Lots to see along Hwy. 250

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Published on Saturday, September 27, 2014

By Jessie Bell

The 22-kilometre stretch of Hwy. 250 south of the former airbase provides a variety of scenery for tourists. It begins with large potato crops and overhead irrigation pivots.

On my travel day of Aug. 30, a plane left a trail of chemical spray over what appeared to be an already-ripened cereal crop. It was flown so low it appeared to almost land in the field.

Even farther south (past the refuse grounds) were swathed fields of canola, flax, peas, more cereal crops and an alfalfa field adorned with small blue huts to accommodate leafcutter bees. Trucks were lined up near new buildings, presumably there for the potato harvest.

A small gravel pit was visible on the west side of the highway, which then led to a curved turn to the valley, a valley that is usually green and picturesque. This year the flat terrain below is scarred with muck, dead shrubbery and large pools of stagnant water whereon sat small flocks of seagulls. The mess was created by June and July flooding of the Assiniboine River, which flows south of Deerboine Colony. The river water level is still at the top of its banks. Spanning the river is a tall, narrow metal bridge, built in 1892 and rebuilt in 1946.

Farther south are two large fields of sunflowers. Their yellow blooms are faded and ripened into brown seed pads, all facing east and hanging their heads due to the weight. And just before reaching No. 1 Hwy., there is a pasture with 14 horses crowded into a fence corner, with tails swinging briskly to scare away biting insects. Thus ends a very interesting part of Hwy. 250 to travel this time of year.