Edit by Dielof and Fred.

After a refreshing shower, we could have one at the house, we are all busy. Dirk wants to clean the filters of the model- t so the engine gets more air. Dielof and Fred are making up reports in the morning. They are not that good in handling the computer, so that takes extra time. Our hosts, Diane and Lyle, went to their store.

In the afternoon we have a photo shoot and coffee at the store. The name of the store is Bumper to Bumper. We thank them for their hospitality.

Bumper to Bumper

Dirk get 10 litre motor oil for the Model T from Lyle.

Oil donation

After that we depart for a very nice route, which Lyle pointed us out on the map, through the grain fields, direction Winnipeg.

Old barn

At 7.00 pm we are at the nice camping side. At Birds Hill near Winnipeg.

We are going to leave the lake, while we are breaking up, we also bring down Dirks hotel (his sleeping place on top of the Land rover). Dirk tells us that he heard rumbling last night, and thinks these are birds, checks, nothing. The rumbling keeps on coming, may be the tree. No, he is not under a tree. May be a bear on top of the roof?!

While we bring down the hotel something falls on the ground and Fred sees right away it’s a bat. The puzzle is solved.

Because of the mosquito’s we have breakfast outside the campground, we have still some km’s to go. We think it’s bear-time, we feel very sorry that our second bear is a young one. Killed along the road.

After a little talk we decide to pass the night in Aspern. Dirk is addressed by Lyle. We can sleep at his place.

We take care of the food. Diane and Lyle for the beverage.

Lyle, our host in Aspern

In the evening we sit nicely around the campfire. Diane has an apparatus that keeps the mosquitos away. Beside that, the grass is cut, which helps a lot as well.

Report Tuesday August 13
Edit by Fred and Dielof.

After some fantastic days at Donna and Tim we have to say goodbye to them.

saying good bye

Donna brings us to the elder people of the Cree from Cross Lake. These seniors have a camp for a week about an hour driving from their reserve.
Here are welcomed very friendly. During the lunch there are some speeches and beside that Dirk can explain about the project, he also sings two beautiful songs in Mongolian language a cappella.

Senior camp 1

Senior camp 2

After visiting this camp we drive about 300 km. to the direction of Winnipeg and make our camp at Little Limestone Lake.
It is a very beautiful and quiet place, but we have a lot of mosquitos who are interested in what we are doing in their area.

Lime Stone Lake 1

Lime Stone Lake 2

Lime Stone Lake 3

Edit by Fred en Dielof.

After the usual morning rituals we go as we do in Holland to our appointment in the
Community.
We arrive their at 11 AM sharp. After 45 minutes we leave without any interview.
We also want to visit the airstrip, where our host Tim is manager maintenance.
After our visit to the airstrip we pass the information centre and the interview can take place.

interview

Dirk also visits the local radio station near by.
He is able to brake in to the program immediately to tell he will give a presentation later on.
With Donna’s help the support to SOS by the local people is more than 600 dollars.
Fantastic!

local people

Edit by Dielof and Fred.

It’s Sunday. Tim take us for a tour on the lake, fishing. Also Apple, Tim’s friend and his mate Don go with their own boat.

boat tour 1

boat tour 2

For Tim and his friends this is a regular trip out. For us it’s very nice because of the quietness, to be that deep into nature with the sun on our head.
The lake is about 80 km long and it’s an Eldorado for wild life and we are in the middle of that.

boat tour 3

boat tour 4

boat tour 5

After catching two fishes and a few hours we go on, first Tim wants to look at his hunting spot.

He has left there his hunting axe. No axe is found, we pick some berries and rose hips. Fred likes them, and I also enjoy the snack.
Dirk hunted a goose and took it in his jacket

Dirk’s goose

Back at home, Donna is busy with, Dirk declares his second best, pizza. Vegetarian and one with sausage.

Pizza

It’s a feast. Later in the evening Tommy comes to make an appointment for an interview tomorrow. That seems to become an important day.

Report August 10
Edit by Dielof and Fred.

We are invited at Ronny’s pancake party. This takes place at Ronny’s mothers place, (83 year). We go there with model T and Landrover. On our way Tim and Donna don’t have hands enough to wave sitting in the model T.
It’s election time. On almost every house are posters. Ronnie Beardy tries hard to become Chief. We are four white people between the natives. They offer us nice pancakes with beans, sausages or sweets, this all after we have had already a good breakfast.
Dirk sings our travel song; country road from John Denver.
Dirk is a real artist.

at the party 1

at the party 2

at the party 3

We (Dielof and Fred) don’t understand that Dirk doesn’t gain weight.
In the afternoon we take a walk and many wave at us. It seems everybody knows we are with the model T.
After the party Dirk removes the thermostat, because it doesn’t go open anymore.

thermostat

Report august 9
Edit by Fred and Dielof

Arrived at Cranberry Portage, after a good night rest in the Carribou Lodge we go to Gerard and Lisa Jennissen. They invited us for a French breakfast. Gerard is a former Dutchman.
After that we go to the eldest lady of the town, to give here a ride in the model T.

Pearl Anderson

This 96 years old lady is the oldest passenger in Dirk’s model T.
After the fuel-stop we go direction Cross-Lake.

junction Cross Lake

This is a good road in a desolate area with many lakes and much forest. At sunset we arrived at Donna and Tim’s in the reserve. Here the warm moose soup is ready, with toasted spelt bread, home made. Each of us has his own bedroom, so you can imagine what we are going to do…..

Edit by Dielof and Fred.

At sunrise Dirk is already busy with maintenance. Regular there is a squirrel around us.
Frightened Dirk sees one climbing up his pants.
Do you come to help me? Dirk hands it a screwdriver. This is to much for the squirrel and it disappears via the hood of the car back into a tree.

hood

Early we leave Nipaw National Park. We spot some birds of prey, sometimes we see them with a prey taking off. It’s a cold morning and rain is expected.

cold

roof

Up till now the weather was good, this is the second day less.
The coffee stop is with an heated wafer on the exhaust pipe much more attractive.

treacle wafers

After a rainy drive via Flin Flon we are now in the province of Manitoba. We seep in a little hotel in Cranberry Portage.

Edit by Dielof and Fred.

This morning first job is shopping.

Than pack the car, have breakfast and finally say warmly goodbye tot the Bruijn family.

good bye

We go direction Cross Lake. About three days driving.

The country side of Saskatchewan: in front, to the left and to the right field with yellow flowers, which get seeds for oil and grain fields as far as you can see.

binoculars

Dirk films the scenery in his model T.

The statliness changes into forest and lakes. It’s four p.m already.

Dielof shouts: Hold on, a bear!!!! Fred puts on the brakes, drives thirty meters backwards.

Where??? And, yes unbelievable. About 10 meters away from us a tree meter tall bear is eating berries fom a tree. Quick a foto! A very special experience.

find the bear

the bear

Later on me make a short cut in the route via a dirt road. We drive about 25 km less. And win

An ice cream.

Still we did 325 km.

Report August 4,5,6.
Edit by Fred and Dielof

After a comfortable night rest, everyone in his own bedroom, Joke has prepared a delicious breakfast. Jan always has oat porridge and so have we.
Fred goes with de De Bruins to church.
A flat tyre is repaired with the help of neighbour Karel and an appointment is made at the barber.

tire repair

In the evening we are invited at the Kraay family, where food and beverage is excellent.

Monday morning Dielof cleans the inner of the Land Rover cabin.
Fred has a long social talk, he is friend of the De Bruins.
After catching up with the reports Dirk is off to the barber. A treat with a brand new shampoo.
He has fresh curly hair now.

Dirk’s restyle 1

Dirk’s restyle 2

Jan has arranged that we can visit the Western Development Museum.

welcome at the museum

Before we go into the museum Dirk is handed over a plaquette by the Saskatoon Antique Carclub. Than he is interviewed by a local radio station.

Saskachewan licence plate

interview

Jason, the manager, shows us and other members round in his interesting museum.
It shows us situations from about 100 years ago, with the items of that time. Cars, houses, agricultural machinery etc.

in the museum 1

in the museum 2

On the way back the restaurant were we should have our dinner, is closed.
Tim Hortons helps us out. Here Dirk receives a licence plate from an interested fan.

plaquette

Tuesday morning Dirk is invited to have a look at the only Derby car left over, build in Saskatoon.

Derby’s restoration crew

Dielof and Fred go into town. They meet Robin de Bruin and his water truck.

Robin with his Culligan

Now we are going to prepare us for leaving tomorrow morning.