The Pas welcoming party

As we approach The Pas, the first town along out route, I am excited at the prospect of friendly people and interesting stories. On a wilderness journey such as this, the small communities that you pass through often leave you with as many fond memories and funny stories as the weeks spent in total solitude.

Gary and Joanie McGuffin paddled 6,000 miles by canoe from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arctic Ocean. Their route followed the same historic voyageur highway that we are now retracing. At the end of their first summer of paddling they stopped at a little town called The Pas, Manitoba . They would leave their canoe and camping gear there for the winter and return in the spring to continue their journey north. Below is an excerpt form their book Where Rivers Run. I can only hope that we receive the same warm welcome.

"Many vehicles were strung out along the road, headlights flashing, horns honking. We looked around suddenly realized that all the commotion was directed at us.......Something red came tumbling toward shore. I peered through the binoculars . 'Gary, you won't believe it!' I paused and turned towards him. 'They are rolling out a red carpet for us."

Frosty and I can only hope to receive such as warm welcome. Although if such as welcome is given, it should probably be at the South end of Lake Winnipeg when we finish!