September 29, 2009 - Peterson Creek Hike

I am fortunate enough to have some nice trails at the end of the street we are living on. We took the walking sticks and spent a few hours hiking at Peterson Creek Park. Walking down the street you could not help but notice all the flowers still in bloom. In the first picture above, you can see some colours. Those are the flowers. Another sunny day when we started out, but clouded over near the end of the hike. A few spots of rain, then the clouds moved out. And it looks like more sun in the forecast for the upcoming week/weekend.

September 28, 2009 - Settling In

Spent part of the day going to some of my favourite stores. know it's a bit odd but I get excited about shopping for food. And we do have some interesting stores. We hit Cobbs Bakery for some stellar pumpkin tea biscuits and country grain bread and some rolls. Then we hit the butcher, a grocery store and the Health Food store. After taking care of some administrative issues and eating lunch, Aileen and I washed the car. Let's just say it was so full of bugs, at one stop a magpie went up to it and started eating the bugs off of it. So I guess I am settling in, not to a real routine yet, but my bags are slowly getting unpacked. Maybe a hike tomorrow before the threatened rain comes. I will post tomorrow if we do hike and I get some picture of Peterson Creek Park.

September 27, 2009 - In the Loops

Arrived. More to come later.

September 26, 2009 - Travel Day - Waterton to Golden, BC

Drive from Waterton to Golden was very windy and hilly. Not too much to report but we did see a Bald Eagle in our travels. We had a nice dinner in town and are staying at a beautiful Inn a bit out of town, down about 6k on a gravel road. Very secluded area and can see the mountains outside the bedroom window. The Inn is for sale if anyone is interested. On to our destination in the morning. Kamloops...here we come...

September 25, 2009 - Rest Day 2 - Waterton Park

Slept in until 7:00 am, went for a real breakfast at the hotel, then drove up the Akeema Parkway to Cameron Lake and did a short hike around the lake. After that we drove back down the Parkway to the Info Centre and hiked Bear's Hump Trail. Straight up 200 meters 1.4 kms one way. We got some good shots, as it was a clear day and the sun was shining. We had a picnic lunch where we had seen the elk the day before, but they were no where to be found. We drove up the Red Rock Canyon Parkway (a beautiful drive with meadows, mountains and breathtaking views, and hiked Red Rock Canyon, and Blackeston Falls. Our pass was running out so we hightailed into town for a latte to go and in the car to a B&B outside of the park. On our way we stopped to look at the Bison, and we met a man from London, ON, who offered us his case of water as he was flying home the next day. We arrived at the Corner Mountain B&B operated by Janet. A lovely house, great food and met some really nice people who were staying there. An older couple from Vancouver who had met in University, then got together after their respective spouses passed away and are now travelling companions and friends. It was just such a nice story. Something you read about. And another couple from the Netherlands. Very nice people. We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and were sad when we had to leave the next morning.

September 24, 2009 - Rest Day - Waterton Park

We drove from Elkwater to Lethbridge then on to Waterton National Park. As we were entering Waterton it was quite smokey due to the controlled burn near Canmore. We checked into the hotel, then went across the street to the Trappers Mountain Grill and had a welcome ice cold beer, McNally Pale Ale. The smoke cleared while we were having lunch and we drove up to the Fairmont hotel, and saw probably 20 elk across the river on the shore and in the water. Off to dinner and an early night.

September 23, 2009 - Rest Day - Elkwater, AB

Stayed in Elkwater to do some hiking at Cypress Hills Inter-Provincial Park. Nice to get out of the car for a day and do something different. It was interesting to hike among the cows in the forest. A few of them would run off ahead of us on the trail. One of them seemed to have a bad cough. The total hike was about 5 k and we saw some interesting birds along the way. The hike took us to Spruce Coulee Resevoir. Because it was a loop, that is where the car was parked and we headed back to the lodge, had lunch and drove to Reesor Lake. We saw some rather large black birds on the lake which we believe were either some type of Crane or some type of Cormorant. They almost looked like fat, tall, black geese. Technology failed me today with 2 dead camera batteries. I was able to squeek out a few pictures though. On to Wateron Lake tomorrow for more hiking. Batteries are now charged, both mine and the camera's. Stay tuned.

September 22, Travel Day 5 - Elkwater, AB

From Moose Jaw we trekked on towards our destination for today, Cypress Hills Interprovincial park in Elkwater, AB. We will most likely stay here two nights at the Elk Water Lake Lodge. It is a beautiful lodge, with nice big rooms. Plan to do some hiking tomorrow. We drove up to a lookout that was 1466 meters, so somewhat higher elevation than where we have been the past few days. Beautiful views. Hard to capture in the pics. A few were from this morning when we were still in Saskatchewan. We stopped for lunch in Piapot at a rest stop beside the highway. Watched the huge transport trucks whizz by. Saw some antelope in the fields which was pretty amazing to see them wild like that. And of course lots of cattle, and bales of hay.

September 21, 2009 - Travel Day 4 - Moose Jaw, SK

In case anyone was wondering, the Prairies are really, really, flat. Hwy 1 is one long straight road. We headed out from cloudy Winnipeg around 8:00 a.m. and soon hit the rain. It rained quite hard through most of Manitoba. We stopped for lunch in Moosomin, where it was very very windy and cold. Once we hit that little town it stopped raining and the skies eventually cleared. We had a stop in Regina which seems like a nice city and had a welcome beer at one of the pubs after walking around and taking some pictures of the downtown. Then back in the car and off to Moose Jaw where we are staying at the Days Inn. They seem to be consistently nice hotels whereas the Super8 is not so consistent. Hope you enjoy some of the pictures from today. Miss you all.

September 20, 2009 - Travel Day 3 - Winnipeg

Drove out of Thunder Bay in the fog and took a side trip to Kakabeka Falls (pictured below). A nice stop and the only stop really of interest. The rest of the drive to Winnipeg was a little busy, a little bumpy (road construction) and a little boring. I was surprised at how flat it was driving into Winnipeg. We saw lots of geese battling the wind as we were battling it driving in the car. Thankful that I was not on a bike and in awe of cyclists who do this route across Canada. Maybe you need to be a bit crazy or a bit suicidal. Whatever it is I don't have it. I am sure my family is thankful for that. No coffee news really. We stopped at the same chain as yesterday (Robson Coffee) but it was not as good as I remembered. Thanks to Don for some good car music...yes I found some cd's in the glove compartment. What is with the Hungarian Choir???

September 19, 2009 - Travel Day 2 - Thunder Bay

A more interesting drive today along Lake Superior. The sun was shining when we left Sault Ste. Marie and we encountered some clouds along the way but no rain. On another note it is interesting where you can find good coffee. The best one today was Robin's Donuts in White River. We have been having a good laugh at some of the names that we pass that are familiar to us in Ottawa. For example, today we drove by the Carp River and White Lake. Yesterday we passed Calabogie and Woodlawn. So tonight we are at the Days Inn and have rated it 4 star. We had a nice walk along the waterfront in Thunder Bay. It seems like a nice place. So stay tuned tomorrow for more coffee reports and updates of our travels out West.

Don't Know Where I Am

I am actually in Sault Ste Marie, not Long Sault.

September 18, 2009 - Travel Day 1 - Long Sault

An uneventful trip to Long Sault with a delivery stop in North Bay. Sadly Catherine was at school so I was unable to connect with her. Saw a herd of bison in or near Thessalon and that was about the extent of our wildlife spotting. Some rain along the way but it cleared up nicely in North Bay and we had a nice drive the rest of the way. To my surprise there was a bottle of Carona in the cooler and we bought a few things at the grocery store to add to the delicious chicken Aileen made the day before. Hopefully a good nights sleep as there is another full day of driving tomorrow.

Road Trip - The Night Before

September 17, 2009

Car is packed and Aileen and I are heading out early tomorrow morning. First stop is North Bay and dropping a few things off to Catherine. Hope to see her around lunch if the timing is right.
It has been an emotional week saying goodbye to everyone, but I am looking forward to the drive to Kamloops. Goodbye Ottawa. You will be missed.