Day: April 18, 2012

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Inching Towards the Border

I am at the Walmart in Estevan (The Energy City), still in Saskatchewan. I didn’t get much sleep last night and drove about 500km total today in the toad, so I was tempted to stay in Weyburn. But I felt that three nights there were already pushing it, that another 80km wouldn’t kill me, and that it’d be nice to start the day so close to the border (40km). If the border crossing goes smoothly, I will have a chance to do my business in Minot and still make it to the RV park I have in mind. But I have managed to get a full charge today (THANK YOU GALARNEAU), so tomorrow’s cold and overcast forecast isn’t too scary, not with sun being promised from Friday onward, and I will keep open the option of detouring to Bismarck if I do not manage to find the required services in Minot.

Estevan is rather a large city for this part of Canada. The Walmart isn’t as convenient to access as I had to drive through town, but the lot, like that in Weyburn, is nice and big with plenty of space to tuck away a 50′ rig on level spot.

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Photos of My Property

It’s a vacant lot, so there isn’t much to see, but here, as promised, are photos of my little piece of Saskatchewan heaven. 🙂 I am providing plenty of clues as to the location, but would ask that no one guess the exact name of the locale on the blog. I’ll be glad to confirm guesses by email. The structure you can see in the pictures will be taken down by the sellers, but I did invite them to leave it there for the year in exchange for cutting the grass this summer…

driving south out of Assiniboia

driving south out of Assiniboia

this is 'main street' in my village!

this is ‘main street’ in my village!

still on main street

still on main street

veering down into the village proper

veering down into the village proper

my plot (the structure will be removed)

my plot (the structure will be removed)

the entrance to my plot

the entrance to my plot

looking towards the street

looking towards the street

looking down main street towards Willow Bunch (18KM away)

looking down main street towards Willow Bunch (18KM away)

driving to Willow Bunch (the administrative centre of the rural municipality)

driving to Willow Bunch (the administrative centre of the rural municipality)

driving north out of Willow Bunch

driving north out of Willow Bunch

It’s a skinny lot sandwiched between houses, but I think that once the trees have leaves there will be sufficient privacy. I can see myself backing Miranda into the far right corner (if facing the lot from the street).

Considerations (in no particular order):

-garbage collection?
-having gravel laid down for a proper RV pad
-having electricity, water, and internet brought up into a proper RV pedestal
-figuring out sewage

I went to the community’s administrative centre to find out more about using the services on the lot, but the ladies there were clueless. All I know for sure is that I have electrical wiring and pipes underground that can be brought up by a permitted electrician and plumber. I’ll figure all that out next year. I could land for six weeks before even having to worry about services, so I’ll have plenty of time to work out what I want to do and how much I want to spend. Internet would be a first priority.

From a tax basis, I can have a 100′ square foot structure on the site without affecting my property taxes. I have a vision of a little cottage that would hold a guest bunk, a washer and dryer, and garden tools, but that wouldn’t be until several years from now. I don’t want to spend too much on this property; it’s meant to free me, not anchor me!