Winter roads could be a problem but at least when they got drifted in you could shovel the snow off them and be on your way.
Spring roads would have their own problems and there was not much you could do about them; except wait for the sun to dry them off so they could be graded off and re-gravelled.
Until then you needed to drive with care, to keep from either sliding off into the ditch, or getting yourself stuck in the middle of the highway.
The Maddocks realized this and got safely into town during that week of April 13, 1950. It was in that same week that these two yokels must have forgotten about spring road conditions.

April 13, 1950
“ Two Men Get One Year For Car Theft
“Joseph Bates, age 28, no fixed abode and Charles Sharlton, 25, of East Coulee were arrested by Constable James in the CPR yards early Saturday morning and charged with the theft of a half ton Mercury truck, the property of Messrs. Jim and Fred Crane.
They were later brought before Magistrate Harry Knight at Castor and given the minimum sentence of one year in Fort Saskatchewan jail. Const. Band RCMP, prosecuted the case.
“Last Friday evening at about 9:30 Jim Crane observed that his truck was missing from in front of the hotel and assuming his brother Fred, co-owner, had taken it nothing more was thought about it.
He was then informed that it was seen headed east with two strangers as passengers so Jim, in company with Bruce Gilbertson took off in hot pursuit in the latter’s car.
“The truck was discovered stuck in the highway near Throne, the two occupants, both strangers, working feverishly to extricate it.
“Jim and Bruce tried to reason with Bates and Sharlton that they should return to town but it was to no avail. They later returned for a tow truck and the police, Const. Billy James and Const. Tom Band, RCMP were called upon for assistance.
“Upon returning to the scene of the crime it was discovered that Bates and Sharlton had disappeared.
“It was while Veteran was being searched that the arrest of the two was made by Const. James in the CPR yards after being informed by station operator Stan Stephenson that two strangers had been seen prowling about the east train which was due to leave that morning.”

They were probably wishing they had taken the train in the first place.

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