On our last trip back from Swan River, July 13, we left with the truck loaded with the last of Lori's mom's possessions. The box was full and although the forecast was for sunny skies I had bought a heavy duty tarp to secure the load in the event of inclement weather. Good thing as the skies got dark and the winds picked up 90 minutes into our 6 hour drive. The deluge began just before we got into Dauphin and I had to slow down to abut 60 kph so the wipers could keep up. After about 20 minutes of driving we got ahead of the storm and were presented with an opportunity to combine the yellow canola fields with a backdrop of angry dark clouds. Too good an opportunity to pass up.
Lori and Charli cooled their heals while I pulled over and ran to the edge of a Canola field to get some pictures. Besides I needed to check the tarp. Or so the story goes. I snapped away until the wind started to pick up and large rain drops started to fall. With the storm catching up to us I headed back to the truck as fast as my gimpy knees would carry me. As the rain started pelting the truck we high tailed it east and drove another 30 minutes or so. Ahead of the storm once again I was presented with more Canola fields. Pulled over again. This time Lori was a little less enthused however Charli and I both needed to find a bush to water so looks of mild irritation slowly melted into resignation.
I had been waiting for the Canola to get to full bloom and given that every second field in Manitoba seems to be sown to Canola I had lots to choose from. I had been searching for a flax field as well but in all of our travels up to Swan and back and drives around Oakbank I did not see one field of Flax. Perhaps next year I can get a yellow field of Canola next to a bright blue Flax field.
The fields were beautiful and lush and the clouds were angry and full of furry. A nice combination. A good opportunity to add a bolt of lightning.
The hills in the background, almost obliterated by the coming storm clouds, is Riding Mountain National Park. We have camping reservations for the last 2 weeks of September which will be our last major outing before winter sets in, which, as it stands right now, we are going to have to endure this year.
No twisters in these skies but we have had a few this year and one took the lives of 2 young adults when their truck was caught and thrown from the roadway into a field. A sad testament to the power of mother nature.
Was happy to find some wild flowers growing in the ditch. Makes for a nice foreground.
Thats all for today. Stay tuned.
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