: Thanks for those pictures Robert, I envy you that trip. As someone
: who makes little day paddles on the more inhabited,
: "small", south end of Lake Winnipeg your trip really
: impressed me.

Thanks, Ric. The south end of the lake is a nice place to be as well, especially around Victoria and Grand Beaches. I have been to those beaches many times in the past. If you want to try something a little different, try starting a paddle at Grand Rapids, leave your car at the boat launch, paddle two days along the west shore, see the limestone formations, then paddle back. You will enjoy that section of the lake very much. Paddling around the north end of Lake Winnipeg is very doable as long as you don't mind the endless feel of moving along Limestone Point. As for paddling 2000-kms along the river, well, that takes some degree of comitment and luck. I hit excellent weather all the way through my trip except for 1 1/2 days which caused me to bail.

: You were lucky to see all those magnificent White
: Pelicans, reports are that many of them will not survive after
: going south next month to spend the winter in the oil-soaked
: Gulf.

This comment breaks my heart and I know that it is probably true. Just a couple of days ago Linda and I spotted a line of pelicans flying over downtown Edmonton...that was a first. The pelicans usually stay east of Edmonton. They seem to be moving further upstream each year. During previous river trips, I have never seen a pelican west of Fort Saskatchewan, which lies roughly 10 kms east of Edmonton. I was totally excited to see them finally fly an excursion over the downtown area. I hope they find a way to survive the BP oil spill...maybe they will find an alternative wintering spot. Here is wishing them well.

Robert N Pruden