By 5:30 p.m. of the same day we had checked over our personal belongings, discarding all unnecessary articles, and securely packed the outfit for the first stage. Maudie, quite respectably clean, full fed and watered, was impatient to be off, so to the music of Claxon and instructions from the Kid we bade Regina a temporary farewell.

Clouds were showing in the North, but it would have taken a good deal more than the chance of rain to prevent a start being made: moreover we decided that we could reach Moose Jaw in any case and would in all probability be able to keep ahead of the rain should it come. The first few miles were rather rutty, but after we passed Grand Coulee the road improved and we made fair time, passing through Moose Jaw about 7:30. Our objective was a point between Parkbeg and Secretan, but this proved too ambitious, the sun going down by the time we reached Caron: So we were compelled to make a dry camp in the open near a deserted farm about three miles North East of Mortlach, having covered 72 miles.

The first campsite had nothing to recommend it in the way of scenery, shelter or comfort, and as a matter of fact we put in a very restless night, but it was good to watch the campfire and feel that the trip, planned so long ahead, had at last actually started, and that in all probability we had three glorious weeks of outdoors ahead of us. We comforted ourselves, therefore, with a maxim from Mrs. Hurd and were satisfied.

We planned to make an early start in order to reach Maple Creek in good time the next night, having in addition to make a short side trip. The Kid removed all danger of sleeping by getting up about an hour before the first signs of day - later experience showed that he considered he had done his full duty by this one effort - Breakfast was over and we were on the road shortly after sunrise, having been slightly delayed by a sharp shower while we were packing up. The first few miles we were quite cold, but after the sun got high enough there were no complaints. Maudie was fed when passing through Swift Current, where we branched off from the main road, and had lunch by the roadside about 20 miles out, proceeding to our point of call immediately after. This call represented the last tie with a base and sordid occupation, and it was with a sigh of relief that Maudie was headed in a southwesterly direction to again strike the main road just West of Webb. A little time lost here, as we missed the best trail which joins the main road at Antelope, and a very deep trail near Webb was probably the cause of an accident which had a very serious result later on.

Once on the Main road again we made good time, passing through Gull Lake and Tompkins without stopping. Some very rough spots between Sidewood and Piapot brought groans from the hind seat where the Kid was trying to sleep and were probably the cause of a ruptured ligament in Maudie's back, but Maple Creek was reached absolutely on schedule time at 6:15 p.m., the day's run being 213 miles.

W. received us joyfully, but rather shocked by us maintaining that certain matters of business must still be attended to: he also appeared to think it advisable that his family should return from camp before he left. Paltry details such as these simply could not be allowed to interfere, so L. and the Kid were detailed to see that all matters of business were completed before noon of the First, failing which it was understood they were to burn or otherwise destroy the townhall with all records, paying special attention to tax notices. The tax commission which had notified W. that his presence would be required at a sitting early in August were in the words of the Hon. George "to be left to set as long as they didn't 'atch anything", and B. chaperoned by Maudie, was dispatched to bring in the family "vi et armis", to which end he drove out about 20 miles and camped for the night. While on this mission, Maudie trod on a skunk, which fact she proudly proclaimed to all and sundry for many days, and incidentally behaved in such a manner as to earn from a friend a delicate hint that she was fast and would bear watching. Prior to this she had always been considered quite a worthy person, inclined to ape the fashion of her betters perhaps, but prepared to do an honest day's work, frugal and of a robust, if plebeian constitution. How far this estimate of her character was at fault we were to learn before our return. Promptly at noon of the First B. returned in triumph with the captured campers, W. had made such progress that the townhall was out of danger, L. had everything in readiness for immediate loading, and there was no further cause for delay if Maudie had not been found to have lost her spare shoe - with sock and insole complete - which had been hung on her back but torn loose by the deep trail near Webb and finally lost somewhere between Piapot and Maple Creek. This loss was replaced, packing completed and everything again in readiness by 3 p.m., when Claxon signaled the real start, "Victoria or bust". Total mileage to date including side trip 360 miles - elapsed time from start 45 ½ hours.