Green Eyed over Rider Pride

Fun and games before the main event.

To say the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Canadian Football League (CFL) team is well supported is an absolute understatement.

We had the privilege of attending one of their games at Mosaic stadium/Taylor Field  in Regina and the spectacle was awesome.

Before the game

After the game

During the game

We experienced  a sea of green and white,  tailgate BBQ's, a huge  party atmosphere and level of visible support that is as big as the province.

Here they come.....

Spot the ball

The game itself was rather one sided, the Roughriders were mauled by the BC Lions to the tune of 37 points. In fact, I think the green clad cheerleaders were on the field longer than the Rider offensive team.

And we are supposed to concentrate on the game!

Despite the result the Riderville day was a true experience with  fanatical fans, fireworks and beautiful warm sunshine. We walked away from the stadium amid a green wave of disappointed but passionate fans, wondering what it would have been like had the Roughriders won.

Roughrider fan or Dame Edna Everidge fan?

A huge thank you to Ryan Sklapsky who kindly provided the tickets and plethora of Rider supporters gear. We would have looked like a tick on a polar bear without the green outfits, so it was great being part
 of the Rider Nation.
Here's hoping Saskatchewan make the playoffs and eventually win the Grey Cup as I am sure the province will be partying long after we have gone.

Typical Roughrider fans

Not so typical Roughrider fans

The life of a mascot

Always time for the fans

The weekend was not only memorable for the football but also for the glorious autumn (fall) scenery and weather. We had a quick look round Regina, espeically the picturesque Wascana park and stopped off in Saskatoon on the way home. Both cities make the most of their striking rivers and lakes with the autumn colours accentuating their beauty.
This is a glorious time of the year and a fitting encore to summer before the white season.

Saskatchewan Legislative building - Regina

Traffic light trees

Duck hunting - Canadian style

Mounties maintaining democracy

A colourful memorial for slain police and peace officers

South Saskatchewan river - Saskatoon.

Wascana Lake - Regina.

Last of the summer shine

Prince Albert National Park / Waskesiu
What a glorious week.
Sunshine, warm temperatures -students complaining of melt-down because of the heat.
Might as well make the most of the unseasonal  hot weather and go camping at Prince Albert National Park.

Lake Namerkus camp site

Sandy Lake camp site

We are definitely  glad we did. 


Prince Albert National Park in Saskatchewan is another wonderful place for tenting; hiking, canoeing, biking, swimming, historical investigation, sight seeing and wonderful sights.

Sunrise over Sandy Lake.

Northern Lights

More Northern Lights

 

Looking for wildlife over Anglin Lake

Quick swim in Lake Waskesiu

One of the locals

Replica of Grey Owls cabin

Sunrise over Lake Namekus

Muddy Creek

A local of Spiritwood

A deflated end to the weekend - good news though -  it is only flat at the bottom!

After another weekend full of adventures we have found another place we would love to spend more time exploring.

We're Hooked

http://www.buffalonarrows.com/

Labour Day Weekend - Buffalo Narrows.

If this is a  typical Canadian Labour Day long weekend in Northern Saskatchewan then we are caught, hook, line and sinker. 

We are certainly glad our wonderfully thoughtful neighbours Brad and Michelle kindly invited us on their long weekend visit to their northern family.
The adventure started on our Friday evening road trip north where we encountered 5 Saskatchewan bears, one which was a tad too friendly.

Photo courtesy Amy O

We then spent the next three days in, on and around the huge Churchill and Peter Pond Lakes.

The expansive Churchill Lake with  Buffalo Narrows townsite in the distance.

Channel joining Churchill and Peter Pond Lakes.

If we weren't fishing for the elusive Jack Fish (Northern Pike):

"No I'm not going to kiss it!"

"If this rod doesn't work, I'm trying one of those"

We were mucking around in boats:

Wilson, (our lifesaving canine)  checking the boats are lake worthy.

Jackie, explaining to the ladies, where the emergency exits are on the "party boat"

'Last one home washes up'

 Or eating wonderfully cooked meals:

Just find a beach, light a fire and you have lunch.

Or strolling down endless beaches:

Sunset over Buffalo Beach and Peter Pond Lake.

Or watching - the amazing Northern Lights; Buffalo Narrows scenery; the victorious Rough Riders (Saskatchewan's Canadian Football League team); the adventurous ones tubing round the lake.

And then to conclude a memorable three days, we were flown home by Buffalo Narrows own airline, courtesy of Jackie and Marty.  
(We were flown home because we couldn't fit in the car any more after all the wonderful food we had eaten over the past three days).

A patchwork of nature.

Farmers patchwork.

This weekend we experienced hospitality brighter than the northern lights, generosity deeper than the lakes we fished on and friendship warmer than the beautiful three days of sunshine. A huge thank you to Marty, Jackie, Brad, Michelle, Amy, Stephen, Jaycee, Nick, Vanessa and not forgetting Jet, Wilson and Cessna.