Day Trip with Chris and Connie

On Sunday May 23rd Margarit and I went out for a day trip with our friends Chris and Connie, from Calgary.  They were visiting Edmonton to work on a research project.  We have not seen them in person for over a year, obviously due to the Covid pandemic.  It was nice to get together with them in person.

We followed all the proper protocols and kept to a small group of just the four of us.  We were only together outdoors, and maintained signficant distances.  

We took a day trip out to the northeast of the City, and travelled in separate vehicles.  We had no particular destination in mind, and generally just wandered about.  We actually saw quite a bit of wildlife on this outing, including a bald eagle, and lots of ducks, geese, shorebirds and songbirds.

We stopped and checked out out a small cemetery.  Later we continued on to an old homestead in Lamont County.  This was the same one that I photographed previously on numerous occasions, including most recently with my friend Arturo.  While we were here a group of four Turkey Vultures soared over us.  I seem to recall that I saw at least one when I was here previously.

From there we continued on and made a stop at the Limestone Lake Church.  We checked out all the graves in the cemetery, some dating back over a century.  The door to the church was open so we respectfully went in and had a look around.

We checked out the towns of Willingdon and Hairy Hill and took a few photographs of the old stores and buildings.  Margarit saw a Red Fox in Hairy Hill.  We checked out another old farm yard, and some abandoned mobile homes.  By this time it was late in the afternoon so we headed back to the city.  Margarit had been up early to tidy up the patio behind our house.  This provided space for the four of us to sit outside in the evening, with a small fire, and share some pizza and beer.  It was great to get together again after so long and we had a wonderful day.

I'm hopeful that over the next couple of months, once we have all received both vaccinations, we can start getting together again on a regular basis, and not have to continue with all the distancing and separation.