Hello once again to all of you beautiful and wonderful readers.
As you can see, we’re back at it here at The Outlook after a two-week summer break. While we all can relate that we never really want the holidays to end, I have to say that there’s a part of me (a modestly-sized part) that wanted to get back to the office and start pumping out the news that’s important to the people of this regional area.
After all, there’s just so much going on right now both in the province and here at home. To not fulfill my duties as a ‘roving reporter’ and cover all the bases on the goings-on around here and instead choose to, say, go fishing or sightseeing up North would be nice, but it’s time to get down to the important stuff.
It was a relaxing couple of weeks off, but it was also an interesting one seeing how my fellow Saskatchewinners (again, my phrase) were adapting to having to enjoy the summertime under Covid conditions. I saw some impressive behavior in this regard with people taking the necessary precautions, but I also saw a lot of people act like as if we haven’t been living in a pandemic for the past six months.
What follows are some key observations and reflections during my summer break, compiled together in something of a journal-like package.
Monday, July 27: The paper is done and the final issue before our break is pretty dang solid, if I do say so myself. The best editions of The Outlook – or any community newspaper, for that matter – offer readers a smorgasbord of news and something for everyone. I think we’ve achieved that and we’re able to leave on a high note. I go home, grill some marinated chicken breasts for supper, and enjoy that summertime classic starring John Candy that I watch every year, ‘The Great Outdoors’. I swear, if I ever owned a cabin up at the lake, I’d buy a copy of this movie’s poster and have it framed and set up as the first thing you saw when you entered.
Tuesday, July 28: I start a new summer break tradition of planning something for the very first day of vacation instead of wasting it by sleeping in or catching up on Netflix. My brother Brendon and I have hit the road, northbound for Candle Lake. Aside from the mini golf and the swimming, we stop in at a now-vacant lot that up until last year housed my late uncle Keith’s cabin. My family and I stayed in that cabin over many childhood vacations, and to see it gone like as if it were never there to begin with was more than a little sad. The little white cabin with the green roofing produced a lot of memories, and today was a reminder that the years are going by all too quick.
In what would turn out to be multiple trips to the Flying J service station just before exiting Saskatoon, I see everyone entering the building without a protective mask despite the signage that says they’re required upon entry. It’s behavior such as this that just means this pandemic is going to stick around a lot longer. Put the damn mask on, Covidiots.
Thursday, July 30: First up is Regina, where Brendon and I discover the Royal Saskatchewan Museum is closed on Thursdays…whoops (we went the following Monday as a makeup day). Soon we’re off down to Rouleau, or as knowledgeable CTV viewers might call it, Dog River. Yes, we do the whole ‘Corner Gas’ tourist thing; Oscar & Emma’s house, the Dog River bar, the police station, the whole nine yards. The day is wrapped up with supper at the Déjà vu Café over in Moose Jaw.
Sunday, August 2: Who’s gonna turn down a free supper? Not this guy, and not his family either. We head down to Elbow for supper at the golf club restaurant, and by some snafu, our order ticket was misplaced. Our food arrives and we’re told it’s on the house due to the error. The food is great, and the view of the harbour is even better seated outside.
Thursday, August 6: I’ve never driven up to Prince Albert National Park, and when I see a direction that tells me to go left for the ‘scenic route’, I go for it and I’m not disappointed. Gorgeous vistas, immaculate lakes, and there’s something really calming about having thick, Northern Boreal forest on each side of you while driving. I spend the afternoon and early evening in Waskesiu before trekking back at sunset. My only disappointment is that the wildlife is very scarce; the only things with four legs I see are a deer and a fox.
Tuesday, August 11: I’m in the home stretch before heading back to the office on Thursday this week, so I take the day and head back up to Candle by myself for some fishing, swimming and relaxing. I’m glad I did. I needed it. Some time to reflect, talk things out by myself (hey, it’s how I think a lot of things out) and take some great sunset pics by the lake.
There was more to my break than mentioned above, but I only have so much space here. Suffice to say, I feel relaxed, recharged and ready for what the next few months are set to bring us.
Thought-provoking times lay ahead, indeed.
In fact, judging by the contest of this week’s edition, I’d say they already started.
For this week, that’s been the Ruttle Report.
