Day 1- August 10, 2013

Saskatoon, SK to Melfort, SK. 310km

In the land of DUST!  (Ie lots of gravel roads in this Provence)

After waiting for 40 minutes at Saskatoon airport for my baggage (looks like they can only handle one plane at a time) I was off for a few days of exploring the Northern part of Saskatchewan, or North of 50degrees.

This trip is again being totally ad hock, other than tonight's motel reservation I can't tell you where I will be tomorrow, and there is a great deal of latitude when the trip is more fluid, as well all of this is part of a greater plan for two major motorcycle trips one in 2014 and one in 2015.  So this is good practice.

So back today, I am still researching Pinetree Line Radar sites in Canada, there are three in Saskatchewan.  Today I went to CFS Dana, it is about 100km East of Saskatoon, sits up on a hill in the middle of a buffalo ranch.  This has to be one of the largest sites in Canada, this is what is still on the site, maybe not in mint condition, but the buildings are there no broken windows no graffiti.  When this was built they must not have had local electricity as they have 4 Diesel engines in place to generate power, a church, a community centre, a school and of course a lot of housing for the personal.  At the the entrance was a guard house with a fully operational 2 cell jail, the big brass and steel locks are in place.

CFS Dana, SK. Radar tower

Guard House and 2 Cells

The radar tower is a 3 story building, which you can see from a distance, and the whole place is impressive.  

Power Station Diesel Generated 

After Dana it was time to explore some abandoned towns, first one was Meecham with its former Sask Pool elevator and the next was  Peterson.  What was unique at Peterson was the abandoned Greek 

Orthodox Church, that was a shame, but interesting none the less.

Reilly in front of the abandoned Church, he thought he might hang out here for a while, but it was time to press on, plus as a bat he is more of a night person.

Humboldt was next, a town of about 5,000, it has a brand new Tim Hortons, Sooby's and Canadian Tire, but the old CN station (built in 1906) is boarded up tight, but I could still feel the presence of passengers arriving from Winnipeg or heading West from there.  The station and of course the CN played a critical role in the development of Canada, as new immigrants arrived by train to start a new life of farming on the parries.

The overnight stop is Melfort, pop 5,600, it has been a long day so I am glad to call it a night. But it was very sunny and warm at 26c, now bugs just 1/4" flys, the front of the rental can is blood stained.  Saw a lot of motorcycles on the #5 highway, everyone rides in chaps too many bugs, your jeans would be done in one day.