An afternoon at The Forks

Our flight out of Shining Falls was smooth and fast. Even with a visit with the folks who run the air base and a stop at Power View*, we were at the hotel here in Winnipeg before 1:15. A nap was in order. But, after that it was adventure time. All I can say is that I'm glad it was a Sunday afternoon and not rush hour on a week day!

The Forks is a large area in downtown Winnipeg where the Assiniboine and Red Rivers converge. And, it's now a well-developed public space, celebrating all the people who have used the space over time, especially the native people and the French and English-speakers. The children's museum is there, lovely walking paths (the lower levels flooded at present) and gardens, bicycle and skateboard courses. And, this weekend just past ... a jazz festival in the amphitheatre.

The pedestrian bridge (on the right in the photo above) over the Red River is spectaclar. The bridge for vehicles is decorated (at least on the side facing the pedestrian bridge), but hard to capture with the camera, especially when the photographer is hot, tired and hungry! I presume the entire side of the bridge tells a story, but yesterday was not the day to tease it out.

Supper followed on our way back to the hotel. Awe-inspiring (and damaging) thunderstorms marked the night and could well be a factor in today's travel.

* The town of Power View has a dam, which travelers to Shining Falls Lodge cross on their way to Bissett. Water is so plentiful and provides so much electricity that people in Manitoba pay their "hydro" bill.