In response to the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/local-flavor/

Write a piece about a typically “local” experience from where you come from as though it’s an entry in a travel guide.

Ok, first of all I don’t know what an entry in a travel guide is supposed to read like.  Or look like.  Whatever.  But, Kevin tells me I should “stretch” myself and actually try one (or probably more) of the Daily Posts rather than ignoring them and posting what I want to.  So, I guess I will give it a whirl.

Now, the first poser is to choose a typically “local” experience from where I come from.  Well, I come from Saskatchewan (although I, thankfully at this time of year, live in Victoria).  So, at this time of year, a fairly typical local experience is shoveling a million tons of snow before trying to get to work.  Let’s see if I can remember how it goes.

Ah, there is nothing more bracing that Regina, Saskatchewan in the dead of winter.  And by dead of winter, I mean anytime from mid-October (or sometimes September) to the end of May, or June, sometimes (but not very often July). I mean, just look out of that window!  What a beautiful, pristine sight.  Oh wait, you say you have to go to work today?  Because they never have snow days in Regina?  Well, then get out there and enjoy!

And what better way to get a great workout than to pull out your shovel (a SNOW shovel, not a spade, just to clarify) and make a path through 10 feet of snow that just appeared overnight from your door to your car.  Oh, and once you’re there, to make a path from your car to the street (hoping that the City hasn’t completely shoveled the street snow all around your car if you were unfortunate enough to have parked there the one day they shoveled your side street which they never do except when you have parked there.)

And now you are ready to brave the streets of snow, and ice, and ruts made of snow and ice that have slowly built up over the weeks of “Ok today it’s -40 and everything is frozen, but it’s ok because it’s been cold for 2 weeks and all the snow is nicely packed down for driving”, to “Ok now it’s +1 – great!  Everything is melting (and snowing again) – crap, I know what’s coming next” to what came next: “And now it’s -40 again and all that melting stuff is freezing into lumps of ice on the streets.  Excellent!”.  What a diverse climate they have there!  An adventure every day!

So, get your butt down to Saskatchewan for the endless horizon, the best sunsets in the world, and weather that just won’t quit, no matter how much you pray for spring – BTW, spring doesn’t exist there…only winter and summer.  So, two less seasons to worry about!

There are days when I miss Saskatchewan (seriously – the best sunsets in the world!), but today is not one of those days!