Even an earlier start and we were on our way with a stop for gas and then on to Souris, MB to check out their swinging bridge, built in 1904. I had stopped there in 2011, the year of terrible flooding in Manitoba, and they’d had to chop it loose in order to protect the river bank. It’s since been rebuilt, bigger and better. It’s the longest pedestrian swinging suspension bridge in Canada. Very cool! The boys loved it. But our first stop in town was a wonderful playground and lunch at a lovely town park.
 
From there it was more secondary roads, past Pelican Lake … and we saw pelicans … to Winkler, MB . I was pretty sure I’d find Rollkuchen and Watermelon (a traditional Mennonite thing) there for a treat later. Less than an hour later we got to Emerson, intending to spend the night there. But first we had to visit the Trans Canada Trail kiosk, as my son’s name is on the list of donor’s there and then we decided to cross the border to reduce driving the next day for them to get to Minnesota. I would go too. Why not spend one more night with them!?? But first we needed to eat all the fresh stuff in the fridge, hence a picnic on the grass at the info centre. Supper was, 2 apples, 1 carrot, a cucumber, rollkuchen and watermelon. Tasty and nutritious!
 
I, of course, got checked out at the crossing but we made it as far as Drayton ND for the night. The boys and mom checked into a motel, I parked right there and we all cleaned up and the boys had some TV time. Made it really easy to pack up and go in the morning.