Bumps and ticks oh my!

Today was an eventful day here in Manitoba!

We started our day with a small fender bender between the Manitobus #2 and a minivan. The minivan decided to make a left turn from the far right lane before completely passing the bus! Our skilled driver managed to strategically swerve and brake to avoid a major accident. We all took a bit of a tumble in the bus, but luckily no one was hurt, including the driver of the minivan.

After taking some time to exchange information and for everyone to regroup, we then headed to the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Thrift Shop. The thrift shop offers lowest-price merchandise to the community while generating revenue for MCC programs around the world. In addition to the thrift shop, the Winnipeg MCC also operates Sam’s place, a used bookstore and cafe. At Sam’s we enjoyed a traditional German/Russian Mennonite meal of perogies and sausage.

We then headed out to experience early Mennonite life at the Mennonite Heritage Village. Our walk through the village included exploring the sod hut that housed the first settlers and the general store that later supplied the villagers with goods. A large windmill was an early energy supply in the middle of the village.

As the rain began to fall, we were off again for a long bus ride to our next stop – the petroforms of Manitoba. We met our guide at the trail head and she lead us into the forest were we learned about these unique stone placements. The Manitoba petroforms are believed to symbolize ancient beliefs or way finding. The research shows that these stones have been placed here for hundreds of years. We also learned that Manitoba means “where the creator sits” – quite appropriate for the province in the centre of the country.

Our MLO had warned us about wood ticks in the woods and as soon as we were back on the bus, the tick check began! We all thought we were tick free until at dinner when one was spotted on a leg – which sent the whole table searching for more! Just when we were quieting down from the first discovery another was discovered on a group member’s back. That set a bunch of group members off on a body hunt for ticks…and many of the others on a bit of a giggle fit as hair was thoroughly searched and eyes peered to neighbours to see if more could be spotted. All in all, only those two ticks were found, but I’m sure a few folks will be itching and scratching in their sleep as they dream of creepy crawlers!