The Grande Cache Express Day One
The Grande Cache Express is the first in a series of History Circle Tours that takes you to all those little museums that everyone says I should stop there one day and then never do and it does it in style!
This first three day tour starts in Nisku at Blackjacks Roadhouse.
Blackjacks was chosen because it is close to the Edmonton International Airport, has a Rider Friendly Hotel and a 24 hour truck stop with some of the best food in the region.
You have two options on how you want to do any of our tours…you can head to Grande Cache for day one of Sucker Creek First Nation…our crew chose Sucker Creek.
We had one couple that was late so kickstands up was at 10 AM instead of 9AM.
We headed toward Highway 60 and Rochefort Bridge Trading Post and Pioneer Museum.
With that first 150 K under our belt we took a tour of the museum which is a series of buildings including a school, church, post office and central display room.
This museum is so well done and the depth of history and culture that is on offer is truly impressive as is the quality.
To see more photos of this amazingly well done museum and it’s displays visit
Our Flickr Account and this album: Rochefort Bridge Pioneer Museum
After our visit to the museum we stopped into the Hutterite Concession where you can buy produce, home baking, crocheting, blankets and so much more! The place smells like heaven.
Once your mouth is sufficiently watering it’s time to go into the diner and have some of the best homemade fries in the Universe. Mayor Jabush from Mayerthorpe says that a little vinegar makes the fries magical.
With everyone fed and watered it was time to head off to Mayerthorps and the Fallen Four Memorial. This beautiful memorial space is dedicated to the 4 RCMP officers:Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston, Brock Myrol and Peter Schiemann who were killed on March 5th 2005. To learn more about this beautiful memorial visit: Fallen Four
A short jaunt up highway 43 and we were at the Whitecourt Forestry Museum and Visitor Center. There is a ton of forestry and community history in this museum. You can wander for a good hour and still not see everything they have to offer.
To view more photos visit our Flickr Album: Whitecourt Forestry Museum
After topping up with fuel, we went off to Swan Hills to see the Swan and Bear sculpture. The incredible talent it took to make this magnificent wilderness sculpture always makes me feel awestruck.
After a beverage and some photos we were off to our next museum, the Kinosayo Museum in Kinuso.
This is one amazing museum and deceptive in regards to its size. There is not one square inch that has been wasted in this space and the history that has been captured here is breathtaking in its vastness and quality.
To view more photos visit our Flickr Album: Kinosayo Museum
Our last stop for the day was the Bannock n Bed Inn located on Sucker Creek First Nation, Treaty 8 Territory.
This place is serene, peaceful, and calming.
Owned and operated by
There are also 2 rooms with a queen bed, one with a double bed and a cabin to rent that has two single beds.
Charmaine is very rooted in her culture and is very willing to share and teach. Her partner in life, Gil is a metis veteran and brings much to the table at the B n B. Gill helps Charmaine with whatever he can and he’s an important part of this engaging place. If you consider coffee and important part of your morning routine, then you want to ask Gil to make your coffee!
Charmaine is not just a gracious hostess and engaging teacher, she is also a magnificent cook and provides her guests with the opportunity to share in baked and fried bannock and other Indigenous foods. (Bannock is something that Indigenous and Metis people adopted from their Scottish neighbours and made it better therefore making it their own!)
We just happened to be on this tour when the Redrum Motorcycle Club was hosting a fundraiser and weekend rally. We were invited to visit and take part. They had a pretty good group hanging out to listen to the band and many old friendships were rekindled and a few made.
We headed back to the B n B and hung out by the fire sharing stories, using the talking stick and just generally acting like we’d all been friends for years instead of only connecting that morning.
In the morning, after a leisurely continental breakfast we headed into High Prairie and fueled up. On a tour that takes place through the week, the High Prairie Museum is a MUST do stop.
To see more Bannock n Bed photos visit our Flickr Gallery.
Next month we will take you to Debolt’s Pioneer Museum and Veterans Memorial Gardens & Interpretive Centre in Grande Prairie, then it’s off for some fun on the water!
Renee Charbonneau
