Sledding in Saskatchewan

Trip Date: January 2013

After our Jamaica trip I decided to head home to Regina to see my family during the final week of my Christmas holidays.  My brother Kyle had bought a snowmobile and was eager to take it out.  I was just as excited to take it for a spin!  We first took his sled to a field just outside of town and spent the afternoon taking turns riding it around.  It was the first time I'd been on a sled in years, so it definitely took a little getting used to.  

Kyle on his new toy

At least I look like I know what I'm doing!

Kyle getting a little air under his sled!

Kyle

A frozen Saskatchewan landscape

The next day we met my cousin's boyfriend Cory and his two boys out at the Regina Snowmobile Club for some more fun.  The clubhouse is located on an old abandoned farm northeast of Regina.  The area had lots of great trails to explore and enough snow to keep us busy and happy.  To make things even better Cory brought me one of his older sleds so Kyle and I could take off and enjoy the trails together!

The abandoned farmhouse

The barn

The farmyard even had an old railway tanker on it!

The clubhouse

Kyle's sled (right) and the one I was borrowing for the day (left)

If you look closely you can see a White-Tailed Deer standing in the middle of the trail at the far end.

Kyle

Look at me, my clothes match my sled!!

The frost on the trees combined with the sunshine makes it look like they're glowing

Hoar frost on the branches

Standing on top of a hay bale

Kyle having some fun

Cory

Saskatchewan Farms

Trip Date: August 2009 & August 2011

Every since I was a kid I was extremely curious about old, abandoned farm buildings and have always enjoyed exploring them.  I remember there was an abandoned farm close enough to our house in Regina that I could ride my bike to it.  There were some pretty crazy rumours floating around about why the farm was abandoned, none of which I'm sure were true, but we called it Deadman's Farm none the less.  Eventually they tore it all down and it's just a field now, but I can remember exploring the old buildings and letting my imagination run wild.

My aunt and uncle on my Mom's side still live on a farm near Abernethy, Saskatchewan.  I remember spending a lot of time out there for family get togethers.  There's an abandoned farm just down the gravel road from them, but I don't remember actually going inside the farmhouse until 2009.  The following pictures are of that particular visit with Kyle.

The abandoned farmyard

The old barn

The brick farmhouse

Inside on the main floor of the house

One of the upstairs bedrooms 

There were animal paw prints on the walls, probably from Raccoons

This is a picture of the well in the basement.  There was still water in it too.

Standing in a wheat field next to the farm

This wheat isn't ready for harvest yet, it's still green

Kyle's truck parked in the farmyard

They don't call Saskatchewan, Land of Living Skies for no reason!

After we wrapped up our wedding in 2011, I stayed in Regina the following week, as Rob and Amy's wedding was the next weekend.  Unfortunately Christine had to go back to Calgary for work.  During that week my Dad, Kyle, and I went to look at a few abandoned farms that he knew about from when he was a kid.  My Dad grew up on a farm outside of the town of Balcarres in rural Saskatchewan and I can also remember spending lots of time there while growing up.

This first farm we visited was on land that my Dad's family purchased a number of years ago.  The farm had two houses, a barn, and a few smaller buildings, all of which are still there today, albeit completely overgrown.

The abandoned farmyard

This is one, of two, houses on the property.  We couldn't get over to it because of the water. 

This is the second, and larger, of the two houses

Inside the house.  We didn't actually go inside because the floor looked really rotten.

This Garter Snake was slithering around outside the house

Windmill

This isn't trick photography, the barn and shed are really that slanted!

This used to be the Deter Lake School.  My dad went to school here for Grade 1 before they closed it.  Then he was bussed into Balcarres for school.  The school was open between 1920 and 1964.

The inside was pretty gross.  There was even a rotting carcass of a Racoon inside.

Behind the school we found an overgrown swing set

This is the old Robertson's Farm

Inside on the main floor

A very pink bathroom

This is Violette School.  It was used between 1909 and 1964.

The sun setting behind the Balcarres grain elevator

It doesn't get anymore Saskatchewan than a wheat field!

Bearberry Recreation Area

Trip Date: August 2007

I am including this camping trip solely because of the neat abandoned farmyard I found while we were there.  This was a camping trip with some old buddies from high school.  They were heading to the Bearberry Recreation area, which is approximately 15-20km west of the town of Bearberry along the Forestry Truck Road (Highway 734).  Bearberry is about 145km northwest of Calgary along highway 584.  The area has a campground, but I think it's primarily used as a staging area for ATV's and dirt bikes.  Anyway, I'll keep this post short so you can check out the pictures.  

Bench swing

Me and Chris

Chris crossing the James River to get to the farm

Abandoned farmyard

The farmhouse

As viewed from the front

The barn

The farmyard

The James River flowed directly behind the farm