Cycling in North Dakota

It's been awhile since I've updated the blog. Time flies when you are having fun and no internet hook-up at home to blog. These pictures are from the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota which is a few hours away from Regina. The "Teddy Tour" was Easter weekend 2011 with the Wascana Freewheelers and I'll admit the terrain had a lot more hills than I'd expected. It also had amazing views that unfortunately the camera doesn't quite capture.





There were many many bison and at times we had to avoid their paddies. They were everywhere. Including on the road which posed a bit of a problem because we were on bikes and so had to wait and wait and wait some more until they walked far enough away that we could pass.

Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

In February, the coldest, darkest, most dreariest part of winter we decided to check out Moose Jaw. Moose Jaw is a city about an hour away west of Regina with a well known spa, art gallery and underground tunnels to be explored. We stayed at the Mineral Springs Hotel where the spa is located and found ourselves within walking distance of pretty much everything we wanted to see. If making another trip is is good to know that nothing is open Sunday mornings. This is the spa waiting room and a picture of the natural hot springs that are incorporated into the hotel. In the distance you can see the doorway leading to the outside. We sat in the pool at night with the snow falling.



The Yvette Moore Gallery is a truly great find for local arts and great food. Everything from pottery to pictures and the quaintest women's bathroom sitting area ever is here.





The Moose Jaw Tunnels are actual tunnels that were used for living and working way back when. Today they provide entertaining dramatic tours for the public. We saw the “The Passage to Fortune” which is a humbling expose of what Chinese immigrants experienced when they came to Moose Jaw. There is also a tour called "The Chicago Connection" featuring the story about bootlegger Al Capone.

White Butte Ski Trails

I know that I posted about these trails in the summer when I was out exploring looking for unpaved trails. Now that it's winter, almost the end of winter actually (I haven't been updating this blog very often and it's now March) the trails have been in full swing as cross country ski trails. Not a far drive from Regina, 10-15 minutes, they are maintained by volunteers of the Regina Ski Club and used by many, many people.





An added benefit to being a member of the ski club and supporting the trail maintenance is that you can also take part in the many ski trips they do throughout the winter. I was doing enough away trips on my own that I wasn't able to partake in them but there's always next year.