Edmonton to Brandon

We are slowly making our way home, although the floods in South Canada and North Dakota are closing many of the roads we need.  Minot, ND, where the flooding is so terrible, is exactly where our path would have taken us.  Instead, we have been heading east trying to avoid all of the road closures. After a long day's drive on Canada's Highway 1, we neared Saltinuda, Saskatchewan and came to a barrier closing the highway for flooding.  We were very fortunate that several local people guided us through back roads to circumvent the flooded area and get back on Highway 1.  It was challenging, however, since the road was dirt, gravel, and very rutted.  On top of that, we had to go down the closed highway on the oncoming side and cross through a flooded area.  It was shallow enough, however, not to cause a problem.  We were extremely grateful to them for their assistance.  It was an eerie experience driving the rest of the way into Winnipeg, Manitoba.  With the road closed, we drove for nearly 100 miles without seeing another car.  We arrived in Winnipeg at midnight very grateful for the assistance of those people.  It is still strange to us that the area was flooded.  No body of water was near us, but the land was flat and the rains must have been hard.  The road and surrounding farms became lakes.  We were told that it had been declared a disaster area.  I am so sorry for them and for the people in Minot, ND.  It looks terrible.  We have no phone service, which is not something I expected once we left the Yukon.  I am glad that I was able to talk with you earlier today.  I'll call later today.  Love you, Elizabeth