Out Exploring

It was kind of chilly overnight in the trailer.  I set the furnace to 63F and it ran every half hour or so.  When we got up in the morning there was frost on the ground.  I was quite tired from a busy few days, playing hockey, and fighting the cold.  So we both went to bed early last night.  We had lots of blankets so it was quite warm once we got settled in.

We hit the road in the morning around 9:00AM and it was still below zero.  We headed southeast to Dinosaur Provincial Park, and arrived well before noon.  We did some hiking and exploring and then by mid afternoon we hit the road and headed further east.  We ended up along the Red Deer River, north of Jenner.  The area was not as I remembered it from my last visit, a quarter century ago.  There was not a lot of exposure, and the hills were mostly grassed over.  After wandering around for a while we made our way back in the general direction of East Coulee.  We made a stop at Carolside Reservoir.

I took a bunch of photographs of some old abandoned farm machinery, and Helena collected rocks along the lakeshore.  Combined with the shots I took I Dinosaur Park, I had a good day of shooting... 17 sheets.

The lake level was quite high, but Helena managed to find some snail shells, some antique bottles and a few rocks along the beach.  After that we headed back to the shop and arrived there around 5:00.  We dropped off some gear, used the bathroom, and then blasted in to Drumheller for something to eat.  We went to the pub at Yavis' Restaurant and had dinner, then returned to the trailer for the evening.  It was a great day, with sunny skies, and the temperature peaked at 21C.  Pretty amazing for late October...!!

This is a phone snapshot of a hoodoo on the Badlands Trail in Dinosaur Provincial Park.  I recall taking a photo of the exact same hoodoo, with my medium format Hasselblad camera, probably back around 1992.  It doesn't seem that long ago, at least if you say it quickly... but if you do the math it's over 30 years.  In geological time, things just don't change that much, even if we do....

The Morning After

The Alberta referendum was yesterday.  The polls didn't close and the results didn't get released until nearly midnight.  The vote to stay in Canada was something like 76% for, though the final validated numbers won't be know for a week or so.  The other nine referendum questions were all related to Immigration and Constitutional issues.  They all received a "Yes" majority, but a very small one in most cases.  So it remains to be seen if anything further happens.

This morning I went and played Vintage hockey for the first time this season.  This is a league of guys that are all 55 years and older.  I missed the first three games of the season.  Margarit and I were in Waterton when the first one was scheduled.  Then I was sick and missed the second.  And the third took place on the day I had to be in Red Deer to pick up the prints from the Coal Project.  

I play in the second of three divisions.  Although I know some of the guys I'm playing with, I moved to a new day and time from last season.  My game time is now Tuesday mornings at 10:30.  Last year it was around noon on Thursdays, and the late start time messed up the entire day.  I'm pretty sore and bruised as I took a couple of hits in our Renegades game last Thursday, and then fell down onto my bruised hip and then my shoulder, during play today.  Nothing serious, but I will need a little time to heal.

After hockey Helena and I hit the road and headed down to East Coulee.  We will spend a couple of days hiking, exploring and photographing.  I was going to arrange this trip in conjunction with a fall outing for the Monochrome Guild, but most of the guys weren't available and it became too complicated to coordinate a date that worked for those that could.  So it ended up just being Helena and me.  We rolled into the shop just after the sun set behind the hills.  We are staying in the trailer, and it will probably be a little chilly.  Its supposed to be sunny and 20 degrees for the next couple of days, but there is some snow in the forecast after that.  And the temperature is expected to drop below freezing at night.

Winter Hockey

My Renegades team is now six games in to the winter season.  We played two games in recent days.  A late one last Thursday against the Ticklers, and then another late-ish one on Sunday, against the Mammoth.  

The Thursday game didn't go so well.  We didn't have a great turnout, and a number of our better players were absent.  The game was tied 2-2 at about the half way point, but then the wheels fell off and we gave up 9 unanswered goals to lose 11-2.

The game yesterday went a lot better.  We had a better turnout, and jumped out to a 4-0 lead by the end of the first.  The Mammoth rallied late in the game and got it close... making it 6-5.  But when they pulled their goalie in the dying minutes we got an empty netter to seal it 7-5.

We are only 2 wins and 4 losses so far this season, so will not be moved up to a higher division.  Hopefully in the coming weeks we can continue to play a little better.

 

 

Flooring Installation Begins

After we returned from our Thanksgiving weekend out in Nordegg, I got to work on the repairs in the basement.  I picked up nearly $3000 worth of flooring materials.  This included 650 square feet of vinyl plank flooring, as well as all the other materials and accessories.  Adhesive, edge trim, stair nosing, etc.  

Our old water logged carpet and underpad was removed shortly after the flooding back in late June.  Since then we have been waiting to settle our insurance claim.  I recently took a cash buyout and elected to do all the work myself.  This is mostly because our coverage was limited, and didn't cover the full cost of the repairs.  It also did not cover the plumbing upgrades, which I had to pay for out of pocket.

There is old vinyl floor tiles on the floor through most of our basement.  We elected to leave them in place and will put the new vinyl directly on top of it.  This is partly because I didn't need the extra work, but mostly because the tiles contain asbestos, and it is safest not to disturb them.

I had to scrub the old glue and underpadding off of the tiles,and then coat them with a layer of cement based patching compound.  I found it really difficult to get this spread evenly and there will be a few small lumps and bumps.  But most of the flooring will be covered by furniture and area rugs, so it will have to do.

The new vinyl plank material is glued around the perimeter, but just loose laid in the middle of the room.  I went with the larger size 9" by 5 foot planks.  They are pretty quick and easy to install once all the prep work is done.  It is just the cutting at the edges that takes a little longer.  So far I have about 3/4 of the rumpus room installed, which is about 1/2 of the total.  It will be nice to get this finished and start to get our lives back in order.

 

 

Another Walk up to the Mine

On Thanksgiving Monday, Margarit, Ryan and Braeden packed up and headed back to the city.  They left around 3:00 in the afternoon.  Shortly after they left I decided to take a drive up to the historic Mine Site.  I let the county staff know that I was going to wander in on a private tour, as I always do.  The late afternoon fall light was clear and beautiful and I spent a couple of hours, in almost utter silence, just exploring and taking a few photographs.

After I finished up I headed back down to the cottage and started the big cleanup.  There were lots of dishes to do from the Thanksgiving festivities.  Plus I had to bring in more firewood, and tidy up the cottage.

Hailey has decided to stay out in Nordegg through the winter, at least at this point.  She is working on some online schooling, and really enjoys the solitude.  I have to head to Red Deer on Tuesday the 13th and pick up the prints from the Coal in Alberta show at the Kiwanis Gallery.  Court and Fred are supposed to meet me there to help out.  It was much too quick a visit this time around and I hope to return for a longer stay sometime soon.

A Drive up to the Lake

On Thanksgiving Sunday I took a drive up to Abraham Lake with Hailey, Ryan, Braeden and Hank.  After the snow of the day before it was pretty white, but the temperature got up a little above freezing and the snow started to melt.  We made a quick stop at the dump to drop off some garbage, and then continued on down the David Thompson Highway.  Margarit decided to stay behind at the cottage and work on Thanksgiving Dinner.

We saw a herd of wild horses on the way out, and again on the way back.  I never get tired of seeing these guys.  We stopped at Abraham Slabs and wandered around down at the shore of the lake.  We also stopped at Preachers Point, and explored there for a bit as well.  Our final stop was up at the Landslide Lake trailhead.  It seems that there are even more prayer flags here than there were last year. 

After we finished exploring we headed back to the cottage.  Margarit had Thanksgiving Dinner well in hand, and we helped her finish up things.  

We had a really nice family dinner together and the only sad part was that Helena decided not to join us and stayed behind in the city.  After dinner we watched the pilot episode of Twin Peaks on the DVD.  This is a favorite of Hailey's, ever since I introduced her to it a few years back.

Winter Arrives

On the morning of Saturday October 10th we woke up to snow in Nordegg.  The weather forecast seemed to scare a lot of people away, as it wasn't very busy up in the subdivision, or down in town.  Margarit came out with Ryan and Braeden on Friday evening.  On Saturday we pretty much just laid low and hung around the cottage.  The snow kept coming down lightly through most of the day.  We kept the fire going and just hung around the cottage visiting and relaxing.  We brought out a bunch of the fallen apples from our tree in the city and the deer loved them as usual.

Last Round of Golf in 2026?

On Thursday October 8th I headed over to the golf course in Nordegg.  It was partly overcast, breezy and cool, but I thought I'd get in my last round of golf of the season.  It was gloriously quiet, and I was the only one on the course.  I took a few practice shots, and played the round with two balls.  I shot a 39 with one and a 42 with the other.  These are among some of my best scores of the year.  It's sad that I'm finally getting a little better at the game, just in time for the season to come to an end.

Back to Nordegg

On Wednesday October 7th I headed back out to Nordegg.  Margarit and the kids were planning to join me in a couple of days for Thanksgiving.  I arrived in the early evening and pretty much just settled down and got a fire going.  On Thursday the 8th I headed over to the golf course and got in what would likely be my last round of the year.

On Friday October 9th the sun was out in the morning, and into the early afternoon.  The forecast was calling for rain turning to snow over the weekend so I thought it best to head out for a little drive while I could.  I drove up to Abraham Lake and on the way there I saw two different herds of wild horses, a small herd of Bighorn Sheep, and a few deer.  

The lake level is not quite as high as it was last fall, and is not yet up into the trees.  I took a couple of shots with my big camera.  By the time I got as far as Preacher's Point the clouds had rolled in and the sun was gone.  It started to rain off and on as I slowly made my way back home to the cottage.  It was a nice afternoon and it might be the last of some good weather for the next little while.  I have a feeling I may wake up to the white stuff by morning.

Prince of Wales

Margarit and I really enjoyed our stay at the historic Prince of Wales Hotel.  The place just has such character.  The huge timber framed building just has such an ambiance, and there is an aroma that speaks of the decades that have passed.  The huge timbers that it was framed with a very impressive.

The staff were extremely friendly and helpful.  The old elevator is apparently among the oldest in Canada.  It has to be operated by one of the bellhops, and you have to buzz one of them whenever you need to use it.  Four buzzes lets them know that you want to come down from the fourth floor, for example.  We stayed on the fifth floor, though the elevator only goes to the fourth.  So we had to take a flight of stairs to get up to our level.  

I don't believe that the hotel has central heat.  I didn't notice anything down in the lounge area on the main floor, and the windows were all just single glazed.  Lots of people we sitting around with blankets and sweaters to keep warm.  There was a large radiant heater in the restaurant, but I didn't notice any elsewhere.  There was a small electric baseboard heater in our room.  The hotel closes for the season in mid October, as does most of the Waterton townsite, and they don't re-open until spring.

It was a wonderful experience and we would certainly like to return and experience it all again at some point in the future.

Monday in Waterton

It got very windy on the evening of Sunday September 27th.  Margarit and I enjoyed our Anniversary Dinner that evening in the Royal Stewart Dining Room.  I had a strip loin steak and Margarit had a trout dish.  That evening the wind really picked up and we were told it was gusting to 100km per hour.  Up in our room, the poor old building was showing its age, and the windows didn't fit that tight any more.  The wind blowing in off the lake was whistling in around the edges of the window.  In fact all night long we could feel the entire building swaying whenever there was a big gust.

In the morning we went down to the dining room for high tea.  They served each of us three different kinds of tea, as well as a selection of pastries, sandwiches and dessert.  We were absolutely stuffed by the time we were done.

After tea we wandered down into the townsite, hoping that we could keep out of the wind somewhat.  We explored the pond below the hotel, as well as the Salamander crossing on the highway.  After a brief stop at Cameron Falls we headed back up the Akamina Parkway.  It was a lot quieter now that it was Monday, and the weekend was behind us.  This area, in the narrow valley of Cameron Creek, was somewhat sheltered from the brisk wind that was howling all day.  We made the best of it, and enjoyed our afternoon.  Later in evening we headed into town and had the locally famous Fried Chicken at Zums restaurant.  We hung around the lounge in the hotel that evening and had a couple of drinks, and listened to a talk about the history of the park.