Celebrate Canada 150 Bike Ride: Day 21 - Rest Day #1 in Winnipeg

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

What kind of person lends their car to a stranger?

Lynda McKerchar does!!

Rick & Nancy Bennett (our neighbours at home) who were from Winnipeg, contacted their friend Lynda when they found out we were in the area. We were out in the van getting a few things when this stranger pulled up, introduced herself to us and immediately asked why I wasn't fishing???

She gave us some tourist tips and insisted we use her car (it's a Dr. Seuss mobile - Nissan Cube). What she didn't know was that we tried to rent a car today, but had no luck finding one. Serendipity!!

Part of this trip is about meeting beautiful people in this country of ours. They don't come any better!

Turns out she works for Big Sands Lake Lodge, a resort 600 miles north of here. She does all the logistics for them here in Winnipeg (picking up clients at Winnipeg Airport, driving them to hotels and the small airport where they fly out in a DC3 north and every job in between). She's been with them for 17 years and they're darn lucky to have her!

The girls did the laundry today and then we picked up Lynda's car and headed downtown. One of the first things I noticed (other than the rough roads.....rougher than Hamilton's!) was all the signs still on brick walls from times past. Here's just a few samples, the Pepsi one is my favourite.

MTS Centre, home of the Winnipeg Jets!

Okay, maybe this wasn't on my 50 Things To Do Bucket List, but it certainly was necessary once I got to Winnipeg, Standing on the corner of Portage & Main! It was the only thing I didn't want to leave without doing.

I also crossed the Red River. Both of these landmarks are part of Stompin Tom's Red River Jane.
Interestingly, I think I might have actually been at the performance below, recorded at Hamilton Place! A true Canadian Icon.

We drove down to The Forks. This is where the Assiniboine River meets up with the Red River and is at the core of the City. Its also where Union Station is located. I can only imagine the activity there back in the day. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is located here, but we didn't have time to go through it.