Miss Cis' Jeepmo Creek Photo Album

Jan 28 - Feb 5 2005

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Day 1: At the NWMP Fort Laird

"This is my ride with the Mounties. I got to ride an authentic Royal Canadian Mounted Police horse around after I toured the reconstructed North West Mounted Police Fort Laird. Captain Larsen and a Re-enactor Constable (sorry forgot his name) were my very kind and handsome escorts :) There is a slight blur to the picture because Scout Stetson took the photo just as his horse shifted on its feet."

"This is me with Constable Doyle and his Ford Crown Victoria Patrol Car out front of Fort Laird. He let me drive it around town and makes the lights and siren work. This was a lot of fun and we pulled over Outback as a joke."

"Here I am with a whole bunch of sexy men...... um, I mean Mounties. The guy on the far left on horseback is a NWMP Inspector Walsh re-enactor. The different uniforms the guys are wearing are from left to right: 1874-76, 1880's x 2, 1890's, 1980's - present, 1880's, and Modern red serge Dress uniform 1974 - 2005 pattern. These have to be the smartest dressed cops going. I don't care what anyone says." ;)

Day 2: Winter Camping

"The two pictures above are my 'Winter Camping' experience. I was enjoying a slow prairie sunset when they were shot. Outback's chauffer, Louis, took them. I was busy taking my own pictures and doing a bit of hot tea-toddling out in the cold weather. The big sky was wonderful as it went through the shades of blue to dark purple and pink and orange and red before becoming night. Everyone should see a Prairie Sunset!"

"This one is of Louis and Me waiting for the roasted Boar. He went out and shot it while I was falling in love with the view and the sunset. He seems like he must be a very good hunter to have managed all that preparation in such a short time for our dinner. And what a dinner it was! Wild Boar is the most succulent meat I have ever eaten. It melted in my mouth, and the smells of the wood fire with the taste of the smoke was simply delicious. We also made a pot full of potatoes and carrots that he had brought with us. The rest of the evening was spent sitting around the campfire telling jokes and stories and drinking lots of Canadian beer. Apparently this is a Canadian Tradition every long weekend in Canada. Camping here is an excuse to have a massive 3 day beer binge! We ended up bringing back most of the Boar for sandwich meat during the week."

Day 3: Around Town and on the Prairies

"This is one of about 25 murals painted on various buildings around town. You can see more at THIS link to the town's website. The Mountie one is really cool -- and I have my own Playmo sized version!! :) Below is a close-up of the elevator showing the detail of the mural."

"The mural is about how the elevator works, showing the grain on its travels in orange. From the dump hopper (just above the horse and wagon), up the lifting leg (blue), to the overhead distribution pipes and the separate bins below to where it is sent for storage. When transporting to export the grain is then taken from these bins and is again dumped into the below structure hopper, lifted again to the top and directed into yet another pipe to load train cars or wagons out back at the loading spouts." Photo courtesy Boissevain Town web site.

"This is Dunc and Me and Cutie Pie parked off the road out on the prairies in Outback's Jeep. Outback was taking the picture. Look how far you can see! And it was somewhat overcast with a storm rolling in. Simply amazing huh? They told me that on a clear blue sky day, the view goes on for ever and a day. Well, where the horizon meets the sky in this picture is about 15 miles away. The whiteness in the sky is actually a snow storm out west."

"In this picture you can better see the storm as it creeps in on the area. The brighter white areas in the background just above the horizon are what is left of the clear sky with overcast above it. But, at right of my head you can see the snow coming down to the southwest. Isn't that just so neat?!?! This view is looking uphill towards the Turtle Mountain and is about a 10 mile vista. A passer by (one of Outback's friends) shot this picture of us crazy Jeepers out in the snow."

"Here is all of us stopped for hot chocolate in a secluded little ravine. As we were chit chatting about winter on the prairies, one of the local ranchers was out for a ride on his horse and I asked him to get a shot of us. Cutie makes the *best* hot choc! She brought these really old wooden mugs that she says are the best way to drink it. It stays warm longer and seems smoother in taste from them she said. I asked her about the mugs she said they are a family hand-me-down and had been in the family for quite a few years. I asked who they were from she they used to belong to a distant relative back in the very early days of the USA but not an American. Curious I asked who, to my surprise the answer was Sir Francis Drake (her maiden name) and the mugs were over 200 years old! She chuckled and said it was no big deal to use them and that the family had plenty of them "a whole ship-load at one time" she giggled."

Day 4: Lazy Day

"No photos today. Instead we ran errands and developed photos."

Day 5: The Town People

"Me and many of Jeepmo Creek's Officials and well-knowns. Can you guess who they are?"

"Me and a few of Jeepmo Creek's vacationing Movie star and TV personalities. I was surprised to see these people here, and I must admit I only knew who one of them was :( The others are more known to North Americans I would imagine. But it was still nice to meet them. Oh, the snowman is just a snowman, nothing or nobody in particular. Can you guess who the others are?"

Day 6: Pack and Travel

"No photos today either. I spent the day planning my next location and packing up what I won't need tomorrow."

Day 7: Meet the Chief

"Me with Dunny and Kimmy in their Jungle Jeep. Not much of a jungle around here to speak of, especially in the snow and cold, but they brought this Jeep with them when they found Jeepmo Creek back in 2003. We were traveling along a ridge here on a slight angle on our way to meet some other locals and a very important man who doesn't live in town. It was an exciting drive so I had to get a better view which the next photo shows."

"We didn't know it at the time but there was a young boy following us on the opposite side of the valley on his pony and shooting pictures as we drove along. This one is of me standing up watching where we are going as Outback follows with CP and D. I can see why these Jeepers like doing this so much -- this if FUN!!! Oh, the thrill of adventure. "Hey look I'm 'Indiana Cis' in a strange land! hehehe."

"Our arrival at the Chief's place was really wonderful. To see living history almost. He and his wife were dressed in the finest traditional clothing, just for me! All I could say was..."Wow!" In this photo you can see me shaking hands with Chief Badgertooth. Beside him is his wife Many Berries and to her right (left in photo) is their grandson Sneaks Like Coyote. In our group is Outback, CP, Dunny (foreground) and Kimmy (with rifle). The rifle was a gift to the Chief for our visit. It is tradition of these people to bring and give gifts when visiting. We also gave him the traditional Tobacco offering. I even got to smoke "the Pipe" with him, another traditional practice. It all seems so stereotypical -- but it's not at all. These people are very proud of their past and their traditions. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. This was a very interesting experience for me being from the other side of the world. I am truly thankful I came here to see North American lifestyles and differences from what is the norm for me." :)

"I hope you all enjoy these photos of my visit to Jeepmo Creek and I give sincere thanks to Outback and Cutie Pie for having me. I look forward to more travels on this Continent and more very interesting and educating experiences...

Your dearest travelling friend, Cis"

What You didn't see...

Meet CJ

CJ is a semi-feral female tortoiseshell cat (no idea what breed as she was a wild farm mix) that I (Dunc) rescued form being repeatedly abused at a workshop. She is now 2.5 years old and still is nervous around sudden movements, noises, and strangers. She even still hides under chairs a lot despite the fact she wont be getting hit or kicked in this house. She is an indoor cat and gets treated like family. She leaves the Playmobil alone, but does like to sleep in the Fort at times. In this photo I think she was just curious what I was doing and came to watch. Or maybe she knew I was taking pictures and wanted to be in one!?! Her name - CJ - is, naturally, a type of Jeep (CJ, 2, 2a, 3b, 5, 7, 8) the letters meaning Civilian Jeep :D