More of Morden and meeting Bruce

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

It was too windy to continue the harvest—winds were about 50 mph!!  So, we enjoyed seeing more of the city of Morden.  It began with a beautiful sunrise, and breakfast at the local golf course.   It was too windy for golf, so everyone was in the restaurant—the place was packed.

Morden is a city of about 8500 people, and began as a temporary railroad stop for the Canadian Pacific Railway.  it developed as a farm community which is a big part of the industry there today.

We checked out the local grain silos where the corn from the fields is dropped off. It is a huge operation. The guys there had a good time yesterday with the “city slicker” Jim being exposed to the farming way of life. And, speaking of huge, we met Bruce, a local celebrity…the largest mosasaur on display in the world! He is part of the collection at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre located in Morden.   It houses the biggest collection of prehistoric marine reptiles in Canada.  Although these creatures look like dinosaurs, they are really marine reptiles.  80 million years ago (during the Cretaceous period) most of North America was a saltwater ocean where Bruce and his buddies hung out.  Bruce was discovered in 1974, near Morden, and is 50 ft. long!  How interesting to think these bones were found and identified after that long.  A few days ago we got to see the world’s largest trilobite fossil and today we got to see the largest mosasaur bones—wonder how many people can say they’ve done that in a week!  Also, I’ve sure learned a bunch of new words through this experience…cretaceous and mosasaur…to name a few.

Hockey is a big deal in Canada, and in Morden there are two rinks in the community center.  We had to peek in.  Several players from the area have gone on to play with NHL teams. 

Another landmark in the area is John & Myrna’s party barn.  The barn is over 100 years old, and they have adorned it with lights, old tools, a 100 year old wooden bar from a local establishment, and John’s stereo fireplace that he purchased 40 years ago with money from their wedding.  It still plays 8 track tapes—too funny!  The barn is often used for weddings, celebrations, parties and dances. Spot joined us as we closed out the evening in the party barn with music and a toast to good friends and a special presentation to Jim—a jacket from the grain silo, designating him as an official “farmhand”. 

What a fun visit with great friends who treated us like royalty.  We will see them in Arizona in December.

This signals the end of our visit to Canada.  We got things packed up to head south toward Arizona. I have had laryngitis for two days—no voice at all (yes, that’s Jim cheering in the background). I hope to find my voice along with warmer weather soon!