North Coast 500 Virtual Challenge Progress Report January 31, 2023

Saying goodbye to January means it's time for a North Coast 500 progress report!  

You can see where I am along the route 

which is a short distance past the pacer (the red marker) and that is a good thing.  

my location right in the middle of that road as of end of day January 31st

It is interesting and a delight to see so many others from around the world conquering this challenge!  You can see there are individuals and teams.  These are all the current participants showing where they are along the way.  This does not include all those who have completed the challenge.

I received this notice when I covered 20% of the distance.

This North Coast 500 virtual challenge is bringing me back home in interest and in spirit just like my very first challenge in January of 2021 did! Back then I signed up to conquer "The Cabot Trail" which was a route around Cape Breton in Nova Scotia.    

If your family history traces back to Scotland and you meet others who also share that ancestry, then clans and tartans are where the conversations will eventually get to.  I have numerous items that contain official tartans, some of which I purchased myself but most were gifts over the years.  Most of my tartan pieces are of the Nova Scotia tartan.  I made this kilt many years ago to wear in an 8 km running race called "High River Kilted Run" during the High River Highland Games.  I purchased a piece wool with intentions to one day make something from it.   The scarf is my family tartan made by "Lochcarron of Scotland" from 100% lambs wool.  My sister bought this for me from a shop just south of the Highlands.

I like that the ribbon on this virtual challenge medal is Scotland's tartan. 

I received this postcard on Jan 20th after recording the distance I covered skating .

This is an excerpt from the story attached to the postcard.  I have an extended family member who is a MacDonald.  Maybe while on route conquering this challenge, I will come across a story that my clan participated in a battle.

"I took a sidetrip to the ruins of Strome Castle. Built in the 1400s up on a rocky bluff, the castle was strategically important as it guarded the Strome Narrows at the mouth of Loch Carron. In the hands of the Macdonalds of Glengarry a century later, the castle was often fought over with the neighbouring clan, the Mackenzies. One night in 1602, water was drawn from the well and accidentally deposited in the barrel containing the stock of gunpowder instead of the water barrel, rendering the castle defenceless. Receiving news of this error, the Mackenzies besieged the castle. Negotiations ensued and the Mackenzies agree to provide safe passage to the Macdonalds. Once the Macdonalds left, the Mackenzies blew up the castle."

I received this post card on January 24th when I reached 132 kms completed to-date.

This is an excerpt from the story that goes with this postcard.  

"Visible across the bay is the long and narrow Isle of Raasay and to the north of Applecross where I planned to park my weary legs was the Applecross Walled Garden. The walled garden was once part of Applecross House, a picturesque white mansion that was built in the 17th century. Changing hands several times over the centuries the garden was abandoned and fell into disrepair. Roll in the 21st century and the garden changed hands once again when it was lovingly restored to its former glory. Evolving over the years the garden now has a café with fresh produce grown on site. Taking a seat outside overlooking the flowerbeds I settled down for a homemade egg pasta topped with aubergine, peppers, red onion, cherry tomatoes and fresh basil all picked from their veggie patch. As I like to try anything locally made the recently established Applecross Craft Brewery (Est 2016) seemed a perfect choice to quench my thirst. With a selection of three different ales - pale, dark or red – I opted for the pale ale, thinking it'd complement my pasta the best. As they say in Scottish Gaelic "Sláinte Mhath" (pronounced Slangevar) meaning cheers."  (photos from the cafe & brewery sites)

Biscuits with jam or molasses were a popular, comforting, delicious treat when I was growing up in Nova Scotia (New Scotland).  My Mom baked them from scratch.  Now I bake them from scratch using the recipe in her cookbook.

I also painted biscuits!  This project was done back in September when Queen Elizabeth passed away.  All the talk about tea and marmalade brought me back to my roots.  I digress!  This North Coast 500 challenge  is offering me much more than just participating in a virtual challenge. 

These are just a few of the virtual views along the route I covered so far.  

Achnasheen

Locharron

Applecross Pass

Callakille Cottage and it's bathtub with a view 

embracing the polar vortex looked like this

The Polar Vortex arrived and that thing was not going to get the better of me!  The warning came a couple of weeks ago that it would arrive around now so that was why I enjoyed a get-away last week.  With blizzard like conditions at times, white-outs, -30C windchills and treacherous driving conditions, it was time to watch for periods of favourable open windows and go when the going was good.  When I went, I went close to home and this was what it looked like!  

the sky cleared after a snow fall

I had never seen this before in all the times I went down into Nose Creek. I figured there had to be some type of small barrier that the snow piled up on to create this tear drop shaped formation.  It was there one day and not the next!  

Come into the birth forest with me!  

On this day when the wind was high, 

 was the perfect time to wander in the woods!

We have not received much snow this winter, so what fell during the early stages of the Polar Vortex still did not entirely cover the bushy slopes. The slope looked like this for a stretch of about one hundred or so meters.  

This is what it took to stay warm, safe from frost bite and prevent eyeball burn!

On one of the mornings this is what I encountered as I left the parking lot and began walking the paved path towards the forest.  I ended up not going into the forest, instead I followed the paved path to the bottom of the valley.  

snow flowers

This is the view from beside the trail that follows the creek.  The path was beaten by others who were like me and not letting the polar vortex deter them from finding enjoyment no matter what.  

When the window was shut against venturing outside, I looked to my "vision board" and picked "paint from my photos" as a way to spend a number of enjoyable hours inside.  Nova Scotia has been on my mind lots lately, I have been corresponding with family and friends.  During my visit there in 2016, my "soul sister" and I went on a day trip to Prince Edward Island.  At the end of the day on the way back to catch the ferry after spending time in Charlottetown, we stopped to see the Point Prim Lighthouse.  It is the oldest lighthouse in PEI, built in 1845.  This is the watercolour painting I did from a photo I took.  I cannot paint detailed people, so excluded us.

my reference photo

It took a few more hours to complete the most recent birding course I signed up for on January 13th.  I was spending a couple of hours a couple of times a week taking the lessons.  During the Polar Vortex, I decided to just put the pedal to the metal and get it done.   To do a birding course is also on my "vision board".   I received my certificate and along with that came a discount coupon for another course.  I will get onto that in the next month or so.  

As I get deeper into more detailed courses, I wonder am I getting in over my head.  I never knew there could be so much going on with the birds and ducks, but I am finding out there is.  To "Think Like a Bird" was not an easy task and the attempts at passing the quizzes confirm that!  

The Polar Vortex did not last as long as it was forecasted too!  Time has come again for a good long stretch of wide open windows of opportunity to be out and about!  

 

Mountain Magic January 25, 2023

Day 3

Today I didn’t feel like doing anything but savouring everything that comes with a cabin being a home away from home!  After lots of self talk, I went out for a few hours to get my fill of that magic that is in the mountains.  As I hit the Boom Lake trail, the frosty fog began lifting and the sky started to light up.  

I was happy to see some snow still on the trees.  What I noticed on this get-away is that in all the years I have come to the mountains in January, this year has the least amount snow.  I truly love a full on winter-wonderland and we may be granted that with many weeks of winter still left.

This is a short video along a narrow section of the trail.

The sky was just how I like it, a blue and white mix.

my Boom Lake destination shot

view to hikers right

view to hikers left 

I had the place to myself so of course I took some time to play.  

One of the items on my vision board for this year is to “paint from my photos”.  Painting this, sipping wine, by the fire, was how I passed a few hours of cabin time later in the day.  I had hoped to arrive back with a photo that I could paint.  This one was perfect yet I almost feel like it was a cheat. I cannot draw faces freehand so this photo took away the need to do that.

There was not even a slight breeze.  

As the minutes passed, the sky grew prettier.

About five minutes after leaving Boom Lake, I began to meet others on their way to the Lake.  We exchanged pleasantries then we were on our way. The return hike was just as nice, if not nicer than on the way in.  

a Boreal Chickadee

arriving at the bridge leading to the parking lot

I still had some snacks and tea left but I think I will save that for when I get back to my cabin.  That beaten path may lead to a cleared off picnic table but I was OK with not knowing where it lead to.

What a day! Good thing I listened and took the advice from that self talk first thing this morning.  Now came the time to settle in and be comfy & cozy.
 

Mountain Magic January 24, 2023

Day 2

 

The sun was performing its morning ritual during the short drive to Lake Louise and by the time I arrived at the lakeshore, conditions were ideal to capture pretty pictures of the Ice Castle.  It was early enough that the lights shown brightly illuminating sections of the ice making it look magical.

Each year the details on the Castle are different.  There were lots of intricate leaves this time. 

The lines of lights are frozen inside the ice blocks.

Thanks to the windows carved in the Ice Castle, I was able to sit my camera on the ledge, set the timer then run out in ten seconds to secure this shot.  I like the early mornings here before loads of people arrive.

The Ice Castle in front of The Chateau

It was time to scoot back to the car to get my skates.  I was ready to skate until my heart was content.  Well, contentment came in a matter of minutes but I skated for just short of two hours.  The ice had been swept but it had not been flooded yet it was still pretty sweet. There were a few others skating as you can see in this video.  Come along with me and enjoy the mountain magic!

That’s a group of backcountry skiers crossing Lake Louise in front of Fairview Mountain.  Their loads looked heavy and their gear looked significant.  I wondered where they may be headed.

a view from the backside of the ice

When I was here in December, there was only one gigantic ice surface.  This time, the ice was divided and that section over there is for those that choose to skate with hockey sticks or play hockey.

There is one ice sculpture, it is a Canadian Lynx.  It was carved by two Canadians and a fellow from the Philippines.  The last time the ice sculpture competition was held was January 2020, before our world changed.  I wonder will there ever be another one!

just so pretty

tonnes of beauty in this tiny section of open water

fire time back at my home away from home