Previous entries ... Students Filming the 1874 NWMP Trek West

Breakfast was served courtesy of Mr. Martens.

8:50 - set out, stopping at the campground office to use the phone. "Doc" phoned CHEC radio and Sub-Constable House phoned Mr. Smith at HJH (Hamilton Junior High).

9:00 - left McLean campground.

Arrived at Regina and "C" Troop drove to where "Doc" was to pick up her camera. The lady of the house, a friend of "Doc's", gave us directions to the RCMP training station. "Doc" phoned the Leader Post and the RCMP training station. Then we took off.

Stopped at a couple of stores along the way to gather supplies.

10:40 - "C" Troop arrived at the training station to find that the rest of the troops were already there. They had gone in already. We walked around looking for them. We walked into a large auditorium and looked around. "Doc" asked a Sgt. for directions.

Found the others in the museum. The tour started at 11:00. We were shown the church, the pool and the gym. We also saw the first practice for the march they're going to do for the Queen.

2:35 - left the training station. (We had eaten lunch in the parking lot.) "C" Troop again had the company of Mr. Martens.

2:50 - "C" Troop stopped for gas. We were entertained by Mr. Martens and his harmonica.

5:45 - arrived at the Moose Mt. Campground. "B" Troop drove up. Sat around in the cars for awhile waiting for the ever-late "F" Troop. "B" and "C" Troops drove down to find the camp. "B" Troop had gone ahead and we lost them. Saw the sign to show us where the campgrounds were. We found the missing troops in there. One member of "C" Troop stayed with "B" Troop and the rest of us went back to direct "F" Troop. Then we left "F" Troop leader "Doc" and Inspector Hobbs. Staff Constable Parker and I walked. We were twice passed by "Doc" in her car. We were also passed by "F" Troop. Inspector Hobbs was with them. We arrived at camp to find our tent almost up and supper cooking. We all ate supper at about the same time.

After three members of "C" Troop went for a walk, we left a note on one of our neighbour's tables:

"Hi. Welcome to Saskatchewan. We're from Alberta. Hope you like Canada. (The neighbours were from Maryland)

Signed,

Your Neighbours

P.S. This note will self-destruct in five seconds if put in fire."

We arrived back at camp to find the remaining member of "C" Troop and members of other troops talking about dynamite. The rest of the troops had gone with "Doc" into town.

Before the Commissioner retired for the night, certain troops hid his lace pillow on the top of his van in the carrier. He didn't notice and drove off. The next morning he complained of a stiff neck.

"C" Troop went to bed just after 11:00 and a few minutes later those who had gone into town arrived back. Later the guys went off to sleep in a nearby picnic shelter as a joke on the Quartermaster when he went around in the morning to wake everybody up.

May 15, 1973

"C" Troop was up just before the call to get up.

Earlier, Quartermaster Stanford had gone for a drive and seen the sleeping bags in the shelter so he knew where the guys were and he went to wake them up.

The Quartermaster made breakfast.

Afterwards, "Doc" and three members of "C" Troop went to phone CHEC radio. When they got back the officers had had a meeting and had set up a list for KP duty.

We all set out, stopping at the information building for water. "F" Troop stayed to phone Mr. Smith.

"C" and "B" Troops set out for Cannington Manor. As soon a "F" Troop had finished phoning, they followed.

9:15 - arrived at the Manor. Looked around the graveyard. Staff Constable Tilley found that the door to the church was open and she and I went in. She pulled on a rope coming out of the roof and the bell rang. We looked around the church and went out again to be met by a group of guys with a dead snake.

Looked around some more but it was soon time to head out. "C" Troop drove to a farm and asked directions then proceeded to follow "B" Troop to tell them the way. They went off on a detour trip. "F" Troop followed us and soon fell behind.

On the way to Souris, stopped along the road for a very short rest. When we arrived at Souris we stopped at a laundromat and phoned for information. Then we went into town to the newspaper office. Next we went to Victoria Park to make lunch. This was "C" Troop's duty. The other troops pulled in behind us. This was around 12:00.

From there, "B" Troop went on to Emerson and "F" Troop to Brandon to get repairs on the van. "C" Troop went to the 582' swinging bridge. After walking across the bridge and back again, we went into the museum (it was closed but we were allowed in.)

Then we took off. Stopped in Minto so "Doc" could phone her brother. Got some spring water for Staff Constable Parker's canteen. Then off we set, sleeping most of the way. Along the way we got a good picture of Staff Constable Tilley, sound asleep, her mouth gaping open.

7:05 - Arrived at Emerson, Manitoba. "B" Troop was already there. We ate. Most of "C" Troop went to watch some guys playing baseball on a nearby field.

Later we found out Troop leader Coulter had decided to get a motel room so we could get cleaned up. We packed our things in the car and transported them over. Then we cleaned up. After us, some other of the troops came over and cleaned up. Mrs. Lewis and her two daughters came over. Mr. Lewis and his son were back at the camp conferring with the Commissioner. All the guys were packed in Mr. Marten's Tent.

May 16,1973

Got up about 8:00. Went over to the camp for breakfast. Sub-Constable Kevin House's birthday. Then we went back and packed up our stuff. Took it over to the camp.

Took off raiding the bakery on the way to Ft. Dufferin. There we almost threw Kevin in the Red River, but Commissioner Haig stopped us.

Then we drove over to Lake Louise where the Mounties had their mini-trek. Then back to camp for lunch.

Sub-Constable House received a tomahawk and 3 plastic strongmen. Also got a cake baked by Mr. Dan Lewis.

"C" Troop drove to Minnesota. "B" Troop accidentally followed us instead of "F" Troop and Quartermaster Stanford got mad and drove off when he found out.

We picked up Mr. and Mrs. Dan Lewis and drove over to an old graveyard smothered with trees. Then took the Lewis' home and "C" Troop took off. We were going to Morden to find a Mr. Dack. "F" Troop followed behind. We found him and proceeded to go to Calf Mountain. Before we left we got our picture taken. (The Troops had changed cars.)

After seeing Calf Mountain we went to camp in Killarney. Here we found "B" Troop. We quickly set up camp and ate super. While we were eating a man from the Killarney Guide arrived. Commissioner Haig, Doc and Quartermaster Stanford went off with him. They went to film some wagon ruts. Mrs. Martens was left in charge. Most of "C" Troop went to look at some baseball games going on nearby. Nothing there caught our interests so we went into town. On the way stopped to watch Mr. Martens sketching. Saw the rest of the Troops around town.

A cat followed us and we later rescued it from a tree where a dog had chased it. Went back to camp.

The others came back later. Inspector Bevan made some Russian tea, and soon after Commissioner Haig and his party arrived. Sub-Constable House cut his cake and passed it around.

After everybody stood around the fire and talked. We all went to our tents around 11:30 and waited. A few minutes later some of the Troops went into town. The cat followed them and was thrown into the lake. The bonfire was built up and everybody except me and the adults stood around it until 3:30 when they were told to go to bed.

The cat was thrown into "C" Troops tent and ended up sleeping on me until morning.

May 17,1973

The majority of the Troops got up around 8:00.

Breakfast was served to those awake enough to eat and at about 9:00 we set off. "Doc" drove to phone CHEC radio and Staff Constable Parker phoned Hamilton Junior High. I received a message from the latter call.

We found the van parked outside of the newspaper office and Quartermaster Stanford's car parked further up. We got our picture taken for the newspaper. Then we took off to film a trail. The Troops were in the same cars except Inspector Hobbs and Constable Lendrum had changed vehicles.

From there we went to Horton, a cairn and burnt house. The latter was full of square nails.

Then we went to lunch at Turtle Mountain. "B" Troop was already there.

After, we drove towards Roche Percee stopping a spots along the way. We had trouble getting on Highway 3. First we went the wrong way and then we turned around. Commissioner Haig went the wrong way, then us again.

We stopped to film "Hill of the Murdered Scout" and when we were done we took off. On the road leading back to the main highway, Commissioner Haig stopped to film another part of the Boundary Commission Trail while our vehicle went on. We stopped when we came to the main highway to wait for them. They didn't come so we went back to look for them. Found that they had gone the wrong way and followed their trail. We kept going, asking along the way if anyone had seen them but no one had. We arrived at camp and soon after so did the van.

We ate supper and soon after most of us went into town of Estevan. Commissioner Haig drove us in leaving the other adults either back at camp or among the rocks sketching. We walked around while the Commissioner went for supplies. We asked a couple of locals what they did for excitement and their answer was none too handy. After, when we were sitting in front of the bank they came over and we had a run in with them. Then the Commissioner arrived, and none too soon seeing as how we were in danger of being beaten up by the locals, and we went back to camp. The gate into the camp was locked and Quartermaster Stanford had the key. Everybody thought that somebody else had gone to get the key until we suddenly discovered that we were all present. So we all hopped on the front of "Doc's" car and drove around to look for him. Found him and got the key and "Doc" went to let in the Commissioner.

After, we sat around the fire and went to bed. Most of the Troops slept in the picnic shelter.

Continued... Students Filming the 1874 NWMP Trek West

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