Just as we finished walking yesterday, it started to rain. We were all glad to be staying in the rectory at St. Laurent-Grandin, out of the wet. The rain stopped while we were getting a tour of the site of a fur-trading post nearby. Two posts, actually: the Northwest Company and the Hudson Bay Company built their posts side by side in 1805, probably because they were thinking about mutual defence: a post just downriver was burned by a group of Gros Ventres eleven years before. And the rain kept the dust down this morning, at least for the first hour or so.
We encountered two angry pit bulls this morning. They were quite aggressive, and although their owner tried to call them back, she had little control over them. I tossed them a couple of Milk Bones, but they took that as an affront. I started backing away, but Peter walked right past them like they were ghosts. I thought he was brave, but he told me he was thinking of a Cree saying: the moon doesn’t stop moving just because the dogs bark. In other words, carry on regardless. We ended up following his example. There was little else we could do.
Otherwise today’s walk was uneventful. We trudged past a large stand of little bluestem (no pictures: it doesn’t photograph well), and some Indian paintbrush and blanket flower. By the time we got to Duck Lake, it was just after noon and ate lunch on the battered picnic tables outside the Regional Interpretive Centre. Some of went into look at the exhibits and climb the tower for a panoramic view; others sat outside and rested.
Then we were back on the road, heading towards our destination: Beardy’s-Okemasis First Nation. Tonight we’re making a communal supper. Spaghetti with red sauce is my contribution. The kitchen is chaos. We are going to have so much food–more than we can possibly eat.
Tomorrow we reach our destination–Fort Carlton, the Hudson Bay post where Treaty 6 was negotiated in 1876. I don’t know if anything of the post remains, or if it’s just a provincial park. This time tomorrow, I’ll know.
Lots more history. And the dogs…always a potential hazard. I never turn my back on the nasty ones until I’m well past. Enjoy your last evening and the conclusion of your journey!
Geoff
Thank you! They were poorly socialized, that’s for sure.
I’m so glad you’re walking the whole way! Now the rest of us not walking with you can tag along via these fantastic posts. Thanks –
You are very kind.