We roll out of Cypress Hills and the town of Elkwater Alberta, heading for Moose Jaw. The land continues to be lush and green with an occasional flash of bright yellow as we pass a canola field. With all the rain they could use some sunshine and warm weather to get things a’growin’.

An old friend of mine still lives in MJ. I have known Jim Williams since I was 20 years old. We worked together all those years ago setting up mobile homes at Greenwood Village in Bowness in Calgary. Jim was born and raised in Moose Jaw and returned here to live and work after a marriage break up in Calgary. I phoned him up and we arranged for meet for dinner.

Dinner was pleasant as we again reminisced about old friends and acquaintances; children and grandchildren. The other reason for stopping in Moose Jaw was to visit the famous Moose Jaw tunnels. During the days of Prohibition in the 1920’s illegal booze was in high demand in the Midwest United States. It just so happened that Moose Jaw was at the end of the Soo Line railroad. The eastern terminus was Chicago Illinois.

The famous Moose Jaw tunnels ran under main street and the railyards and were originallybuilt for heating and steam. During the Prohibition Years they were repurposed as secret hiding places for the illegal booze that was shipped south hidden in cargo on the train cars and in trucks crossing the border. Although never actually proven, legend has it that the infamous Al Capone had visited Moose Jaw and hid out in the tunnels. There is a thriving tourist attraction with tours of the tunnels. Guides dressed in period costumes (Franny the bar owner and Gus the gangster) lead us through the tunnels on a narrated, participatory journey. Great fun.

Back top side it was time to leave and we hooked up the trailer and headed out. On the way out of town we stopped for the obligatory picture with Mack the Moose, the world’s tallest moose at 34 feet. Next to Mack is a decommissioned Snowbird aerobatic airplane in it’s iconic red and white colours, sitting proudly on a pedestal next to the Trans Canada Highway. Moose Jaw is home to 15 Wing of the Canadian Airforce and also the home base for the Snowbirds, something the city is extremely proud of.

The stop for tonight will be Brandon Manitoba and so a camping site is booked and away we go.