Covid-19 has restricted non-essential travel significantly for all of us. Most of us have never been so confined and we look forward to getting on the road or in the air again.
Since the 1950s, many in the western world have come to think of unlimited travel almost as a human right. Cheap and abundant oil and advances in technology have allowed even modest income earners to travel to many parts of the world. This has been a unique time in human history. More people have traveled more miles than ever before, and we have begun to think that “getting away” involves traveling thousands of miles to destinations that await our arrival.
But even before the Covid-19 epidemic arrived, there were signs that the party would soon be over. Increasing the number of cars and airplanes was becoming unsustainable. Not only were they choking our highways and airways, they were adding to the environmental degradation that lies at the root of the climate crisis we are now in.
Serious global leaders have known for some time that eventually we would need to pare down our travel aspirations. But most did not foresee how a global pandemic would slow us down as quickly as it has. Of course, some people are dreaming of getting back on the road and in the air again -- but many are using this pause in global mobility to re-orient themselves with respect to their travelling expectations.
The irony is that, while many were jetting around the globe, often they had barely begun to explore the world closer to home. I am not pointing fingers because this is my story as well. Ruth and I have lived in and travelled to various parts of the world, which does explain, at least partly, why I tend to see political and social issues through a global lens. All fair and good while the party lasted!
But now that we are forced to “get away” closer to home, we have decided to discover those parts of Manitoba we still haven’t been to. So, during the fourth week of July we chucked our tent in the car and headed toward Oak Hammock Marsh, north of Winnipeg. Over the past 50 years it has grown from 60 acres to 14 sections of controlled marshland that has become a major stopping point for dozens of species of birds. While I have often passed within ten miles of the Marsh, I am embarrassed to admit I never took the time to explore it. The loss has been mine.
While we were in the area, we camped at the Stonewall Quarry Campsite where we learned about the fascinating story of lime production from the 1880s to 1967. Three giant limestone kilns built in 1904 towered over us as we slept! To my own chagrin, I never had known where lime came from or how it was made. Now at least I have an idea!
So, while we have pressed the pause button on long-distance travel, I recommend we begin to discover Manitoba. It’s not far away!
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