Rockets on the Prairies

The Conclusion "I've been everywhere man, I've been every where" The last day of my trip was in Saskatoon home of the Blades, The biggest rink that the boys will play in on this eastern road swing. A very nice facility that hold about 14,500 the lower bowel is used for seating for the WHL games. The Rockets finished off with a 5-0 win, and we hit the road home right after the game. The team finished playing 500 hockey with 3 wins and 3 losses. I spent the last period in the suite with the Lind family again lots of laughs and really fine people, hope to see them again later this season My thoughts on this trip made me realize just how big these two provinces are, big sky, big horizons and the vastness of these two prairie provinces. I met two fabulous host families at my Air BnB stays and would stay at these two homes again. If you haven't tried it I would highly  advise  that you give it a try. The hockey world is about family and it seems that at ev...

Day 9 Saskatoon It's the final day of the road trip, after last nights win I left PA in a rain and snow storm. But after about 20 minutes on the road it quit snowing and raining and the trip back to Saskatoon was uneventful. I really appreciate how lucky Gordie is by playing in Kelowna. Coming out of the rink in relatively mild weather and spectacular scenery and a fairly cosmopolitan community versus my view of Prince Albert on a winter December evening. The rink in PA is an older wooden framed rink very small and not a bad seat in the house. The crowd of about 1,900 was quiet for most of the game after  Kelowna got the lead. A quick conversation with Gordie after the game and everyone on the team is looking forward to be getting home for Christmas. This is their longest road trip of the year and hopefully a win tonight and they can finish this trip with a 500 record. My Air BnB hosts Tom and Rose provided a great breakfast and I helped out with their morning ritual of the ...

DAY  8 Prince Albert  and Back Part 1 Having gotten to my Air BnB yesterday afternoon I have definitely enjoyed more Sask. hospitality. I couldn't have been welcomed by a nicer couple Tom and Rose. I was given the tour of their home and was told to make myself comfortable which I did. Tom and Rose have been retired for over 10 years and are an active couple involved with their community and enjoying retirement to the max. I quizzed Tom how he approached retirement and got lots of good advice, that I hope to put into action in the near future. I'm coming down with a cold so I loaded up on Neo-Citren  and Ny-Quill and had a great sleep, and am feeling better this morning. I'm planning to head to PA this afternoon and will come back to Saskatoon after the game. It should be an interesting drive as its raining at the moment. My last memories of PA was two years ago on  a cold and miserable night, hopefully the weather will clear up and we will have a win and good ...

Day 7 North to the City of Bridges I made my way across the plains north of Swift Current towards Rosetown and then over to Saskatoon. I can't get over how big this Province is from big vast areas of farmland with magnificent prairie views. After stopping in Rosetown to get fuel  and heading toward Saskatoon my tire warning light came on that gets you thinking what if my vehicle breaks down what do I do and where do i get it fixed? . I stopped in Delisle and added some air then asked a fellow where the nearest tire shop was. He looked at me and said there is no tire shops out here until you get to Saskatoon. Most of the small towns have limited services and most communities are slowly fading away. I wonder about those who have decided to stay having limited services for food, gas and mechanical needs. It is always a long drive just to get things. I got into Saskatoon and got the tire fixed and stopped by the U of Sask  campus to check out the hockey facilities. The old ri...

Day 6 Part 2  No Luck in Speedy Creek  No hospitality on the ice from the Bronco's, but that can't be said for the Lind family up in the SWT Sky Box at the rink. A brutal loss tonite against a team we should have had a better game against, but it's easy to comment from behind the glass. Gordie got the warrior of the game and was looking good in his blue and orange  plaid suit, but I imagine it doesn't feel so great after a loss. Any how back to the sky box where I enjoyed my evening with Cole Linds parents  Ashley and  Marcia.  It was neat to be with a family who's son was trying to make the National Junior team at the same time as the Rockets game. We watched both games tonite, one on TV  in St Catherines and the one here in Swift. I thought they would be really anxious about the game Cole was in but seemed resigned that they can't do anything but hope for a good game from Cole. The Linds are real down to earth people from Shaunavon, and thanks...

Day 6 Moose Jaw and onto Swift Current After last nights loss it was back to the hotel and ready myself for my trip to Swift Current. Before leaving Moose Jaw I explored the Tunnels of Moose Jaw. Back in the days of prohibition the Gangster Al Capone used Moose Jaw as an entry point of bringing whiskey into the Chicago and Minneapolis areas during prohibition. Under neath the brothels of Moose Jaw whiskey was distilled and bottled and shipped on the  adjacent railway. The tour was interesting and  humorous as the tour guides played the roles of  various characters of the era. I was one of four people on the 12:30 tour that lasted about 45 minutes. Down town Moose Jaw was really vibrant lots of the old architecture is still intact and most buildings are  occupied they are really working hard to keep their main city centre active. The hockey rink is downtown and along with that is a lot of restaurants and shops. It's good to see as many other downtown's in all citie...

Day 5 ---- Go West Old Man------ Part 1 Moose Jaw here I come, 6.5 hours west of Winnipeg  on the trans-Canada highway  I have arrived in Moose Jaw, prohibition home of Al Capone and  the Moose Jaw Warriors. The drive west of Winnipeg looks a lot like the drive east to Winnipeg so not much else to add to today's geography lesson. I have checked into the Heritage Inn and Conference Centre I was able to use my age to my advantage and was given a seniors rate not sure what to think of that, not good for my ego but good for the Visa bill next month. I'm not sure what to expect tonight in Moose Jaw from a gourmet and beverage point of view, but it should be a good game as Moose Jaw is the top team in the WHL East Division having only lost 5 games all year. The Rockets will be up for the test I hope will provide an update on my return from the game. POST GAME  BLUES The Mosaic centre in Moose Jaw is the home of the Warriors it is one nice rink built about 5 year...

Day 4  Winnipeg in Winter The winter winds were blowing today, the wind chill today was -26 at the corner of Portage and Main, know as the cross roads of the nation and the coldest corner of the country. That pretty well wraps up today's geography lesson. Not a whole lot goes on in down town Winnipeg on a wintry Monday, the museum I wanted too see was closed. I ventured out to the exchange district an artsy type district with galleries and boutiques type shop. I spent about 5 minutes looking around and headed back to the business district. Winnipegers don't like the cold either so most of the downtown area is connected by walkways that are above or below ground you can walk around a huge area downtown and not step outside. The main reason for my stop over in Winnipeg is to watch a Jets game at the Bell MTS  place a new rink in the heart of downtown. It a scaled down version of Rogers place in Edmonton not as glitzy and shinny but a great rink to watch hockey in. There...

 Day 3 -- I'm going to Winnipeg---- I have always said it, now I'm doing it "I'm going to Winnipeg!!" Said goodbye to my Air BnB hosts in Brandon, and  got on road and headed 2.5 hours east. Another great travel day sunny and clear, most definitely would not want to travel across this area in blizzard conditions.  Not a lot to see except wide open sky and a few trees, you drive for a while and the landscape changes dramatically, from open prairie to bush covered lands., but the closer you get to Winnipeg holy smokes it gets flat and barren, huge grain farms with the steel bins shinning  are always on the horizon and inland grain terminals along the way. |There are parts where the two major railways parallel each other and lots of industry located along the lines.  I got checked into the hotel a block from Portage and |Main "the coldest intersection in Canada"at about 1:00 pm and grabbed a bite to eat at the "Original Pancake H...

Day 2 --East to Brandon-- Part 1 A good night sleep and and I'm getting ready to go Brandon. The hotel that I'm staying at has a complimentary breakfast, I want to compliment them on the excellent porridge they have, it always reminds me of my Dad who had porridge most mornings, I should eat more porridge at home. Its about 3.5 hours to Brandon and its another nice day, I'm staying at an Air BnB for the first time. The place is about 4-5 blocks from the rink and I think this will be another great way to experience some Manitoba hospitality. Part 2 I checked into my Air BnB near the rink, very nice people, most welcoming, glad I made this choice. It was about six weeks ago that i tried to get a room in Brandon, not a place to be had  (now I know how Mary and Joseph felt) too bad they didn't have Air BnB back then. Going to head to the rink shortly and catch up to a few parents before the game. It should be a very good game Brandon is playing well. I will pr...

Friday December 8th, 2017 Day 1 The Nissan is fill up and the odometer is reset to zero, weather looks great  and get away time is about 7:15 am. Bo was sad to see me leave thinking that he should be part of this road trip, but unless he has his own  service animal I don't think it would work out very well. Its a nice morning clear weather and no traffic I was able to stick to my theory, the only way to get from A to B is do it as quick as possible with the fewest stops, so with one stop at Davidson halfway between Saskatoon and Regina for gas and a bite to eat I arrived into Regina at 2:30 Alberta time 3:30 pm Saskatchewan time a total  of 7:15 hours travel time. I'm checking out places near the rink to grab a pregame drink and an appetizer, will be trying a craft beer place called the Bushwakker brewing company downtown. I will get to the rink as soon as the doors open and get a vibe of the atmosphere in Regina.  Will see Gordie after the game hopefully a wi...

I'm about to start a tour across Saskatchewan and Manitoba in a couple of days and thought by creating a blog I would be able to keep anyone who is interested in this road trip following the WHL Kelowna Rockets on their eastern road swing. This eight day journey of almost 3,200 kms will take me from Wetaskiwin, to Regina, Brandon, Winnipeg, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Prince Albert and Saskatoon before heading back home to Wetaskiwin. Having never Blogged before I hope that it will be a learning experience and have a bit of fun doing what I like most, watching my kids participate in any sport at any level. Having limited travel experience in Saskatchewan and Manitoba it may even turn into a bit of a travel blog and I hope to share some of the things I see and tell you about the people that I'll meet on this trip. Hope you will follow along, I'll be doing the driving.