I watched my dog run away... for 3 days

My supervisor, Trevor, asked me to go on a business trip as it conflicted with his schedule.  I jumped on a chance to get out of the office.  Trevor left out the destination until I committed - finding out I was going to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.  I guess the bright side is I could tick Saskatchewan off my bucket list of provinces visited....and maybe watch a dog run away for three days.

So does this place really exist, or was I making this up?  My newly-immigrated-to-Canada-Irish-friend, Jill, was skeptical and sent me a text the morning I was leaving.

After travelling over two time zones, I was expecting to hand my passport to customs, just to realize I was STILL in Canada.   This gives you  an idea of just how vast our fabulous country is.  Acres and acres of wheat and canola  until the earth curves.  I think I see a dog running.....

 Our first moose sighting
at the Regina airport.
On the hunt for Mac the Moose

We knew it was going to be an epic trip (I hear Aren's voice saying epic), when we were "upgraded" to a pick up truck with roof racks!!  My Montreal-bred colleague, Mike, was pretty excited about this.  So much that when he told his wife he was buying a truck she wished him well with his new wife. 

Let the road trip begin!
We were wondering the usefulness of the Sat Nav.
Looks pretty straight to me....
for a long time....

Bright canola fields
and azure skies

Even with the Sat Nav 

and nothing to obscure our line of sight, 

we had a hard time locating Mac the Moose.  

ohh ohh, 

maybe it won't be so epic after all.

What?!!!  Are you kidding me?  Melissa Etheridge in Moose Jaw?  Maybe Mac the Moose draws the crowds in.

Found him!  The major tourist attraction in Moose Jaw can't be missed.  Figured I should take pictures of any other moose sightings too.  In to Tourist Information to find out about this concert. 

More moose
or is the plural moosii?

Evidence of the Prairie Dog!

Turns out Melissa's concert is back in Regina.... might as well check in to the hotel...

No Gideon bible, 

just a tractor in the hotel nightstand.  

How Prairie appropriate!

Now that we've blown our 15 minutes of tourist time.  What are we going to do?  We're heading BACK to Regina to the concert!  Mike and I are upping our cool quotient, since we weren't cool enough to even attend the Bluesfest in Ottawa.  Best thing with going to an old rocker concert is that we know all the words.

Back to Regina for more road tripping!   Don't think we actually have to follow the sat nav...road looks pretty straight again.  

Just enjoy the living skies of the Prairies.  They are stunningly beautiful in a most serene way.  Just not sure I want to spend a winter there.

Uh oh, so much for the living skies- they might just kill us!!  To think the weather forecast said sunny and 32C all week.  What, they can't track a front on the Prairies?  Can't see it coming?

How they deal with adversity and weather 
in Saskatchewan....

We were wondering if this was a 2 for 1 deal?
Once you've found your dusty dog that ran away,
you put him in the back of your pickup
and take him through the car wash?

Here she is, Melissa Etheridge!  

Yes, I am... at the concert.

The small venue of only a few hundred people
was intimate and personal

Up close in the mosh pit! AMAZING!!
She played 6  different guitars 

Melissa played the drums at the end of the concert.  

Mike texting back to Trevor about our adventures.  And to think I thought Moose Jaw was going to be boring!

Did I forget to mention we were here for work?
Home of the famous air demo  team.

Mike, city slicker, found his new happy place...

I'll leave you with some beautiful skyscapes.  It is a privilege to live in such a beautiful country with diverse geography and wonder.

The bread basket of the world!

 Melissa Etheridge said how it feels different coming to Canada where she has always felt welcomed, and how her country was having a nervous breakdown.  I am grateful I experienced another part of our great country where diversity and freedom can co-exist.