Visiting Fort William and Ontario Roadside Attractions

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Located on the shores of the Kaministiguia River, Fort William was not a military installation, but rather the inland headquarters of the North West Company (NWC). In 1815, the NWC was the world’s largest fur trading enterprise with trading posts that stretched across what is now Canada. A meeting of cultures took place as Scottish businessmen, French-Canadian voyageurs and indigenous people came together to trade goods, information and services.

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Manitoba - Big Pipes, Big Coke Cans and Great Grey Owls

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Manitoba - Big Pipes, Big Coke Cans and Great Grey Owls

We crossed into Manitoba at the end of the day and camped just over the border in the Elkhorn Campground a block or so off the TransCanada Highway (TCH). There were no other campers when we arrived, so we had our choice of spots. $30/night for electric and ‘untreated’ water (bah!) plus an ablution block with flush toilets and basic showers. The best part of the campground was the adjacent old cemetery and the prairie dog town that lived under and among the gravestones.

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Medicine Hat, A Giant King and the Tallest Teepee

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Medicine Hat, A Giant King and the Tallest Teepee

We set out mid-morning on a trail from the campground in search of the World’s Largest Chess Set. We spotted the giant King chess piece in a small courtyard beside the library. The King was splendid, however the rest of the set was in absentia. 

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