Houston We Have Lift Off!

It's not for nothing the favorite refrain around here is "If you don't like the weather just hold your horses and wait a few minutes". Last Wednesday it snowed all day! Now we have sunny skies and 75 degrees. It must be for real this time cuz the wildflowers are starting to bloom! But, the farmers are complaining cuz their grass ain't been growing. Looks like we are just going to skip spring altogether this year and just go for summer! BUY or just get a better look



The little critters are starting to come out in force, like this tiny chipmunk we saw on one of our hikes through the woods. BUY or just get a better look



In the little village of Eureka we have this place called the Historical Village. There all kinds of historical displays, old buildings, cabins, equipment etc. Mom has a particular fascination for this old rail car. There isn't much rail traffic anymore since the logging business has gone the way of the Dodo bird. Mostly just lumber from Canada headed south. BUY or just get a better look.


On another hike we stumbled on this little pond with a waterfall coming down into it. The water in this pond was so green it was amazing. I don't know what causes that but it sure is pretty. Oh, gotta tell you a funny story. On this particular hike mom found a big blue/green egg in the trail. She thought it might be a grouse egg. Whatever it was it was really pretty. It was cold as a stone so there wasn't going to be any birdy from that one. Anyway, mom put the thing in her breast pocket and no sooner did she do that then it started to rain. In order to protect her camera she slung it across her chest and under her arm. In doing so she smashed the egg. She's still trying to get the smell off the camera! Every time she puts the camera to her face to take a photo she gets a good whiff! LOL! BUY or just get a better look



Last but by no means least we snuck back into British Columbia and Kikomun Park. Spring was in the air here too. Lotsa of life in the lakes, there are about a half dozen of them. This photo is of a female mallard preening herself. The logs in the water were just covered with painted turtles and we saw loads ducks and ducklings. We still think this is an exceptionally nice park. If you're ever up this way and looking for a place to camp this park is a winner!

That was our week! Hope yours was a winner too!

©Kinsey Barnard

Pocahontas, Miette Hot Springs, Big Horn Sheep & Happy Birthday to Me!

Ok, before I get started with this day of our trip I would like to make an announcement. It's my birthday today and I am eight years young! So, altogether now "HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAKOTA SUNRISE!" Mom says; I get treats today without doing anything special, I get a walk along the Tobacco River and I get ice cream. Golly how I love ice cream.

Now on with our story

September 09, 2002

This was the first really nice day since we got to Alberta. The plan was to go to Pocahontas and Miette Hot Springs. It’s a very nice drive north on 16.

On the way we stopped to photograph some big horn sheep and mountain goats. Boy, those guys really live on the edge!

At Pocahontas we stopped for a hike at the mining site. We saw a sign that said Punchbowl Falls and followed it. We wandered all over the place looking for the falls because after the first sign there were no others. Canadian Forest Service signs seem to be a lot the Americans; they never quite give you the information you need to actually find anything.

After awhile we ran into some hikers and asked about the falls. The silly thing is we were quite near and easy access to them is right on the road to Miette Hot Springs. Course, I didn’t mind just meant more out of the car time for me. Water was pretty low and the falls weren’t much to write home about.

We continued on up the road to the springs. Made the walk up to the source and ways beyond. Pretty much of a yawner. After that we walked over to the Sulfur Ridge trail. On the way up mom did get a shot of a grouse. And, she almost got one of a really pretty butterfly but while she was jockeying for position she fell over the side of the trail. Fortunately, it wasn’t real steep at this particular spot so she didn’t go far. Needless to say there was no picture of the butterfly. I wish she wouldn’t do these things cuz you know who’s going to get pulled in after her!

We walked about half way to the ridge. Our trail book said it wasn’t much but the people coming down were telling us it was a great view. Unfortunately, great views don’t always translate into great photographs so we decided not to make the whole trip. Chatty Kathy (aka “mom”) stopped and talked to some guys and before you know it she had a dinner date. So, guess where I spent the evening. Stuck in Shadow outside the Fiddle River Restaurant.

On the way back to Jasper we stopped again to watch the big horn sheep. There was a mom and baby that made for a very nice photograph. That was pretty much it for this day. Except for the part where I got stuck in the car while mom dined on baked halibut. Darn her anyway. She knows fish is my favorite! Course, I like mine sushi!


Jasper Slideshow

Until next time ...

©Kinsey Barnard