We cross a battling brook.

Cypress Hills Provincial Park, SK. (2 stars)

We headed off right away after breakfast to visit Fort Walsh (via the Gap Road). Surprisingly, there were already a number of people visiting the fort. We toured the fort and then wandered over to a picnic site near Battle Creek. It is a wonderfully babbling creek. We crossed over and ascended a hill for a north facing view of the valley. There were supposed to be a couple of National Park red chairs up there but we could not find them. We did however see a couple of deer and some amazing fall colour scenes. After leaving the Historic Site, we headed west into the West Block and over the border into Alberta. We drove up and down Graburn Road looking for the Constable Graburn cairn where he was killed. We did not find it (turns out it is about half a click away on the Reesor Road). Our drive was littered with at large cows and their droppings. And more deer. We returned via the Gap Road and filled up in the park gas station (closing in a few days). Then it was supper and relaxation in the Schooner.

Lez retorts: BABBLING brook ! *sigh*

We gave "Sally" a hard time today as our dashboard navigator kept trying to get us the make turns that would have added to the length of our trip. She kept directing us to take the paved road - obviously she knows our travel plans for "Roads Less Gravelled" but we ignored her. And one comment to turn right which we ignored as it had us truly baffled - there was no road!

However, Chuck is made for the ruggedness we encountered today on the gravel trails, but not sure if the cow poo stuck in the tires is truly appreciated.

The land is open range and cattle and horses roam everywhere - including the roads. The cows stand on the road and don't moooove! The deer also made several appearances, even one back at the campsite - which had Hobbes wondering what kind of dog that was! Ft. Walsh - the reason for the travel was duly photographed - and again we marvelled at what sparse conditions existed for the men of the RNWMP!