25 Miles South of the Middle of Nowhere

We got to our campsite in Cypress Hills at not much past noon and got set up and settled in no time. Once we had a glass of cold water we were in the truck again, this time to get ice cream cones and then to drive around the park a bit to get our bearings. (and yes, the dogs did get excited about going for another car ride!).

 

It is a big park with several separate camping areas. There is also a small lake, an observatory, a swimming pool, a restaurant, 2 ice cream stores, a 9 hole golf course, a horseback riding place, and goodness knows what else. And that is just in the Centre Block, which is where we are. If you look at Google maps at the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park you can see that it is huge - miles and miles huge.

After we scarfed down the ice cream cones and checked out the pool, we headed out on one of the roads to the lookout. As we turned into the parking area all I heard from Carm was OMG - I looked up and WOW. What an incredible vista. The lookout has an elevation of 1251 metres (4100ft - almost as high as Banff!) and looks out over the surrounding prairies.

Apparently on a clear day you can see up to 100 miles. 100 MILES.

We oohed and ahhhhed and then drove to the next view point. From the parking area there you had to walk down a steep slope and then way up on the other side onto a butte sticking out into the bald prairie. Speechless. It was even more incredible. We were there by ourselves which for me lets me experience it on more levels. Even the dogs seem to appreciate the incredible beauty.

The first words of "I'm on the top of the world, looking down on creation..." came to mind (I think that's the Carpenters).

A book called "The Canada Trip", writes about the top ten Belvederes as they cross our country. This would be one of our top 10, no... make that the top 5.

It is another hot day - the truck thermometer was registering 29C, but there is a slightly cool breeze. Our camper is positioned in such a way to give us a good amount of shade. The site is huge and does have some evergreens planted on it, but they are still rather small. It's nice though. Bella and Spike are asleep on the dog bed in the shade, Kabira is stretched out on the grass - in the sun (her choice!). It is nice and we are both glad that we are here until Friday.

Tomorrow we might pack a picnic lunch and drive a wild gravel road across the park to the West Section - Fort Walsh is over on that side. Or we might just sit in one spot for a day.

You may have noticed (duh) that we have internet here. Not only do we have internet, we have the fastest internet... ever!

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.

e. e. cummings

 

 

This is FUN!