Day 5 and Day 6

Good Morning All, Trent Raymond Appell here....  Jodie has been very busy enjoying her vacation so she has asked that I take on the role of "Guest Blogger" to update you on our adventures over the last couple of days.  I am a blogger virgin so I hope this goes well,  here goes nothing...

YAY...No more JAFA's...

Front door view at Eagle Valley Campground

After our narrow escape from the JAFA infested campground in Sparwood ( we heard that there was a rather ugly altercation between a couple of husky, short haired "women" who share a trailer just after we left), we found ourselves safely nestled in Saskatchewan's loving and tender bosom also known as Eagle Valley Campground.  The safe haven of Saskatchewan aside, this was a lovely campground located near Maple Creek. It is themed like a tropical paradise featuring an upper and lower camping area (the lower not open due to the flooding), laundry facilities, a common area with a place to have drinks as well as a hot tub and pool.  Very nice people running it and we would definitely stay there again.  Yay Saskatchewan.
 
 

We hit the road bright and early as not to miss out on one precious breath of prairie air (I couldn't tell if it was lavendar, stinkweed or cow shit, but sweet Jesus it was delightful).  We were headed east with the ultimate destination being Katepwa beach Sask.  Many of my childhood summers were spent at this beach as my parents would often rent a cabin there for vacation.  My Uncle Donald and Auntie Judy have a cabin there and this was usually the catalyst for many of their parental shenanigans, (consisting of a card game called hand and foot and some ice slushy drink concoction...YAWN).  As the morning progressed we found out that the floods had closed down a section of the number 1 highway as well as our Katepwa campsite.  Being the adventurers that we are, we rerouted to Balcarres to meet up with the afore mentioned Donald and Judy.

After a few detours to avoid the floods and an accident, we made it to Balcarres Sask.  My Uncle Donald and Auntie Judy have lived there for over 30 years and it was great to have the chance to stop in.  

The little bugs and mosquitos however, can go straight to hell.

We were treated to a wonderful dinner theatre featuring a over-sexed female in feathers (a story for another blog) and dinner consisting of Huderite chicken, mashed potatoes, creamed cucumber salad, homemade bread, cabbage rolls, crumb cake and some amazing saskatoon pie.  Needless top say, this BC boy thoroughly enjoyed some prairie cooking after so long away.  It's nice to know that sometimes the things that you remember growing up are actually as good as you thought they were.  Thank you Uncle Donald and Auntie Judy for the great visit and delicious dinner. 

We left Balcarres around 8:30pm and continued East to Yorkton Sask.  Which just so happens to be the birthplace of this particular author.  Apparently it is Saskatchewan lore, that I was such a handsome baby, that the doctor that birthed me wanted to actually keep me...now I cannot verify the authenticity of this, but I have it on good authority that this fable is not only true, but has been shared with generation upon generation of Saskatchewan born babies. Well enough about me...we arrived late in Yorkton in yucky rain, but were able to park quickly and get to bed without too much of a hassle.  

Even though it was late and dark, we were able to see some of the sites around Yorkton.

Now this isn't quite the Bates Motel...but it's pretty freekin close.  We did not get too close to this particular venue as it has been known to pull you into a vortex of crap and slowly suck the life out of you.  Few who have entered the deathly halls have ever been the same again...

After a very quick sleepover in the birthplace of many great literary geniuses...we continued on our way to Manitoba. The road from Yorkton to Brandon is a very familiar one for me.  Almost a weekly trek on weekends with the Appell family piling into an over-packed lime yellow Buick, a whole whack of 8 tracks (including such classics as George Jones, Charlie Pride, and Patsy Cline), Mom and Dad and my 2 Sisters.  Oh yes people...it was AS fun as it sounds. Besides...there is nothing cooler than an 8 year old who knows all the words to "white sport coat" by Marty Robbins.

Unfortunately when we got to Brandon we finally got to see what everyone here has been dealing with for the last couple of months.  Flooding is still an issue and unbelievable to see first hand.  Hopefully some reprieve soon.

As mentioned on Sadie's Facebook page earlier, Sadie and Sophie were rockin the trampoline from the minute they got to Auntie Cindy's until just before bedtime.  

Seen here with cousins Nathan and Taylor.  Not pictured is Sadie's famous triple double back flip combination with a 3/4 spin-o-rama.  She was only able to perform it once due to her problem knee and we unfortunately missed getting it on camera.  Maybe next time.

We arrived to Cindy's house and promptly set up camp in the driveway.  Seen here is Blogger extraordinaire Jodie.  Jodie is trying to strike one of those sexy poses only previously seen on  those provocative Snap-On tools calendars which titillated many a teenage boy...the calendars you perverts...NOT Jodie.  

It was great to see the whole family together after almost 11 years.  Mom and Dad of course, Cindy Ron Nathan and Brianna, Shelley Barry Taylor and Madison, Myself Jodie Sadie and Sophie.  It should be a busy few days with everyone fighting over liquor, cabbage rolls and in particular, why Trent is the favorite child...(and DUH..who doesn't know the answer to that one). 

My nephew Nathan is officially graduating on Friday which is very exciting.  Although his robe color is the wrong shade of purple, I could not be more proud of him. 

Well that's about all for today.  I hope you all enjoyed my very first blog... and if we can break Jodie away from the Jesus juice for a couple of hours tomorrow, she can continue with her daily insight.  

Have a great day, Trent