June 6

Mosquitoes.  Manitoba.... 
Just like when you have children, no one tells you how awful it can really be some days.  I think when people from Vancouver cross the border into Manitoba there should be a diversion, like at a weigh scale, where we are all armed with Raid and Deet and DDT, and asked to sign a waiver.  Until you have seen a herd of wild, sex- crazed, hungry Manitoba mosquitoes, you haven't lived. 

We camped in Uncle Bob's driveway, by the river, across from a wetland, after a thunderstorm.  That was our first mistake.  The second one was coming out of the house.  The kiss of death was making a run for the camper.  By the time the two of us and the arthritic dog were inside, so were about 11 zillion mosquitoes.  We spent the night swatting and squashing.  By morning it looked like a Stephen King scenario - corspes, blood spatter, murderous suspects. 

To be honest, there were probably more mosquitoes outside than in (I would have disputed that around 3am).  The screen on the skylight above our bed was dark with insects, and the noise was like a weed eater reving above us.  I tried ear plugs, covers over the head, pillow on top.  No one slept much.  Now we have Deet, Raid, and Duct Tape.  We're prepared!