravel.
All in all I found the road not too impressive, I had hoped to see more hills and such, but other than a slow incline at times I did not realize I was on a mountain.
The area definitely draws a lot of locals in the summer. There was a huge campground with swimming area in the lake, a playground and such, even a boat ramp.



I didn't stay long as I just wasn't feeling it.
The road through Duck Mountain PP was rather short, and before I knew it I had gone through it.
The last 10 miles or so were freshly grated! I discovered that a certain speed lets you go through that stuff without too much wobble, so I kept plowing on. I've got to get better at riding it!!
One of these days I'd like to ride the Himalayas, and that's really gnarly roads, so I'd better toughen up!!

I stopped at a small gas station on my way east (I think it was in Dauphin) where I got some gas and batteries. I got a shock to find out that in Manitoba the tax is 13% The owner of the gas station, and Indian feller, felt sorry for me, and gave me the batteries for free! Awwwww. We had been talking for a while about my trip and where I was going, and he figured I had to be low on funds.

I kept riding for a while but it was getting darker.
All of a sudden in the corner of my eye, I saw a little gravel road going up and disappearing. I made a quick U-ey and rode up it. It was a gravel pit, or should I say gravel mountain!
I kept riding on the grass around the mountain of gravel and behind it was the perfect camping spot!!



There was a little broken down storage shed or so behind it, with some odds and ends furniture strewn all over the place.
Left and right of the grassy field where barbed wire fences with cows behind them. I felt really safe there so I pitched my tent in the high grass, which is quite a feat really!
I loved my little spot!

I fell asleep in no time and slept really well.
The nice thing about having no time frame is that I can do whatever I want to do, and I didn't want to pack up and move again, so I stayed. Not having shade is a bit of a drag, but that day was really windy, so I sat outside most of the day (and got sunburned) and relaxed.

As I am rather trigger-happy as far as the camera is concerned and decided to snoop around and see what I could find that might be picture worthy.
It's amazing the wealth of beauty one can find in a wild grassy field!















It's funny how I am so used to seeing things at large, but really looking into the little things in life, the things not seen unless really looking, those things are just as amazing as the highest mountain tops and the biggest lakes.
There is so much beauty in the small things, not only that, but every little thing, be it a bug or a small flower, it feels as if I've discovered something never seen by anyone else. Which is both true and silly. Of course people have seen a grasshopper or a nettle flower, but it is also true that nobody will have seen that particular one!
So I really enjoy looking at the world up close, as well as from far away.

I spend a really blissful day there and was ready for another day on the road the next morning when I woke up.
It was drizzling a little so I took my time packing. After a little while the tent dried (there was lots of wind) and the sun came out.
Once back on the road I headed East again. I needed a shower (baby wipes help, but not where your hair is concerned).


As I was riding through Manitoba Narrows, I saw a touristy spot with a store and a huge camping area.
I stopped in the store and asked the guy there if there was a laundromat, and the owner of the store let me use the one in the camp ground.
The washing machine was only a loony and a half!!! Awesome, but best of all, there was a shower in the ladies bathroom!!
And not a coin one, just a normal shower. Yippee!!! I tossed my dirty clothes in the machine and took a nice leisurely shower!! Once clean I scrubbed my jacket, as it was no longer high vis yellow!!!
I spent a long time there, as the dryer did not work too del, and required more coins than the washing machine did.
Still at around 5 my jacket, mu clothes and I were clean!
I had also purchased a bunch of snacks at the store while waiting, so that way I felt I gave them at least some of my money
I hit the road again and was aiming for lake Winnepeg.

As I got to the lake I realized that this might not have been a bright idea. This was a very touristy and populated area!
I went on some dirt roads leading to the lake, but there were no camping signs everywhere!
At one spot I stopped to take a picture, it was beautiful there



I walked through the grass to take another shot, and got assaulted by bugs!!!

I closed my helmet really quickly as I didn't want them in my face.
You can imagine how fast I got out of there!!

I stopped at one camp ground, but it was expensive and too crowded. I didn't realize that it was Friday…..
As I kept going south on 222 toward Gimli I noticed another sign saying Camp Morton Provincial park.
Turns out that the office was back 2 km, and already closed as it was late.
I stopped to ask someone how much the camp ground was, and was told $17. I decided to just stay there.
But now I faced the question where to stay, as the list of sites still available was from the day before.

I got really lucky then, as campsites 9-12 were already taken by a big family gathering, but 9 was still empty as those friends never made it. I was offered to take their spot!
That was so sweet.
Kate made a run to Sobeys and asked if anyone needed something.
I asked if she could pick me up some tofu, and handed her some money.


I pitched my tent and made some dinner.


Fran is the gal who offered the spot to me (in orange shirt), and Kate is the young girl to the left.
Later on we all played a dominoes game (involving trains) It was cool, and I won the second game (beginners luck I guess).


Thousands of dragon flies hovering in the night sky


close up of a bug, the same kind that were on my helmet earlier. Fran told me they only live 24 hrs and don't have a mouth!
Now what would the purpose of their lives be? To live and not eat? Are they only some other bugs food? Very odd!

I went to bed around 11 but had a tough time ring to sleep as a girl started screaming at the top of her lungs, and her dad was cussing at her telling her to stop.
Then he hopped in the truck and left!!!! She screamed even louder for about half an hour. I felt like calling the cops, but had no cell phone reception. She fell asleep after a while, and the dad returned.
I think she was mentally challenged, as her sounds were high pitched and didn't sound like a language at all, as if she couldn't talk.
Still, what a way for a dad to react to a situation like that! (I am guessing it was a dad, if it was a nurse or so, or camp leader, well, I'd have his ass fired!!!)
After she quieted down (it was midnight by then, some campers showed up and pitched their tent next to mine, making a lot of noise and then decided to make a fire and drink. :confused1:
I put some earplugs in and went to sleep!

Today I decided to go into town and find some internet.
I headed to Gimli (which is really a touristy place) and took a bunch of pictures.






This one was definitely my favorite!

There was a little tent site with booths selling all kinds of stuff
This one made me laugh!!!



Hopefully tonight will be quieter, and tomorrow I'm heading to Sellkirk, as I have been told it has a health food store.
Afterward Ontario!!
Yep I am getting closer to Labrador!!