He's not afraid to use fairly strong language for a guidebook: bear baiting is "reprehensible," the claim that Winnipeg has the largest francophone population west of Ottawa is "bullshit."

Replacing the "much more fascinating" tortured-soul statue with the current "sterile" work demonstrates that "politicians should never be allowed to make artistic decisions."

One caveat: A Daytripper's Guide names wilderness trails all over Manitoba, but it's not a trail guide. If [Bartley Kives] entices more Manitobans -- and other visitors -- to explore our province, he may want to prepare a companion volume containing detailed route descriptions and trail maps for off-road adventures.