Wonderful world of Wasagaming

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This article was published 24/07/2021 (1729 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wasagaming is Manitoba’s summer jewel, with obvious and obscure delights.

This Clear Lake community exudes quality shops and eateries, log architecture, towering spruce, and Rocky Mountain-like clear waters where you can peer down metres deep when you drop your cellphone.

Plus, frisky or fatigued vacationing families — many with dashing dogs.

Strolling after dinner, a raucous clatter turned our heads. A big brown dog galloped from the BeaverTails shop, up Wasagaming Drive, followed on a leash by a bouncing pink plastic Adirondack chair.

A weary dog-owner thought an anchor comprised of a chair of five kilograms for a dog of about 30 kgs. Or maybe granddad moored the chair before seeing the sign, “Sale.”

The dog and chair clamoured south out of sight. A woman took to the street, chasing the disappearing pink and brown parade.

If you see them, call someone.

We usually rent a cabin, but a lovely feature of Elkhorn Resort’s hotel rooms on a cool night are real fireplaces. Read the ten-point instructions. If not, the flue might not open right, although I’m sure otherwise, and maybe smoke will fill the room. And might fill the hallway. And maybe the floor’s guests must move. As if I’d know.

Although Wasagaming is at Riding Mountain, I asked and was told they also allow walking. The one-hour Lakeshore Walk is a fave, and easy — as if I care; it’s just that Mountain unnerves some flatlanders.

I saw fresh bear poop. Wearing no “bear bell” like the joggers, I imagined the missing person report: “We did find Gord’s cellphone — with this last photo. It appears to be of bear poop.”

Getting on my bicycle after several years, I’m indeed averse to inclines. But Margie and I discovered among Wasagaming’s sport rentals: electric bicycles. The sign on our path to Riding Mountain National Park’s Wishing Well read, “No motorized vehicles” so, to avoid lawyers, the Cyclecreek rental folks disengaged our bikes’ electric-only option. Aw. But what an invention! On bike paths, I liked going fast. So did Margie.

In addition to the English Garden’s hidden fountain, it appears Tobans trust that Wishing Well; toonies lie down there and Tobans don’t just toss toonies on a lark.

Margie and I don’t believe in the Wishing Well. But Margie suggested we throw in nickels over the shoulder, just in case.

She made four tries. After each miss she clambered over the abyss for her coin. If she fell in, I’d feel really bad for any injury and, more so, for any spurious allegation she went in for the toonies.

I’m a hotel outdoor-pool nut. Wasagaming is pool palooza, with more than the rest of Manitoba combined: 8! Plus, Elkhorn’s big outdoor hot-tub.

First day at our pool I got a terrible sunburn. Next day, Margie got me sunscreen, just to rub it in.

With abounding swimmers, she urged, “Jump up in the pool, like a jack-in-the-box, with a big smile for me!” As I went up, my trunks went down. That’s how to make a splash. Those folks should mind their own business.

Wasagaming’s beach bustles but the water is brisk. Here they invented that saying, “It’s fine once you get used to it.” Hence those pools.

Long-time local secrets like dog- and boat-friendly Deep Bay and Firth Beach are now discovered by the masses, but one secret largely remains: the 16 docks of Lakeshore Walk. I thought these belonged to adjacent cottage-owners. They’re public. A park employee exclaimed to me, “Shh!” I’m letting you in on it, but don’t blab.

If someone lounges there, ask to come aboard, unless you’re wearing a Speedo. We welcomed a mom with three children more focused on their minnow nets than Margie’s series of proven minnow-catching tips.

But first get to neighbouring Onanole’s Home Hardware for its fantastic watermelon, hotdog, cupcake, and even French fries floatie selection, plus craft beer and, for later, meats. They might have hardware too.

Before leaving Onanole, for energy and giggles, at Poor Michael’s Emporium try the wheat-free “Grey Owl’s Balls.”

Beating the crowd, Margie lines up at 7:33 am for The Whitehouse’s take-out cinnamon buns.

With four kinds, cream cheese reigns. She arrives as the daily coffee klatch of fellas endearingly gathers on the deck corner – City Council I suppose.

The bacon cheeseburger nachos at 1929 Dining are Manitoba’s best. Another great is “The #5” – chili penne, at T.R. McKoy’s. A mainstay is The Boardwalk where you agonize over 45 flavours of hard ice cream. That makes it truly hard.

In February, Time Out listed Wasagaming’s Park Theatre among the world’s 50 most beautiful cinemas — at #21. It’s Canada’s most beautiful. Here is where folks, but not me, must see a horror movie like, say, Cabin in the Woods.

Behind the visitor centre, there’s a charming and informative mini-golf. Behind the tennis courts — and almost extinct elsewhere — there’s a tire-swing! Plus a crazy merry-go-round — for little kids, and me.

The nearby quaint bandshell is decorated with wooden musical notes. Although park staff said they’re the notes to God Save the Queen, I earnestly insisted it’s Do Wah Diddy Diddy.

It should be What a Wonderful World, because that’s what I was singing on the drive home.

gordmackintosh@hotmail.com