That is some pretty amazing country up there around Winnipeg. I remember the first time I was there and saw that farmland that seemed to go on forever. No trees in sight unless there was a farmstead associated with it. Way different than what I was used to at home. They were combining wheat in windrows or some windrowing wheat and our wheat harvest had long since past.

I had just turned 18 and had graduated high school and it was the summer of 1972. Was going to take my Honda SL350 and ride it up there (would have only been a year or two old). My mom was so distraught at the idea of me riding my motorcycle that far and being in a foreign country to boot she was beside herself. My dad had just bought a brand new Ford F250 2wd automatic. It sure wasn't his idea but mom told me to take that pickup instead of my motorcycle. Hmmmm. Tough decision. Brand new truck or motorcycle with very limited ability for clothes, etc. My dad never said no because once my mom set her mind to something he was wise enough to just let it go. So I took the pickup. Took it to a garage in Winnipeg to get the break in oil changed. I was so impressed by the bigger "Imperial" quarts I bought an extra quart of the Havolin 30wt to take home and in case I had to add oil (I didn't). That old quart was still out in the shed till maybe ten years ago.

Going into Canada was no problem. I had a duffle bag in the passenger side with a couple changes of clothes. Nothing else. At 18 you can pack light. 

Coming back into the US, that was "interesting". 18 year old (but I had a beard) driving a brand new Ford pickup with only a duffle bag on the floorboard on the passenger side................... Hmmmmm. I thought they were going to tear that pickup apart. They had me get out, the side panels out of the doors. The hood open. Looking in, around, under everything there was to look at. I am wondering if I was going to have to explain to dad why the pickup was in parts in a basket. Half an hour or so later they let me go and home I went.

Wow. That is a bit of nostalgia. Since then been through the area maybe a half dozen times over the years, on multiple different motorcycles and pickups. The farmland still amazes me.