Skip to main content

Visiting Corner Gas and why I love the Prairies

On a warm day in late July my friend June and I decided to go on a road trip.  Neither of us had been to the Claybank Brick plant and both being keen photographers we thought it would be an ideal way to spend an afternoon.  And it was!  More on that to come today I am sharing what we did AFTER.... which was visiting the setting for "Corner Gas".

"Corner Gas" was a Canadian sitcom that ran from 2004 to 2009.  This hilarious show focused on Brent Leroy, a fellow who runs the local gas station in Dog River, Saskatchewan and his (crazy) parents, friends, co-workers and the local cops.  It became a giant hit nation wide and resonated especially well with those who grew up in small towns on the prairies.  In fact "Corner Gas: the movie" was filmed this summer and will be released around Christmas time. 

"Dog River" is actually Rouleau, Saskatchewan , a small town not that far from Regina which is where I hang out when I'm not on the road.  Outdoor filming was done there and the indoor shots mainly shot at a sound stage in Regina. 

After the Claybank visit we decided we noticed signs for Rouleau and thought why not?  So off we went to Dog River. 

So come along and even if you've never heard of "Corner Gas" enjoy some classic prairie scenery.  Because nothing beats the prairies on a sunny day when the canola is in flower.... 

Arriving in "Dog River"
The famous Ruby's Cafe where a lot of the action takes place - how about a chili cheese dog? 


 The above picture was taken inside The Ruby - they had just finished filming the "Corner Gas: the movie" which will be released this December.  The door was unlocked so we just wandered in...

View of the Ruby in its prairie setting

Corner gas - where most of the action took place
 On the way home I took some fantastic prairie shots if I say so myself - no editing necessary....





Canola  
It was a grand day out - thanks to my friend June who did all the driving and had this idea that we should just hit the road together on the spur of the moment.  May there be many more fun days like this!!!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A walk along the coffin trail (and a couple of lakes) in the Lake District

While in the Lake District I wanted to do some light walking but not heavy duty hiking where I could easily get lost and my body not found for days partially eaten by hungry...sheep?  Anyway, you get the drift...not too grueling and safe for a solo walker.  I get a bit nervous when I am too far from civilization. There are lots of books about walking in the Lake District but they seem to be all about walking the fells in remote places...neither Thelma nor I fancied that.  While browsing in the post office/shop in Ambleside one day (if you are ever in Ambleside you must go there - a treasure!) I found a stand of walk descriptions on post cards.  And there I found my walk.  After all who could resist a stroll on the "coffin trail" in William Wordsworth country... I took a look and thought hmm...cafe along the route...that works for me. (with at least the security of knowing there was an available "loo" along the way.)  Okay, I may not have totally...

Peeing on fish or a fish out of water

Well this morning we headed off by boat to Siem Reap.  Due to the low water on the Tonie Sap Lake (more like a river until near the end of the trip when it widened considerably) the trip would be an 8 hour one... It was supposed to be boring but ended up as anything but...in no certain order...let's see.... We had a rest stop (turned out to be the only one) along the way and the loo was just a hole over the lake and there were fish circling around underneath.  Yes it was just a hole in the floor...you definitely had someone watch your stuff while you went in or one false move and your camera/purse or whatever would be in the lake.  The fish either like the warm pee coming in or they are pervs and like to see ladies parts.  We were just a few minutes out when all of a sudden there was something flying over me and jumping all over the floor - a little fish!  Guess he wanted to join the tour.  Roger reached down and scooped him up while I hooted and ...

Cowboys and Outlaws in the Big Muddy of Saskatchewan

One of the (very) few advantages of being stuck at home during this pandemic has been an opportunity to see more of my home province of Saskatchewan.  Last summer and fall not only did I do a couple of day trips with friends but I took four day tours with Engelheim transport, a local Regina company.   I have to admit my favourite day out was the "Big Muddy Valley and Outlaws" tour. While I had been to the Big Muddy previously many years back I was eager to revisit and learn more of its history.   So in early October, I hopped on board and off we went.  The bus is only booked to half capacity so it was easy to social distance, hand gel was a must each time we boarded the bus,  masks were required when you got on and off the bus and in any buildings we visited.  I felt totally safe and oh my, it was so good to have an adventure!!  Despite the name the Big Muddy isn't a big huge puddle of mud but a valley of badlands that were formed from a glac...