tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074885864652814292024-03-28T05:42:47.521-06:00still Making Waves on top of the worldAlexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.comBlogger571125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-22056271713487189522024-03-27T19:39:00.004-06:002024-03-28T05:42:13.744-06:00Glenbow Ranch March 27, 2024<p>The sun was barely up and what was left of Monday's full moon was working its way down through the clouds. This was the view in front of me as I left the parking lot at Glenbow Ranch. Earlier this month, I hiked westerly from the parking lot, this time I veered south at the junction and eventually aimed east. I enjoyed a quick descent along the paved path to the junction for Yodel then ascended on packed snow to the ridge. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Cp6ryhwQLQYULVHCR9nYUvzdtqli62XhAfisobhC9wjXLfPclGarXqKaR2GuhT3dLf0fnae-S9TD36bbyZ1x_mHNhtvAwRntQTpYYVDZOx8ZeYpovG-Zp5k8x2Ux1L4U5PODljddK5IEDrbHt37Npq1RRVqtChjrI6aspWzwhC0BaafKa0zURAR8jnI/s3574/IMG_0649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="3574" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Cp6ryhwQLQYULVHCR9nYUvzdtqli62XhAfisobhC9wjXLfPclGarXqKaR2GuhT3dLf0fnae-S9TD36bbyZ1x_mHNhtvAwRntQTpYYVDZOx8ZeYpovG-Zp5k8x2Ux1L4U5PODljddK5IEDrbHt37Npq1RRVqtChjrI6aspWzwhC0BaafKa0zURAR8jnI/w640-h274/IMG_0649.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's at the top of Yodel where I could see forever. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcjhd0FC9p5CPEAK7AothRvBb6tgEawqbSC3H99UjSW1sXjkLsZGt2FcAXysR7Xd0ADb0FCrHv55yCR42GDi7K5dl4krvSQU8ELB0k4T6s3_iA_LrSb_FFHOo_eUOYDvqAgX1yvJmjZqu7w8tORLnYl1gHPc1KBHyBCR-bSMHq3MFQ1-Ijwp9s7P7aYU/s3586/IMG_0657.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="3586" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcjhd0FC9p5CPEAK7AothRvBb6tgEawqbSC3H99UjSW1sXjkLsZGt2FcAXysR7Xd0ADb0FCrHv55yCR42GDi7K5dl4krvSQU8ELB0k4T6s3_iA_LrSb_FFHOo_eUOYDvqAgX1yvJmjZqu7w8tORLnYl1gHPc1KBHyBCR-bSMHq3MFQ1-Ijwp9s7P7aYU/w640-h250/IMG_0657.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two missions I wanted to accomplish today, other than hiking, were to capture photos of my Grand Canyon Virtual Challenge medal which arrived yesterday and also of my third macrame leaf. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the Grand Canyon medal. I shared detailed photos at the end of this blog post.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YSyVXJcPsyPZvKN3TQGavGqeHe31f9HZGhkKhJ7iwbbpgxFCCeTFtQubkIkh8DDYwPrzGdK5ChJ48eazY6p36NFe6H5bujPrIXrxCT2VIZLK0PAlB_7m6no3_Z-9jVmzCawQw7avv9_t4cVIYK7pSadgh4rHPJMC8mPudj8o_TnbwoFot322WNRR0DI/s3648/IMG_0660.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YSyVXJcPsyPZvKN3TQGavGqeHe31f9HZGhkKhJ7iwbbpgxFCCeTFtQubkIkh8DDYwPrzGdK5ChJ48eazY6p36NFe6H5bujPrIXrxCT2VIZLK0PAlB_7m6no3_Z-9jVmzCawQw7avv9_t4cVIYK7pSadgh4rHPJMC8mPudj8o_TnbwoFot322WNRR0DI/w640-h360/IMG_0660.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This is my third macrame leaf. I spent more time making sure I had the correct placement and tightness of the knots. I am pleased with the outcome. The colour actually leans more towards rusty red rather than the bright red in this photo. There was so much brightness in the sky today that it was a challenge to dull anything down. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjMvyijp8lWoOj4Afa_wx22tkmOfYbQVwzRZBmDe1OfUttqrjWF5fDLuhcnlJmkK7xgamLouHb0Guil7IZnKtc6UvMQ7kMsQl65d4Dy6pafj6OsS5dVOCJxyMvLIiv1gzM3xj9GxWGVFhnIsyXrUufYjha3v5dc2ogUBiLlrwoQs2kNtARwb8ya-06N4/s2540/IMG_0667.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2540" data-original-width="1770" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjMvyijp8lWoOj4Afa_wx22tkmOfYbQVwzRZBmDe1OfUttqrjWF5fDLuhcnlJmkK7xgamLouHb0Guil7IZnKtc6UvMQ7kMsQl65d4Dy6pafj6OsS5dVOCJxyMvLIiv1gzM3xj9GxWGVFhnIsyXrUufYjha3v5dc2ogUBiLlrwoQs2kNtARwb8ya-06N4/w446-h640/IMG_0667.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It wasn't until I focused on capturing the macrame leaf that I noticed the buds on the trees. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDreSbRsXO4lh2amq2zj3wTIp7yAuEk8UD-Ph-F7zQyVuCCVIkD98NNqg_kWMezej1gHYqFndAmf0Uy7pagOnY_Z0p5ZHTiuG0N55BbMW163CDLIAH5ox7igIAx0R2x5fIq-Ac8W3dpommzPNKQbtRYQqO28Nrkpzq8D_lq98s1j90BN-IOGteXQDFP0/s3648/IMG_0668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDreSbRsXO4lh2amq2zj3wTIp7yAuEk8UD-Ph-F7zQyVuCCVIkD98NNqg_kWMezej1gHYqFndAmf0Uy7pagOnY_Z0p5ZHTiuG0N55BbMW163CDLIAH5ox7igIAx0R2x5fIq-Ac8W3dpommzPNKQbtRYQqO28Nrkpzq8D_lq98s1j90BN-IOGteXQDFP0/w640-h360/IMG_0668.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now with those two missions accomplished, I put the medal and the leaf back in my pack. As I began to hike along, like I always do I began looking every which way at the scenery. That's when I spotted a brown bunch of fluff in the tree as you can see just beneath the orange star. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tIvTUvd6s5_3UgaR1IIzoqFB0H_O1gSjr75a5xmx0slNoiL0APWAGJ43XemlBy-tR7xvVibUlZkzzBJZa2aVUhEAGmeP8pBsXxcN1ibl5xuUWL0MG8wVSV-tuWAUv_n2RuU6uvuIfnpSe9zix6T3DSjowuxo55crY1TEQGHE6uFYF-VlR5HtXXixBpY/s2542/IMG_0679.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2542" data-original-width="1729" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tIvTUvd6s5_3UgaR1IIzoqFB0H_O1gSjr75a5xmx0slNoiL0APWAGJ43XemlBy-tR7xvVibUlZkzzBJZa2aVUhEAGmeP8pBsXxcN1ibl5xuUWL0MG8wVSV-tuWAUv_n2RuU6uvuIfnpSe9zix6T3DSjowuxo55crY1TEQGHE6uFYF-VlR5HtXXixBpY/w436-h640/IMG_0679.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">This is a zoomed in shot of that brown fluff. It's a porcupine! I believe it might be sleeping. The dark brown circle shape on the right would be an ear, the darker brown shape below would be an eye and below the eye it looks to be the nose tucked into the fur. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOw8B6IrHn4ejylOjeDDy1MFnH3mV9BMS5NHLqR9HMWiNYIitlCNbQKrUYGCjI5uwlRVlRFIrnEmhTr-10JrNHjeR8yr14sxi5-SWxVLp7XzfdeaOjeqLhIwHDc8vkQTdtAlAq8xnl-HSRsXtHjz6z4Smj7xE3cqHbp8HGbR9XUz9ineD9tugnMKNyLc/s2959/IMG_0676.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1962" data-original-width="2959" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOw8B6IrHn4ejylOjeDDy1MFnH3mV9BMS5NHLqR9HMWiNYIitlCNbQKrUYGCjI5uwlRVlRFIrnEmhTr-10JrNHjeR8yr14sxi5-SWxVLp7XzfdeaOjeqLhIwHDc8vkQTdtAlAq8xnl-HSRsXtHjz6z4Smj7xE3cqHbp8HGbR9XUz9ineD9tugnMKNyLc/w640-h424/IMG_0676.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>This is the view after descending Yodel. My next destination area is to hike by the river which runs along that tree line in the middle just below the top strip of barbwire. I enjoyed walking a long easy stretch of clear pavement. The trail leading towards the river had a few inches of hard snow. Two people had been, probably yesterday, but they had a long stride which did not work for me, so it was a slow go breaking trail for the next hour or so. At times it was supportive but as the morning went on, the sun softened it and I sank with each step. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ejg5ukPj9KihzBT9pIFGEUcsnHU_gEZnwhB6THH17MTBKHoNdeOco83r-B00KurBsa2QtCbzS7I9-dJYC8hNHMPP3Wb2uMa4glWyCW2QwyaN2jFRSyUHtItrlUzTx-dYJhSypshZRtzuqvvjzffMYvhlrDIxbhcB9HfTAAW5n0uubRh7KOtAgKVJA68/s3648/IMG_0683.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ejg5ukPj9KihzBT9pIFGEUcsnHU_gEZnwhB6THH17MTBKHoNdeOco83r-B00KurBsa2QtCbzS7I9-dJYC8hNHMPP3Wb2uMa4glWyCW2QwyaN2jFRSyUHtItrlUzTx-dYJhSypshZRtzuqvvjzffMYvhlrDIxbhcB9HfTAAW5n0uubRh7KOtAgKVJA68/w640-h360/IMG_0683.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>My hope was to see all the ice along the river but it was covered with all the new snow. There was no way I was venturing out on it like these animals did. The ice build up surrounded the trees.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_63Ksnn2BgevAbe9AS_ulk8tUinDhnO7sXcVVkv8XXsf5GItS7-Xe_kQKNyCoWyFdv8FN_UbXG3tXtRGYrJ2nZJbuO4z0wUy5qBksCUlEl1t0MMaFTZSU3mrLx7JizQNseLchnqztq5zLnilINBaWU2gJ02MEML_h5wac6QmjxiLCfPe9-Q6AndQ5hA/s3267/IMG_0716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3267" data-original-width="1833" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_63Ksnn2BgevAbe9AS_ulk8tUinDhnO7sXcVVkv8XXsf5GItS7-Xe_kQKNyCoWyFdv8FN_UbXG3tXtRGYrJ2nZJbuO4z0wUy5qBksCUlEl1t0MMaFTZSU3mrLx7JizQNseLchnqztq5zLnilINBaWU2gJ02MEML_h5wac6QmjxiLCfPe9-Q6AndQ5hA/w360-h640/IMG_0716.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">This is another view of the snow covered ice on the shore of the river. </div><div style="text-align: center;">That dark like behind the snow is where the river is open. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kdGuPHxtdpUaXAcKWir707JuctdUF7KM2EgG3FFsEVblnO5UIYLZmXuDEHItqN9MQTUdWBBnHJdgwWHEytiDpNWb7L9Ev8_3kCNy4-9T0-3xkZWGtvhUVqyUQYUFRqKSwwyryrRYpDzf-iBqLOXBDuAIFkZi8Yiyuw8JjhPzOUdQNoZJ2NGs1idq2k4/s3648/IMG_0689.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kdGuPHxtdpUaXAcKWir707JuctdUF7KM2EgG3FFsEVblnO5UIYLZmXuDEHItqN9MQTUdWBBnHJdgwWHEytiDpNWb7L9Ev8_3kCNy4-9T0-3xkZWGtvhUVqyUQYUFRqKSwwyryrRYpDzf-iBqLOXBDuAIFkZi8Yiyuw8JjhPzOUdQNoZJ2NGs1idq2k4/w640-h360/IMG_0689.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Further west along the trail is where the river runs wide with very little ice along the shores. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQ7VCo3OnE8cgyIfcc_nDCHRGNMmZqnKt2MHui4mwIhBySYJqPoETuFVwfil9nJ-wVSqPXiXakojoDev3tQudDrKGznlPReRIlXwTIRK-wNQFB58MLoa2G8Cu3-pUTPWCOFEu_7TguNtp5T6fooo9ODRqtijGTUG1p8zRBpTC98rIp5653xmDs1VOx-8/s3648/IMG_0752.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="3648" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQ7VCo3OnE8cgyIfcc_nDCHRGNMmZqnKt2MHui4mwIhBySYJqPoETuFVwfil9nJ-wVSqPXiXakojoDev3tQudDrKGznlPReRIlXwTIRK-wNQFB58MLoa2G8Cu3-pUTPWCOFEu_7TguNtp5T6fooo9ODRqtijGTUG1p8zRBpTC98rIp5653xmDs1VOx-8/w640-h282/IMG_0752.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is even further west along the trail. It's at this location where the trail begins to veer away from the river and loop around and then back. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_CNk8242_-3Qiq2aNgdNI-p64XHPIwDHjNl9SuAHw0sFX3ZpaHabtpC53NpwC-7k7YCrkYnRaXGj5kCvugM_ww0PA9th4DZ2CVr21VAjbW0z2T3GFkDUQarvSh2Jh3_GpxwRg8Fk0SDRt8dYQc71P-SWOHk1zjZ7o4iFu9f1-LiaHqHigmkb0EMVH9s/s3576/IMG_0756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="3576" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_CNk8242_-3Qiq2aNgdNI-p64XHPIwDHjNl9SuAHw0sFX3ZpaHabtpC53NpwC-7k7YCrkYnRaXGj5kCvugM_ww0PA9th4DZ2CVr21VAjbW0z2T3GFkDUQarvSh2Jh3_GpxwRg8Fk0SDRt8dYQc71P-SWOHk1zjZ7o4iFu9f1-LiaHqHigmkb0EMVH9s/w640-h244/IMG_0756.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The whole time while hiking the trail beside the river, I noticed all the animal tracks. I wondered what was I sharing the trail with. Most of them appeared fresh. None looked large enough to cause concern. I walked beside them, careful to preserve them for other people to enjoy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-MxUs_q9H-eVzER8eotMS1zTghxA-UKJovITHRRRE4rwF8s0zJiDiOXsso6978JhrN4Fxqdf7UEm8Cyt5rxsaySLbOMtlSeDty7P9G_rodfIN8wRQ0JjVBh9yMc17DB8_a1MttvDGHlX7nNMR6JIfee-KCogWgJv9NDE4fQRMovoVNcSxPHOczuuqIo/s3190/IMG_0696.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="3190" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-MxUs_q9H-eVzER8eotMS1zTghxA-UKJovITHRRRE4rwF8s0zJiDiOXsso6978JhrN4Fxqdf7UEm8Cyt5rxsaySLbOMtlSeDty7P9G_rodfIN8wRQ0JjVBh9yMc17DB8_a1MttvDGHlX7nNMR6JIfee-KCogWgJv9NDE4fQRMovoVNcSxPHOczuuqIo/w640-h140/IMG_0696.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUPTx-Dy6vuvH6SaKyJW4hDMfa5PJP6ZQ5FNJJZkoKY5wvLxrdsfs5CE11wS9zWCFuQ1OAwno_SLw0BkMAG2xMW5TsXeIE0P8kD8rO7xo1VtSjWDBkdacgGlxKQ635PLOh0yUIL9PWGPLFfGj2KFtRqS0rVX9ZTlhncU4O2PzKJt0kOjGnj4b4WTrXeU/s3482/IMG_0699.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="3482" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUPTx-Dy6vuvH6SaKyJW4hDMfa5PJP6ZQ5FNJJZkoKY5wvLxrdsfs5CE11wS9zWCFuQ1OAwno_SLw0BkMAG2xMW5TsXeIE0P8kD8rO7xo1VtSjWDBkdacgGlxKQ635PLOh0yUIL9PWGPLFfGj2KFtRqS0rVX9ZTlhncU4O2PzKJt0kOjGnj4b4WTrXeU/w640-h172/IMG_0699.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeKCESFLHIotos0NaembVG1_ZD0fPNTDdVHoErL4eJazNZR8JprRpaQBx6qLlXwZdmYyPFuNI6UY5T5v1xpiNppyEzSNrnaR1FbEaF2WI8cdAvXY2Wus3B4Mx80FdE75wGSgd2whwg6qaraFsq91GcWM1rgbYOvKvvHJntjq1EVbLRvo1YamjqcQuQN8/s3376/IMG_0711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="3376" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeKCESFLHIotos0NaembVG1_ZD0fPNTDdVHoErL4eJazNZR8JprRpaQBx6qLlXwZdmYyPFuNI6UY5T5v1xpiNppyEzSNrnaR1FbEaF2WI8cdAvXY2Wus3B4Mx80FdE75wGSgd2whwg6qaraFsq91GcWM1rgbYOvKvvHJntjq1EVbLRvo1YamjqcQuQN8/w640-h136/IMG_0711.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEscSFgHPqU6oWExMYj4IupmWmoT-4yZEaNffRcLbQf9wvVTdzIpFRTp-P2POhZy1RbfjZB2kKgEX3Ky62sPrdm3NVg1mkG3yFUQ6kltGUbjqo9Qklx1SAq04umdoBAYmpKfn4Cj-WVa4wTTW3yEGM-L9KzVvRYMmBwcnzYIfvoXGxsCWy6sWsjs2rG7o/s3407/IMG_0712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="3407" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEscSFgHPqU6oWExMYj4IupmWmoT-4yZEaNffRcLbQf9wvVTdzIpFRTp-P2POhZy1RbfjZB2kKgEX3Ky62sPrdm3NVg1mkG3yFUQ6kltGUbjqo9Qklx1SAq04umdoBAYmpKfn4Cj-WVa4wTTW3yEGM-L9KzVvRYMmBwcnzYIfvoXGxsCWy6sWsjs2rG7o/w640-h114/IMG_0712.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKnK5MvPpFXHgBTYlJ10lQbxoutcpjvTqswIFrbl4PZm2EGM7UOQdRtNGrPYWJeIP0Jm-4RD_AkhtyqOJhNbnfjNlgiNZmth6QcbpoOgvnr4FInABFHcWBf3ajrFruQpm2yworNJh_RBN0vPsgFqYeQLe1CYMpd1N1MMsOWgMVLuXbOYK5le4VmRn470/s3546/IMG_0737.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="3546" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKnK5MvPpFXHgBTYlJ10lQbxoutcpjvTqswIFrbl4PZm2EGM7UOQdRtNGrPYWJeIP0Jm-4RD_AkhtyqOJhNbnfjNlgiNZmth6QcbpoOgvnr4FInABFHcWBf3ajrFruQpm2yworNJh_RBN0vPsgFqYeQLe1CYMpd1N1MMsOWgMVLuXbOYK5le4VmRn470/w640-h148/IMG_0737.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvp3t6atVJLjDo2y5bzN2QoWVDvt6r2DpUjzbX8wosBSLQyzHRMggW36HB4xkQizi2l7znkj3PE9WR-OMYCAKzAuVwmNCLnr85m_6gCZY22S2i2mLuMxzQQxmSt6xaFXrzX1zG7Si3vDscbxZ0g8k-98k_rorGT45VzI-B79Ms6m3UUlKPBgigORzKs1Q/s3448/IMG_0747.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="3448" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvp3t6atVJLjDo2y5bzN2QoWVDvt6r2DpUjzbX8wosBSLQyzHRMggW36HB4xkQizi2l7znkj3PE9WR-OMYCAKzAuVwmNCLnr85m_6gCZY22S2i2mLuMxzQQxmSt6xaFXrzX1zG7Si3vDscbxZ0g8k-98k_rorGT45VzI-B79Ms6m3UUlKPBgigORzKs1Q/w640-h130/IMG_0747.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I was nearing the completion of the great big loop, a train whizzed by. There was still some distance to cover before I arrived back at the track crossing. There would be no waiting once I got to the crossing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl8z1CP0nDyqEZCx7XjLbPnaCbJsuJCXzGamvIPywe56iZWeb0SwC2F0N1oK3rOqOJ-lQ4Tvu6QCKlXwQ-gHjZstYY5608gEsht1Zl7EvC7M2X33OKBzgh-IKjRr283ulH91cEc4mHx4S3z_lN0ZoMkB92kSQAJRzXZPs1PkN2EUEIlVtaA5AMsha8vY/s3648/IMG_0765.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl8z1CP0nDyqEZCx7XjLbPnaCbJsuJCXzGamvIPywe56iZWeb0SwC2F0N1oK3rOqOJ-lQ4Tvu6QCKlXwQ-gHjZstYY5608gEsht1Zl7EvC7M2X33OKBzgh-IKjRr283ulH91cEc4mHx4S3z_lN0ZoMkB92kSQAJRzXZPs1PkN2EUEIlVtaA5AMsha8vY/w640-h360/IMG_0765.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was thankful to be back on clear pavement for the last 45 minutes or so of hiking. The pathway was lined with snow which was covered in tiny tracks and dirt sections. It's spring! The ground squirrels have emerged!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv_VGZZukcmOdu6Dukuq4DQxZvct6t7ZgxdVauZ05It0mKUObxEDqZZM2syPEKNVUPWIZrYccjTSu38To4vVLva_5Crp3GdVJDVmOcop89kNeybjJ0z6h9HnaWhHHIuQ2TLdpkzaylW2WMr2K9-6hz76VUJMxDAP624jOeSnft7zyMwbSYiKcvvsR_Y8/s2635/IMG_0777.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1648" data-original-width="2635" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv_VGZZukcmOdu6Dukuq4DQxZvct6t7ZgxdVauZ05It0mKUObxEDqZZM2syPEKNVUPWIZrYccjTSu38To4vVLva_5Crp3GdVJDVmOcop89kNeybjJ0z6h9HnaWhHHIuQ2TLdpkzaylW2WMr2K9-6hz76VUJMxDAP624jOeSnft7zyMwbSYiKcvvsR_Y8/w640-h400/IMG_0777.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These are the photos of my Grand Canyon medal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkL1DJvlgP-teOcnLh6zCyZQtKoM07CfzgvgZq5LWMzNWjJQc-QcE8aumYGZlhiSxXCg84q5kIXU-ymSp5bQjEsbiRIMkosrMmRvGzfv2ZyUKtgZxHp4ZbsTLBjR-SMQvWIJ05LwKchmhO1Rufgupi_qn0lSuuapZgU9H9BKUoHgESO2pF2jntBGMac8/s6000/medal%20collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="6000" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkL1DJvlgP-teOcnLh6zCyZQtKoM07CfzgvgZq5LWMzNWjJQc-QcE8aumYGZlhiSxXCg84q5kIXU-ymSp5bQjEsbiRIMkosrMmRvGzfv2ZyUKtgZxHp4ZbsTLBjR-SMQvWIJ05LwKchmhO1Rufgupi_qn0lSuuapZgU9H9BKUoHgESO2pF2jntBGMac8/w640-h512/medal%20collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-50141169779848199552024-03-25T16:11:00.001-06:002024-03-25T16:17:50.565-06:00in the face of a wintry spring kick-off<p>This "wave of winter" created many waves over the past number of days! The new snow was so brilliantly bright! It beckoned me to wander through each wave! On a beautiful spring day like this day, I have never wandered through so much snow at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It was easily swishable and being the first one there, I swished lots! You can see my faint trail to the left of the sign. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuAaVAxb8RHMDZ0ipYqbcPUns8Az8JPyU3LVLm8l7nR2_OPByr4Mv7fg3PS9kxQ9sfn_BiIXsT_kqBqycCSz2x1s3Sy0Pei2L76rUlW1gZwse70OabAjWRQTu_hewtQV_Ix9K8GFdBCUeNzJtHPBX5CyEDOwmu8WIlKKutzarLxt-_v4qPmXZu5hmA0k/s3175/IMG_0418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3175" data-original-width="1969" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuAaVAxb8RHMDZ0ipYqbcPUns8Az8JPyU3LVLm8l7nR2_OPByr4Mv7fg3PS9kxQ9sfn_BiIXsT_kqBqycCSz2x1s3Sy0Pei2L76rUlW1gZwse70OabAjWRQTu_hewtQV_Ix9K8GFdBCUeNzJtHPBX5CyEDOwmu8WIlKKutzarLxt-_v4qPmXZu5hmA0k/w396-h640/IMG_0418.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>in the face of a wintry spring kick-off this deer sports flakes of snow on its nose</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhBq3GYbaK9vf813kO0Yn9Eo08XnFXH-dZ-L0iCo0mW7FS8lRWmenWYDdLe3GlsU0hwKWPO5p1GnxlCDpvCPkgvQ-pgtrFJF59zKlnsSYY25SBR53_sZuA8c0wBS4JEY-yUtcgeuiQ42zCwhckLx8HxDpiAbVS_T1eYV0oxctsbAviZ0jwNeoBDZBak0/s3159/IMG_0493.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1752" data-original-width="3159" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhBq3GYbaK9vf813kO0Yn9Eo08XnFXH-dZ-L0iCo0mW7FS8lRWmenWYDdLe3GlsU0hwKWPO5p1GnxlCDpvCPkgvQ-pgtrFJF59zKlnsSYY25SBR53_sZuA8c0wBS4JEY-yUtcgeuiQ42zCwhckLx8HxDpiAbVS_T1eYV0oxctsbAviZ0jwNeoBDZBak0/w640-h354/IMG_0493.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in the face of a wintry spring kick-off this Black Capped Chickadee sports flakes of snow on its beak</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2Dp-Vrv0-sMZsb-H_QXAIoq3C1dgYOl9hTy3lrjEQ71k9SDF9-IMODdJnlvr-i1ecEUszXv1iB4yo5RqzePBsX05z-AOr7hk4XlnspP61ysqLY449byVKp4JZT8Io8CPYTyVj0qhQOUbLgLJx7IYNuZtRByN1qonermlGNWZqnYHe33TrBs-YEFiNd0/s2743/IMG_0500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="2743" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2Dp-Vrv0-sMZsb-H_QXAIoq3C1dgYOl9hTy3lrjEQ71k9SDF9-IMODdJnlvr-i1ecEUszXv1iB4yo5RqzePBsX05z-AOr7hk4XlnspP61ysqLY449byVKp4JZT8Io8CPYTyVj0qhQOUbLgLJx7IYNuZtRByN1qonermlGNWZqnYHe33TrBs-YEFiNd0/w640-h366/IMG_0500.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in the face of a wintry spring kick-off this buck pokes its nose into the snow looking for treats</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuWKRaV42r9pBAYDjBESIzKNHQ2RXFMdpZBPDcyWqBSwi-Yq20cFA8A9hE3l1nex5NxiztpzffBYk9i2VFJ_JyKbgZzoBTL5iIofPl2dWY9IgIaDohskQofOQoXIVADJhbrdEXYvbVm7eABHX5YDKNTTWILBTBKOTe5N50iRtGr2Ig0b8rm6RQ1ldI_4/s3648/IMG_0431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuWKRaV42r9pBAYDjBESIzKNHQ2RXFMdpZBPDcyWqBSwi-Yq20cFA8A9hE3l1nex5NxiztpzffBYk9i2VFJ_JyKbgZzoBTL5iIofPl2dWY9IgIaDohskQofOQoXIVADJhbrdEXYvbVm7eABHX5YDKNTTWILBTBKOTe5N50iRtGr2Ig0b8rm6RQ1ldI_4/w640-h360/IMG_0431.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: x-large;">✏✏✏✏✏</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Staying at home on this day, I planned for my new macrame cord to make its arrival. Immediately, I knew this would be a better product to make knots with. The colour is called avocado green, it is 3 strand twisted natural cotton. I was excited to get back to leaf making. I like the outcome of this leaf but there is still work to be done. For some reason, just like the first one I made, the right side is not as tidy as the left. I could see that it was shaping up that way as I went along. I tried to fix it the best I could. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrHUBi68w7UD3Y5SPI_uVhzdXnIgn-kJh6BnTW1r9Grsa8fnsYBsn6dT7g8s3i4X2FaaftyJrmQfr5R5T3Fb9mlVtlbQPYJsEDwTgZ-3jLf-I5tPupO1Eml6CxKWX26-wp9n3Q444_kDSvCBt0SocL5ZTaIuxqHZTe1ILczqMlpXm8nIPalfJUMjWkrU/s2552/green%20leaf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2552" data-original-width="1962" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrHUBi68w7UD3Y5SPI_uVhzdXnIgn-kJh6BnTW1r9Grsa8fnsYBsn6dT7g8s3i4X2FaaftyJrmQfr5R5T3Fb9mlVtlbQPYJsEDwTgZ-3jLf-I5tPupO1Eml6CxKWX26-wp9n3Q444_kDSvCBt0SocL5ZTaIuxqHZTe1ILczqMlpXm8nIPalfJUMjWkrU/w492-h640/green%20leaf.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>These three photos show some of the steps along the way. After all the knotting is done, the tape is removed and so is the clip. It is turned up right and the ends are pulled to tighten the knots. Then the loose ends are cut off and I used tacky glue to seal the deal. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYL_GY5PRBgmBqy6qugzouh0pPNm522LHYj1zXtFUauJMjquuxVf5SZ7U4Z8UkvefJEtE5dwdEVoHMZ2CWOGomg0rZZ6gV8-TXD5VYG99uQvJok2rJ2UC2jyZBoll9gPv2zn2HyZwNyDDZuQAZeJJjte9xpJUTV7IunZK0naLmgwB_fS5eK3ibbe9wWA/s706/leaf%20collage.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="706" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYL_GY5PRBgmBqy6qugzouh0pPNm522LHYj1zXtFUauJMjquuxVf5SZ7U4Z8UkvefJEtE5dwdEVoHMZ2CWOGomg0rZZ6gV8-TXD5VYG99uQvJok2rJ2UC2jyZBoll9gPv2zn2HyZwNyDDZuQAZeJJjte9xpJUTV7IunZK0naLmgwB_fS5eK3ibbe9wWA/w640-h262/leaf%20collage.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know the leaf can look better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I need to smooth out the rough looking side somehow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another leaf is in the making! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">✏✏✏✏✏</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I waited a little longer before heading out the door to Confluence Park on this morning. Local neighbourhood traffic was a nightmare and I was more into dreamy rather than nightmarish! The new snow was pillowy soft. On some of the trails, others had been which meant I did not have to break trail and in other areas, I swished along. In these conditions, its easy to tell where the wildlife went!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircyCFPNUUXFMGB0448NfiomkyxIWQR_MFroswffQ1biZKGcqUxvm6RJ-RheywXRz3G5cm7zQMpSGxxzY5gtGlcsWQamgSubUxKWADm1rEHuRDEJ80CRoHETLGqiTYc3pxJoemWsqiRW2bak0mh9-HiAucBhndaFLJdLoU6FwJ4xBAHb9S-r_alW4qKVk/s2708/IMG_0319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2708" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircyCFPNUUXFMGB0448NfiomkyxIWQR_MFroswffQ1biZKGcqUxvm6RJ-RheywXRz3G5cm7zQMpSGxxzY5gtGlcsWQamgSubUxKWADm1rEHuRDEJ80CRoHETLGqiTYc3pxJoemWsqiRW2bak0mh9-HiAucBhndaFLJdLoU6FwJ4xBAHb9S-r_alW4qKVk/w484-h640/IMG_0319.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">others broke trail here<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMqKfr8bYT2qyBUpPP_CxN4pPT9zsj-4nplgw8KBIP8vu1xtsbbJGkRikn85-HDHtxxhrw5ICEJteIRrL9TyavTpVRihEzgi9KzQrXNCy6SuVAlOSjcv3ZVHIFisvTwZlSlw_au2FMxK3SmdYsD32V_f6dAGL-wG1FfXZJYk66pGnRog138KF9E4kgnc/s3648/IMG_0313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMqKfr8bYT2qyBUpPP_CxN4pPT9zsj-4nplgw8KBIP8vu1xtsbbJGkRikn85-HDHtxxhrw5ICEJteIRrL9TyavTpVRihEzgi9KzQrXNCy6SuVAlOSjcv3ZVHIFisvTwZlSlw_au2FMxK3SmdYsD32V_f6dAGL-wG1FfXZJYk66pGnRog138KF9E4kgnc/w360-h640/IMG_0313.jpg" width="360" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">trying to blend in with the snow covered trees while </div><div style="text-align: center;">wearing my hat with the snow covered trees</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAs6GLnJCK78B-h8LyUQTJ2Z9XmC_yIWnigwXh4Ebk2gEfjgwRTFLD1XVKsgBsj_PP1eg3DwJR9Samsr8RWMEoo4vbIlcpkCqgStZy5vSks50iI-QuwBEShdvM9-Jq9gq6wbWDE4HWKOl8EVSzHsn8rZ1xU-rAYUbyLCxeUZVFI2cNurQqUkoYG7KdkA/s3088/IMG_7693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAs6GLnJCK78B-h8LyUQTJ2Z9XmC_yIWnigwXh4Ebk2gEfjgwRTFLD1XVKsgBsj_PP1eg3DwJR9Samsr8RWMEoo4vbIlcpkCqgStZy5vSks50iI-QuwBEShdvM9-Jq9gq6wbWDE4HWKOl8EVSzHsn8rZ1xU-rAYUbyLCxeUZVFI2cNurQqUkoYG7KdkA/w300-h400/IMG_7693.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: x-large;">✏✏✏✏✏</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This brings us to this morning, March 25th the day of the full Worm Moon also known as the Strong Wind Moon. I woke very early this morning when my iPhone dinged to let me know the aurora borealis may be visible in my area if the sky is clear. I looked out, saw some stars, went back to bed, tossed and turned, got up, looked out and saw the full moon. I bundled up, grabbled my camera and went out on my deck to admire it. I took 44 photos, this was my favourite. I did not need full zoom and did not need to make edits. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Zh5qNeAZ6hbAEMEsZWho-UXRLRsFN6D0h38G6lpfVm9TNNNK3Y8QD8d4r8823SjGWw2olLnp-M7KjZJYxB1QqZlXBJswBdNw3CuWlSVx2CkYWa3Iozv9KEv32VnzpY5zjgkt6IIceMDyKxoOcAqcqKkuOgxIB4RiZGVc2dfM8S8DzNtvBcFEge68MDQ/s2870/IMG_0554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2870" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Zh5qNeAZ6hbAEMEsZWho-UXRLRsFN6D0h38G6lpfVm9TNNNK3Y8QD8d4r8823SjGWw2olLnp-M7KjZJYxB1QqZlXBJswBdNw3CuWlSVx2CkYWa3Iozv9KEv32VnzpY5zjgkt6IIceMDyKxoOcAqcqKkuOgxIB4RiZGVc2dfM8S8DzNtvBcFEge68MDQ/w640-h456/IMG_0554.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Yes, it was just before 4:00am when I first woke. I checked the forecast after looking outside the first time. The weather was living up to the reason why another name for this full moon is the Strong Wind Moon! I was over the moon to be able to capture this photo of the full moon! Another thing I noticed was the fog notice. That meant it could be a gorgeous morning to be out and about! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggH_JXqXVdqESZDwnfHoAqRuCY9DakIYCuPrpc7h_YlR8E62ZdJrFRHrc70EV_0KubDdU1mR_HUa7wrgrV4PZzSs9FLm12j7Kx_je5j6ylmgUMpUXw66aDLH-z4xFAGkNIxbGMyMX7LWF3wxoVDvg3qYYudkKpwZpF0g9_YZesSItZemRonfqyVHGE2cc/s363/moon%20weather.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="342" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggH_JXqXVdqESZDwnfHoAqRuCY9DakIYCuPrpc7h_YlR8E62ZdJrFRHrc70EV_0KubDdU1mR_HUa7wrgrV4PZzSs9FLm12j7Kx_je5j6ylmgUMpUXw66aDLH-z4xFAGkNIxbGMyMX7LWF3wxoVDvg3qYYudkKpwZpF0g9_YZesSItZemRonfqyVHGE2cc/w376-h400/moon%20weather.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">SO, out & about I went up to Nose Hill! That strong wind caused drifting of all that snow. At times I was breaking trail through snow that was a foot deep. It was not soft pillowy snow, it was hard and crusty. The sun was trying its best to burst through the clouds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLm6Eg6sWrcInZ8-IQhibzfoMvLQDiP3W_Rn1d3UQdI0aIkHonERZQjVCoTBbkg1cCaFpCVCWyURlcKlz0kxo38hRaqrweVIPU3Wn-E06p70u5DOWo_89Q-XyGA5sJ-gJaUzOqCLcaNvrF6EQ1mdebqNcwzoXOEutttuxPAXlSPhK-q0v_HYM7jXBU8jY/s1927/IMG_0586.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1927" data-original-width="1554" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLm6Eg6sWrcInZ8-IQhibzfoMvLQDiP3W_Rn1d3UQdI0aIkHonERZQjVCoTBbkg1cCaFpCVCWyURlcKlz0kxo38hRaqrweVIPU3Wn-E06p70u5DOWo_89Q-XyGA5sJ-gJaUzOqCLcaNvrF6EQ1mdebqNcwzoXOEutttuxPAXlSPhK-q0v_HYM7jXBU8jY/w516-h640/IMG_0586.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the wind whipped snow </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zRIRcqlIYyFrq64Hu5RwNyWY8XYtS1FOiHBlZen9VXbwLHPJg0D_ndKVGIhovwOsxJcxoV2Hbgi4Ewf2OWp7mZxe6i3ZTOCJkhcaBxkK_L3Uve6RG-07NNxsBEpjkxNYVRmmhKWIcKFYJk3bSFnFxuSXT_wisGd4Ek16Jth4KTpM0AxDipf3r33T7gQ/s3648/IMG_05971.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zRIRcqlIYyFrq64Hu5RwNyWY8XYtS1FOiHBlZen9VXbwLHPJg0D_ndKVGIhovwOsxJcxoV2Hbgi4Ewf2OWp7mZxe6i3ZTOCJkhcaBxkK_L3Uve6RG-07NNxsBEpjkxNYVRmmhKWIcKFYJk3bSFnFxuSXT_wisGd4Ek16Jth4KTpM0AxDipf3r33T7gQ/w640-h360/IMG_05971.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>what can happen when fog is in the forecast </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">tiny delicate decorations<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUjhE18IC5u4Ap85g1RFJFVvzZMvn5fsWUy7pVLmZBAXjBfDXXMiWQgrzxI_Kujae__N1PJr8LIiv_QAziYr8WnTTM8EUOt_wxJntrwNW_hz6R-4xGxNFYsHfxv_BAJco1_S7yoMrrx-mGIVsEOgs4A9vCoSmvoz5k2M7QZIoLpgbvyu0Rhit-Nb77qY/s3248/IMG_0588.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1648" data-original-width="3248" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUjhE18IC5u4Ap85g1RFJFVvzZMvn5fsWUy7pVLmZBAXjBfDXXMiWQgrzxI_Kujae__N1PJr8LIiv_QAziYr8WnTTM8EUOt_wxJntrwNW_hz6R-4xGxNFYsHfxv_BAJco1_S7yoMrrx-mGIVsEOgs4A9vCoSmvoz5k2M7QZIoLpgbvyu0Rhit-Nb77qY/w640-h324/IMG_0588.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in my happy place both heart and soul</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiu8GUM1focu1S4GoQs8911QyxKXVX9D-ZBFa8EvpKXGm-zBdds0kPeeWsgVS8ie28T9Ciq-ZFFfC7sKMkPyNNGkLgSO_TzNaYocnwvwgmFvaD04Xirthu9EEC-0geLn-cF5LlSHa_pMH8xVUHyXpDwTe-YScSea1Q7y5DktcaGr-4osvu9rz2pQ3AFQ8/s3088/IMG_7701.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiu8GUM1focu1S4GoQs8911QyxKXVX9D-ZBFa8EvpKXGm-zBdds0kPeeWsgVS8ie28T9Ciq-ZFFfC7sKMkPyNNGkLgSO_TzNaYocnwvwgmFvaD04Xirthu9EEC-0geLn-cF5LlSHa_pMH8xVUHyXpDwTe-YScSea1Q7y5DktcaGr-4osvu9rz2pQ3AFQ8/w300-h400/IMG_7701.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">these covered the ice for as far as the eye could see </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFG4S1BgRrEpZKk9-FDnrVhu-gmgQnVFwCjrw7eHy5MkqD33UmBCpdUho4bRcc3zVrsI0_yZu6gFz865gXNon-_8nPVJj-Wpwjm5tROOepIXWkPxmfrA09LcJt5gawL7EcxPZXYHjD9VO9Sy0ly7-EBsN5mw7epuvikFa5Dtq8HWaFeCqZWM8uTGiRp0k/s3648/IMG_0621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFG4S1BgRrEpZKk9-FDnrVhu-gmgQnVFwCjrw7eHy5MkqD33UmBCpdUho4bRcc3zVrsI0_yZu6gFz865gXNon-_8nPVJj-Wpwjm5tROOepIXWkPxmfrA09LcJt5gawL7EcxPZXYHjD9VO9Sy0ly7-EBsN5mw7epuvikFa5Dtq8HWaFeCqZWM8uTGiRp0k/w640-h360/IMG_0621.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By now my calves and thighs were yelling at me and my eyes were bursting from all the beauty there was to behold. It was time to descend the hills and aim for home. I followed that drifted over animal track that lead me to a trail down through the forest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJcVMojF8SrVmDBnxTIqXfEqJZs9PqSwOE7cXQUEc8dmWNVB4B1g0VYLYBSBdRx6oDfBnT62iiXlxC8Vhj4ursUfmmpugnUkYGXhFpm9trxC77b7Foy6cpSNf54y4g7TKOK1iAvQ9efCiQj_fX2z_fq6fsMK-_RM-pTWSybkUReSVKPDq50trRbIZmqU/s3648/IMG_0643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJcVMojF8SrVmDBnxTIqXfEqJZs9PqSwOE7cXQUEc8dmWNVB4B1g0VYLYBSBdRx6oDfBnT62iiXlxC8Vhj4ursUfmmpugnUkYGXhFpm9trxC77b7Foy6cpSNf54y4g7TKOK1iAvQ9efCiQj_fX2z_fq6fsMK-_RM-pTWSybkUReSVKPDq50trRbIZmqU/w640-h360/IMG_0643.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">If another winter wave hits, I will be outside in it! If not, I will be outside anyway! </div><br /><br /><br /><p></p>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-3947869097787984182024-03-20T17:35:00.251-06:002024-03-21T06:10:33.731-06:00weather whiplash<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwdD7ewM6Nvb6Os7yUX1ghLuKLdSAMYFe26Mvfyj4wd-g-PEHugT4xJoYMb3BKoFUtNgF8KC-kAWWgA254_T5PTKdWk5rvmNpjyyxAro1hMXGIank5SD9mTFO4ykIJDhWZdVlM27d90jefe0MRfb8Wvwwk5qRdY6bddRud_ijEFYrWQECx1EQU7mkLvA/s1971/weather%20d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1971" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwdD7ewM6Nvb6Os7yUX1ghLuKLdSAMYFe26Mvfyj4wd-g-PEHugT4xJoYMb3BKoFUtNgF8KC-kAWWgA254_T5PTKdWk5rvmNpjyyxAro1hMXGIank5SD9mTFO4ykIJDhWZdVlM27d90jefe0MRfb8Wvwwk5qRdY6bddRud_ijEFYrWQECx1EQU7mkLvA/w640-h344/weather%20d.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even though it was a Monday, I ventured down the Deerfoot 500 to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. We were being presented with a wonderful weather window which I wanted to wander around in before being hit with a weather whiplash. Even though it was a Monday morning, I took the chance then breathed a sign of relief after driving for 45 minutes in rush hour traffic to cover only 12 kilometres. Whew! Sigh! Just breathe! Listen..... to the Robin singing a welcoming tune! This was my first Robin sighting of the season! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhmJQ7u7QKBx6JJufWAd4DBlbxVcM-DfnaNygx4cWS95INb3KJzGQwOfV4yU18HdjXNR1zuKK7-Ic-fhW2qkmEM9I95993H7X7uD8mKvvnIGBG3dOHwdWI5_hUFeDHBJNqt1Ikh1Ko5qjttyFy9fNwm_8QsJPzUC9HeXuobCifmH7TrchyphenhyphenFn5My3nFLI/s2026/IMG_0252.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1550" data-original-width="2026" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhmJQ7u7QKBx6JJufWAd4DBlbxVcM-DfnaNygx4cWS95INb3KJzGQwOfV4yU18HdjXNR1zuKK7-Ic-fhW2qkmEM9I95993H7X7uD8mKvvnIGBG3dOHwdWI5_hUFeDHBJNqt1Ikh1Ko5qjttyFy9fNwm_8QsJPzUC9HeXuobCifmH7TrchyphenhyphenFn5My3nFLI/w640-h490/IMG_0252.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a Male Hairy Woodpecker</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the red means male</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a beak the same length as the head means Hairy and not Downy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCEifdl93q-Zlpzh0t4bvlW_OP0RaRNAAAEIEELtiDRzMpq8n8ivkpAYjA4DX8L2PO_JkaouHrmmkDtiLUkDmOyLto1MAvDJEKqWsTmt51kVWILYAyru8GgODlBTbbnXAGkP8U4sNpIzT789lAxFyE9kly9PWB64UZz8BJQfcDtlWPXH5gczC929YTCw/s1826/IMG_0269.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1580" data-original-width="1826" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCEifdl93q-Zlpzh0t4bvlW_OP0RaRNAAAEIEELtiDRzMpq8n8ivkpAYjA4DX8L2PO_JkaouHrmmkDtiLUkDmOyLto1MAvDJEKqWsTmt51kVWILYAyru8GgODlBTbbnXAGkP8U4sNpIzT789lAxFyE9kly9PWB64UZz8BJQfcDtlWPXH5gczC929YTCw/w640-h554/IMG_0269.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A sure sign of spring, the Canada Geese couple are standing guard. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They watched me and hissed at me as I walked across the bridge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EpcYKDLwcTD3o3rjWojtGUJSchDcQwqXZFnaQepn4g0jRio-rAw0B2VAm2dbTx9RJ-CSSjIMPpAM5xsYcUiJuwMN0lAGZUwW-_p4LtMV-OrSsxGrrv7c3_fPg4YXpWm5UAXaakdN2U3PY3B3Crj0ZHZa27RHJW8lMlMY5pjOpGU0Qins3LdQEGNqTGw/s2476/IMG_0259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2476" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EpcYKDLwcTD3o3rjWojtGUJSchDcQwqXZFnaQepn4g0jRio-rAw0B2VAm2dbTx9RJ-CSSjIMPpAM5xsYcUiJuwMN0lAGZUwW-_p4LtMV-OrSsxGrrv7c3_fPg4YXpWm5UAXaakdN2U3PY3B3Crj0ZHZa27RHJW8lMlMY5pjOpGU0Qins3LdQEGNqTGw/w640-h446/IMG_0259.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">spring is in the air</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">he ruffled her feathers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh248yzAzWao_T8AH622c8xoKYd24CLasL68TYH1iH0IaducZ4jOqtucNOKBT25Knm6O4OJh7pB9h-XULk5R3OOHu9zRqKMRliNy5iN4DLWn-AApLBxbT8ESK7_NqEgh3LPaG31PDEnPlJdxJb6YmhS5dKiQmXepyWo66EIORMoPbZXZl8Y86glfOO5Q0Y/s2858/IMG_0253.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1978" data-original-width="2858" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh248yzAzWao_T8AH622c8xoKYd24CLasL68TYH1iH0IaducZ4jOqtucNOKBT25Knm6O4OJh7pB9h-XULk5R3OOHu9zRqKMRliNy5iN4DLWn-AApLBxbT8ESK7_NqEgh3LPaG31PDEnPlJdxJb6YmhS5dKiQmXepyWo66EIORMoPbZXZl8Y86glfOO5Q0Y/w640-h442/IMG_0253.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div>Birders reported on eBird their sightings of a Pileated Woodpecker at the Sanctuary. As I wandered around, I heard very loud pecking which I only ever heard once before a few years back. Could it be? Yes it could! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtu27JNECUWVUVcx_Q6vCQsHx0BSzmz83Yruua5el9tzCvfocgS5EizPuduYYXAFM9Yxp2siNrJWRCPZl6U4Mine2uzqVLTwIsgc5MDoYSIEqOdFlpTZsKOlJWD9-aRQMazEDnlWnkg3yfZaZqRHZZgHovK7P9YQwhZikNrU-scjzxgR-84LmOxW2VJYE/s2457/IMG_0241.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1989" data-original-width="2457" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtu27JNECUWVUVcx_Q6vCQsHx0BSzmz83Yruua5el9tzCvfocgS5EizPuduYYXAFM9Yxp2siNrJWRCPZl6U4Mine2uzqVLTwIsgc5MDoYSIEqOdFlpTZsKOlJWD9-aRQMazEDnlWnkg3yfZaZqRHZZgHovK7P9YQwhZikNrU-scjzxgR-84LmOxW2VJYE/w640-h518/IMG_0241.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">White-Breasted Nuthutch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivC6BUzePzty96yCxHiSHhexr57f6ImGL_Ocvxx3RiIy7SK7UI3Xm1cZ99kcs_dBt1ssAxwS5tCMO100MD8xM0oACwza17HQ0QIlajvsXpBM-QfLVVjOXU4BWOnmreHDO5hAiHB9VTZmMT4DXgZGx0WR7Erv64YOUG_fBZ9wVmN1pGQdXwKXRHxartZIQ/s3270/IMG_0220.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1978" data-original-width="3270" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivC6BUzePzty96yCxHiSHhexr57f6ImGL_Ocvxx3RiIy7SK7UI3Xm1cZ99kcs_dBt1ssAxwS5tCMO100MD8xM0oACwza17HQ0QIlajvsXpBM-QfLVVjOXU4BWOnmreHDO5hAiHB9VTZmMT4DXgZGx0WR7Erv64YOUG_fBZ9wVmN1pGQdXwKXRHxartZIQ/w640-h388/IMG_0220.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The drive home was smooth! No need to breathe a sigh of relief when I arrived home but did breathe in the fresh air on my deck with my bare feet up. Spring is in the air! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">🌥🌥🌥🌥🌥</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tuesday was to be the transition day so it was best to get my fill of nature earlier rather that later. This was the view of the Bow River from the beginning of the trail leading down hill to Dale Hodges Park. The river is running low and there is not much ice left to melt. The reports are that we are still at drought level 4 out of 5 and being asked to lessen our water use, with possible extreme water restrictions coming into place in May.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXHFhhvqs4BnUDcrzl87EpYSwMieg9vZVZrRTW1JM6blQ1uAl8cs3EuyX5grEI8pNkRTFpXWurYHbDXkTwbVc86OS4w0KgTLJU43IVoRwDljzGpQAkxBqJuHE33GgEZIF-H9ggYQM7k2-PRwSI-pbIJEQKSbzLqTmbGEYFLQbh_vHJIj0dl1EUk7KLbE/s3648/IMG_0283.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXHFhhvqs4BnUDcrzl87EpYSwMieg9vZVZrRTW1JM6blQ1uAl8cs3EuyX5grEI8pNkRTFpXWurYHbDXkTwbVc86OS4w0KgTLJU43IVoRwDljzGpQAkxBqJuHE33GgEZIF-H9ggYQM7k2-PRwSI-pbIJEQKSbzLqTmbGEYFLQbh_vHJIj0dl1EUk7KLbE/w640-h360/IMG_0283.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The storm ponds have a thin slice of ice over top. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The last time I was here, the ponds were dry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwfv_hCebTSYeLzk9KVo18DGRQy9-kznL1TiJtX-FuAm-pdHJ2gB4YPM0Mz55QXkYUCwkqcZJARp3uPVRdbpVVMbMRjGRk3oO0rlFI6z1Q9xHVFl7YrgTKnjJaQvtgYml80yCKJuIfyqQhW3AEFf_q2I3QAyxL-hyHz2IQ_12-oIQjtKMKDu8ZJ7a_Jk/s3648/IMG_0287.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwfv_hCebTSYeLzk9KVo18DGRQy9-kznL1TiJtX-FuAm-pdHJ2gB4YPM0Mz55QXkYUCwkqcZJARp3uPVRdbpVVMbMRjGRk3oO0rlFI6z1Q9xHVFl7YrgTKnjJaQvtgYml80yCKJuIfyqQhW3AEFf_q2I3QAyxL-hyHz2IQ_12-oIQjtKMKDu8ZJ7a_Jk/w640-h360/IMG_0287.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>This large pond was mostly ice although it looks like open water. Inside that black ring and to the right where the ripples are, were the only sections of open water where the ducks could swim. I like the early morning light.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSb42Zn5RP6l7HvZ9g00bFM56oq_8w95FZHq2X_WOCYrRlMJx3vJeMgbrRAz_MFsbqtgxeLmGsHs4NDi628u8ofTwqP7XXmtRZrHtSfWcLCkhtUj5MNkzgO6TKZq96TRK-XeuHl9QUf0SfPQ9tpyhdDkGp0ONB1HQRfbmv1_25nTJmfgxnHsbcJU1Ll7k/s3648/IMG_0291.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSb42Zn5RP6l7HvZ9g00bFM56oq_8w95FZHq2X_WOCYrRlMJx3vJeMgbrRAz_MFsbqtgxeLmGsHs4NDi628u8ofTwqP7XXmtRZrHtSfWcLCkhtUj5MNkzgO6TKZq96TRK-XeuHl9QUf0SfPQ9tpyhdDkGp0ONB1HQRfbmv1_25nTJmfgxnHsbcJU1Ll7k/w640-h360/IMG_0291.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">the clouds give that look like something is brewing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JqbEvZuSkvFQZcMluPXSOb8Nn3VDKsPqEN0No4Rnpsby2Vvf2ExWAwlRgsXFJgKLLRToX6amo3Z8hmc8Bffj56wImuXOvjINBA6zwXh0vfrCXrkSZ5jzKYq9lkuxwb2GeBosnLV2zfGJve-CYp7VO_wJSQUpBKUVjnMyLFmSH0IWZvofYip4Z32A-xc/s3648/IMG_0302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JqbEvZuSkvFQZcMluPXSOb8Nn3VDKsPqEN0No4Rnpsby2Vvf2ExWAwlRgsXFJgKLLRToX6amo3Z8hmc8Bffj56wImuXOvjINBA6zwXh0vfrCXrkSZ5jzKYq9lkuxwb2GeBosnLV2zfGJve-CYp7VO_wJSQUpBKUVjnMyLFmSH0IWZvofYip4Z32A-xc/w640-h360/IMG_0302.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The transition started Tuesday evening! Brace yourself! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">🌨🌨🌨🌨🌨</div></span>Wednesday wooooh what a whiplash! The city woke to being walloped by snow! I was prepared and put project plans in place while enjoying being inside all day. One of my projects was to learn how to do macrame. I tried my hand at it many many decades ago but could not remember much. My goal is to eventually make a boho handbag. I searched for an easy project and found leaves which I liked a lot. A few days prior, I purchased the macrame cord. I learned I need a better quality of cord than what I purchased.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEbl6voNsaMjI8MQjlpnMY9Rs3VYmT66o38dVdWqv8Xbli0rd2M2YqzJAHm7FMGBOMSwkRP4zOOMdFvCieZfnEDS3fnOEOAWJ8pf9c_cOigtahp1igEk5KoBd6m0AtUTrN3R6TUHf8DbJQPe-SRooVNLiQ3sKU0S4lr9DxySzXWmWwJAw2iuFkN8HTGs/s2919/IMG_7810.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2919" data-original-width="2021" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEbl6voNsaMjI8MQjlpnMY9Rs3VYmT66o38dVdWqv8Xbli0rd2M2YqzJAHm7FMGBOMSwkRP4zOOMdFvCieZfnEDS3fnOEOAWJ8pf9c_cOigtahp1igEk5KoBd6m0AtUTrN3R6TUHf8DbJQPe-SRooVNLiQ3sKU0S4lr9DxySzXWmWwJAw2iuFkN8HTGs/w444-h640/IMG_7810.jpg" width="444" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">This is the outcome of my first leaf! Mid way through the leaf, I dismantled it and began from the start again. I was not getting the hang of the tightness and placement of the knots. As I was nearing the end, I could tell it was not going to look like it should, but I carried on to completion. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGOAEoo5wlN_fmA5XVoaSC2ASZAEbpKt-FIXEWMXgIjD6pn_H7TMaI79shYL8wj9WeJxiPw9yU8YlqXi1iQxAs3ltNjsjeBaaOay4ueYEq7ckCmErAbaXwQyD7DR8k1X4WoSqP2kcZDsBt7yjiCkLUU8AXed2U1tlv_VZL0mRNdzspJsffNzq6OV2JBA/s2246/IMG_7809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2246" data-original-width="1831" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGOAEoo5wlN_fmA5XVoaSC2ASZAEbpKt-FIXEWMXgIjD6pn_H7TMaI79shYL8wj9WeJxiPw9yU8YlqXi1iQxAs3ltNjsjeBaaOay4ueYEq7ckCmErAbaXwQyD7DR8k1X4WoSqP2kcZDsBt7yjiCkLUU8AXed2U1tlv_VZL0mRNdzspJsffNzq6OV2JBA/w522-h640/IMG_7809.jpg" width="522" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is what my leaf is supposed to look like. I have lots to learn! </div><div style="text-align: center;">I will make more leaves as practice projects using the cord I already have.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioD12W_I3hzbpLhaEdQINwvu6aIQ_7lW4jVW6qin4LBeTfC1mgxHs6bC44pR01ZTw0VrTdOgj9Z91wZFTjV7pd-wms7l-sqDpuA00AlTYC7lq9hKiYpFdpcy1Meuy0D6PQpzZNc5WIBxUC93J9Ajyfi_u6VYH0T_BDzZbHUid1lRn9DXW1TDE4hydOJOA/s860/macrame%20leafs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="860" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioD12W_I3hzbpLhaEdQINwvu6aIQ_7lW4jVW6qin4LBeTfC1mgxHs6bC44pR01ZTw0VrTdOgj9Z91wZFTjV7pd-wms7l-sqDpuA00AlTYC7lq9hKiYpFdpcy1Meuy0D6PQpzZNc5WIBxUC93J9Ajyfi_u6VYH0T_BDzZbHUid1lRn9DXW1TDE4hydOJOA/w400-h229/macrame%20leafs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Another project was to update my Wanderlust Map! This was a perfect day to get lost in wanderlusitng. Here is a zoomed in shot showing a section of Europe. White is where I have been and Green means Go! What needs to be booked and paid for is booked and paid for. I am looking forward to visiting The Netherlands and Austria in June.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuwLAQZBfX99J_i8tYsiwA9Vp8BYbl6SxDZ9TV1K0en1pbDJX0-Jw0fuxxrtFFXdTXM0Gk7EHHb9VVcoKrkp8t6A9oZzybHWjeo8d-_Be-r2lmbURk367U-q1vtMOmzXHZWITNvsS1310yMJ1EwsevcvmbG1xPFNF7Q_no0vLbob1q-Gf9SUCGIZz27M/s1916/IMG_7669-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1916" data-original-width="1733" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuwLAQZBfX99J_i8tYsiwA9Vp8BYbl6SxDZ9TV1K0en1pbDJX0-Jw0fuxxrtFFXdTXM0Gk7EHHb9VVcoKrkp8t6A9oZzybHWjeo8d-_Be-r2lmbURk367U-q1vtMOmzXHZWITNvsS1310yMJ1EwsevcvmbG1xPFNF7Q_no0vLbob1q-Gf9SUCGIZz27M/w578-h640/IMG_7669-2.jpg" width="578" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>I began reading this book many months ago. For a long stretch after starting it, it then sat untouched. It is such a good book and I am enjoying it but I have a hard time settling down to read. I can only manage about ten to twenty pages at a time and then I get restless. Another project for today was to make an extra effort to get lost in the story. I had success doing that over two reading sessions. There are just short of 100 pages left to reach the end and find out the outcome. This could take me eight to ten days! I enjoy reading but it does take effort to make the time to settle in, relax and get lost in a book!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuobHY_O2QRFQpeJuda0e76icqT8BuYlWxeEMoIc0lfk8SuSgP0xmE38ghz5RG-9Rsoj_0yGIJxlqj3eOJuqHWTrTA40uKqroNUJ_k2uLOXYon2KFm4YyRngAL-kVyugWZy9gfEotFKlwOHd7N-MHovbGzHDXVNH-MHyFqFiHxSgxqHi9BlvJhPBwTF0/s2193/IMG_7811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2193" data-original-width="2008" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuobHY_O2QRFQpeJuda0e76icqT8BuYlWxeEMoIc0lfk8SuSgP0xmE38ghz5RG-9Rsoj_0yGIJxlqj3eOJuqHWTrTA40uKqroNUJ_k2uLOXYon2KFm4YyRngAL-kVyugWZy9gfEotFKlwOHd7N-MHovbGzHDXVNH-MHyFqFiHxSgxqHi9BlvJhPBwTF0/w586-h640/IMG_7811.jpg" width="586" /></a></div><br /><div>The snow is forecasted to continuing falling until Sunday. Tomorrow I plan to get "out & about" enjoying this winter wonderland on an official spring day! <br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-65593999528047107152024-03-17T16:01:00.001-06:002024-03-17T16:02:51.263-06:00a seven day stretch<p>It felt like time to take a break from all the full moon paintings I have been doing lately and paint a little splash of cheer as an introduction to this blog post. After completing this piece, I noticed I'm still in the full circle frame of mind. It was a fun project to work on and took no time at all. I opted to use the computer to put the words inside the circles. My printing is sketchy and I did not want to take the chance of making a mess of the whole thing. I used a new brush, called a Dagger Striper, to paint the leaves. I don't always take photos when I am "out & about" so the outings where I did take photos, I shared a few below.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYazHIMSEwq4Zm6jvuQDObpTNY_pVy5zvtcQAL_SyosAkyfz6v4HG9ytQtpOOW5qV1aoiasABcOLJrOdjMI5je2_y_AlzvDqLwBN-WBuK_SjJlteOAWCTwsAIoq1-PaoXPc9E5ItGEoBKuUlcvjgBNVmA1oLhdCup7RuNmN9NGe_3q18R7AOK_pWD5cHI/s2043/background%20b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1482" data-original-width="2043" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYazHIMSEwq4Zm6jvuQDObpTNY_pVy5zvtcQAL_SyosAkyfz6v4HG9ytQtpOOW5qV1aoiasABcOLJrOdjMI5je2_y_AlzvDqLwBN-WBuK_SjJlteOAWCTwsAIoq1-PaoXPc9E5ItGEoBKuUlcvjgBNVmA1oLhdCup7RuNmN9NGe_3q18R7AOK_pWD5cHI/w640-h464/background%20b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">a beautiful Nose Hill sunrise</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkRfk09mr-ywlH0eZ_qMaNiIAc1dmlPEv0ZnEvTBGNWlqCtuhtWQ_cj8AZUNb3TY5lyh97o8lw00C7LCCh6aArHGdh5SIhMBIrBN8ttboDTGBf0hdr_EXqaPCI50-0lK_C-sps1u-NxHDhCmqT5YkMB1fKZG8sX80QMNYcRS5GK2IM79mmpiqjvXQzUc/s5184/IMG_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkRfk09mr-ywlH0eZ_qMaNiIAc1dmlPEv0ZnEvTBGNWlqCtuhtWQ_cj8AZUNb3TY5lyh97o8lw00C7LCCh6aArHGdh5SIhMBIrBN8ttboDTGBf0hdr_EXqaPCI50-0lK_C-sps1u-NxHDhCmqT5YkMB1fKZG8sX80QMNYcRS5GK2IM79mmpiqjvXQzUc/w640-h480/IMG_0017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and the aftermath<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dXz8YkS0vwFRbCm15SZPJBTLanpFPVO3WCDzB5f77IXt9Os3Dje5PcYhl-UWGu9hdC0i7Zom0LVOYuvMy8paNjOx4OCwgHyXWfBAYwyoFc2QuB3VmALDVW2cs123jOJsjS26Z7vmPFp640caoG7mb5TS5Z74LgrSG1laqbgRsNzmN8IpkPCLNLHw6Hs/s5184/IMG_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dXz8YkS0vwFRbCm15SZPJBTLanpFPVO3WCDzB5f77IXt9Os3Dje5PcYhl-UWGu9hdC0i7Zom0LVOYuvMy8paNjOx4OCwgHyXWfBAYwyoFc2QuB3VmALDVW2cs123jOJsjS26Z7vmPFp640caoG7mb5TS5Z74LgrSG1laqbgRsNzmN8IpkPCLNLHw6Hs/w640-h480/IMG_0011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1u1buQA_FX1YQitmH8WF2RJpocwEH5feJlH2J6Z06LLu4gzVpSjvAHQwCaZebxh3PMmU4651jXjNI_bGqdLRDCL263SW6LUoOb-A_pg207t442vf5rBmwi04ktBkDheXGWhtdMVJncU-8sRmngq6sLKu3SDpLfPn4jw4x2r8jzC4orrcXhxGp6YBcoo/s5184/IMG_0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1u1buQA_FX1YQitmH8WF2RJpocwEH5feJlH2J6Z06LLu4gzVpSjvAHQwCaZebxh3PMmU4651jXjNI_bGqdLRDCL263SW6LUoOb-A_pg207t442vf5rBmwi04ktBkDheXGWhtdMVJncU-8sRmngq6sLKu3SDpLfPn4jw4x2r8jzC4orrcXhxGp6YBcoo/w640-h480/IMG_0029.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iPMyBHOWNXuOq6sATGl_wP7miY0Xnr9i1cUxmJ2e-fwwM90WmY7Jq7OoctstQo5LWIjO0WnpLjZLhi4nAyApWvmg2DexyLwxQjZKj6wEgMkoLSnLMWC51boHtCJYMunh902iz3ZPs9FxrQS49zTtB1zP6pVoUKKiFLcb5xy2-v4WgFXgbjJKLKUgSHA/s5184/IMG_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iPMyBHOWNXuOq6sATGl_wP7miY0Xnr9i1cUxmJ2e-fwwM90WmY7Jq7OoctstQo5LWIjO0WnpLjZLhi4nAyApWvmg2DexyLwxQjZKj6wEgMkoLSnLMWC51boHtCJYMunh902iz3ZPs9FxrQS49zTtB1zP6pVoUKKiFLcb5xy2-v4WgFXgbjJKLKUgSHA/w640-h480/IMG_0032.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Two Common Goldeneyes were vying for her love at The Bird Sanctuary!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVhU-A46OpmIPbAUxTiOxfyW1wofn0_cdfW0WBSi72JMMlHUigGTQWEIVyckCuupfympFc5uaIFXcZ1quNsnJyDuwz51ty26W_L9zK0Mxja6svtWXnl5R1zJPV7e156LYfDl65qu35vA9CL1l9hs7nLy7B4lPyi9dKG5EwvMvI3DHcO6yNbSx8V0Q4rI/s3648/IMG_0080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVhU-A46OpmIPbAUxTiOxfyW1wofn0_cdfW0WBSi72JMMlHUigGTQWEIVyckCuupfympFc5uaIFXcZ1quNsnJyDuwz51ty26W_L9zK0Mxja6svtWXnl5R1zJPV7e156LYfDl65qu35vA9CL1l9hs7nLy7B4lPyi9dKG5EwvMvI3DHcO6yNbSx8V0Q4rI/w640-h360/IMG_0080.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ArTRL_7h8nhg_26QmBOwUNJaRVDnhHwhQaT5-oYvO-MkCpaW3kgrAfLApwJW4ZyOSFyLU0Hmd__RMPM8Oa-33-a_VPbZ7Gj8XRy3XkqTgCU0FM9qUKdoflnJGSK9pVlQYOvAwvgUORSFXgHRPtWiWwhVUdpKLIEKXX0a17CDi_1slmJ6POtpjS18jpM/s3648/IMG_0078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ArTRL_7h8nhg_26QmBOwUNJaRVDnhHwhQaT5-oYvO-MkCpaW3kgrAfLApwJW4ZyOSFyLU0Hmd__RMPM8Oa-33-a_VPbZ7Gj8XRy3XkqTgCU0FM9qUKdoflnJGSK9pVlQYOvAwvgUORSFXgHRPtWiWwhVUdpKLIEKXX0a17CDi_1slmJ6POtpjS18jpM/w640-h360/IMG_0078.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPAeggwsmGUEHAwcczUFmekqR0Btk_EVVfrBzR8iEI6a0RGQZi0NmBuca7PaQsKMELlLTJOlXJhkVIgVFdauPhmY7qICaYgx7INKyDTu_fewDgG51ka1FOxQkm3fwpOC89OpZJjq9GIpOcANUJ9JSCx8klXUK7wXMchPoZASyFtEGwNyaAfAFnYrvaUw/s3648/IMG_0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPAeggwsmGUEHAwcczUFmekqR0Btk_EVVfrBzR8iEI6a0RGQZi0NmBuca7PaQsKMELlLTJOlXJhkVIgVFdauPhmY7qICaYgx7INKyDTu_fewDgG51ka1FOxQkm3fwpOC89OpZJjq9GIpOcANUJ9JSCx8klXUK7wXMchPoZASyFtEGwNyaAfAFnYrvaUw/w640-h360/IMG_0081.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is what the onset of spring looks like at Glenbow Ranch!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUKTadp26cntqww4bywqyEC3pXkyQE1B4XbxHDX_eELDyVgJbBp4P6rhhBan2EHxYnZPOiuOed6t-m71-2FicPOl90jIZDKir2qatZbMGTwFJz6BGHsEkaRfmS5p336nsDKu_QSwj9-9jPj6v4iwFrUoDCgYHLhNrZsFjkq5acpSG5MYX_eslVyRUpgc/s3269/IMG_0147_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1803" data-original-width="3269" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUKTadp26cntqww4bywqyEC3pXkyQE1B4XbxHDX_eELDyVgJbBp4P6rhhBan2EHxYnZPOiuOed6t-m71-2FicPOl90jIZDKir2qatZbMGTwFJz6BGHsEkaRfmS5p336nsDKu_QSwj9-9jPj6v4iwFrUoDCgYHLhNrZsFjkq5acpSG5MYX_eslVyRUpgc/w640-h352/IMG_0147_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcsYW4NUWJGmA8YNSK2vbU6U0ILUP9z-e-ZuddTGLRcxT2-g8Yjt_qGfLlLrAj0s-fcAiIumHFc4meI_U3YFDJVnmWs_rzTLN5VxEs0HCTPDjbLwrTkfaZvGaoAp6vKg1VxKNikljO4MjogQE75xdaYTczuUGFliR9p9QOrLmor62grnLRnNlJ7Hn5TE/s2670/IMG_0148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2670" data-original-width="1851" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcsYW4NUWJGmA8YNSK2vbU6U0ILUP9z-e-ZuddTGLRcxT2-g8Yjt_qGfLlLrAj0s-fcAiIumHFc4meI_U3YFDJVnmWs_rzTLN5VxEs0HCTPDjbLwrTkfaZvGaoAp6vKg1VxKNikljO4MjogQE75xdaYTczuUGFliR9p9QOrLmor62grnLRnNlJ7Hn5TE/w444-h640/IMG_0148.jpg" width="444" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklk_k3noluQ93ZuZKVLxFmiLo8SEcZi8otUqothx7TYDrrpKJ_Jo1Qq6Rzfv7w4ZAMrh9jRpwTcaDJ4Pdz2wWdEtLeCKAPzsKTGmcLGW6SLmCuktCFf-TEzrisQwbpUyOb6agJzW4mIz618WJroxHu91bmj-c-cqO2uNXYErCLbMzNuL4MB-J97aUgrA/s3648/IMG_0154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklk_k3noluQ93ZuZKVLxFmiLo8SEcZi8otUqothx7TYDrrpKJ_Jo1Qq6Rzfv7w4ZAMrh9jRpwTcaDJ4Pdz2wWdEtLeCKAPzsKTGmcLGW6SLmCuktCFf-TEzrisQwbpUyOb6agJzW4mIz618WJroxHu91bmj-c-cqO2uNXYErCLbMzNuL4MB-J97aUgrA/w640-h360/IMG_0154.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was an enjoyable country drive to Wyndham Carseland for a hike around the park!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">a Blue Jay welcomed me</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cMxNpEEQDA8/ZfdfiYT25aI/AAAAAAAAOSA/x858KRrAoH4Sjouut1p4D-I0S6It16y2wCNcBGAsYHQ/s2441/IMG_0170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1755" data-original-width="2441" height="460" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cMxNpEEQDA8/ZfdfiYT25aI/AAAAAAAAOSA/x858KRrAoH4Sjouut1p4D-I0S6It16y2wCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h460/IMG_0170.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Female Downy Woodpecker</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvQkZunEphM/Zfdfw0A1reI/AAAAAAAAOSI/5oImiugYrP4bC16MMd8-rVdw0IS4p1h0QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2947/IMG_0201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1855" data-original-width="2947" height="402" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvQkZunEphM/Zfdfw0A1reI/AAAAAAAAOSI/5oImiugYrP4bC16MMd8-rVdw0IS4p1h0QCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h402/IMG_0201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Black Capped Chickadee</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ngGYKISEqAM/ZfdfzZdD3mI/AAAAAAAAOSM/yked3f-suo4ysImBVXXut5_HqJDrdUkIgCNcBGAsYHQ/s3648/IMG_0204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3648" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ngGYKISEqAM/ZfdfzZdD3mI/AAAAAAAAOSM/yked3f-suo4ysImBVXXut5_HqJDrdUkIgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_0204.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a big slice of ice floating down the river<br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4P7dXE7GCKU/ZfdfvfVyYRI/AAAAAAAAOSE/7nde5soFSVsJRr8FGidVcsN19PMvQa1cACNcBGAsYHQ/s2869/IMG_0181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1774" data-original-width="2869" height="396" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4P7dXE7GCKU/ZfdfvfVyYRI/AAAAAAAAOSE/7nde5soFSVsJRr8FGidVcsN19PMvQa1cACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h396/IMG_0181.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-42105412021608983602024-03-14T16:46:00.001-06:002024-03-14T16:48:40.257-06:00Great Ocean Road Virtual Challenge 2024<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So far this year I virtually floated down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA and I virtually hiked trails in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The time has come to virtually head back down under! If you have been following my blog for a couple of years, then you are familiar with my 2022 Virtual Challenge. For that year, I designed my own route for the Conquer 2022 Challenge. I called it the "Aussie Coastal Bushwalk". It was a distance of 2022 kms, from the start in the north to the finish in the south, along the eastern coast of Australia. Now I want to continue along the southern portion by taking on the Great Ocean Road Virtual Challenge. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ92mZEjP2f0lZm1wVhwRY3hAir4VL7JQgwvC8oaS_o-NVs6QVTSV76sV145zk1dZbwNljbBnpSNdrxbUBODKOo5qDSiNUMpHtFhBM5XJ7DmVbX8T1MuQF0PprOv7xA6qJoHMOZ9-GTv-vYCLKzwGkZXHIdr43W5kvL_hFsYas5erCB1jVBfYmGHFWwQw/s1620/IMG_7684.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ92mZEjP2f0lZm1wVhwRY3hAir4VL7JQgwvC8oaS_o-NVs6QVTSV76sV145zk1dZbwNljbBnpSNdrxbUBODKOo5qDSiNUMpHtFhBM5XJ7DmVbX8T1MuQF0PprOv7xA6qJoHMOZ9-GTv-vYCLKzwGkZXHIdr43W5kvL_hFsYas5erCB1jVBfYmGHFWwQw/w320-h320/IMG_7684.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Fontdiner Swanky; font-size: large;">Aussie Coastal Bushwalk Summary</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Complete</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWJ7YxdOWuHhqxQxte7v71GmdYDaNUFAwl469VUeG8B3dTdr-W56Irm7xV5rTnCQnBwGHXwKUOH6w0hXk8lKJveugHeSO4F80-dI4OtXkmK8-5ESJjCTGtjtoqB_oneWAc9_-mRlQDpAhyXir4JidgSBDd2_04rMP6jgYb-L0Cp5P6kd4Ww6oK4fvKYc/s560/finish%20b%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="377" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWJ7YxdOWuHhqxQxte7v71GmdYDaNUFAwl469VUeG8B3dTdr-W56Irm7xV5rTnCQnBwGHXwKUOH6w0hXk8lKJveugHeSO4F80-dI4OtXkmK8-5ESJjCTGtjtoqB_oneWAc9_-mRlQDpAhyXir4JidgSBDd2_04rMP6jgYb-L0Cp5P6kd4Ww6oK4fvKYc/w269-h400/finish%20b%20copy.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> my Conquer 2022 Virtual Challenge medal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFV7ufMPpS-M79uCN4sfPyVaLHGra3lt1jB8baZO8pCqEalWVL7-y6vH4PGQDDPAUHHBWmKjyyBmk_xcMZ5uQHVlNgFo2KUNdnH9Wln5lcXzHQ93Y7TK5_spYyjpOU7zAskNjaIzXOJrGrYYyolKF_LCRODQp1920K0CLZkYitggOWUwXUI29orXLb0w/s2361/IMG_5432.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2298" data-original-width="2361" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFV7ufMPpS-M79uCN4sfPyVaLHGra3lt1jB8baZO8pCqEalWVL7-y6vH4PGQDDPAUHHBWmKjyyBmk_xcMZ5uQHVlNgFo2KUNdnH9Wln5lcXzHQ93Y7TK5_spYyjpOU7zAskNjaIzXOJrGrYYyolKF_LCRODQp1920K0CLZkYitggOWUwXUI29orXLb0w/w400-h389/IMG_5432.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The original Aussie Coastal Bushwalk route was to take me along the south edge!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5otfLFqTzgSyh2fAnMFMPQ4Q77YW-eX0y3pMA09b7TW9ZyfdpAMEHP3xsw6uMzFgGmTTgw8yrwmPbjqj7z76z_ZZC29tThyphenhyphen92j8fNqM0oSFZLpY9qPtWh499mZBVyBkD0Svfkxas4m7fYtjHQ4-SzV96dI50Q3uCCuDQG2BH73w7-DQwl9kqGeQIB0Uw/s3649/original%20plan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3649" data-original-width="2636" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5otfLFqTzgSyh2fAnMFMPQ4Q77YW-eX0y3pMA09b7TW9ZyfdpAMEHP3xsw6uMzFgGmTTgw8yrwmPbjqj7z76z_ZZC29tThyphenhyphen92j8fNqM0oSFZLpY9qPtWh499mZBVyBkD0Svfkxas4m7fYtjHQ4-SzV96dI50Q3uCCuDQG2BH73w7-DQwl9kqGeQIB0Uw/w462-h640/original%20plan.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The actual virtual Aussie Coastal Bushwalk Route!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(I revamped the route part way through.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-KuOsqgOfzEqNfjH7KFX5gTxitdKqVM8AyuQWkkmOtMjVu7KK_4c6q97QF42Ju_oSd8rKi76IJPh-t1rLiGmKT5xilkaXKbrbYP8bo9kMnExcgIpAVfs3PBK9_EOAzLWoIh5jB9fC00jgm1FrBASeClCG712htcsAJzqCpddgARFYRBi38P7wF_DSf8/s2928/final%20route.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2928" data-original-width="2274" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-KuOsqgOfzEqNfjH7KFX5gTxitdKqVM8AyuQWkkmOtMjVu7KK_4c6q97QF42Ju_oSd8rKi76IJPh-t1rLiGmKT5xilkaXKbrbYP8bo9kMnExcgIpAVfs3PBK9_EOAzLWoIh5jB9fC00jgm1FrBASeClCG712htcsAJzqCpddgARFYRBi38P7wF_DSf8/w498-h640/final%20route.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The route I covered shown on google maps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0S8iz8_xBBRFJi5Ndo1OKMeXMQLxqwciolgq0kht2znmSH1kxYZ4bjp2p_SemdeLNRJO0dDkiStSJuYUuIUSDHLy4od1GB-c7LjELU2EtRgEhZA8lJBLboSPTI3P-9QnxyHWKqSknga3s8MdOegj-FOh2bX_03jp8U1CRBX19635toayc0OMQljVxB8I/s872/Complete%20Route.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="819" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0S8iz8_xBBRFJi5Ndo1OKMeXMQLxqwciolgq0kht2znmSH1kxYZ4bjp2p_SemdeLNRJO0dDkiStSJuYUuIUSDHLy4od1GB-c7LjELU2EtRgEhZA8lJBLboSPTI3P-9QnxyHWKqSknga3s8MdOegj-FOh2bX_03jp8U1CRBX19635toayc0OMQljVxB8I/w602-h640/Complete%20Route.jpg" width="602" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Fontdiner Swanky; font-size: large;">Great Ocean Road</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This virtual challenge measures 240 kilometres long. It runs in a westerly direction from Torquay to Allansford in the state of Victoria. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(excerpt from postcard story)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Delius Swash Caps;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 32, 32);">Great Ocean Road is on the south-west coast of Victoria and is famed for being the largest war memorial in the world. The road was built by 3000 returned WWI servicemen as a way to connect sparsely populated areas and provide a transportation link to the timber industry. Construction took 13 years as it was built by hand using explosives, picks, shovels and wheelbarrows with very little machinery. The wilderness was so dense they could only progress a mere 1.8mi (3km) every month. It was quite a dangerous job due to the use of explosives, and unfortunately, it was not without fatalities. </span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Delius Swash Caps;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 32, 32);"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Delius Swash Caps;">Besides being a popular tourist destination, the Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage Site and carries the Engineering Heritage National Marker awarded by Engineers Australia.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWAHuvkw2Ykjv9bGuIfQED1RztzhL9riBjOM4jFxFjlAuclc7ZYod4aF6B4o99Z9A81aLtlFQOBR7dXhNKkOZxIOVnGizKf1rlvGg5sBjLJ3H4OYG2MmkzTsRfC2xHhyphenhyphenDWHozg6c4XhuiJk4DIxSFC7xfY3o-ER6A3MCMD7xOkGyJ839Mw2V8d1WrA78/s1610/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-14%20at%205.38.44%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1610" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWAHuvkw2Ykjv9bGuIfQED1RztzhL9riBjOM4jFxFjlAuclc7ZYod4aF6B4o99Z9A81aLtlFQOBR7dXhNKkOZxIOVnGizKf1rlvGg5sBjLJ3H4OYG2MmkzTsRfC2xHhyphenhyphenDWHozg6c4XhuiJk4DIxSFC7xfY3o-ER6A3MCMD7xOkGyJ839Mw2V8d1WrA78/w640-h310/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-14%20at%205.38.44%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh my this is a popular challenge! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLSX6UrW5q713WLxGvl44Kn_WUAm1okETGlVLkOQeoextOOuOmy9B05UN8FBZ8sBal2OC5K9_euaXo930WDrz4O9-3ROrr9oyr7r6tRfVQe-smqYNY-pCeDR6679RR8_PzLAZgTJtZ-hi9MeSggEi8UXc0JkOZj602bqH7e085-lEF6q4MA5CQXHfWKc/s1620/greatoceanroad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLSX6UrW5q713WLxGvl44Kn_WUAm1okETGlVLkOQeoextOOuOmy9B05UN8FBZ8sBal2OC5K9_euaXo930WDrz4O9-3ROrr9oyr7r6tRfVQe-smqYNY-pCeDR6679RR8_PzLAZgTJtZ-hi9MeSggEi8UXc0JkOZj602bqH7e085-lEF6q4MA5CQXHfWKc/s320/greatoceanroad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I picked this photo as my marker!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFlFOe8i8PsD3vjxz7jW83eb8a6Kl4kshy8QwuhoQpemX2fw60f2DA8mXftwR0f-oogpMNAUHHYlQ8aAcb_bLdu2rpHlsP47FO4c-fhlnOd_PwE-cMAGNY5x4gKu7sxFHQzOysq6sh69RTOgsh_w_lI7Xn8rwspaEDQ-ho16y53tL0t2dhZpNLGioPxk/s652/marker.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="619" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFlFOe8i8PsD3vjxz7jW83eb8a6Kl4kshy8QwuhoQpemX2fw60f2DA8mXftwR0f-oogpMNAUHHYlQ8aAcb_bLdu2rpHlsP47FO4c-fhlnOd_PwE-cMAGNY5x4gKu7sxFHQzOysq6sh69RTOgsh_w_lI7Xn8rwspaEDQ-ho16y53tL0t2dhZpNLGioPxk/w380-h400/marker.png" width="380" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the route</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6ioUKe7_G7GjzARWMypnfqCZzVGO5O6d1Dm4mhd9vm_jMAHViq1UdRyc2s1XT7P-LBhzanVIJXA1eSyxv5ZmhhUM15ZoA1A0wpzUeBusJP1yIuS3OHW8K7y8ZUl6Cb7D248YGx1cOjpw5o-VbXkP0EeVbUcRaNSW6bl9w3qRAdTwrKFYKmUwB0AEo00/s1912/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-14%20at%205.44.58%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="1912" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6ioUKe7_G7GjzARWMypnfqCZzVGO5O6d1Dm4mhd9vm_jMAHViq1UdRyc2s1XT7P-LBhzanVIJXA1eSyxv5ZmhhUM15ZoA1A0wpzUeBusJP1yIuS3OHW8K7y8ZUl6Cb7D248YGx1cOjpw5o-VbXkP0EeVbUcRaNSW6bl9w3qRAdTwrKFYKmUwB0AEo00/w640-h176/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-14%20at%205.44.58%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div>zoomed in on the route with my marker at the start<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguea63iykhXU0t16hx-BOHviwks2t2aUXgZft4s2SxmfLlLvVW6sPPx-wbGog_5kmNHH791x86tW7WDsfVW5RBK-B5_pwo4fi1JNEKfzraAf6ksnuev7-yY4bhvQbPs4DDGTnfPyyCZfDQQHmwQXa8fYMX4wacd7bvLLeS7lw4j9uRCkLH4noSBfJ1eQ0/s1384/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-14%20at%205.42.27%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="1384" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguea63iykhXU0t16hx-BOHviwks2t2aUXgZft4s2SxmfLlLvVW6sPPx-wbGog_5kmNHH791x86tW7WDsfVW5RBK-B5_pwo4fi1JNEKfzraAf6ksnuev7-yY4bhvQbPs4DDGTnfPyyCZfDQQHmwQXa8fYMX4wacd7bvLLeS7lw4j9uRCkLH4noSBfJ1eQ0/w640-h342/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-14%20at%205.42.27%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am sharing this route with many others! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are the conquerors from the past 30 days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see me shortly after the start sign.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-am98ZEA59xgy_mktKxwZTByvC6UQ8B2mJBkNmqvh2Jgx2hn55wADEyDELi2k53FbbxijHgKkb1ni7nIgDQoGs6-DqbKnTeHKfR8OfQLNUc_SdeWzo340FMYbPuNU2eMvdc4pJdcrNlOt-7WFDGeg4OyFf3T6mDOi1XqjqUjCdTBN1LhvGA6Av2h1AD8/s1510/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-14%20at%204.08.33%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="1510" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-am98ZEA59xgy_mktKxwZTByvC6UQ8B2mJBkNmqvh2Jgx2hn55wADEyDELi2k53FbbxijHgKkb1ni7nIgDQoGs6-DqbKnTeHKfR8OfQLNUc_SdeWzo340FMYbPuNU2eMvdc4pJdcrNlOt-7WFDGeg4OyFf3T6mDOi1XqjqUjCdTBN1LhvGA6Av2h1AD8/w640-h280/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-14%20at%204.08.33%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I received my first postcard after logging in 7 kms from a visit to The Sanctuary this morning.</div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsz5ZotQU8PBiVeTE4g3r9_5oGcClGk-zxJTaoWOPIZ9O5qFUOpSbuBXPyEYHDJRVb5CUR9S4ytNUgmqqD-ynzhpgPSKie9zuOb6kAwJehpjectap1MZSrXyGIy5rDr2KQId9osRv-8TGIpiWA5KgfCJepNqQcZG2m0Z5rhmZMBMPsO2GfIk8pSsQj1k/s832/6272.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="832" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsz5ZotQU8PBiVeTE4g3r9_5oGcClGk-zxJTaoWOPIZ9O5qFUOpSbuBXPyEYHDJRVb5CUR9S4ytNUgmqqD-ynzhpgPSKie9zuOb6kAwJehpjectap1MZSrXyGIy5rDr2KQId9osRv-8TGIpiWA5KgfCJepNqQcZG2m0Z5rhmZMBMPsO2GfIk8pSsQj1k/w640-h450/6272.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(excerpt from postcard story)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 32, 32); font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Delius Swash Caps;">After a decent tucker of fish and chips and a pot of coldie, </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 32, 32); font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Delius Swash Caps;">I'll be on my way to Lorne. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 32, 32); font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Delius Swash Caps;">Write to you soon!</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-91478793874709149332024-03-12T20:02:00.005-06:002024-03-13T05:01:50.405-06:00wrap a ribbon around my skates<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8rDNYO54sgZTRRVnDBQmrzAPmqjDknUyIUYLlTQ9C2RZewilpFLHzHH5lVg0wjosLzhBdY5PbuNpm9VacOM6Vdtjl7MWERtLNvZrjmHdPpabMOYx5j93_QryYcEafY9puSi8UioD5o3nsUYjo0PX0e3vEd0xpUFLPpryam31T7b6kFvjRqduYQ5sM3w/s624/skate%20sketch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="102" data-original-width="624" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8rDNYO54sgZTRRVnDBQmrzAPmqjDknUyIUYLlTQ9C2RZewilpFLHzHH5lVg0wjosLzhBdY5PbuNpm9VacOM6Vdtjl7MWERtLNvZrjmHdPpabMOYx5j93_QryYcEafY9puSi8UioD5o3nsUYjo0PX0e3vEd0xpUFLPpryam31T7b6kFvjRqduYQ5sM3w/w640-h104/skate%20sketch.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Well, that's a wrap! Since returning from Lake Louise on Saturday, I have been watching the weather wondering would I get to skate locally again this season. While the skating site says the lagoon and trail are still open, my interest has wained when I see the plus double digit temperatures with sunshine. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today, I hung up my skates for this season! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7AdJW8N6ehRGoJk5hLKLA3kMP2Qv82gu4Xvv8lY3iWrIp3-zQondSbeyjpWupIG5fdu3B2idmvehuYjwvjXXPR548oPhy7LCUd7_GzIGazgxCLMxvfrIhcMV3rumNCibYV73rMy3kxhdPH-g0oCYO7UCdLI63Q2kFnQLurY1p_n4wq2ryrLb9LsgJrk/s2949/skates.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="2949" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7AdJW8N6ehRGoJk5hLKLA3kMP2Qv82gu4Xvv8lY3iWrIp3-zQondSbeyjpWupIG5fdu3B2idmvehuYjwvjXXPR548oPhy7LCUd7_GzIGazgxCLMxvfrIhcMV3rumNCibYV73rMy3kxhdPH-g0oCYO7UCdLI63Q2kFnQLurY1p_n4wq2ryrLb9LsgJrk/w640-h480/skates.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div>A few days ago, my medal for completing the Banff Virtual Challenge arrived. Most of the kilometres for this challenge were gained by skating. I thought it appropriate to display the medal with its ribbon wrapped around my skates. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was a tough season for the ice keepers to keep the ice nice when most of this winter felt like spring. The season was late starting and once it did, there were numerous times throughout the season when it was too warm and just not worth the drive to the ice. Those that maintain the ice at Lake Louise were presented with what appeared like the most challenging season ever to keep the ice nice. </div><div><br /></div><div>When the days were ideal for skating, I went for it. My hope was to skate more kilometres than I did last season and I was able to accomplish that. This season I covered 218.5 kms compared to 209.8 kms last winter. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I put together this collage of a few of my favourite experiences and photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1Fn8CStBjYCr5psheocBikx5Z7XJb6Ku5s1MG3kAD0oQFigMzi4jUi3uQRCeKrClBzSa6zyGH6HpbtumhwgQc1YoSomzGW6ht6capwLCeRxxa63xBJ7UwYKSw_I-LsNDoDvDdTtFKyYuS8eTwCbQC6I_mKShl84SVE1jGAx9oJdmkb_hjXbdcqnY5TA/s6000/skate%20collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="6000" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1Fn8CStBjYCr5psheocBikx5Z7XJb6Ku5s1MG3kAD0oQFigMzi4jUi3uQRCeKrClBzSa6zyGH6HpbtumhwgQc1YoSomzGW6ht6capwLCeRxxa63xBJ7UwYKSw_I-LsNDoDvDdTtFKyYuS8eTwCbQC6I_mKShl84SVE1jGAx9oJdmkb_hjXbdcqnY5TA/w640-h512/skate%20collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While skating at the Lake Louise Community Centre Rink last week, the hockey player and I talked about the benefits of skating. He was recovering from a knee injury and was working his way back to get back into the game. I did a quick check to find out what those in the know say the benefits of skating are. This was what I found!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><ul><ul><ul><li>⛸ burns calories</li><li>⛸ works the legs and arms</li><li>⛸ easy on the joints</li><li>⛸ improves balance, agility and coordination</li><li>⛸ cardiovascular health</li><li>⛸ improves endurance</li><li>⛸ improves mental health</li></ul></ul></ul></ul></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last Saturday, I stopped by Lake Louise to have one last visit before hitting the highway home. It had snowed lightly overnight. It was mid morning and the sweeper had not yet swept the ice. No one was skating. The entire surface was a beautiful blank canvas. I left my mark! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I ♡ ⛸ !</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTHnFDXHduVw3aO6_LxmV-gYOtLieccKJTEnm0Vq29yT6eFNVDrviDcnuEUSUt-QFRovWXHT0DfoALSWlbp9JuA-s03Yda-OrRb_EptdwJxcFOcb1RwmFz04JTCY2hIQ1hP2VGRQLVUTb2XHiwL2s4LWVIjnXzB7GDXnVACt8kOQyM1tETnIZ_BCy2dI/s4929/IMG_3428.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4929" data-original-width="3286" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTHnFDXHduVw3aO6_LxmV-gYOtLieccKJTEnm0Vq29yT6eFNVDrviDcnuEUSUt-QFRovWXHT0DfoALSWlbp9JuA-s03Yda-OrRb_EptdwJxcFOcb1RwmFz04JTCY2hIQ1hP2VGRQLVUTb2XHiwL2s4LWVIjnXzB7GDXnVACt8kOQyM1tETnIZ_BCy2dI/w426-h640/IMG_3428.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-90090343072538205602024-03-11T16:04:00.001-06:002024-03-12T05:04:13.379-06:00over the Worm Moon <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The full moon for March is called the <span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Bubblegum Sans;">Worm Moon, </span>it will be full on March 25th. It was given this name because earthworms would appear as the soil warms in spring. It's the time of year also when beetle larvae emerges from the thawing bark of trees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another name given this moon, by the Pueblo people, is the <span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Bubblegum Sans;">Strong Wind Moon</span>. They gave it this name because of the strong windy days that come at this time of year. I can relate more to that name so that is the name I am going with. The only thing I know about worms is that when I was a kid, I collected them in a jar. With the jar full of worms, my fishing rod plus tackle box, I headed to the local frog pond to fish! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This full moon is also the Paschal Moon. The Paschal Moon is the first full moon of spring that appears after the spring equinox which is March 19th. This moon determines when Easter will be. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The <span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Bubblegum Sans;">Strong Wind Moon</span> will be full the morning of March 25th at 1:00 am Mountain Time. The best time to view it will be on Sunday or Monday the 24th and 25th when it rises just after sunset. It will look especially large when it is near the horizon due to Moon Illusion. Your brain compares the moon to comparative objects such as trees, chimneys, buildings and it looks bigger when it is on the horizon near these objects. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is my watercolour painting of the <span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Bubblegum Sans;">Strong Wind Moon</span>. This painting will represent March in my 2025 calendar. I added a worm shape in the moon. I did what I could to make the scene look like it was a windy night. The trees are leaning, there is a bit of ripple in the water, the snow is drifted over the rocks and I made the sky look directional as if the clouds were being blown. When I look at this painting, I feel and hear the wind! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VpiajoCeGhnAvs2v5YTNxg9L2DgJMqzGYIxHbz7xpDB80xCL94Cum0G-YhRzZP6yA9inbyw2rD_DR9BCBOeuKmRe1CCq7WALRcz050WgUyqYJK5VYt1P5i881h-RgOOjc9nyNO59gIsi6cR4CRW2wDhVHIMDsDauL0MIqZZRYq_tRMmKErX1sxMs1cg/s2037/worm%20moon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2037" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VpiajoCeGhnAvs2v5YTNxg9L2DgJMqzGYIxHbz7xpDB80xCL94Cum0G-YhRzZP6yA9inbyw2rD_DR9BCBOeuKmRe1CCq7WALRcz050WgUyqYJK5VYt1P5i881h-RgOOjc9nyNO59gIsi6cR4CRW2wDhVHIMDsDauL0MIqZZRYq_tRMmKErX1sxMs1cg/w640-h356/worm%20moon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>These were my reference photos for the <span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Bubblegum Sans;">Strong Wind Moon</span> painting. There were many photos to choose from that I took while visiting Waterton Lakes National Park during the month of March over the past few years. Waterton can be windy during any month but it's the winds of March that create a wildly, wonderful scene.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yljztGzZGbP6dWDmks0tUdpY0TlcbmgFGEuL6Uuc0ZyNt1d5k6EZCgZXHuFazpeHEu7i2rT5P1ic9fOYHyeREP29hEA_lbhDbrn4JfrbjXc-mOJcEhkFCQrXaGNNMvipa12eljJE0eWxv0FSV9X9GsaCz4kaycFGwI5gfmHSqjSUuaDhWKOi6Y4S6fU/s6000/worm%20moon%20collage%20reference.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="6000" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yljztGzZGbP6dWDmks0tUdpY0TlcbmgFGEuL6Uuc0ZyNt1d5k6EZCgZXHuFazpeHEu7i2rT5P1ic9fOYHyeREP29hEA_lbhDbrn4JfrbjXc-mOJcEhkFCQrXaGNNMvipa12eljJE0eWxv0FSV9X9GsaCz4kaycFGwI5gfmHSqjSUuaDhWKOi6Y4S6fU/w640-h512/worm%20moon%20collage%20reference.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope to be "out & about" witnessing the <span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Bubblegum Sans;">Strong Wind Moon!</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If I am able to do so, I will be over the moon!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-34625311056105910972024-03-08T21:32:00.171-07:002024-03-09T05:40:11.732-07:00Lake Louise March 8, 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYeaWrzVBO1FqYELtMtRJoEEnCCCRC6BmyUY2WEBBNy4VMYVqiFMgc9B_G6EGE3eMXF8jpYesBaAoMQN3zbYzCoGHN-f2EBUBWlf1xrSBkKimI0bK3ltPBtdw00zXcflxt-i3yBKhr03U7CmWUyLGntJp7Eg1bjj9Iv_2tRIOhaNb99-UfzIXPstInj0/s2084/header.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="2084" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYeaWrzVBO1FqYELtMtRJoEEnCCCRC6BmyUY2WEBBNy4VMYVqiFMgc9B_G6EGE3eMXF8jpYesBaAoMQN3zbYzCoGHN-f2EBUBWlf1xrSBkKimI0bK3ltPBtdw00zXcflxt-i3yBKhr03U7CmWUyLGntJp7Eg1bjj9Iv_2tRIOhaNb99-UfzIXPstInj0/w640-h250/header.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Another cross country ski trail that is almost out the front door of my home away from home is the Tramline Trail that leads to the Moraine Lake Road Trail that leads to the Fairview Trail. Combining these three trails, today I skied one big counterclockwise loop. This is the trailhead kiosk at the far end of the Lake Louise Parking Lot.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzb9qWhzi2BUaBLrZwAx9YjPUW5bzRsmppxgvHbY5MgE9jz55B61B18xE9CbQ8-esLKv_zaFjv2AxoBP4LX9Jqbyrwgaf0o1r__WMaB0oOt36RwEAxQcuhisziTKhhqZZMtfGCjpMNgrgGKpZmWCB6J2vEhA7dwdiSFb8Fm0IQHY3sRRxcVHlKdUtvDAI/s3967/IMG_3272.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3044" data-original-width="3967" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzb9qWhzi2BUaBLrZwAx9YjPUW5bzRsmppxgvHbY5MgE9jz55B61B18xE9CbQ8-esLKv_zaFjv2AxoBP4LX9Jqbyrwgaf0o1r__WMaB0oOt36RwEAxQcuhisziTKhhqZZMtfGCjpMNgrgGKpZmWCB6J2vEhA7dwdiSFb8Fm0IQHY3sRRxcVHlKdUtvDAI/w640-h492/IMG_3272.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">just need to clip in then off I go sailing down the Tramline</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5rDe-E0ae6ZHgvqVHBoOXI_tL-SuNebsscXlNfQ0s3XYmbXT6mPtkrLbffeCy2CySihyhNrD7HlEJg6MHSKiiPT6K_Y5C0w6QdQ1JTk4jg0wCn4NlH4IVxyrWn2v37nD_Gs8rvDcdMqOPtV_RGWgT3qmARTf6wNGuiigYax8SdGZExh6Eoej16T07aM/s4651/IMG_3275.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4651" data-original-width="2740" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5rDe-E0ae6ZHgvqVHBoOXI_tL-SuNebsscXlNfQ0s3XYmbXT6mPtkrLbffeCy2CySihyhNrD7HlEJg6MHSKiiPT6K_Y5C0w6QdQ1JTk4jg0wCn4NlH4IVxyrWn2v37nD_Gs8rvDcdMqOPtV_RGWgT3qmARTf6wNGuiigYax8SdGZExh6Eoej16T07aM/w378-h640/IMG_3275.jpeg" width="378" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">view as I skied down the groomed Tramline Trail</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjie1h3jhhszeUneRgm3STbHUmd1564ZastEJu3L8bKXYK5RuJgSj1ClW-Q6ymX1S4qTEcoHjstDYOtjLlKPyYe2H5k7yERSEskxuCzKEFRtbuH2J47xHwqEppq09B1Uq5uGtA0RMGnB9-MB5HqUMABD7ssk89xyfmZxGJszblH77qM8USZxu481uk_O6Y/s5051/IMG_3280.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5051" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjie1h3jhhszeUneRgm3STbHUmd1564ZastEJu3L8bKXYK5RuJgSj1ClW-Q6ymX1S4qTEcoHjstDYOtjLlKPyYe2H5k7yERSEskxuCzKEFRtbuH2J47xHwqEppq09B1Uq5uGtA0RMGnB9-MB5HqUMABD7ssk89xyfmZxGJszblH77qM8USZxu481uk_O6Y/w640-h438/IMG_3280.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">eventually the trail leads into the trees </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxC7wZPv8Fz6Awv3ecoBapJ-ZSgT7K3ixXHtvNTorpXsmum3XnYPIKo5byNpGGnnIdAE8V7TlV9YEVUkfH6Xg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div>While I was still in the open area, I did an about turn to capture this photo as I would not be coming back this way. Doing an about turn needed to be done gingerly with these long skis and a narrow area.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyo2JA1qcBGZ__yDQTXuCoZwMDj01MPoOKBmIZN89DpunLtK3hqqPZ9WCU4K8nX0yT043duvk146cMTcGBnvcPizp_hXQZboQYptvzlSX73GRgViBiI4r2i823wMroNk1SU5_jbqj2TPEZw2wftKgSGJo_s-Nr_blJN12zG1exmBM9l6WAayUTzc1_irw/s5184/IMG_3283.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3332" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyo2JA1qcBGZ__yDQTXuCoZwMDj01MPoOKBmIZN89DpunLtK3hqqPZ9WCU4K8nX0yT043duvk146cMTcGBnvcPizp_hXQZboQYptvzlSX73GRgViBiI4r2i823wMroNk1SU5_jbqj2TPEZw2wftKgSGJo_s-Nr_blJN12zG1exmBM9l6WAayUTzc1_irw/w412-h640/IMG_3283.jpeg" width="412" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The Tramline crosses over the Moraine Lake Road Trail and carries on down to the village. Instead, I turned right to ski up the Moraine Lake Road. The track was groomed yesterday which made for perfect conditions. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPXZaTsnoCHLs9djgfhgNfQZyrG9DzBQtNDR5rc2YgFPjaC2ShMW7E8z1q1gKzNF-_Pzn-T35CYAcTLq8XTijloWNmxoXddJQsSUxIt9qkqA6ZPojFxCXovLNmv1znKTz-GUgxLF6vuSIXgaHcb_I9aoWPD4X4dvCpuTIqRnnwqZ_iJyTgPkzlrWKSZw/s4761/IMG_3286.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4761" data-original-width="3345" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPXZaTsnoCHLs9djgfhgNfQZyrG9DzBQtNDR5rc2YgFPjaC2ShMW7E8z1q1gKzNF-_Pzn-T35CYAcTLq8XTijloWNmxoXddJQsSUxIt9qkqA6ZPojFxCXovLNmv1znKTz-GUgxLF6vuSIXgaHcb_I9aoWPD4X4dvCpuTIqRnnwqZ_iJyTgPkzlrWKSZw/w450-h640/IMG_3286.jpeg" width="450" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Skiing up this trail, the sun hits the slope on the right and causes sloughing. Much of the right side looked like this. So, imagine this, multiply this by hundreds of thousands of times on a gigantic slope, and it would be an avalanche. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6QqN6XHhHcl3esIBi1IksTpDTiydHo3oYmWq4l5wZqu2cbGv-Jm4lutKXhMTtxx8vcm6ciazxM4i7CLOqDVQjVnkGGny2Z0WIdGt4S-dpDwLXsVZ0PoKeO-AXDBk51PkJPS2WQWM9QQL-MlKl3OZdYfXYeoFACs-1bIruHMqiQelC8HztwbpN0UEHws/s5184/IMG_3293.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="2052" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6QqN6XHhHcl3esIBi1IksTpDTiydHo3oYmWq4l5wZqu2cbGv-Jm4lutKXhMTtxx8vcm6ciazxM4i7CLOqDVQjVnkGGny2Z0WIdGt4S-dpDwLXsVZ0PoKeO-AXDBk51PkJPS2WQWM9QQL-MlKl3OZdYfXYeoFACs-1bIruHMqiQelC8HztwbpN0UEHws/w254-h640/IMG_3293.jpeg" width="254" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">view of the Lake Louise Ski Hill while skiing along Moraine Lake Road </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxv1sEKYVIel3V9i61bZJc-iJGq8ld53-GnFR7woytPpe43ntqKcTZB3vtXxESKFCLxIFrb4MSNT8zHCK4Vz1f8hgW2VIgnZkhD39L_xs3NVSLZAOlo6qL3rYE90i4hE1yFlQbqMDFwDd3_eOPjPY0DAVspVNrP_joj-7mLgC5V9qZU87G_9YUOzdQhUY/s5184/IMG_3303.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxv1sEKYVIel3V9i61bZJc-iJGq8ld53-GnFR7woytPpe43ntqKcTZB3vtXxESKFCLxIFrb4MSNT8zHCK4Vz1f8hgW2VIgnZkhD39L_xs3NVSLZAOlo6qL3rYE90i4hE1yFlQbqMDFwDd3_eOPjPY0DAVspVNrP_joj-7mLgC5V9qZU87G_9YUOzdQhUY/w640-h426/IMG_3303.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I reached the turnoff for the Fairview Trail. It was time for a little rest and to delayer as the time came for some steeper uphill sections where I would need to herring bone and that takes work. This was also the trail I was most excited for as it passes through a few meadows.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSBBDV3HAfyIkLJ9WhObZ-T0nQfoOOqJnCTTAmoBFJfZnN3hgmD-hVdre9bxRiUABzpppV1s8itgTuU6_AdD61JAnZRcMTo6fNvMN0NRZtPSuURxsP7aAhbJPQsWundavknIcN6ujhy1bLd7JqvLSRqeQJLCrtilxGdW7c7RG-ODYPoJ67L_oFjfEW6c/s5184/IMG_3306.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3175" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSBBDV3HAfyIkLJ9WhObZ-T0nQfoOOqJnCTTAmoBFJfZnN3hgmD-hVdre9bxRiUABzpppV1s8itgTuU6_AdD61JAnZRcMTo6fNvMN0NRZtPSuURxsP7aAhbJPQsWundavknIcN6ujhy1bLd7JqvLSRqeQJLCrtilxGdW7c7RG-ODYPoJ67L_oFjfEW6c/w392-h640/IMG_3306.jpeg" width="392" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">view along Fairview Trail </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg188Y-8uRwNV1SSgow2QEWjH9aVBZcZg52q8U73nmXJsmrtJ8II7f2sWD4CsEhs9MiH4-zkp7ZpVK76KALJq0sNiOWkyBpM4NPTL1fZxvc7_bpHAst_op9DhYbltIAQPIHCALwJehBik736ALIN8OsHNTx6XefcKburlV-L8O1AgUMyf747WPSpcC36aM/s5184/IMG_3329.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg188Y-8uRwNV1SSgow2QEWjH9aVBZcZg52q8U73nmXJsmrtJ8II7f2sWD4CsEhs9MiH4-zkp7ZpVK76KALJq0sNiOWkyBpM4NPTL1fZxvc7_bpHAst_op9DhYbltIAQPIHCALwJehBik736ALIN8OsHNTx6XefcKburlV-L8O1AgUMyf747WPSpcC36aM/w640-h426/IMG_3329.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8rFgPGKaOPm29VkZXSDJImwP0Bsq_2bAPhZmF36NmvbxSnRzRwWi621ru0TUsI9C4S0PMwBL1ucwH25nTdYG-8uhOXXkBplobwFOnV34tkQRO3sO38MUyIkpMpMZY52qPT0tXkIbuLTWKueyLDa8f2xitzfFeM5KTGJP8xd1Zlxnq_3t9wOEjHz7wII/s5184/IMG_3349.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8rFgPGKaOPm29VkZXSDJImwP0Bsq_2bAPhZmF36NmvbxSnRzRwWi621ru0TUsI9C4S0PMwBL1ucwH25nTdYG-8uhOXXkBplobwFOnV34tkQRO3sO38MUyIkpMpMZY52qPT0tXkIbuLTWKueyLDa8f2xitzfFeM5KTGJP8xd1Zlxnq_3t9wOEjHz7wII/w426-h640/IMG_3349.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a selfie with my small camera </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(my good camera fell off the coffee table and no longer works)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTTUVvQmZpEfwN0avX5QX8yLRZ07YaPCpH0vgf6rxW4Tv8eqxll998z6AFdpk0-r4kJnyCkep_xVCu8nUoiw7kGGFwb-I80rFDdA2yB-OdeyfSZuAAJylOOFAkXqZgvIEkMHlkCom9VzGy4PdBCRKsOFlrN393DuPJBbjcl1B_3BQ1HuEwjuaVGmjLSk/s3943/IMG_3340.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2986" data-original-width="3943" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTTUVvQmZpEfwN0avX5QX8yLRZ07YaPCpH0vgf6rxW4Tv8eqxll998z6AFdpk0-r4kJnyCkep_xVCu8nUoiw7kGGFwb-I80rFDdA2yB-OdeyfSZuAAJylOOFAkXqZgvIEkMHlkCom9VzGy4PdBCRKsOFlrN393DuPJBbjcl1B_3BQ1HuEwjuaVGmjLSk/w640-h484/IMG_3340.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This tree caught my eye for obvious reasons! Are all those hearts created by Mother Nature or did someone have a hand in the design. I was not able to get really close, I did not want my ski to sink in a tree well. I may need to do some googling to find out what is going on!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuw3x5fmee7mvDfxEzzQO6uKB0k1pwl1YX6eujLBKg7I9HQK5Odb4Rf0GCwNipgETu65GeMNGP6GvZQavPvsWtjB-HjgSfNcM6HdO65PqTuFDxTD5BsoDGm01Tsi7_tc9BE6dBuxx8x09H4nKAXuh3UoPnbog8a26W_Pw1rQqS-1IkmM6oT0aGoglTzTo/s4734/IMG_3355.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4734" data-original-width="2158" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuw3x5fmee7mvDfxEzzQO6uKB0k1pwl1YX6eujLBKg7I9HQK5Odb4Rf0GCwNipgETu65GeMNGP6GvZQavPvsWtjB-HjgSfNcM6HdO65PqTuFDxTD5BsoDGm01Tsi7_tc9BE6dBuxx8x09H4nKAXuh3UoPnbog8a26W_Pw1rQqS-1IkmM6oT0aGoglTzTo/w292-h640/IMG_3355.jpeg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">views along the way</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivs-LAbfM-koXJ_zXkSIlC6_FF1k17IJ4PXdb6MekZ3-Dojwkx7Qh4npRbNaMTu6dDb06tvElNvPtzS-Z_khJm4chJQakdaHeCkxuBF-AztGZun6l1yejbAO-H-R0p9r8hwNl08rezuCVEsQiqK2ziyjB3lwcU13ltleU24GMgIEqntIN6fTg1gO-lAFA/s5184/IMG_3374.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivs-LAbfM-koXJ_zXkSIlC6_FF1k17IJ4PXdb6MekZ3-Dojwkx7Qh4npRbNaMTu6dDb06tvElNvPtzS-Z_khJm4chJQakdaHeCkxuBF-AztGZun6l1yejbAO-H-R0p9r8hwNl08rezuCVEsQiqK2ziyjB3lwcU13ltleU24GMgIEqntIN6fTg1gO-lAFA/w640-h426/IMG_3374.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSCtFLpw73TdcXQWaCkCbt7tsS-oZjqcBGjxPK3OyMcMz5IyRPz-bQJZ4GY2K8y9qQsBSdJ8aLInGYhLsemXn1lgzDNtCeLylRPz4SMeNSrH40aLb26zVR1Ttdvg3yY4WK_82hwdMUgXsLEKcgpNXGpKzui42xW5WH-7xs3DypQ_cqYpFGjN6vCv5evw/s5184/IMG_3366.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSCtFLpw73TdcXQWaCkCbt7tsS-oZjqcBGjxPK3OyMcMz5IyRPz-bQJZ4GY2K8y9qQsBSdJ8aLInGYhLsemXn1lgzDNtCeLylRPz4SMeNSrH40aLb26zVR1Ttdvg3yY4WK_82hwdMUgXsLEKcgpNXGpKzui42xW5WH-7xs3DypQ_cqYpFGjN6vCv5evw/w426-h640/IMG_3366.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUg55PDjbNDJLWHMO4wl8V5UtsaFNwU5ZYuat5t8Ze7vO2UaE9jmMqEz3wDY3TyaBTaEMzFxvlwuWzImYM3RJG0DmS__pZUnauKEl6lPlZTNTPeW6CFjgQCsDxBGSo5RUN21CnUEKQ8BAjGFUGY6GsCQj_brwh3nv7I9GkFpgUU4SChn7MLChzMgX6JJc/s5184/IMG_3344.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUg55PDjbNDJLWHMO4wl8V5UtsaFNwU5ZYuat5t8Ze7vO2UaE9jmMqEz3wDY3TyaBTaEMzFxvlwuWzImYM3RJG0DmS__pZUnauKEl6lPlZTNTPeW6CFjgQCsDxBGSo5RUN21CnUEKQ8BAjGFUGY6GsCQj_brwh3nv7I9GkFpgUU4SChn7MLChzMgX6JJc/w426-h640/IMG_3344.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I skied back and forth through the meadow, it was so peaceful and beautiful, I did not want it to end. Each time I did an about turn, I looked and listened to be sure no one would quickly come upon me while in mid turn. After feeling fulfilled from my time in the meadow, I continued along the few short downhill sections back to the trailhead kiosk at Tramline. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_tZ03IG3bQhjpGQXJ2HH4dSK8JS3REEWQG7-zYHk9y8sd9aCwJ6sTkWV8Yb69oCnwYZeWwi_VJG3LvoIDSm1X9sXWDFAaKRYUrQyPUbRQiPnIY6u8lpwMqHuw8wze5ISi-lQQSrgez9MLrx_bzXEVq2cD8yFmagj6wA0lRT0i2tHbh2B5WtELreoiDo/s5184/IMG_3362.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3309" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_tZ03IG3bQhjpGQXJ2HH4dSK8JS3REEWQG7-zYHk9y8sd9aCwJ6sTkWV8Yb69oCnwYZeWwi_VJG3LvoIDSm1X9sXWDFAaKRYUrQyPUbRQiPnIY6u8lpwMqHuw8wze5ISi-lQQSrgez9MLrx_bzXEVq2cD8yFmagj6wA0lRT0i2tHbh2B5WtELreoiDo/w408-h640/IMG_3362.jpeg" width="408" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">All that was left to do was clip out of my skis and walk across that road to my vehicle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhls0YktNZjHYed1Kb1_2xuZbmHhG91qbjf0KnYrc_yl8S4jIgqbrAcBmnfqs6anvtt5QDL6rpCGfIb-K1FnN279JbA-15szbYD2cWrm_trS7X9SQrUiM7XGfNEs7hM6psI7v6ivi641nTnJr75L3uhWLdhb3EkafTZPEttBrsI-iLx5zYtacGYuKoL8jM/s4904/IMG_3273.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4904" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhls0YktNZjHYed1Kb1_2xuZbmHhG91qbjf0KnYrc_yl8S4jIgqbrAcBmnfqs6anvtt5QDL6rpCGfIb-K1FnN279JbA-15szbYD2cWrm_trS7X9SQrUiM7XGfNEs7hM6psI7v6ivi641nTnJr75L3uhWLdhb3EkafTZPEttBrsI-iLx5zYtacGYuKoL8jM/w640-h452/IMG_3273.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-88867122170514125272024-03-07T21:15:00.098-07:002024-03-08T06:35:57.996-07:00Lake Louise March 7, 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVOz4gnvXkwC5-ToK33XZpv0ebxFQ84yOcH-8gh7uvG2xy9eMjmRW0ZZ97Ac7BSWbVJjhyLlImBQQNfGRRbRJOqgsPgycSVo91WfNNCfhvRRggotA2Ojuly73GAu8lvIf3jpe-411GeDdnqex-eQoiT4mIi54JGV6OpM7ziizbtx93czYZhNYmbHA8-c/s2084/header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="2084" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVOz4gnvXkwC5-ToK33XZpv0ebxFQ84yOcH-8gh7uvG2xy9eMjmRW0ZZ97Ac7BSWbVJjhyLlImBQQNfGRRbRJOqgsPgycSVo91WfNNCfhvRRggotA2Ojuly73GAu8lvIf3jpe-411GeDdnqex-eQoiT4mIi54JGV6OpM7ziizbtx93czYZhNYmbHA8-c/w640-h250/header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We put a dinner plan in place before heading westerly to the winter wonderland! Both Adventure Designer and I wanted to dine at The Station Restaurant in Lake Louise Village. We picked this evening to make it happen. <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDEA3xLd4VBMUuqRQ5osY87u_Up40v35VisKWXvFo-FhowPjDojaaAnzJ1adQIdDm3nm2DVtAtHGUno9kAPaoveptDw4DFDzhzOtOAC9SY7WJ7VbLbH0aXfS0psv_BqRm6bFcWCND0efTKLIfEJ0dKcX3YLY9PtGyRtiLRqUyPYdTEUdOXatOGe7VJMQ/s4032/IMG_7672.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDEA3xLd4VBMUuqRQ5osY87u_Up40v35VisKWXvFo-FhowPjDojaaAnzJ1adQIdDm3nm2DVtAtHGUno9kAPaoveptDw4DFDzhzOtOAC9SY7WJ7VbLbH0aXfS0psv_BqRm6bFcWCND0efTKLIfEJ0dKcX3YLY9PtGyRtiLRqUyPYdTEUdOXatOGe7VJMQ/w640-h480/IMG_7672.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Before entering, we checked out the views and other train cars around the property.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgo3oCBCQl2dW5SkxITKE-cVv_phpY7TdS56M6vSzxcikXoIRcX8Z4eHum0REhKD9XP9e_rkLPqfsHHcB8KCBYWN4EBcTTOW52VTchkE1sJwnEOyDhfh_jiMj7vKsd78v1z5Nm3I2iLMTL0rznaD4Wyb4v_Rqfi31HwfCSC6WZaxPx_Vu4TqjR2TRO3E/s4032/IMG_7647.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgo3oCBCQl2dW5SkxITKE-cVv_phpY7TdS56M6vSzxcikXoIRcX8Z4eHum0REhKD9XP9e_rkLPqfsHHcB8KCBYWN4EBcTTOW52VTchkE1sJwnEOyDhfh_jiMj7vKsd78v1z5Nm3I2iLMTL0rznaD4Wyb4v_Rqfi31HwfCSC6WZaxPx_Vu4TqjR2TRO3E/w480-h640/IMG_7647.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywU14x_O1Lc4myvIpxDzo17mgDJxNUAV5rQjDB1eZEt32vT-a9iyOF4n2q4cpFTOBd7Ona9rn389i6WntkmJPDX7jt6lme6AKTqGTi_h-pL0b7aDYo2c6tPzkh7tMNJ1j7NkeemukZvq_ATD02EUyrrGauGHWN22sPjT4zXm40Fyxtp7Ly4oTguPZVGA/s3749/IMG_7649.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3749" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywU14x_O1Lc4myvIpxDzo17mgDJxNUAV5rQjDB1eZEt32vT-a9iyOF4n2q4cpFTOBd7Ona9rn389i6WntkmJPDX7jt6lme6AKTqGTi_h-pL0b7aDYo2c6tPzkh7tMNJ1j7NkeemukZvq_ATD02EUyrrGauGHWN22sPjT4zXm40Fyxtp7Ly4oTguPZVGA/w516-h640/IMG_7649.jpeg" width="516" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilu2gzfWnqPafdyXlsre2E8M3lzOkJqfJ41mM62MDrrUme7pFyU6uQUGTuovJ6BSNxh7UdsbohYF03OUqf_hKCxdu4z3ZcBGVE66ZV9tNfPWEHN7iV05q-4c2ap93Kz5uKO7iFEcGJZagqlbCEq9NKFo4RBwzr_3cAdwEQRuhtrqFb8kUcRUORhtkxyxg/s4032/IMG_7646.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilu2gzfWnqPafdyXlsre2E8M3lzOkJqfJ41mM62MDrrUme7pFyU6uQUGTuovJ6BSNxh7UdsbohYF03OUqf_hKCxdu4z3ZcBGVE66ZV9tNfPWEHN7iV05q-4c2ap93Kz5uKO7iFEcGJZagqlbCEq9NKFo4RBwzr_3cAdwEQRuhtrqFb8kUcRUORhtkxyxg/w640-h480/IMG_7646.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">time to enter The Station Restaurant </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxyRuZi8GD7WRKA73qZpAF1lLMzBJ5V3OKztCyJLsCsYnZLfUZDebJ8zvM5jAT_UewDJUycZWk5ddmqj8lPT-BeEA-PNueYQivkctT60hUXmAPkJzdMI9XC9rMFW7c0x93WbjbMjwJJgSQ2Fz-KrrZwRasRX5s8RVk_EqX3DCEpAsEQLv20N_bgUtit8/s4032/IMG_7643.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2573" data-original-width="4032" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxyRuZi8GD7WRKA73qZpAF1lLMzBJ5V3OKztCyJLsCsYnZLfUZDebJ8zvM5jAT_UewDJUycZWk5ddmqj8lPT-BeEA-PNueYQivkctT60hUXmAPkJzdMI9XC9rMFW7c0x93WbjbMjwJJgSQ2Fz-KrrZwRasRX5s8RVk_EqX3DCEpAsEQLv20N_bgUtit8/w640-h408/IMG_7643.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">fire place </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirphTe5isAkXzSKVGV4vHJaYXgYbAY9Ptt0U-x2Wm0DRMMhIYrR7YLSVbj4hNsF198jsTgMwvCLkLp-FcTQfNIpKwGt6d-4LyzKkbUMh7VlRUMbf3KiVbVUJYBVf6mzFm26iuNYGqanC7eJJDuDWhlF-RbyebFQXqUpP_d2dFVfSoPLfikQmi4IZobWxE/s4032/IMG_7661.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2875" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirphTe5isAkXzSKVGV4vHJaYXgYbAY9Ptt0U-x2Wm0DRMMhIYrR7YLSVbj4hNsF198jsTgMwvCLkLp-FcTQfNIpKwGt6d-4LyzKkbUMh7VlRUMbf3KiVbVUJYBVf6mzFm26iuNYGqanC7eJJDuDWhlF-RbyebFQXqUpP_d2dFVfSoPLfikQmi4IZobWxE/w456-h640/IMG_7661.jpeg" width="456" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the bar </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqtanCRq1WaSRDyI7M_emDRf8Sh32xDLTYYl3QCbSOPmDSz8fIBz64345EiNLdEVQMMx2AlPpL0xHRM6Y1J-yzx8jCDeZz7WeiIDM6VkVJvgI8JVCmdTR7tRyB6G2VmorZZgEquW7zSvc5GWeGGRshOLKuSqvN8ohcD1fAL7TgQcMNE6rYNQgzWtCStQ/s4032/IMG_7664.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqtanCRq1WaSRDyI7M_emDRf8Sh32xDLTYYl3QCbSOPmDSz8fIBz64345EiNLdEVQMMx2AlPpL0xHRM6Y1J-yzx8jCDeZz7WeiIDM6VkVJvgI8JVCmdTR7tRyB6G2VmorZZgEquW7zSvc5GWeGGRshOLKuSqvN8ohcD1fAL7TgQcMNE6rYNQgzWtCStQ/w640-h480/IMG_7664.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">view behind our table </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Kr9JyWz96Al5rWRSVzB7qijNgR_EkCM3IfLF7usTpP2CVdxBEjoG0ARBRTHdOixnd5JuAWQTKLJbBZ7IQ5r3xDdTBfEt4XjUXxENvhIF-Aq5yY0TUFzfVOQ6CXj-uX23c0bBBRK6PicJfinYck8r7o2Hh1Y1u7EMQef2QILzjboNzbhWXeWGPmRQ1bo/s4032/IMG_7665.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Kr9JyWz96Al5rWRSVzB7qijNgR_EkCM3IfLF7usTpP2CVdxBEjoG0ARBRTHdOixnd5JuAWQTKLJbBZ7IQ5r3xDdTBfEt4XjUXxENvhIF-Aq5yY0TUFzfVOQ6CXj-uX23c0bBBRK6PicJfinYck8r7o2Hh1Y1u7EMQef2QILzjboNzbhWXeWGPmRQ1bo/w480-h640/IMG_7665.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">my beverage a Shirley Temple </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJd7IK8o06rFEAOGyE6HjSGLHDZmOhlegSSiB5IYuIqIp3h56IN0lZUceZ3_j7Y7DRd5TP0en5Azm-Cj8MY0rNN5GOygaJdtS4bsN4viFjtS7De9cG7ZmXjsyIZ9pOqGI0lrJwfEXjKuJbTSwQJ0HsmxFJlkgfulcubp3sqiOBxq5wOP731NKHHa_f6zs/s3969/IMG_7653.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3969" data-original-width="1469" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJd7IK8o06rFEAOGyE6HjSGLHDZmOhlegSSiB5IYuIqIp3h56IN0lZUceZ3_j7Y7DRd5TP0en5Azm-Cj8MY0rNN5GOygaJdtS4bsN4viFjtS7De9cG7ZmXjsyIZ9pOqGI0lrJwfEXjKuJbTSwQJ0HsmxFJlkgfulcubp3sqiOBxq5wOP731NKHHa_f6zs/w236-h640/IMG_7653.jpeg" width="236" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We both ordered the Chef’s Table d’Hote. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Caesar Salad</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4al_cWRDisOdu_tStZrVwYfWEOIDmvf7ykIlHiEua8s6jv7lOjg_Jq6FrQsoHV5kKxkZuUsQNBzNQjoUDAwmn0yejLtSJ746EYF4SgUz31n509-WUHeM0figgtgOJrVTj46ZVJ23XVeBOmyjO19ZnaGRVUFt0NIemPPVkZT9lfbb2dY3Ta9kw5hy5cU0/s2645/IMG_7651.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2312" data-original-width="2645" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4al_cWRDisOdu_tStZrVwYfWEOIDmvf7ykIlHiEua8s6jv7lOjg_Jq6FrQsoHV5kKxkZuUsQNBzNQjoUDAwmn0yejLtSJ746EYF4SgUz31n509-WUHeM0figgtgOJrVTj46ZVJ23XVeBOmyjO19ZnaGRVUFt0NIemPPVkZT9lfbb2dY3Ta9kw5hy5cU0/w640-h560/IMG_7651.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="menu-item-price-top" color="rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8)" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); float: right; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; padding-left: 20px;"><br /></span><div class="menu-item-title" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); font-family: Lato; font-size: 1.1em; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 1.2em;"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Duck</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILJpJ3rETA_gcgQmYv8bXx25qdBNJpjr6Cl1901Mr43OWdMQ1argC854OeorPr9nbzFRzxUXV1hK2MO-K7QDLMzDvZisU3LoB2qZSiRfpOmTvylu-9qE9LWP4-9zIOOlerPMKlpY73ZgyLsHdE_kBU9Lee2wThdRU6QAAf-rYjNKNzMZb-6rcjZeBcLE/s3433/IMG_7654.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2803" data-original-width="3433" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILJpJ3rETA_gcgQmYv8bXx25qdBNJpjr6Cl1901Mr43OWdMQ1argC854OeorPr9nbzFRzxUXV1hK2MO-K7QDLMzDvZisU3LoB2qZSiRfpOmTvylu-9qE9LWP4-9zIOOlerPMKlpY73ZgyLsHdE_kBU9Lee2wThdRU6QAAf-rYjNKNzMZb-6rcjZeBcLE/w640-h522/IMG_7654.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Strawberry Rhubarb Pie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4KBCMn6sz3nVsODGTvqEXFegTJ-1xGz9oqFC1WP2ppzOytub2w2QSsnI4czEcxyF0znTCaRXPbTJ1HlEal4TTKv1n0w05ZUSUFA9_EvjPORhyphenhyphen4ZirBxB3a68OnRFwBJx_Bema9u7XI8J2q_r04yODs0XO4elL4B7msE53f2qUfuiti1G1t6z-brcO6Q/s3532/IMG_7657.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2651" data-original-width="3532" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4KBCMn6sz3nVsODGTvqEXFegTJ-1xGz9oqFC1WP2ppzOytub2w2QSsnI4czEcxyF0znTCaRXPbTJ1HlEal4TTKv1n0w05ZUSUFA9_EvjPORhyphenhyphen4ZirBxB3a68OnRFwBJx_Bema9u7XI8J2q_r04yODs0XO4elL4B7msE53f2qUfuiti1G1t6z-brcO6Q/w640-h480/IMG_7657.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The dinner was absolutely delicious! The presentation of each course was perfection. The atmosphere was delightful and of course, so was the company. Almost two hours later, it was time to push ourselves away from the table. Upon exiting, we admired the scenery with now a night time view.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGc-vdj76-hZQAP4rSHLsk9loYvo58NAhy723sBiA42yHYD71TdoVUIxOTCEtnM6Ulm7L7DRVNQUzKVDqVvnW666t1L7txPon8kZYpV_4-1Dk2YtI3N7n1f155qE6LR7hvxhi_lPUxWwEl6zHrOq3gdHm0UVLUQJ8bTamwUnBKKhBuQX1WAjjUoMgocI/s3190/IMG_7666.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3190" data-original-width="2518" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGc-vdj76-hZQAP4rSHLsk9loYvo58NAhy723sBiA42yHYD71TdoVUIxOTCEtnM6Ulm7L7DRVNQUzKVDqVvnW666t1L7txPon8kZYpV_4-1Dk2YtI3N7n1f155qE6LR7hvxhi_lPUxWwEl6zHrOq3gdHm0UVLUQJ8bTamwUnBKKhBuQX1WAjjUoMgocI/w506-h640/IMG_7666.jpeg" width="506" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7-zAHxio1kNR7yh1noqpj6ufTURmt2ozR6xZLdtBHHHAfI6Lc7WimAimy_nHM4n1E_sSTUJWy0W76aBikpZtjC2L0ypk5_ZLoSbuyEfhuVAWj8PP42-lNa79he07ODKdfhk1urgQu6FpULfLlLJT9gp3NJL1lPayzn_ewtX_hImfbWdHGBfrYdevwTc/s3829/IMG_7669.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2418" data-original-width="3829" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7-zAHxio1kNR7yh1noqpj6ufTURmt2ozR6xZLdtBHHHAfI6Lc7WimAimy_nHM4n1E_sSTUJWy0W76aBikpZtjC2L0ypk5_ZLoSbuyEfhuVAWj8PP42-lNa79he07ODKdfhk1urgQu6FpULfLlLJT9gp3NJL1lPayzn_ewtX_hImfbWdHGBfrYdevwTc/w640-h404/IMG_7669.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-63441269902035383182024-03-07T20:27:00.000-07:002024-03-08T06:36:47.487-07:00Lake Louise March 7, 2024<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA9xAhD7tO8KZqooVni51xxKkyX5-ysSJS4jaDx78HlQPa6fVDztOUTg5dnDanSzY_jcV5uFZk2NxW6O3RfN7kUHh3BC-WWhlMw2t8CD8a5OGwyQFrkdA7drv5TTmC7LOX-T7kGl3WwvJTfcabA-gQjFxaxFpydaB8G7ZecthGc9vW47m88LIhK-Mt-A/s2084/header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="2084" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA9xAhD7tO8KZqooVni51xxKkyX5-ysSJS4jaDx78HlQPa6fVDztOUTg5dnDanSzY_jcV5uFZk2NxW6O3RfN7kUHh3BC-WWhlMw2t8CD8a5OGwyQFrkdA7drv5TTmC7LOX-T7kGl3WwvJTfcabA-gQjFxaxFpydaB8G7ZecthGc9vW47m88LIhK-Mt-A/w640-h250/header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Ready! Set! Go! I was looking forward to cross county skiing along the Bow River and throughout the campground. With much more snow now compared to when I was last here, I knew I was in for loads of beauty. Before heading here, I checked the Parks Reports where it stated the route was last groomed the end of February. That’s not the best news, but I didn’t care. Ready! Set! Go!<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xKgWIQrOyLInwLfKN7h-VCTByVqK0OTvWUkXFHoowHmyawRWO2aR60_V45etF-PiwfTEkS9cql-sLtF5UOB2-cCMdY5UKFrvcAcQh_0IvYWKcrB7J2Q-x7kcg1Uq-Oq8q4UkAANDfTZiWvdMrwZsCtPKZFjzzLHEIiNgTr1pLGFOZAavkAakkr0_YFE/s3790/IMG_3183.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3790" data-original-width="2923" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xKgWIQrOyLInwLfKN7h-VCTByVqK0OTvWUkXFHoowHmyawRWO2aR60_V45etF-PiwfTEkS9cql-sLtF5UOB2-cCMdY5UKFrvcAcQh_0IvYWKcrB7J2Q-x7kcg1Uq-Oq8q4UkAANDfTZiWvdMrwZsCtPKZFjzzLHEIiNgTr1pLGFOZAavkAakkr0_YFE/w494-h640/IMG_3183.jpeg" width="494" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was good to get out early to capture the whispy clouds that decorated the sky!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsdDsc_25sd4quC0itXuhxHR_almYPSBUXV2xTZcs1W-GExY0pmXRhB3z7zzkhqvH2SV4yoErBHZDcvwlYZ4TIHjNK8mFHqBWO4etgO65dtIcXhXdCkS35WARsyK7gzGspkKN6UVg9HcGU64Vnepeu8y6wKR5j-V976rxeM6s-5K3IRePrZ0iWpxslJ4/s4497/IMG_3203.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4497" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsdDsc_25sd4quC0itXuhxHR_almYPSBUXV2xTZcs1W-GExY0pmXRhB3z7zzkhqvH2SV4yoErBHZDcvwlYZ4TIHjNK8mFHqBWO4etgO65dtIcXhXdCkS35WARsyK7gzGspkKN6UVg9HcGU64Vnepeu8y6wKR5j-V976rxeM6s-5K3IRePrZ0iWpxslJ4/w640-h492/IMG_3203.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">WEEEE so much fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxHFeolhLx06DCz3G8w4mRpehLe3V6_ITrKp30gztWFQ1AaY7VdZMRmdpU9Pf-NpyvjcpFVe-T9qOAF2Ny96Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">sun shining in on the picnic table at the Campground</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Lr2YRw_P_ExkqNU5pve0KFqKPy3nd4v0D-W8aNNJDVQsXZJhr7gjuEJNkl0WuuyE6bLqc_IYYmCGqQwQP7uMbPio9MBVYPsq18bW9_V7SNMdkJBEoW-SsrJUj1UKg8GGYVLDJRTqZCJkiyl_UKiNPaKi_lOjd6SR3C2c_1s1HSWyb8b0EqDd7yyWl4w/s3489/IMG_3227.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3489" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Lr2YRw_P_ExkqNU5pve0KFqKPy3nd4v0D-W8aNNJDVQsXZJhr7gjuEJNkl0WuuyE6bLqc_IYYmCGqQwQP7uMbPio9MBVYPsq18bW9_V7SNMdkJBEoW-SsrJUj1UKg8GGYVLDJRTqZCJkiyl_UKiNPaKi_lOjd6SR3C2c_1s1HSWyb8b0EqDd7yyWl4w/w634-h640/IMG_3227.jpeg" width="634" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">ice formation hanging from the roof </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZ8xITlrZgBey8e2uYuoncFjEFE-2FLTjNIkHF8gRRg5Ez5Mj_48cTUWkG-sWiWOmahXEFTNJLr9qq_LyzD_ZL1GUq7jnzetG0JySfj0aBeh8UrzbToKC3Aj0RAdEfQik9wZ-mfc7VeNTx-pReoB92w5AL0_G6LTt4xBsS8uv6BJtRriOV7Ja3DdEQ3E/s3584/IMG_3230.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="3584" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZ8xITlrZgBey8e2uYuoncFjEFE-2FLTjNIkHF8gRRg5Ez5Mj_48cTUWkG-sWiWOmahXEFTNJLr9qq_LyzD_ZL1GUq7jnzetG0JySfj0aBeh8UrzbToKC3Aj0RAdEfQik9wZ-mfc7VeNTx-pReoB92w5AL0_G6LTt4xBsS8uv6BJtRriOV7Ja3DdEQ3E/w640-h220/IMG_3230.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">WEEE more fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyxYR_OrWzehuAC9Gl-WgeD2a0kSb-uKsChir6N9lMg5MV4ONorGDwb6OT1AENjKTzqfH3FmHSNhobmRqzrqg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">when skiing through here there is only one track to follow, but if you</div><div style="text-align: center;">are snowshoeing you can go wherever your heart desires </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwk8DSjuSEWkG825yryWKFXcMDh-RFgeqKxdz4AAkfVH9kAz7-wAoS26euwjXC-5ob7MTVoga-_8zBY5sP18yDu611by1W07-9aXO_0RH4ksQtjhi6aQGPAV0r-R3hE_SE7XSVZQPfIrJ0P9o2TrV88XZ7QLwH4WIk3peDk3uUHnvHOLJ71qr2ZWku858/s4718/IMG_3222.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4718" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwk8DSjuSEWkG825yryWKFXcMDh-RFgeqKxdz4AAkfVH9kAz7-wAoS26euwjXC-5ob7MTVoga-_8zBY5sP18yDu611by1W07-9aXO_0RH4ksQtjhi6aQGPAV0r-R3hE_SE7XSVZQPfIrJ0P9o2TrV88XZ7QLwH4WIk3peDk3uUHnvHOLJ71qr2ZWku858/w640-h468/IMG_3222.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">view of Mount Temple</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCln3nXihAnyQ7yOt4uB0EMkhigtPTKtYo_iw-2h7uWL3fCH49V7km88g1GVGYye_0b9ik4FVJV1maDkr-brPCPEIO7K6xBFEZ12WP-Gzju1rxHsHlN-xh-8QO1fCuZb7FcFxjDQNbIeGq0zFB0PlQy8xXlr8rvQQD0JO1frvCVKzQHNrlqCnEawgmF8/s3997/IMG_3252.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3997" data-original-width="1829" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCln3nXihAnyQ7yOt4uB0EMkhigtPTKtYo_iw-2h7uWL3fCH49V7km88g1GVGYye_0b9ik4FVJV1maDkr-brPCPEIO7K6xBFEZ12WP-Gzju1rxHsHlN-xh-8QO1fCuZb7FcFxjDQNbIeGq0zFB0PlQy8xXlr8rvQQD0JO1frvCVKzQHNrlqCnEawgmF8/w292-h640/IMG_3252.jpeg" width="292" /></a></div><br /><div>It was so peaceful here this morning! There were no other skiers yet. I took time while crossing the bridge to just take it all in and let everything about these few minutes to fuel my heart and soul!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgmxiqDZP5OIdLjGLxSmjuMv4Cm6zxh0p6jo-Ge504lq7cGBZG0mqpPL_lWEifOQIAFZ1e9dydTu1Am38qNODBcS1SH4Sv9vfsS-vA__PFfzG_9WqhOOXxyIgzLAvPwultKNoCMeyaytNfNITRVbzieFDRUjVcAbNdj5Q3ORoc5CSKwZFKi8G4zFgelg/s3662/IMG_3223.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3662" data-original-width="2684" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgmxiqDZP5OIdLjGLxSmjuMv4Cm6zxh0p6jo-Ge504lq7cGBZG0mqpPL_lWEifOQIAFZ1e9dydTu1Am38qNODBcS1SH4Sv9vfsS-vA__PFfzG_9WqhOOXxyIgzLAvPwultKNoCMeyaytNfNITRVbzieFDRUjVcAbNdj5Q3ORoc5CSKwZFKi8G4zFgelg/w470-h640/IMG_3223.jpeg" width="470" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I aimed to ski back to my vehicle so I could head to my home away from home, fuel my stomach, change my sporting attire then be Ready! Set! Go! again. Before doing that, dinner plans were put in place with Adventure Designer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>With an hour to fill, I headed to the community centre to add more kilometres to my skates. For the first twenty minutes, I shared the ice with a hockey player who was practicing his plays. He hooked up his device to the speaker system and music played while he practiced and I skated.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vpsS2dQ_Hm7ijkUHcW25KxOrs_fj5ScRlqT6s62I7UxkKfpLphmgSbyJWTwCwq2ISol9CMUkRQYuoYcCAHVQoe1GFJM7L-FasN8Gk0CslO6bHJW1KpYKx5mnxXPgvbJIAlMebokgA3S40eS0HT8kxynyed3e2Kyuj2KG4KNMtgm7KKsxORSe6tVqztk/s3262/IMG_3260.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2630" data-original-width="3262" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vpsS2dQ_Hm7ijkUHcW25KxOrs_fj5ScRlqT6s62I7UxkKfpLphmgSbyJWTwCwq2ISol9CMUkRQYuoYcCAHVQoe1GFJM7L-FasN8Gk0CslO6bHJW1KpYKx5mnxXPgvbJIAlMebokgA3S40eS0HT8kxynyed3e2Kyuj2KG4KNMtgm7KKsxORSe6tVqztk/w640-h516/IMG_3260.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">employees were clearing the snow off the roof while I skated</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJ8dUJLEzNvsalKcomiA3U7nBFBqthyxY306uYlmeeXFm6lb8hEgFnU7a7l-cy90dpDrbb4rFyZCiz1S0cTSWQopNz4kAm0vmouQBVBmCJTmjiRFE2VzDiw_jk4B8Y0NalM1nvIQMcQbp0d1PkYNLvwed1s9gAb7b0J92s5HJDhxNuuQbcNxmmdi2S-k/s4218/IMG_3259.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3336" data-original-width="4218" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJ8dUJLEzNvsalKcomiA3U7nBFBqthyxY306uYlmeeXFm6lb8hEgFnU7a7l-cy90dpDrbb4rFyZCiz1S0cTSWQopNz4kAm0vmouQBVBmCJTmjiRFE2VzDiw_jk4B8Y0NalM1nvIQMcQbp0d1PkYNLvwed1s9gAb7b0J92s5HJDhxNuuQbcNxmmdi2S-k/w640-h506/IMG_3259.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">WEEE this is so much fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw1ru8Bu6SjiZPzEZX29dr62w1Gzmz7s0K3IZss-iRW4pjhVo0MqjSnaDoSk2yNNsPfZgOUp2Z-rWJzlgDdhg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nine kilometres of skating was enough to be ready to fuel my stomach again!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh what a diner plan we had in place!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-60234222029484062882024-03-06T19:45:00.233-07:002024-03-07T05:58:40.229-07:00Lake Louise March 6, 2024<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYNnF5uKHHT2JeaouIUzABbqox4I2JJD2c8GOJVPZCHWSB_c8tIvZOgqPK9QiKJ-6wUmvy6jL5RCHeKuW7AU6uLJRkR9gtDrQp_kyODFCkm_mnnvcErdUMqzaoBbBsVPr1TrFJv6OGKgqTLLcGP9wfYclDypnm4qkfExk0J6dOggwSS6IzDoAczFdOcY/s2084/header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="2084" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYNnF5uKHHT2JeaouIUzABbqox4I2JJD2c8GOJVPZCHWSB_c8tIvZOgqPK9QiKJ-6wUmvy6jL5RCHeKuW7AU6uLJRkR9gtDrQp_kyODFCkm_mnnvcErdUMqzaoBbBsVPr1TrFJv6OGKgqTLLcGP9wfYclDypnm4qkfExk0J6dOggwSS6IzDoAczFdOcY/w640-h250/header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>When I saw on the webcam they were just about done sweeping the skating surface on Lake Louise, I packed up and bundled up then was there in a matter on minutes. It was a very cold start to the day with a bitter windchill but not bitter enough to deter me. The sun was already high enough to create long shadows yet there was no warmth so the crunch beneath my feet was loud as I wandered up the trail towards the lake.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoKpC5MVX_Oc2BtHFp90tJ7Frsp3ZqiXyaeKKsmIRNYFdsart4N8cfXbyOQJqH_G9rDf0OBJGD_wrT1p6wAwJ1ThfmwW_15KeJb2vmjq1JbE6hkpA1o6SVH-ut-NQRPkWXHPbzAVwAlY_6PWmB22tBGEfHiwoh3zmvV1dWgBDZJBQbgBJTFHjAHs3zUM/s3444/IMG_1343.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3444" data-original-width="1657" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoKpC5MVX_Oc2BtHFp90tJ7Frsp3ZqiXyaeKKsmIRNYFdsart4N8cfXbyOQJqH_G9rDf0OBJGD_wrT1p6wAwJ1ThfmwW_15KeJb2vmjq1JbE6hkpA1o6SVH-ut-NQRPkWXHPbzAVwAlY_6PWmB22tBGEfHiwoh3zmvV1dWgBDZJBQbgBJTFHjAHs3zUM/w308-h640/IMG_1343.jpeg" width="308" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">view from the little bridge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the photo is not blurry</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the air was frosty </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ln7D0cNApwT2gOg6TfIn9W21X53IGdauWBvZRMD4k7D1N5SPGFGq78fp4CKifjPYAfXRiSLGtGqU85hJ6ErYKj76Wu_h-kvHAb_MMP7UgbLk2tPAKb0cW6-MCVxdDuGy_KqnlQw08ya2_-YvJxqpmBQFjad0QPU8W-XpRIgbvN765R-yrvGtgNOmBV0/s3648/IMG_1345.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2609" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ln7D0cNApwT2gOg6TfIn9W21X53IGdauWBvZRMD4k7D1N5SPGFGq78fp4CKifjPYAfXRiSLGtGqU85hJ6ErYKj76Wu_h-kvHAb_MMP7UgbLk2tPAKb0cW6-MCVxdDuGy_KqnlQw08ya2_-YvJxqpmBQFjad0QPU8W-XpRIgbvN765R-yrvGtgNOmBV0/w458-h640/IMG_1345.jpeg" width="458" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once the surface was swept, she began plowing away the snow between the benches and the ice. I waited a few minutes before going to a bench and lacing up. I was thankful to not have to climb over a snow bank in my skates to get to the ice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5UPPk6P1rzQ-8UuF01_qCOHxvL9NOAIF3ZFDMwyfruFf-F4ZnkxZ8-zBLcma64egh4kuMYB93-HSIdRiwQ1DsWdhAfxp4-H8udQakUCLObwfhyphenhyphen2T27wSPpsfk7btJFdf0HyK83I08Xo3YR5vqfntvq_zABH3JVCPul35ebqRrLnL97jzaZitQklLyQs/s3648/IMG_1349.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5UPPk6P1rzQ-8UuF01_qCOHxvL9NOAIF3ZFDMwyfruFf-F4ZnkxZ8-zBLcma64egh4kuMYB93-HSIdRiwQ1DsWdhAfxp4-H8udQakUCLObwfhyphenhyphen2T27wSPpsfk7btJFdf0HyK83I08Xo3YR5vqfntvq_zABH3JVCPul35ebqRrLnL97jzaZitQklLyQs/w640-h480/IMG_1349.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The ice was in rough shape! The weather this winter really took a toll on it. Slowly but surely I found a good route around where I felt confident I could stay upright and feel the joy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HDvWvLoLwKVgvDMSHDKqw2SwpJYniyKa3PuMF2HUSuONbek3cx0RrVTRub5YFUBDrgHtnzEM4ZTk5EhpUbkvdv9SZO3rkKHQ18-cUT9mYtL_LJp29KshX_F6wGHF7apagfS-Ns8PTsoYuc3BNhhGiXU6pR8iKMMIHh6opdG-0fjy_uGOYGeompQGRhk/s3088/IMG_7621.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2187" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HDvWvLoLwKVgvDMSHDKqw2SwpJYniyKa3PuMF2HUSuONbek3cx0RrVTRub5YFUBDrgHtnzEM4ZTk5EhpUbkvdv9SZO3rkKHQ18-cUT9mYtL_LJp29KshX_F6wGHF7apagfS-Ns8PTsoYuc3BNhhGiXU6pR8iKMMIHh6opdG-0fjy_uGOYGeompQGRhk/w454-h640/IMG_7621.jpeg" width="454" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I put my camera on the ice and set the timer for this selfie in front of Fairview Mountain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YNF8SWeasYlge8g-60aZkdnIqJBJL_VCwZ2AJvYt08RyMmOSq1TOAZQC0JRlKba4IxEVRfNu4iZagqx2w2MpOIYNJOJ9TEHImvGYFWnVAomZoZ_BbEd7bhGhfyDuwLBVvTPQAQgKhyP-geygzrjhvhhwBY_UFNoCqXiVpBYzteodiqP0gF_CwTvUrLc/s1935/IMG_1372.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1722" data-original-width="1935" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YNF8SWeasYlge8g-60aZkdnIqJBJL_VCwZ2AJvYt08RyMmOSq1TOAZQC0JRlKba4IxEVRfNu4iZagqx2w2MpOIYNJOJ9TEHImvGYFWnVAomZoZ_BbEd7bhGhfyDuwLBVvTPQAQgKhyP-geygzrjhvhhwBY_UFNoCqXiVpBYzteodiqP0gF_CwTvUrLc/w640-h570/IMG_1372.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a snowman watches over the skaters </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rT4CEc7GD5kBYBNuY4Fhacdwo9kjp6iyd2Nuj6aQ52kFNFPfuQSSSZECJ-D6eWH9AcNbw0uYRK8Q_kdhcufbbONUr5TvoTNVDCGkNzJT_4z5Y7LdtJOdtulkzmTA3uMAq3csDk9sgesX9xlPtnFv9UR8bgarUKz6cxrRuly5qnZsMx2fWJe6BwwUfoQ/s3099/IMG_1364.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2418" data-original-width="3099" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rT4CEc7GD5kBYBNuY4Fhacdwo9kjp6iyd2Nuj6aQ52kFNFPfuQSSSZECJ-D6eWH9AcNbw0uYRK8Q_kdhcufbbONUr5TvoTNVDCGkNzJT_4z5Y7LdtJOdtulkzmTA3uMAq3csDk9sgesX9xlPtnFv9UR8bgarUKz6cxrRuly5qnZsMx2fWJe6BwwUfoQ/w640-h500/IMG_1364.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Off and on, skaters came and went and now it was time for me to get off the ice and get on with the day. I made a quick visit back to my home away from home to change my sporting attire and savour some energy snacks. Next on the agenda was a cross country ski trek along the Great Divide Trail. I skied a portion of it, I was not up for skiing back up the big hill so I did not ski down it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at the trail sign</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25xO1RsQbHxCt8P_brmw0l8Lx6B_nwAfqS7Q0DEUZwd7b3fmmaaP41ICO2pY3klg3vm3VqcP5itRarAt4OH7kZQ2q-pqYSzCJejRRX069boGghyphenhyphenvWjG0NByN2syJoUGwZ-y4u9gaZb417Qsn2zQYA2eM3q7yfaG1GDFU00zSLT14nDd7cRcAkHzX2mEE/s3648/IMG_1409.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25xO1RsQbHxCt8P_brmw0l8Lx6B_nwAfqS7Q0DEUZwd7b3fmmaaP41ICO2pY3klg3vm3VqcP5itRarAt4OH7kZQ2q-pqYSzCJejRRX069boGghyphenhyphenvWjG0NByN2syJoUGwZ-y4u9gaZb417Qsn2zQYA2eM3q7yfaG1GDFU00zSLT14nDd7cRcAkHzX2mEE/w480-h640/IMG_1409.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the groomed track starts here</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqUWXCJ_jWXLzqX2WpfRlZWM9CKPOWnINPuTPx2gpVFJfL8LVu3201bO-JYc4lzlLyyCLbDHvyftK41cqtzsD_Y4HjGFy33JHc98-67jylYM5XoeUl_EOn1cAHwFGol-HwaS0fd07HFEjv_75TAGydiEpYFRfw-jZ1oqzAZaOiarwFA4DQwSie9YXCzA/s3648/IMG_1408.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqUWXCJ_jWXLzqX2WpfRlZWM9CKPOWnINPuTPx2gpVFJfL8LVu3201bO-JYc4lzlLyyCLbDHvyftK41cqtzsD_Y4HjGFy33JHc98-67jylYM5XoeUl_EOn1cAHwFGol-HwaS0fd07HFEjv_75TAGydiEpYFRfw-jZ1oqzAZaOiarwFA4DQwSie9YXCzA/w480-h640/IMG_1408.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">easily got into the rhythm and enjoyed the view </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40FqeRtXDUqCW8W_NDF6eMMF4stB25aq7WUf1tulmVlqAQr6S0uFliuVRq_pt2C556ua51IP8yxA0e8ak8qjC8bYwvp9uGFKPdi8ejHI7uw8UkMy-MYocbxWRTzJ4xP70QkFLl5criDmkzFpfdrqGIVlNvKLA8H5xNd-Sa_ExwjtknBJdkyQiC-65i-k/s3648/IMG_1378.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2535" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40FqeRtXDUqCW8W_NDF6eMMF4stB25aq7WUf1tulmVlqAQr6S0uFliuVRq_pt2C556ua51IP8yxA0e8ak8qjC8bYwvp9uGFKPdi8ejHI7uw8UkMy-MYocbxWRTzJ4xP70QkFLl5criDmkzFpfdrqGIVlNvKLA8H5xNd-Sa_ExwjtknBJdkyQiC-65i-k/w444-h640/IMG_1378.jpeg" width="444" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of my favourite things about skiing this route is that </div><div style="text-align: center;">the dog sledding track is right beside the ski track.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxiudIQoSa7CrWGveMD5WBu1hNDdBy8mwVQUXDDViXdL4HbAfUNuglXSSyMtZOmqc9NnPNzwdti7VRmHATmMQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When the coast was clear of all skiers, I placed my camera on the track and turned the video on. Then just like that a dog sled team raced by, the musher thought I dropped my camera. I could not have timed it more perfectly if I tried to have them go by at the same time I was recording. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyNP2_um80Egdg_0EhmHsDFeaS3neH5aQ-co4a66YNUTeQxVCGSBTcpZCxnb0-bGM-6meydqxGfpNrJo4mROg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On the way back, I took a detour off along the Peyto groomed track.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAJuSkfd7L58Id3PxvQ8GKzNcAwuI4rnLEhXLV8kcd9IOCUyBt4aRPgUw0SwFTwQq_6BxSJwKo9imeug8JRay7MHRcdE_1EXGpXGmtdVAqFagc-6fawPXn4Hy8W_yRUkPHpjCfcA5YHqMhNcF8LG0a35w2EzLzP9s4uaJBUedaI8ocUPTmv1ZPgiCe5Y/s3306/IMG_1400.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3306" data-original-width="2319" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAJuSkfd7L58Id3PxvQ8GKzNcAwuI4rnLEhXLV8kcd9IOCUyBt4aRPgUw0SwFTwQq_6BxSJwKo9imeug8JRay7MHRcdE_1EXGpXGmtdVAqFagc-6fawPXn4Hy8W_yRUkPHpjCfcA5YHqMhNcF8LG0a35w2EzLzP9s4uaJBUedaI8ocUPTmv1ZPgiCe5Y/w448-h640/IMG_1400.jpeg" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Off and on, cross country skiers came and went. It was now time for me to get off the track and get on with the day. What was next on the agenda was retreating to my home away from home where I could be comfy and cozy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPGPRPvLOgvcmFE1yZnxOfA48iYkPPunprpnbQl_tOkKSFFWdDLeJDOqgBog5BSn7Imdoe6Js2XzS9-lRltGaz34SbDePWk4YhR5ofyAFLK-0O03N8r9VycTV8EaIfT0VKScQ-aU-MIMDWf8JIf9epa_5Lbu_grlUpe_ZUZucur5yVWkUhWACaaWGSmY/s2963/IMG_1418.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2152" data-original-width="2963" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPGPRPvLOgvcmFE1yZnxOfA48iYkPPunprpnbQl_tOkKSFFWdDLeJDOqgBog5BSn7Imdoe6Js2XzS9-lRltGaz34SbDePWk4YhR5ofyAFLK-0O03N8r9VycTV8EaIfT0VKScQ-aU-MIMDWf8JIf9epa_5Lbu_grlUpe_ZUZucur5yVWkUhWACaaWGSmY/w640-h464/IMG_1418.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-71703802479859784312024-03-05T19:23:00.127-07:002024-03-06T05:35:20.405-07:00Lake Louise March 5, 2024<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGAEBCRKatV3Gj7q-mlq05V3wXFjCa2-LPHw0d3pG8a85QqkZ7DbqeQYPrFyNGNV5ah74-dH25NXjB2IB1klMA94jworBzM7QIOdjIKpLvO-OYMjsT6w_ODIxFB34wsn0d2FxuCt5sr2A5sYoO1ElaqP8l-iiJk4Z_bIIAsuKkwsRfoxrl5fOiKDZQwU/s2084/header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="2084" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGAEBCRKatV3Gj7q-mlq05V3wXFjCa2-LPHw0d3pG8a85QqkZ7DbqeQYPrFyNGNV5ah74-dH25NXjB2IB1klMA94jworBzM7QIOdjIKpLvO-OYMjsT6w_ODIxFB34wsn0d2FxuCt5sr2A5sYoO1ElaqP8l-iiJk4Z_bIIAsuKkwsRfoxrl5fOiKDZQwU/w640-h250/header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The lion that March came in like called my name to come enjoy the winter wonderland around Lake Louise! I answered that call knowing it would be beautiful and also a friend would be close by and we could share some wonderland time of some sort. I was apprehensive about the driving conditions after reading reports. I breathed a sigh of relief after the hour of white knuckle driving stretch was over with. <div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">I arrived at Lake Louise to see her dressed in a multitude of layers of that new white gold!</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76ZBqoDxD0XF2ctI-LfHPr8zAMlR5-Ohn3W8J5PIQF4p0ELbJxMxZY7j9L2rC25eec_9gHKMJ1EmfxicFWcfLgK-ZEGVCM2GAW71l0CBiFMrcrVQMa2qSKTa1GkPIDJLP047N-PvcauWxdNKe76rC8wy9XFkHHjz6BWt_E5l7EXAmTFL_ujLAsFi07cA/s3648/IMG_1287.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76ZBqoDxD0XF2ctI-LfHPr8zAMlR5-Ohn3W8J5PIQF4p0ELbJxMxZY7j9L2rC25eec_9gHKMJ1EmfxicFWcfLgK-ZEGVCM2GAW71l0CBiFMrcrVQMa2qSKTa1GkPIDJLP047N-PvcauWxdNKe76rC8wy9XFkHHjz6BWt_E5l7EXAmTFL_ujLAsFi07cA/w640-h480/IMG_1287.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Iowh5tq80EB-iYJNFhSOruQMFYEdmLzx3Rb-N9A8Q_RBD6e5nHYISmJ0xOIuRJqv_v_eEga-pyYL5Fd0mB1c003NajF98sAY4caC6HAp5nJghWwD_jzw1RQDQ_aO2FyZYJHsQdEL9yTPvGWRloNmvXcMcIIVfW6gDx5Zhgqvx-bx1L-GaPB5BHkFt18/s3377/IMG_1292.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2555" data-original-width="3377" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Iowh5tq80EB-iYJNFhSOruQMFYEdmLzx3Rb-N9A8Q_RBD6e5nHYISmJ0xOIuRJqv_v_eEga-pyYL5Fd0mB1c003NajF98sAY4caC6HAp5nJghWwD_jzw1RQDQ_aO2FyZYJHsQdEL9yTPvGWRloNmvXcMcIIVfW6gDx5Zhgqvx-bx1L-GaPB5BHkFt18/w640-h484/IMG_1292.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOljpXnHT5IoY33srjf1EBmN_0Bkb1cImY-FofxAcoRAf0uAPjGwUpW5jfpBRHTrrrHajPv-OBdxqimbSeZDlmTtu42bkFtc28WGQbm4VjFh807XtK-UHqUCXDoa5n-aBf6R1eBqohNd2SSGO-u1qou4ccSvlgeXOB922PpcqGhUJc3wn022HLzLf88go/s3599/IMG_1286.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3599" data-original-width="2136" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOljpXnHT5IoY33srjf1EBmN_0Bkb1cImY-FofxAcoRAf0uAPjGwUpW5jfpBRHTrrrHajPv-OBdxqimbSeZDlmTtu42bkFtc28WGQbm4VjFh807XtK-UHqUCXDoa5n-aBf6R1eBqohNd2SSGO-u1qou4ccSvlgeXOB922PpcqGhUJc3wn022HLzLf88go/w380-h640/IMG_1286.jpeg" width="380" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I needed to stretch my legs, clear the drive from my mind, breathe in the mountain air, feel the cold on my cheeks and savour the experience of when a snow flake lands on my nose! I got all that walking the trail along the lake shore to the far end. With avalanche ratings at high, there was no going beyond where the ice climbers were.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">the sun did not shine bright but it lit up the top of the tree</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnM4N0xhzo_wMlKxE5oHKkfDvVs4a52GvTaV8yF7Qrb7DbgYNS227bIw8ZkE4n1a30fRYUB9cI-JfqviI9GYZwo3X2VX_I9eb8p7Oir7UdlkJxnKqaOgZSEPae9FYsb2BZ9sB51eQY7bgvqC05HX3f6HBi9__CWZNCZ7LqKomy3EMAij2J8_VleQlTMDg/s3233/IMG_1262.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3233" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnM4N0xhzo_wMlKxE5oHKkfDvVs4a52GvTaV8yF7Qrb7DbgYNS227bIw8ZkE4n1a30fRYUB9cI-JfqviI9GYZwo3X2VX_I9eb8p7Oir7UdlkJxnKqaOgZSEPae9FYsb2BZ9sB51eQY7bgvqC05HX3f6HBi9__CWZNCZ7LqKomy3EMAij2J8_VleQlTMDg/w542-h640/IMG_1262.jpeg" width="542" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTAhXhkKggE-n2HVR5zCDHWqnJetSP9pFW19yB3SwRWCQqhnLpm2lpNI5VHix2tii8S5nmjytKgI9XDIZjww-jMj_ukzrwhAYo0EgcG9d0j8U26Qit-c7sJKqzfck41tI4q1SCXAMTJxoqE6hnyCALF7304aB4TCFGaPz_8_6T2z0yzfLUPSEsrZs2RE/s3648/IMG_1268.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTAhXhkKggE-n2HVR5zCDHWqnJetSP9pFW19yB3SwRWCQqhnLpm2lpNI5VHix2tii8S5nmjytKgI9XDIZjww-jMj_ukzrwhAYo0EgcG9d0j8U26Qit-c7sJKqzfck41tI4q1SCXAMTJxoqE6hnyCALF7304aB4TCFGaPz_8_6T2z0yzfLUPSEsrZs2RE/w640-h480/IMG_1268.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxT-zBQBVSs_bXo2c9b0Axbas_8H1y9jtbeJKbMo4PgvRJu9KTv6Idy2WC5ID2PvhjHsUfPdKe23tNQn0vcMA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the first time I ever saw an ice climber behind the ice falls. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRm6iyYDpSoVzKZEfTyawizFsirxbkEtw45qZEEsDaRV8NxXhad59XoyfpKxqwV65ZcmPaSmep3Gjz3UYG93D6MPyYxY1Gl0E29-w3dGzVfF66TTr7FP7PZrmqedpx7pglmqMdscqvGzeHw1Ccj6JrIeSyOhXtITNgr8yWRcx0VE5q52h6jYwFPNrq-E/s3279/IMG_1282.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3279" data-original-width="2459" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRm6iyYDpSoVzKZEfTyawizFsirxbkEtw45qZEEsDaRV8NxXhad59XoyfpKxqwV65ZcmPaSmep3Gjz3UYG93D6MPyYxY1Gl0E29-w3dGzVfF66TTr7FP7PZrmqedpx7pglmqMdscqvGzeHw1Ccj6JrIeSyOhXtITNgr8yWRcx0VE5q52h6jYwFPNrq-E/w480-h640/IMG_1282.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">walking on the other side of the lake by the cabin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikKeCIbAy6oy0qPC-qK0wpnJBRpFhF6yKxtVLyQ5vI2g9bW-z4PlyOGUvb53aJUEaU1ggy3AhrnbjggScs8RBCfXy8M86sS1IyHbXuELPBhHShryD0NiK7VsGglpGQ1mrtyOeSKLGDdT-3dBNw10mQT6BqkbHaFTCTew2KU1CVxHJ093qn1FnRVTQhRM/s3086/IMG_1297.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3086" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikKeCIbAy6oy0qPC-qK0wpnJBRpFhF6yKxtVLyQ5vI2g9bW-z4PlyOGUvb53aJUEaU1ggy3AhrnbjggScs8RBCfXy8M86sS1IyHbXuELPBhHShryD0NiK7VsGglpGQ1mrtyOeSKLGDdT-3dBNw10mQT6BqkbHaFTCTew2KU1CVxHJ093qn1FnRVTQhRM/w568-h640/IMG_1297.jpeg" width="568" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With time to pass and needing a little more exercise,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I skated for an hour at the indoor/outdoor community centre rink. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFakQYGDQpA4inypEH66MtSv4FoYX096rZoim8F6Pzk6gC9RL824iUfH5-K_1erywlz3X1N7s3djuEMzti9AnbFyYl6L-um_oFjW_JEafPW6wpehecjGjCvwZl1kKlBAc6ML7D5S-oo1dCJPunYWi6BhmLbit71o1gop89I-6tVAcUPDS3g6IJkutHvUM/s2543/IMG_1314.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1665" data-original-width="2543" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFakQYGDQpA4inypEH66MtSv4FoYX096rZoim8F6Pzk6gC9RL824iUfH5-K_1erywlz3X1N7s3djuEMzti9AnbFyYl6L-um_oFjW_JEafPW6wpehecjGjCvwZl1kKlBAc6ML7D5S-oo1dCJPunYWi6BhmLbit71o1gop89I-6tVAcUPDS3g6IJkutHvUM/w640-h420/IMG_1314.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">wind whipping up the snow on the other side of the rink’s barrier</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUPTTPC9_hgpOhEKcjQkXqmqFrydv0HVDJDuRaW5I67dR5uMMtPP1iuwKKpq-ul0mbNlVBGkWSPpqIHN7NxzKj_vJ94eswNKeisY503iMbnnclR3nvjwdyuYYNkB5bwyrWSRNZ8WLyZK_EwrVJVD9M09yxWZBcOzAHVpfv6fMdb1QAUsfnmfIZBfJvkg/s3465/IMG_1325.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3465" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUPTTPC9_hgpOhEKcjQkXqmqFrydv0HVDJDuRaW5I67dR5uMMtPP1iuwKKpq-ul0mbNlVBGkWSPpqIHN7NxzKj_vJ94eswNKeisY503iMbnnclR3nvjwdyuYYNkB5bwyrWSRNZ8WLyZK_EwrVJVD9M09yxWZBcOzAHVpfv6fMdb1QAUsfnmfIZBfJvkg/w640-h506/IMG_1325.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">an employee brought in hockey jerseys while I was changing back into my boots </div><div style="text-align: center;">there is to be a good ole hockey game tonight</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_D9MnbIx6DWsbymkigEqTSzGP2e_ZCkX5taYmR46zItNN5KI-aa5ucfwDoZONEhS-yd05Yr_2CN_t2e8NXFfU83brRZrredtzOz497hE-Lhs2QO4RvjDkgrduYCKGd7Ksam57rd7i_eZgefzWFA2bUWIOp335EkgdbZmLN6wjkYJ8sf2tytQYXuGSfE/s2554/IMG_1326.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2554" data-original-width="2102" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_D9MnbIx6DWsbymkigEqTSzGP2e_ZCkX5taYmR46zItNN5KI-aa5ucfwDoZONEhS-yd05Yr_2CN_t2e8NXFfU83brRZrredtzOz497hE-Lhs2QO4RvjDkgrduYCKGd7Ksam57rd7i_eZgefzWFA2bUWIOp335EkgdbZmLN6wjkYJ8sf2tytQYXuGSfE/w526-h640/IMG_1326.jpeg" width="526" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Checked into my home away from home! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Unpacked!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Relaxed!</div><div style="text-align: center;">That’s the blanket I knitted!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NXt1h3Faxyz6HadQevu9tyQCabQEzkgJqs2e9mSJ3d_Fe6pryYthOZM_8qRk7AoszAS6AkENgY74Cnwkg1sFgSdEsGWlL52OGfKoAwQ1MhmDemXQvc-xxvvyBZp5K2pzAVi3pLbqCh4YmdUPrROXeNC-nay_gACME5iSViIoXJSz2Vc91atJD3GBCIw/s2131/IMG_1340.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2131" data-original-width="1827" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NXt1h3Faxyz6HadQevu9tyQCabQEzkgJqs2e9mSJ3d_Fe6pryYthOZM_8qRk7AoszAS6AkENgY74Cnwkg1sFgSdEsGWlL52OGfKoAwQ1MhmDemXQvc-xxvvyBZp5K2pzAVi3pLbqCh4YmdUPrROXeNC-nay_gACME5iSViIoXJSz2Vc91atJD3GBCIw/w548-h640/IMG_1340.jpeg" width="548" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-25900656563484671812024-03-03T16:06:00.095-07:002024-03-03T16:29:31.254-07:00Grand Canyon Virtual Challenge COMPLETE March, 2024 <p style="text-align: center;">The last day of lazily floating down the Colorado River brought me </p><p style="text-align: center;">to the finish line of the Grand Canyon Virtual Challenge! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQJ7zY7eIzFabwr7lZsWrLJ3QMWMjQlRi0PfTMdQq-rhg4Dn2KEbYw8L9TNkTpRTPdIBp3NPqNI8Yi4XdTXwBDIFAmtxvxM015xXOhK2M_ZLz2Ddpokr71M5VsK3QdoUhyphenhyphenpDqhDSPNdfKL7IqsFoYy7QdwqIxSSzlaKPnuOA5DJg5KXQw6a8rFH0L-1A/s1920/canyonlongPortraitCertificate.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQJ7zY7eIzFabwr7lZsWrLJ3QMWMjQlRi0PfTMdQq-rhg4Dn2KEbYw8L9TNkTpRTPdIBp3NPqNI8Yi4XdTXwBDIFAmtxvxM015xXOhK2M_ZLz2Ddpokr71M5VsK3QdoUhyphenhyphenpDqhDSPNdfKL7IqsFoYy7QdwqIxSSzlaKPnuOA5DJg5KXQw6a8rFH0L-1A/w360-h640/canyonlongPortraitCertificate.jpg.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My hope was to skate my way to the finish line but with so much snow falling yesterday and then very cold and windy this morning, I stuck closer to home and walked my way to end of the Virtual Challenge. As if enough snow was not falling all ready, I made more fall!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwD0VM9y430_XBnMw8SCzPqzdUHeB95opwWEds9OYUdJU9GhQyrE7ChQ_yeCJtR5turf_b1DhCQlJ5L_RacgA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the view was a winter wonderland of snow falling</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANx8yeszGCbyqNfemxd-N3NtYA276ZMmRvcipvny4pZWyGj4Yj5rxU4DcmQAWfTnhCLVMKMKc2shRfkSFD_lZmaYvDGk_qC99J-0Ukwf7jCndt8aCKcJv2oz6N8V-evCblLwLhu2JD8uzSy1UDmpba0CRhAKNp-v_VMJhCWlHq_cGm0DQcrx5Mfc0oDU/s3362/IMG_7543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3362" data-original-width="3022" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANx8yeszGCbyqNfemxd-N3NtYA276ZMmRvcipvny4pZWyGj4Yj5rxU4DcmQAWfTnhCLVMKMKc2shRfkSFD_lZmaYvDGk_qC99J-0Ukwf7jCndt8aCKcJv2oz6N8V-evCblLwLhu2JD8uzSy1UDmpba0CRhAKNp-v_VMJhCWlHq_cGm0DQcrx5Mfc0oDU/w576-h640/IMG_7543.jpg" width="576" /></a></div><br />If I did not get out early and get the kilometres done this morning then it would not happen! It was a bitterly cold wind chill that could bite to the core but I was prepared and braced against it. Your welcome to those that would come later. I was the first on the trail at first light and broke trail most of the way.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHQ8lHN__8hDmI075V0Dm6Oqd7Js0e-_O0z1JbtsZswdz4AQJQUg1vZtx_HH9mVliicd3KiedO0LROzS6r3ycYjRB37fxxV8sXAhU6KVx8QSRRF1R6BbPRv-rB0H_Lzn8aqoLuD2vhZ91G0b3hcsUDcP42PbMv7cb9qinB4_mzRJSB_Qc7TSKgzz8hYA/s2855/IMG_1243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2855" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHQ8lHN__8hDmI075V0Dm6Oqd7Js0e-_O0z1JbtsZswdz4AQJQUg1vZtx_HH9mVliicd3KiedO0LROzS6r3ycYjRB37fxxV8sXAhU6KVx8QSRRF1R6BbPRv-rB0H_Lzn8aqoLuD2vhZ91G0b3hcsUDcP42PbMv7cb9qinB4_mzRJSB_Qc7TSKgzz8hYA/w614-h640/IMG_1243.jpg" width="614" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What story does this tell?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSO-2yrreqZkxp7JHMWnTKIvnVWKzr3fiRcenTq39cGFmKmJXhNyCy44xFP5e8ezLswgQcPGn_et1uJ7_7NFfJ94h618_EoeXRjAeyj5Bm0_5aHFvv4YMXycqwt8gPPzWBKXJRBgAJXRjm9QM8DKUpD2_bf6cO5dz5_Q8sISGS-bSxIn5wxCs5uaDkf9U/s2815/IMG_1248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2056" data-original-width="2815" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSO-2yrreqZkxp7JHMWnTKIvnVWKzr3fiRcenTq39cGFmKmJXhNyCy44xFP5e8ezLswgQcPGn_et1uJ7_7NFfJ94h618_EoeXRjAeyj5Bm0_5aHFvv4YMXycqwt8gPPzWBKXJRBgAJXRjm9QM8DKUpD2_bf6cO5dz5_Q8sISGS-bSxIn5wxCs5uaDkf9U/w640-h468/IMG_1248.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While I was ahead of plan, I still wanted to finish today!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfguAeeDTozG4ADmvk0tB-HWdzeEX3FSzAGz5CeXfCyn0wQwwh-BuxQLDv-ISdHLUbs8F2Xxhz-A9KZFIrMHkqaJsAjMlYX-9tchwktn_TAWf8aoL8gmMWTZHHkPz4GuYUxFx3RczfB_rPaxlWgAcX_Um9HqfjtmOlpcfDy6rCL-qQ0kbjgvAP80qxGB0/s1853/IMG_7670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1853" data-original-width="1133" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfguAeeDTozG4ADmvk0tB-HWdzeEX3FSzAGz5CeXfCyn0wQwwh-BuxQLDv-ISdHLUbs8F2Xxhz-A9KZFIrMHkqaJsAjMlYX-9tchwktn_TAWf8aoL8gmMWTZHHkPz4GuYUxFx3RczfB_rPaxlWgAcX_Um9HqfjtmOlpcfDy6rCL-qQ0kbjgvAP80qxGB0/w392-h640/IMG_7670.jpg" width="392" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>from the start at top right to the finish at bottom left<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVzwX3eTS9Wm6tuv8RBx7nSu3hyAAOvk5Zy-0TgeX9BgwYlzHenSIDGUi0bPBKIb9nDToiqAtO1M-a2Rdwj6DbeCNKNtRRnB9JDc3YNxCGeZSgsOf-tQCqJNOHPTIvhnbjRRIqUfHi2-PtaLzHiYwUMXkCfoMxcUjO_iJbOfM2AupB1ifiv5BR2uOxBw/s1842/Map%20Complete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1842" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVzwX3eTS9Wm6tuv8RBx7nSu3hyAAOvk5Zy-0TgeX9BgwYlzHenSIDGUi0bPBKIb9nDToiqAtO1M-a2Rdwj6DbeCNKNtRRnB9JDc3YNxCGeZSgsOf-tQCqJNOHPTIvhnbjRRIqUfHi2-PtaLzHiYwUMXkCfoMxcUjO_iJbOfM2AupB1ifiv5BR2uOxBw/w640-h376/Map%20Complete.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the final postcard</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rNZZYvyczhNSdyJTi957eMOLJetuMVloa_D7Yd8NopFWkWcVu_DVxJ30HMrcUA2sBNTYT9Gx1G4RSupQcyn7W_7ugrftdegY2mNxzBOp1KJ3omb136kfNezmnXp81kSYdhRPMu4KtcpRJkrhjV2bWwBNiSPG7_RZ-Vl5Gy4F9kBYK3OQ6pkCiiyPzME/s832/148977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="832" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rNZZYvyczhNSdyJTi957eMOLJetuMVloa_D7Yd8NopFWkWcVu_DVxJ30HMrcUA2sBNTYT9Gx1G4RSupQcyn7W_7ugrftdegY2mNxzBOp1KJ3omb136kfNezmnXp81kSYdhRPMu4KtcpRJkrhjV2bWwBNiSPG7_RZ-Vl5Gy4F9kBYK3OQ6pkCiiyPzME/w640-h450/148977.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>nearing the end I find myself floating along side a pontoon of partiers<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9YEEfte87pGAdSxMPByjC2vyTUvVlUl_a5PVa9zmEEQhFTo-Nmwsrqnoo76j95yuPL6HkEgymZjLkT9CVC0-o8rV3sR4jnl4ZE6CWVsnC0WfXi2wzHQKMmPRF7hMsyf3nYtOkflTFJu5MQ5Omegc2eVTut0iWCTcu2Oo6sk6ImUZK9Ebb1q2pY6PMs8/s1852/at%20431%20kms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1852" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9YEEfte87pGAdSxMPByjC2vyTUvVlUl_a5PVa9zmEEQhFTo-Nmwsrqnoo76j95yuPL6HkEgymZjLkT9CVC0-o8rV3sR4jnl4ZE6CWVsnC0WfXi2wzHQKMmPRF7hMsyf3nYtOkflTFJu5MQ5Omegc2eVTut0iWCTcu2Oo6sk6ImUZK9Ebb1q2pY6PMs8/w640-h342/at%20431%20kms.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>part of the postcard story<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 32, 32); font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Shantell Sans;">"When I began this journey at Lees Ferry, I didn't know what to expect beyond steep canyon walls and hundreds of rapids. The Grand Canyon is much more than a spectacular geologic formation. It is filled with stories of ancient people who occupied it and pioneers who explored it. It is full of brave explorers who tackled it, scientists who wanted to understand it, photographers who wanted to capture its essence and travellers who wanted the thrill of the experience. Stories have abounded since its early sighting, be they stories of triumph, disaster, or mysteries. Now, I can add my story to it, too."</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-49864098096312509642024-02-29T17:38:00.303-07:002024-03-01T07:24:41.048-07:00final days of February <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPP8r6tY4rY9ZUHOE_5LxSuT9lXSb3zaPmQiSQNgWMtytYujjGlSb2VZwH9lUd94k7d5MfQuvxgE1DGWTpZNs6yAt3y_Z3hsfWxPob_ZSNAn4HnT2kYh-LAMbCeB_LomkVI3E5Cp8hZjGh7fr4gYhpYAl_hQItsbbBXezCrMT2X6UyMHWjCpKLVQfXl_g/s220/knit%20logo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="214" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPP8r6tY4rY9ZUHOE_5LxSuT9lXSb3zaPmQiSQNgWMtytYujjGlSb2VZwH9lUd94k7d5MfQuvxgE1DGWTpZNs6yAt3y_Z3hsfWxPob_ZSNAn4HnT2kYh-LAMbCeB_LomkVI3E5Cp8hZjGh7fr4gYhpYAl_hQItsbbBXezCrMT2X6UyMHWjCpKLVQfXl_g/w42-h43/knit%20logo.jpeg" width="42" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPP8r6tY4rY9ZUHOE_5LxSuT9lXSb3zaPmQiSQNgWMtytYujjGlSb2VZwH9lUd94k7d5MfQuvxgE1DGWTpZNs6yAt3y_Z3hsfWxPob_ZSNAn4HnT2kYh-LAMbCeB_LomkVI3E5Cp8hZjGh7fr4gYhpYAl_hQItsbbBXezCrMT2X6UyMHWjCpKLVQfXl_g/s220/knit%20logo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="214" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPP8r6tY4rY9ZUHOE_5LxSuT9lXSb3zaPmQiSQNgWMtytYujjGlSb2VZwH9lUd94k7d5MfQuvxgE1DGWTpZNs6yAt3y_Z3hsfWxPob_ZSNAn4HnT2kYh-LAMbCeB_LomkVI3E5Cp8hZjGh7fr4gYhpYAl_hQItsbbBXezCrMT2X6UyMHWjCpKLVQfXl_g/w42-h43/knit%20logo.jpeg" width="42" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPP8r6tY4rY9ZUHOE_5LxSuT9lXSb3zaPmQiSQNgWMtytYujjGlSb2VZwH9lUd94k7d5MfQuvxgE1DGWTpZNs6yAt3y_Z3hsfWxPob_ZSNAn4HnT2kYh-LAMbCeB_LomkVI3E5Cp8hZjGh7fr4gYhpYAl_hQItsbbBXezCrMT2X6UyMHWjCpKLVQfXl_g/s220/knit%20logo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="214" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPP8r6tY4rY9ZUHOE_5LxSuT9lXSb3zaPmQiSQNgWMtytYujjGlSb2VZwH9lUd94k7d5MfQuvxgE1DGWTpZNs6yAt3y_Z3hsfWxPob_ZSNAn4HnT2kYh-LAMbCeB_LomkVI3E5Cp8hZjGh7fr4gYhpYAl_hQItsbbBXezCrMT2X6UyMHWjCpKLVQfXl_g/w42-h43/knit%20logo.jpeg" width="42" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My goal was to complete my blanket by the end of February. On the final day, I finally finished stitching all the knitted squares together. Good thing this is a leap year as I needed that extra day. Voila! This is my blanket! It measures 6 feet by 4.5 feet. It is big, it is heavy, it is cozy! I am very pleased with the outcome. My plan is to take it with me next week while on another westerly winter wonderland escape. Upon return home from that escape, I will investigate the idea of either knitting or crocheting a trim around the entire blanket. I did declare it complete but the more I look at it, the more I feel it looks unfinished. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLs4Y71B72iHaAx2jgYhhyLu-Fg7VBjkkzs-qul_bqXO4X-Gb4jKoIoSA4kJ6dxVNPdreJkl_oI-8CjTQvPcoQelaiMjJwAfzftPxlRlevr04QKFRhawDgg_aHBdY0PWSlwzJthV8RkqQFZYJryOHq3cK81kptZXV1MCVz48ae1dbmPuLJDEww5DtTfXs/s3264/IMG_7658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2114" data-original-width="3264" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLs4Y71B72iHaAx2jgYhhyLu-Fg7VBjkkzs-qul_bqXO4X-Gb4jKoIoSA4kJ6dxVNPdreJkl_oI-8CjTQvPcoQelaiMjJwAfzftPxlRlevr04QKFRhawDgg_aHBdY0PWSlwzJthV8RkqQFZYJryOHq3cK81kptZXV1MCVz48ae1dbmPuLJDEww5DtTfXs/w640-h414/IMG_7658.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">👟 👟 👟</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The number of kilometres needed to reach the finish line of the Grand Canyon Virtual Challenge are dwindling. It was to be a frosty cold morning yet with sunshine and blue sky. Through the night, we received a new thin layer of white gold. As I was first to be walking in the area, the bit of snow was enough to provide a blank canvas. As I exited the Birth Forest this was what I witnessed! A sun dog! I could see how the colours circled out from the brightest spot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV79qeV0g1B3-NzGiVWIWSNf6UTFyndDQ5uiMNOpB5yjHfm7KAn7QOXsWZc7KiUhOuqAo4SgpcFYSUZSn7y9VZc8aZBmhqj6YqxvN-ReYGeTo0atC_vmFz9uWAmh0vMzC-DCXbCQzEOYB9g7KLMN-4k87RFyHrcDHDwMIZxhOrZ8_sEVVSBWQFasDO4Yc/s3674/IMG_7493.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3674" data-original-width="2878" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV79qeV0g1B3-NzGiVWIWSNf6UTFyndDQ5uiMNOpB5yjHfm7KAn7QOXsWZc7KiUhOuqAo4SgpcFYSUZSn7y9VZc8aZBmhqj6YqxvN-ReYGeTo0atC_vmFz9uWAmh0vMzC-DCXbCQzEOYB9g7KLMN-4k87RFyHrcDHDwMIZxhOrZ8_sEVVSBWQFasDO4Yc/w502-h640/IMG_7493.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Along a section of Nose Creek, I spotted these so carefully worked my way down to the creek side to get a better view. As I have not hiked down the slope in this area before to see what I could see, I can only assume these are small bushes that the water and snow collected and froze on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EBBreg-tsVt9ThCkdistx0nvaA0EcZmotTRjEThMI56WKtdkFEc3I5f5Sl_N2lta4xaLgQqKtYsIvF8WnQACcZWwwZYpQC7lAAxekaF2WvZfx8Ggar0mEU9fZ8SdwOZMobEbSSC1swyiKMgqkL5_BFYyIqL6ADGaMo1EWXjJ32FpqOCVl0Dyaa-avAg/s3021/IMG_7514.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3021" data-original-width="2712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EBBreg-tsVt9ThCkdistx0nvaA0EcZmotTRjEThMI56WKtdkFEc3I5f5Sl_N2lta4xaLgQqKtYsIvF8WnQACcZWwwZYpQC7lAAxekaF2WvZfx8Ggar0mEU9fZ8SdwOZMobEbSSC1swyiKMgqkL5_BFYyIqL6ADGaMo1EWXjJ32FpqOCVl0Dyaa-avAg/w574-h640/IMG_7514.jpg" width="574" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">They measure about two feet tall. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqKDyVgVaecmBkRgR-NZqLydqWfd0tM6wacm8o3wlKrbecEDs9KsZLuS_uuYCTuKalpWHfOTQ_533FBNsQ3BolD9ff1uibO9EhCf_POWhmS__xP4m5GOc8cQT4wpl9C-1Njrr-1VXa7hha0yY73QtoDNlbxHqroxvWtnPvI-Wa26qgZSbiPlS0wTCHaE/s2707/IMG_7515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2707" data-original-width="2181" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqKDyVgVaecmBkRgR-NZqLydqWfd0tM6wacm8o3wlKrbecEDs9KsZLuS_uuYCTuKalpWHfOTQ_533FBNsQ3BolD9ff1uibO9EhCf_POWhmS__xP4m5GOc8cQT4wpl9C-1Njrr-1VXa7hha0yY73QtoDNlbxHqroxvWtnPvI-Wa26qgZSbiPlS0wTCHaE/w516-h640/IMG_7515.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">making my mark along the untouched pathway </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxOkj2vn86nA0n0n4Gse7yxTcccz6kxYER0WoKNxMO14s5LnmU-CZR22gYrbzJZjC63yGQYx6ACRnURfpSwqA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">👼 👼 👼</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week I was gifted numerous possessions that belonged to my friend who passed away on December 30th. We had much in common, enough so that we understood we were kindred spirits. At times throughout the 38 years that we were friends, she came through as my guardian angel, when I needed one that most. We had a place in our lives for hearts and enjoyed finding them and believing in them. Angels had meaning too! This now hangs on my fairy light tree!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrf8jgaRM-aNdwjW1N2PgBykvVziSbym5pgy6PQqKtZWN3eRLa6PdXkSoSiPJR_Au58vtgnZ8PWaqjy066gbR8niZWlcDbA3vXm99E6LN2PY1dB8Y43SG_xYxFiel6hKr9FcHKMJ-0RS9pFf8SAwPXnjySHdbeMnrVX8hRUlgIMooR5vWKu2xbVZTzcU/s2448/IMG_7649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2443" data-original-width="2448" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrf8jgaRM-aNdwjW1N2PgBykvVziSbym5pgy6PQqKtZWN3eRLa6PdXkSoSiPJR_Au58vtgnZ8PWaqjy066gbR8niZWlcDbA3vXm99E6LN2PY1dB8Y43SG_xYxFiel6hKr9FcHKMJ-0RS9pFf8SAwPXnjySHdbeMnrVX8hRUlgIMooR5vWKu2xbVZTzcU/w640-h638/IMG_7649.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In her younger years she was a skater! She still owned her white figure skates and at times mentioned she wished she could lace them up again and skate away. She enjoyed seeing my skating photos and hearing my skating stories. The last photos I emailed to her the last week of December, remain in her mailbox unopened. These skates hung in her home, they now hang on my fairy light tree.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMHWislW7EGwjJ4h4dxTxe-J8qBlFYEFiQj6joeDc8AZ0NyqD9FF9PaNrMSy9sNcfk7TG9j13ZDF60n6qapoyclGU3Zyz7oLEiUltFrjdSRRMNIvzkp6Jjzzx8Lnsyhb4Yrt0fUHUkeAvP82JN0pT_NSJOA0rMV8zuhcwg-juANxmnKXNSetGSLxSlMs/s2953/IMG_7656.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2953" data-original-width="2135" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMHWislW7EGwjJ4h4dxTxe-J8qBlFYEFiQj6joeDc8AZ0NyqD9FF9PaNrMSy9sNcfk7TG9j13ZDF60n6qapoyclGU3Zyz7oLEiUltFrjdSRRMNIvzkp6Jjzzx8Lnsyhb4Yrt0fUHUkeAvP82JN0pT_NSJOA0rMV8zuhcwg-juANxmnKXNSetGSLxSlMs/w462-h640/IMG_7656.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>My friend was creative yet in a very different way than me. We understood we had this in common and enjoyed what each other had to share. One of her books I received was about how to see and interpret what you see. I opened to the very first lesson to see this! I did not have the opportunity to tell her about my upcoming trip to The Netherlands (where I will visit the windmills) and Austria. In my heart, I believe she wanted me to know that she knows!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdptUozgJislNn3S0rSyFUsMzcHl2Ky9Rb79dkDT2ONz-64Rd894KSgqmDYypsqgUTTeERrppypGakRxI6d3NhQCGojHHhwpgD4tl1tLiUPAdhm09jmzdTSIgKeFw-fc8mPC_W8zfbZV21hSkf_WbyoEtkrBpBIa9xHjIT8P29Dt-oSlB5mvF6Hc8Puw/s2978/IMG_7657.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2978" data-original-width="2350" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdptUozgJislNn3S0rSyFUsMzcHl2Ky9Rb79dkDT2ONz-64Rd894KSgqmDYypsqgUTTeERrppypGakRxI6d3NhQCGojHHhwpgD4tl1tLiUPAdhm09jmzdTSIgKeFw-fc8mPC_W8zfbZV21hSkf_WbyoEtkrBpBIa9xHjIT8P29Dt-oSlB5mvF6Hc8Puw/w506-h640/IMG_7657.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are numerous other items I received that I have yet to devote time with. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The time to do that will feel right another day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">👟 👟 👟</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The smart thing was to get out early today! The forecast was calling for a drastic, quick change in weather. I aimed for Nose Hill with a plan of covering ten kilometres and get home before that drastic change occurred. I timed it right! The Hills remain baron of moisture but that will change later in the day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCLuRSyOgaTPcOUgAz_gka8JbcymQZEitgmR9AdBvrx9kT6JbrX8kitP4uNE_IBjQMRipmO6hhdgsmSIBldVxssyg1f5kW4qbnvtZRdXXpq5_J24iS3kQjq6xcVzcB9fubdYfyTzwfpKJTgTn_n2TJRyQK70-3bLmkKCG_UzPOtCkIx7tUg7Xp7WdGvs/s2909/IMG_1202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2909" data-original-width="2352" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCLuRSyOgaTPcOUgAz_gka8JbcymQZEitgmR9AdBvrx9kT6JbrX8kitP4uNE_IBjQMRipmO6hhdgsmSIBldVxssyg1f5kW4qbnvtZRdXXpq5_J24iS3kQjq6xcVzcB9fubdYfyTzwfpKJTgTn_n2TJRyQK70-3bLmkKCG_UzPOtCkIx7tUg7Xp7WdGvs/w518-h640/IMG_1202.jpg" width="518" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's the storm brewing on the horizon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The mountains were no where to be seen as they were already getting hit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5ZP-kDfFRGtCtIkRdQrsgusCSybMmP-5vieQ0ES3djk81rNc61SkF7s5LdYws9KV2vKM1X38kB4IsNlpvDQIRvw2ZuDvkOSbscvQkkSB4vxno0bC2Jj6yStW4fyju7CKcGX_SA-36e1KbFdaqSgvVhiTxzP21CJk7gjz2AVgVhm4vKr_XZeW2czHKzA/s3648/IMG_1193.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="3648" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5ZP-kDfFRGtCtIkRdQrsgusCSybMmP-5vieQ0ES3djk81rNc61SkF7s5LdYws9KV2vKM1X38kB4IsNlpvDQIRvw2ZuDvkOSbscvQkkSB4vxno0bC2Jj6yStW4fyju7CKcGX_SA-36e1KbFdaqSgvVhiTxzP21CJk7gjz2AVgVhm4vKr_XZeW2czHKzA/w640-h374/IMG_1193.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The only exciting thing I saw up on The Hills was this Grey Partridge! It blended in quite well with the surroundings. There was another one off in the bush. A split second after I captured this shot, they both vocalized their disapproval of me being in the area and flew off. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnKOUgMOb5KazVa0H2oFTx7UuGVxahVO61y74OajSwo2a0yTpeHA_0DaaK5B069DVNfLchxPCvNNLywxSf23A7NEloZy-cKrglMxuX4YwDi-np3luyN4KZbiEDgRn6oTRBcKI_NhQbTVkxmnU7isaf-ouNAL_vKMtJThzYCu0Gpu0CLo1Fnawu6cTVJ4/s2946/IMG_1200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1673" data-original-width="2946" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnKOUgMOb5KazVa0H2oFTx7UuGVxahVO61y74OajSwo2a0yTpeHA_0DaaK5B069DVNfLchxPCvNNLywxSf23A7NEloZy-cKrglMxuX4YwDi-np3luyN4KZbiEDgRn6oTRBcKI_NhQbTVkxmnU7isaf-ouNAL_vKMtJThzYCu0Gpu0CLo1Fnawu6cTVJ4/w640-h364/IMG_1200.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nearing the end of my hike, just before I began the descent, I had an experience that scared me. Two very large dogs came running out of the bushes directly at me. I froze in the spot, they circled me barking the entire time. I yelled at them and tried to shoo them away. They were relentless in their barking and circling me. Then came a lady running around the corner calling them. I screamed at her to get them away from me. The words I screamed at her were not nice and I will not share them here. She could not control them and get them away from me. I continued to scream at her and I could tell now, she was scared. If I had bear spay with me, I would have used it on the dogs. The number of very violent dog attacks in the city the past few days played out in my mind. Finally she was able to control her dogs by offering treats to them. I walked away with every bone in my body shaking. I kept looking back while the dogs stood by her eating treats. When they began to walk away, one was still off leash and the other she had a hold off by the collar. There are on lease and off lease areas on Nose Hill and I was in the off lease area yet dogs need to be under the owner's control no matter what part of the Hill they are on. I hope she learned a lesson! I did, I will bring my bear spray when I hike up on Nose Hill. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-89478823627047134692024-02-24T15:47:00.179-07:002024-02-25T06:11:37.063-07:00Banff Virtual Challenge COMPLETE February 23, 2024<p style="text-align: center;">Taking on the Banff Virtual Challenge was a short sweet escape from reality! </p><p style="text-align: center;">I got to relive so many of my amazing adventures throughout Banff National Park! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_af6FK1-Rbo6jmMSU_KgUta3LuTSqKZxfybfwJjH6K539LDKDiigshqCuhEtFwD7Mqy-HPePTvPoAUHKUqQET-aR78yx1yDYDcEETIENVuer9Vsha0Cl-w2k-1dkI4sI9F7LtLVVuFq5MLZfci7IvgzJyROCx5XSY7faeVGqKc3WGUrq2p_UUooYK-I/s1920/banffPortraitCertificate.jpg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_af6FK1-Rbo6jmMSU_KgUta3LuTSqKZxfybfwJjH6K539LDKDiigshqCuhEtFwD7Mqy-HPePTvPoAUHKUqQET-aR78yx1yDYDcEETIENVuer9Vsha0Cl-w2k-1dkI4sI9F7LtLVVuFq5MLZfci7IvgzJyROCx5XSY7faeVGqKc3WGUrq2p_UUooYK-I/w360-h640/banffPortraitCertificate.jpg.png" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Of all the challenges I completed over the past three years, this one resonated with me the most, even more so than the Cabot Trail Virtual Challenge in my born and raised province of Nova Scotia. Over the past few decades I spent so much time hiking, skating, scrambling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice hiking in Banff National Park. I am familiar with tonnes of nooks and crannies. For these reasons, while I truly enjoyed this challenge, I did come away with some disappointments. The major one would be a glitch of some sort with the app, or my devices or I don't know what, but my marker would not move off Tunnel Mountain Road to cross the finish line even though I completed the distance, received my finishers certificate and confirmed the information so my medal can be mailed to me. This is a snapshot of what shows as my finish. I refreshed and refreshed and refreshed but I am stuck where I stand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgte3MvcuIuhFQt3fJzb7tnLtHUZI4SWY0-h9BUdHl3d_uyo5QvQiOwjx4_RRN5S7R9S5QJELKCxCLBK-4pkZ-FDwXoljOcQ_CSd3G4Zk2Md3bByFyzMVSlH37kaSaIR9IWfJ4MnSkKZPCZ2a5Ng_MPFsLx2mWXRGNKUkg-QvwbGI7hPxDaYP88IO-qVys/s1888/IMG_7613.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1888" data-original-width="1151" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgte3MvcuIuhFQt3fJzb7tnLtHUZI4SWY0-h9BUdHl3d_uyo5QvQiOwjx4_RRN5S7R9S5QJELKCxCLBK-4pkZ-FDwXoljOcQ_CSd3G4Zk2Md3bByFyzMVSlH37kaSaIR9IWfJ4MnSkKZPCZ2a5Ng_MPFsLx2mWXRGNKUkg-QvwbGI7hPxDaYP88IO-qVys/w390-h640/IMG_7613.jpeg" width="390" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the final postcard I received. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4UvM1Yl0ApgVoQJ9-HmaGW4-53ZbninuO0UmmQKfNNtCCzmUGEBEj1bmb_AC-T4-KUtfXuokcpLtERNHgndQvCyuFMoTD5RSNf3fqXFSuQ3P4D7muKoCB3kn2Q1pkW5S1wF8jBxjwCNgFEUh9Q0PAST9sZ9vPcgjC76v_50STSbXqrrjp66GSoti1UU/s832/141907.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="832" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4UvM1Yl0ApgVoQJ9-HmaGW4-53ZbninuO0UmmQKfNNtCCzmUGEBEj1bmb_AC-T4-KUtfXuokcpLtERNHgndQvCyuFMoTD5RSNf3fqXFSuQ3P4D7muKoCB3kn2Q1pkW5S1wF8jBxjwCNgFEUh9Q0PAST9sZ9vPcgjC76v_50STSbXqrrjp66GSoti1UU/w640-h450/141907.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is my photo from roughly the same location. On this day, Banff just opened up with major restrictions during the height of the pandemic. Provincial plates were all that were permitted at this time. I took this photo mid day while sitting on the street divider savouring a latte, the scenery, the peace, the quiet and sensing such a surreal feel. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj740xCwlc3hgXeO2-u1ZJQCUegOPyB5gPDfC7CK0P5c9Jqk_FFJXWiOyw-4WM9tb4VEqm6kmhMZvfRBnRztKcrlViDS2Hg0ASsCZDuMHujeSgVf6BGgF4Jmd0KSW7Zddf2KnwQbNf7R6nKuyYFCiZrLguNDn0dwlQfEhwiQCGzhpnNck0Cl8iQ7-CY-ew/s4454/finish.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3330" data-original-width="4454" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj740xCwlc3hgXeO2-u1ZJQCUegOPyB5gPDfC7CK0P5c9Jqk_FFJXWiOyw-4WM9tb4VEqm6kmhMZvfRBnRztKcrlViDS2Hg0ASsCZDuMHujeSgVf6BGgF4Jmd0KSW7Zddf2KnwQbNf7R6nKuyYFCiZrLguNDn0dwlQfEhwiQCGzhpnNck0Cl8iQ7-CY-ew/w640-h478/finish.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the route of the Banff Virtual Challenge. The start is where you see my marker at middle left and you see the finish line at bottom right. I drew the red line over top of the blue route the app provided. The actual virtual route is only a part of the red line and the parts are scattered here and there. Much of the route was a grey broken line which went over mountain tops and along roadways, I do not believe those sections were counted as part of the distance but I am not positive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another thing I was disappointed about was that I emailed The Conqueror Support Team with a question about this virtual route. The automatic reply came back stating they would reply within 48 hours. I sent that question on February 14th and I have still not received my answer. Previous to that, I penned a post to the private FB Conquer Community wondering if others who already started the challenge could answer my query but my post was declined by the admin staff. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aYbVmgi8ApanJWdG7NRGlOXRGsRLNNhyphenhyphenWWxBaDp-4O5MTmyX98qq4NM70rAGpWsblVaCUBsvvs9LKNeGVHhBZXO9MYLyVB4NX3rK-9X88mP3ECtXGDibDHTVfXzypw-V3569Ce13nzACiiyoim0F7sqMFn-BB7XYk0VqRIk_VnFpHkAeirOBY-URdhE/s1499/Banff%20Route.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="1499" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aYbVmgi8ApanJWdG7NRGlOXRGsRLNNhyphenhyphenWWxBaDp-4O5MTmyX98qq4NM70rAGpWsblVaCUBsvvs9LKNeGVHhBZXO9MYLyVB4NX3rK-9X88mP3ECtXGDibDHTVfXzypw-V3569Ce13nzACiiyoim0F7sqMFn-BB7XYk0VqRIk_VnFpHkAeirOBY-URdhE/w640-h451/Banff%20Route.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The start of the Banff Virtual Challenge was at the end of the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail near the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse. I stood in that spot many times. This is one of my photos from when I did that hike in June of 2021.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCg1_6VTosLrYK5BBJKK9nyIXrsiAyIoUQOJAhUIwxhdIdNRx5Swa9FT8jz3nJa4R00qPgjXE3_fdQmGGx-Joqu14MIIkldUZKrkn5LJBX53XB2LAOjpx5088sTf6A0ndLEBUpYYmNAXP5qIgOL33m0bV_7TFMeq1oIAPrlH-lk5QnSXfD2lMqhheFVcQ/s5184/start.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCg1_6VTosLrYK5BBJKK9nyIXrsiAyIoUQOJAhUIwxhdIdNRx5Swa9FT8jz3nJa4R00qPgjXE3_fdQmGGx-Joqu14MIIkldUZKrkn5LJBX53XB2LAOjpx5088sTf6A0ndLEBUpYYmNAXP5qIgOL33m0bV_7TFMeq1oIAPrlH-lk5QnSXfD2lMqhheFVcQ/w640-h480/start.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my photo of where the virtual challenge finish line was. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORXU6s2BRQFVIsKQF3ld0Cf8xGCygCOMow6dVt6WRG4F3LvSQnVoYVzdxixM95jDNNO4BbHm0CU6zWkzEUeASCfNrTe6dwLd-UCLcLcHV-4Sb0xMOrV7gGr6NHMGKeBN28hgz1WcLUIShaxq1pCw3cOn_6gSgO_n3DZ9bcLcV48HseYXy4TL4QMXX360/s3648/finish.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2062" data-original-width="3648" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORXU6s2BRQFVIsKQF3ld0Cf8xGCygCOMow6dVt6WRG4F3LvSQnVoYVzdxixM95jDNNO4BbHm0CU6zWkzEUeASCfNrTe6dwLd-UCLcLcHV-4Sb0xMOrV7gGr6NHMGKeBN28hgz1WcLUIShaxq1pCw3cOn_6gSgO_n3DZ9bcLcV48HseYXy4TL4QMXX360/w640-h362/finish.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div>There were two major areas where the virtual route went. I broke it down and made a close up of each. The blue lines are mine but I do not believe the entire stretches make up the distance of the challenge. This first map shows the start and the route it went and ending along the Bow Valley Parkway.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6NFg1zQbUddi1DltZ7YdofK0p891gTwTmvJiXumzAx7hcvQZpwV2j6WX5ZzpA0-9Z_SKBJdsDL1mVQkUXPbeNK_68wjBSxHpEKlWCYbc4p05CUUX8diSwD2ncgsCof55BX9e8HarRR0BSRA9-1qcaLl3XxGgQIenohYQ49p7ywm_sB_a7VHyIcGKIBo/s1265/map%20a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1265" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6NFg1zQbUddi1DltZ7YdofK0p891gTwTmvJiXumzAx7hcvQZpwV2j6WX5ZzpA0-9Z_SKBJdsDL1mVQkUXPbeNK_68wjBSxHpEKlWCYbc4p05CUUX8diSwD2ncgsCof55BX9e8HarRR0BSRA9-1qcaLl3XxGgQIenohYQ49p7ywm_sB_a7VHyIcGKIBo/w640-h538/map%20a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This second map picks up the route along the Bow Valley Parkway and carries on until the finish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJY-U4kXHvdlQWvNB8Bixu7eR32aTMSLMYhEDM444txHva3zypKbvnqVlksV-VyzQm0hN-OHL5keyLeXYrObvPPOOiGQ4ceufiQtLoO9YB0-Etiifi4f18ZAzN5lJjhNm0Elfpr3j7CfKuvWBsKQpfQD5NwvwWH_PJkaK7mTTO9UygODxViK5ebfxO44/s1474/map%20b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1474" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJY-U4kXHvdlQWvNB8Bixu7eR32aTMSLMYhEDM444txHva3zypKbvnqVlksV-VyzQm0hN-OHL5keyLeXYrObvPPOOiGQ4ceufiQtLoO9YB0-Etiifi4f18ZAzN5lJjhNm0Elfpr3j7CfKuvWBsKQpfQD5NwvwWH_PJkaK7mTTO9UygODxViK5ebfxO44/w640-h314/map%20b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like I mentioned at the start, this challenge resonated with me! I may be biased, but it had the best views the entire way, of all the challenges I completed. I do wish the Team answered my question and I do wish my marker moved to the finish line. It is now time to move on and continue making my way floating down the Colorado River. I hope to complete the Grand Canyon Challenge in a week's time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-76759645557162858692024-02-23T17:10:00.006-07:002024-02-24T04:46:46.578-07:00embracing that spring-like feel<p>With the sun up earlier along with a spring-like feel in the air, the spring in my step came easily to get out the door for my fill of nature, fresh air and exercise. It was an unusually warm start to the morning. My timing was that I made my way through the Birth Forest as the sun began to peek above the horizon. Ahh, the dawning of another beautiful day! Days like this in February are unheard of, we should be....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGsiU4XpdgYE4pTRxv7rhJyZPcWDXJ079lZyJAA_J4GbRg8OHCPaRFkw1dAvfq-llLm3TAzs_NOEnm7gWt73GrPOOM4HAesrzCXrsHgn_g3_zSG33haNrBB5O-WEJHAz5jqvdptdRyVh0TKQwYYzf68hbM29FGG1vgsiPj0lK8s1SUqZMoLcS3UlZ5Ec/s3037/IMG_1085.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3037" data-original-width="2591" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGsiU4XpdgYE4pTRxv7rhJyZPcWDXJ079lZyJAA_J4GbRg8OHCPaRFkw1dAvfq-llLm3TAzs_NOEnm7gWt73GrPOOM4HAesrzCXrsHgn_g3_zSG33haNrBB5O-WEJHAz5jqvdptdRyVh0TKQwYYzf68hbM29FGG1vgsiPj0lK8s1SUqZMoLcS3UlZ5Ec/w546-h640/IMG_1085.jpg" width="546" /></a></div>.....pushing our way through loads of snow. This was this day's reality! With views like this, no wonder February 20th marked the beginning of wildfire season. It's an early start this year due to the drought. Some fire restrictions are now in place within Alberta. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQl80rkDqcxdp0IGtG6PWykj7qfRQMDj7EKXuZLY_DnKsNzBjlFZOJJIWG5PPNxPIY2REOpuFZiqUqA4mC6gIIwCwBfOkxq9u8JpfqdwwN1QDZLlzs3qvQpPxZYeEvecJvghM6D64vj9EiwENmw3Gu3211xkKNx5HsbM5_xP6Tmg6EOqgptDLuHozRl4/s3648/IMG_1090.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQl80rkDqcxdp0IGtG6PWykj7qfRQMDj7EKXuZLY_DnKsNzBjlFZOJJIWG5PPNxPIY2REOpuFZiqUqA4mC6gIIwCwBfOkxq9u8JpfqdwwN1QDZLlzs3qvQpPxZYeEvecJvghM6D64vj9EiwENmw3Gu3211xkKNx5HsbM5_xP6Tmg6EOqgptDLuHozRl4/w640-h480/IMG_1090.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While covering kilometres along the creek and up on the hills, I heard a ruckus so headed to where the howling was coming from. It appears one of these coyotes is chasing another one away. I made an assumption! With January and February being mating season for coyotes, the male coyote is guarding his lady friend and chasing another male coyote away who probably was looking for a lady friend too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzjnlRnt3FdnTDFzF5BceUzLoxh1adqNBVmmm3-9ax6UiIUt3aROQD7pY0UvRYSOkjDI2PhEiooRsg8ZqYlGQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">⛸⛸⛸⛸⛸</span></div>Before heading off to lace up and etch away, I have been checking the website to be sure the ice surfaces are still open for skating. It is touch and go these days. With a forecast of winds to come in and bring the temperature up to plus double digits, I made an extra effort to get out the door early on this day so I could enjoy the ice before it received too much sun. Enjoy I did! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-HZiOUL5vItopRuJKQCFGdxqBp1v3NuiocKMivaheOd1Q1WzICgZLM0hHoE28cI8r9CllT5S38LsaiTRWQS7_ABRI8ZHzGkizEi7JkMrb_tSf11epDWcoV_LO5eMmwXIdPc57OxAwVltvL3Jxg3r4vpYDd2TTQTSryMjDuygOTVodQZ68WYJpKnf0lE/s4032/IMG_7451-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-HZiOUL5vItopRuJKQCFGdxqBp1v3NuiocKMivaheOd1Q1WzICgZLM0hHoE28cI8r9CllT5S38LsaiTRWQS7_ABRI8ZHzGkizEi7JkMrb_tSf11epDWcoV_LO5eMmwXIdPc57OxAwVltvL3Jxg3r4vpYDd2TTQTSryMjDuygOTVodQZ68WYJpKnf0lE/w480-h640/IMG_7451-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">As I skated towards The Canal, I did notice the table and chairs on the deck of the restaurant were set up. Nearing noon and into the afternoon, this would be a lovely place to sit as the sun shone on it on this spring-lake day in the month that typically has the biggest snowfalls. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7QYLlcoP7boPeI0vtvx69QIbkKySxY0NjQmfP9BvxSrnW_s2p9zBs_o49nao5BQU_vza4DDNZq6wSVIui7UrHGhXS5s0tPWfgc4CU_-FzokcafAtGBFwkN1KU4S8S9dqRBXDCHBYq3BxUrPvb0kPAG5_SBcl_PXf2Djq6VLx5qIE4EgZqo5xtOA39GQ/s3853/IMG_7450-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3853" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7QYLlcoP7boPeI0vtvx69QIbkKySxY0NjQmfP9BvxSrnW_s2p9zBs_o49nao5BQU_vza4DDNZq6wSVIui7UrHGhXS5s0tPWfgc4CU_-FzokcafAtGBFwkN1KU4S8S9dqRBXDCHBYq3BxUrPvb0kPAG5_SBcl_PXf2Djq6VLx5qIE4EgZqo5xtOA39GQ/w502-h640/IMG_7450-2.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a skating video along The Canal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyGrwYPwNDK8KQ5W5xoFFVFOX5gKAWz4O89cva8Utpv8obUhsTfZVBm7m4S2IdwRRIS4gaPmMI4xZTXpwaj_Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I need to skate 16.13 kms to surpass the number of kilometres I skated last season. I hope in this coming week, the temperature does drop as it is forecasted to do. If so, you can be sure I will skate that 16.13 kms to reach 209.9 kms skated to date this season. I hope early March will be open to additional skating opportunities!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When it's not the season to stop and smell the flowers, it is always the season to stop and listen to the birds! With that being the focus while "out & about" on this day, I found lots of entertainment. I could name that tune of each one: Black-Capped Chickadee picking at something in the tree, Northern Flicker showing of its shades as they caught the sun, House Sparrow peeking out at me, Downy Woodpecker giving me the double eye, Black-Capped Chickadee with a sway in its tail feathers, House Finch glowing red. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EEnvcjCq2TQsrHvY70_CCmzEUKHRkSoQJEUbftzsoSV35f0YR5UrqJrcVbdJy1DweWwEEskYhNDicxg-7aDLoLm3YidZBxCFI36jS47Ga257bINRPw_JbQP5hCd8U4U6Iu15iJXkDA-j8nqH4qrNapoaILfY2qFgu_uUAEKDa1OOpt36a5d8FXkB9LE/s6000/bird%20collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="6000" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EEnvcjCq2TQsrHvY70_CCmzEUKHRkSoQJEUbftzsoSV35f0YR5UrqJrcVbdJy1DweWwEEskYhNDicxg-7aDLoLm3YidZBxCFI36jS47Ga257bINRPw_JbQP5hCd8U4U6Iu15iJXkDA-j8nqH4qrNapoaILfY2qFgu_uUAEKDa1OOpt36a5d8FXkB9LE/w640-h512/bird%20collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Soon the birds will begin to trickle back from their months of snow-birding in the warmer climates.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">👟👟👟👟👟</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a hold onto your hat kind of day when I ventured up the hills at Nose Hill! It’s been quite some time so I was looking forward to this visit. The landscape certainly did not have the look of a February Day! I felt like I should check for crocuses peeking out through the ground cover. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMo2tNWUEEIKrd0CdNnhlwX0ILmcVZ9lOqB8cm4tnOGH15Inxh9qjt8OHlX3xi-KJx9a05IIRBjSCct4slSWqhuifHksDNtBP6kDwZ_Agmn51jGENgI4qqPkbOnGe685aZp-w4-Zyodn_KMADiHZnxp1V0k0h4jKnWkGFSyhqDAywmw7-vWCwGzSNzIc/s3648/IMG_1160.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMo2tNWUEEIKrd0CdNnhlwX0ILmcVZ9lOqB8cm4tnOGH15Inxh9qjt8OHlX3xi-KJx9a05IIRBjSCct4slSWqhuifHksDNtBP6kDwZ_Agmn51jGENgI4qqPkbOnGe685aZp-w4-Zyodn_KMADiHZnxp1V0k0h4jKnWkGFSyhqDAywmw7-vWCwGzSNzIc/w640-h480/IMG_1160.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, hold on to your hat! It's these strong winds that are worrisome! No, not because I might loose my hat, but these strong winds paired with very dry conditions, that's why fire restrictions are in place. After enduring the wind while ascending the hill then hiking along the wide open ridge, it was time to hit the trail......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyKUEJ7BknFukHv3SYAa574T37JSNwsNd1qVPYlZb26ThNaEaJryMVXX9KEMn9ww1fD8oKR1ncZVUo35VZxcg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">.....that would lead me to the forest section where I could seek shelter. Being sheltered, this area has lots of ice and scattered snowy sections here and there. As I stepped to the side of the trail to stay away from the ice, I spotted this formation! It took stepping to the side and looking down from the side, that I saw the love! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWz_bDYRDX0fLRobww67JthXH7zdops0S2MvECe-4Eja10i8ToJG2iWXqFCpXoKLX4NkBE_NDEkTfdVNf4mrLgG27ItCpqn43cqn9VsLkhgOcwAPwUQkpbPagOpJs3BHxj4BROuexZHbyyC_8pcEBK24ysElnj51xfLcHtjM8wyYGxkub-u08uo12eqU/s2466/IMG_1131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="2466" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWz_bDYRDX0fLRobww67JthXH7zdops0S2MvECe-4Eja10i8ToJG2iWXqFCpXoKLX4NkBE_NDEkTfdVNf4mrLgG27ItCpqn43cqn9VsLkhgOcwAPwUQkpbPagOpJs3BHxj4BROuexZHbyyC_8pcEBK24ysElnj51xfLcHtjM8wyYGxkub-u08uo12eqU/w400-h266/IMG_1131.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">I believe there is love here too! While standing are enjoying the reflections in the iced-over pond, these two mallards flew in from behind me and landed on the ice. They slipped and slid for a few seconds then just stood there looking around. They appeared puzzled. It was odd that I was able to get very close to them without them flying off. As they started to waddle away..... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9fA0xNJPtYeEPnGM4UiPPwznjpiej8keQcipcoBscKMAhRWjPkEx1LLqr_b1n0x0O3LmotujlwS8HKnckpObCmbrYWh4jfaEgkpWxrsayYs1Nohpp3xS04u55n5je_DYRBzKBWKGkx43MCq_JrTBNu_HB_koai8egErwvNM49UiZChPRWBBUbE8iYwU/s3142/IMG_1148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2230" data-original-width="3142" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9fA0xNJPtYeEPnGM4UiPPwznjpiej8keQcipcoBscKMAhRWjPkEx1LLqr_b1n0x0O3LmotujlwS8HKnckpObCmbrYWh4jfaEgkpWxrsayYs1Nohpp3xS04u55n5je_DYRBzKBWKGkx43MCq_JrTBNu_HB_koai8egErwvNM49UiZChPRWBBUbE8iYwU/w640-h454/IMG_1148.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">.....I began to record them! They waddled for a minute or so and stopped on a specific spot. As I walked away and looked back, being at another angle, where they stopped looked like open water but rather was just a different colour of ice. I made an assumption! I believe they expected to land in water and when they did not, they waddled about looking for water! </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwTaXoQ4YjcC9C4jsx5ESAsBxkKJjyAb56ETHyn0ifPx-CXjk3S9Gm7nliFih6JU4T2GGjUpl2BghOULXAIgg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">After embracing these spring-like days, I am glad I did, there is cold and snow in the forecast! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Yet, I know how to embrace that too and I look forward to it! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p></p></div>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-49516749584652143252024-02-19T16:03:00.003-07:002024-02-19T16:40:34.265-07:00skating : knitting : conquering<p>The days are numbered for having decent ice skating conditions! We are on the verge of another extended warm spell with no snow in the forecast. My new skates arrived and I wanted to test them right away to see if they would be keepers. They are the same make, the same model, the same size as my blue skates which I purchased some time before January of 2010. This is the new 2024 look for that same make, model and size.</p><p>I put the pedal to the metal and got out there to skate while the going was good. I went for The Ice Trail. It's easier to get on the ice there than it is to get onto the ice at The Lagoon. From the bench where I sit to lace up, to The Ice Trail, is a few inches. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuO1Xpl4smj35ZqjTsc7iCEqJGrAprqFvGXmW3bL1NbTyicMhXZj7IHgeYzbYsBsLQfu2kewgdEvjkO6JqlNOzc3NqwchtBuuuZmcwP0FYirL_xGQvY2zRHPCXcYW56zSPNO90p15119RcsnKkjtLAmJwWA9bl9zsQBHlB82NN70pWWiCEMHMLcewPFqo/s4032/IMG_7414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuO1Xpl4smj35ZqjTsc7iCEqJGrAprqFvGXmW3bL1NbTyicMhXZj7IHgeYzbYsBsLQfu2kewgdEvjkO6JqlNOzc3NqwchtBuuuZmcwP0FYirL_xGQvY2zRHPCXcYW56zSPNO90p15119RcsnKkjtLAmJwWA9bl9zsQBHlB82NN70pWWiCEMHMLcewPFqo/w640-h480/IMG_7414.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">I slowly and gingerly glided back and forth in front of the bench. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Once I felt confident enough with this new feel, off skating down The Ice Trail I went. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsOGZ4gRGHBiAPh0h6mUrtFgvqVRZhyrM8KnUinbQT1FUNdR4iWLS6CncPNmde9lfFHWO9t8_BJuhmitiiDpZvg6rPyv_o4amgTZNSACVFWmPHwVxjc65vp814IK02wC7wzmu10E4zZpPutcA0m2x23LsgPmswBJEeteB2OEAT0Ha1jawEFv_aYDukhY/s3587/IMG_7421.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2520" data-original-width="3587" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsOGZ4gRGHBiAPh0h6mUrtFgvqVRZhyrM8KnUinbQT1FUNdR4iWLS6CncPNmde9lfFHWO9t8_BJuhmitiiDpZvg6rPyv_o4amgTZNSACVFWmPHwVxjc65vp814IK02wC7wzmu10E4zZpPutcA0m2x23LsgPmswBJEeteB2OEAT0Ha1jawEFv_aYDukhY/w640-h450/IMG_7421.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The groomer drove off from flooding the ice and then I stepped on it. Because it was a cold morning, the new flooding froze immediately. It was a beautiful bright shiny sheer canvas to make the first carvings with new skates.</div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXusVP0Tos9vO52D_Sm4KFH_AGN8WPhj9MfHAyere6EemBuWcaNcbcamn1jD2mRPhEF-ZNHSfjyAfniPTiKInmYWPbwZYBe9_L-sF6HNSZzumFoQnl36qVRH0EtMAIxj93rwqjRGdzXnVRuDBld_w3mBfH6P8MOKT7Pfk9pfrnWlIIf_urtwLqBGpqgAk/s4032/IMG_7397.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXusVP0Tos9vO52D_Sm4KFH_AGN8WPhj9MfHAyere6EemBuWcaNcbcamn1jD2mRPhEF-ZNHSfjyAfniPTiKInmYWPbwZYBe9_L-sF6HNSZzumFoQnl36qVRH0EtMAIxj93rwqjRGdzXnVRuDBld_w3mBfH6P8MOKT7Pfk9pfrnWlIIf_urtwLqBGpqgAk/w480-h640/IMG_7397.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />I skated the roughly just short of two kilometre route around and upon arriving back at this section, I shot a video to capture my first carvings. There is something so satisfying to see the design in the ice.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwqjniDPsCNszsJ4JHG6RGZqR2tvuWAVW7Lgoc-zP8jWVkwFi5TtUQTRjvNqca-Ux4ki66mJvISm3QZoSyt5A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I also took a photo of the design.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCeLqeAm3tOw7q3H3tREeaFunka4O2qGiVkaOFvuMdiSaOflXwLiyRM5ptSpPCT982TI3xAXgkjQZQE9ZxzCSJ85LSwhaBSl6JWOhyphenhyphengt4UK09XtkR0U4Rehm6P4AwREQmfAWvOvHRD-2EmKG0KDA_aE3H6W2W0UgdhIN7Nt9bPnOb7sfhx3grbYb0Olc/s3492/IMG_7404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3492" data-original-width="2229" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCeLqeAm3tOw7q3H3tREeaFunka4O2qGiVkaOFvuMdiSaOflXwLiyRM5ptSpPCT982TI3xAXgkjQZQE9ZxzCSJ85LSwhaBSl6JWOhyphenhyphengt4UK09XtkR0U4Rehm6P4AwREQmfAWvOvHRD-2EmKG0KDA_aE3H6W2W0UgdhIN7Nt9bPnOb7sfhx3grbYb0Olc/w408-h640/IMG_7404.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After skating roughly fifteen kilometres, I knew I would be keeping my new skates!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbhJeUmdetVE6VQu9NiWlt2N6ffy0Gvf69ByHheOfKUogqjXgDSgppM-dmFOg1BK1BrdPfieMcZWzOw5Q2YBgY2R2XI8DZWWF4u3cZVMZvGrRjWHnSG-SpgO_emnMOT3EZgsx6YSHxjWHnjw8TN5sRRg6TWgV8ZMkATbblErQV_paW_cPhDhSmxXpwPw/s220/knit%20logo.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="214" height="33" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbhJeUmdetVE6VQu9NiWlt2N6ffy0Gvf69ByHheOfKUogqjXgDSgppM-dmFOg1BK1BrdPfieMcZWzOw5Q2YBgY2R2XI8DZWWF4u3cZVMZvGrRjWHnSG-SpgO_emnMOT3EZgsx6YSHxjWHnjw8TN5sRRg6TWgV8ZMkATbblErQV_paW_cPhDhSmxXpwPw/w32-h33/knit%20logo.jpeg" width="32" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbhJeUmdetVE6VQu9NiWlt2N6ffy0Gvf69ByHheOfKUogqjXgDSgppM-dmFOg1BK1BrdPfieMcZWzOw5Q2YBgY2R2XI8DZWWF4u3cZVMZvGrRjWHnSG-SpgO_emnMOT3EZgsx6YSHxjWHnjw8TN5sRRg6TWgV8ZMkATbblErQV_paW_cPhDhSmxXpwPw/s220/knit%20logo.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="214" height="33" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbhJeUmdetVE6VQu9NiWlt2N6ffy0Gvf69ByHheOfKUogqjXgDSgppM-dmFOg1BK1BrdPfieMcZWzOw5Q2YBgY2R2XI8DZWWF4u3cZVMZvGrRjWHnSG-SpgO_emnMOT3EZgsx6YSHxjWHnjw8TN5sRRg6TWgV8ZMkATbblErQV_paW_cPhDhSmxXpwPw/w32-h33/knit%20logo.jpeg" width="32" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbhJeUmdetVE6VQu9NiWlt2N6ffy0Gvf69ByHheOfKUogqjXgDSgppM-dmFOg1BK1BrdPfieMcZWzOw5Q2YBgY2R2XI8DZWWF4u3cZVMZvGrRjWHnSG-SpgO_emnMOT3EZgsx6YSHxjWHnjw8TN5sRRg6TWgV8ZMkATbblErQV_paW_cPhDhSmxXpwPw/s220/knit%20logo.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="214" height="33" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbhJeUmdetVE6VQu9NiWlt2N6ffy0Gvf69ByHheOfKUogqjXgDSgppM-dmFOg1BK1BrdPfieMcZWzOw5Q2YBgY2R2XI8DZWWF4u3cZVMZvGrRjWHnSG-SpgO_emnMOT3EZgsx6YSHxjWHnjw8TN5sRRg6TWgV8ZMkATbblErQV_paW_cPhDhSmxXpwPw/w32-h33/knit%20logo.jpeg" width="32" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbhJeUmdetVE6VQu9NiWlt2N6ffy0Gvf69ByHheOfKUogqjXgDSgppM-dmFOg1BK1BrdPfieMcZWzOw5Q2YBgY2R2XI8DZWWF4u3cZVMZvGrRjWHnSG-SpgO_emnMOT3EZgsx6YSHxjWHnjw8TN5sRRg6TWgV8ZMkATbblErQV_paW_cPhDhSmxXpwPw/s220/knit%20logo.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="214" height="33" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbhJeUmdetVE6VQu9NiWlt2N6ffy0Gvf69ByHheOfKUogqjXgDSgppM-dmFOg1BK1BrdPfieMcZWzOw5Q2YBgY2R2XI8DZWWF4u3cZVMZvGrRjWHnSG-SpgO_emnMOT3EZgsx6YSHxjWHnjw8TN5sRRg6TWgV8ZMkATbblErQV_paW_cPhDhSmxXpwPw/w32-h33/knit%20logo.jpeg" width="32" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbhJeUmdetVE6VQu9NiWlt2N6ffy0Gvf69ByHheOfKUogqjXgDSgppM-dmFOg1BK1BrdPfieMcZWzOw5Q2YBgY2R2XI8DZWWF4u3cZVMZvGrRjWHnSG-SpgO_emnMOT3EZgsx6YSHxjWHnjw8TN5sRRg6TWgV8ZMkATbblErQV_paW_cPhDhSmxXpwPw/s220/knit%20logo.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="214" height="33" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbhJeUmdetVE6VQu9NiWlt2N6ffy0Gvf69ByHheOfKUogqjXgDSgppM-dmFOg1BK1BrdPfieMcZWzOw5Q2YBgY2R2XI8DZWWF4u3cZVMZvGrRjWHnSG-SpgO_emnMOT3EZgsx6YSHxjWHnjw8TN5sRRg6TWgV8ZMkATbblErQV_paW_cPhDhSmxXpwPw/w32-h33/knit%20logo.jpeg" width="32" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">35 Squares are knitted and I refuse to knit even one more! Enough is enough! I thought I properly and precisely figured out how many squares of each colour I needed to make the pattern I planned. I failed! The pattern is off at the bottom. While I do have enough yarn left to knit more squares to correct the bottom, I am squared out, no more squares for me! What's next? How do I attach all these squares together to make a blanket? Time to start googling! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCBsqYH0Lc64i656gSqHKqCxwjGcckdQQNcgutBpywxbvipieOxog8GeAwgzPBxk_-dRk-XEru6ETEkNsWDt4rzlYyg1-IEQxMdLljKtz8ctCUIQWhgGao5OdyCOwjv81vCpYUc1vGzV90-pHFQpCFuQ-gZxKbU2B9APQyMLQRPCi1CPpfpDvoNyUgSo/s3573/IMG_1003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3573" data-original-width="2306" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCBsqYH0Lc64i656gSqHKqCxwjGcckdQQNcgutBpywxbvipieOxog8GeAwgzPBxk_-dRk-XEru6ETEkNsWDt4rzlYyg1-IEQxMdLljKtz8ctCUIQWhgGao5OdyCOwjv81vCpYUc1vGzV90-pHFQpCFuQ-gZxKbU2B9APQyMLQRPCi1CPpfpDvoNyUgSo/w414-h640/IMG_1003.jpg" width="414" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">⛸⛸⛸⛸⛸</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the ice again, it's time to get on the ice again! The forecast for this day was to be cold in the morning then warming up to above freezing before noon. I have come to know the flooding schedule at The Lagoon, The Canal and The Ice Trail. I arrived at The Ice Trail just as the groomer was driving away with the empty tank of water. The ice looked inviting! It was picture perfect on the back side by the river. The front stretch was rough in spots due to the warm temperatures into the afternoon the past couple of days. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh771KTE0zwg7rL_OkuB6QwNGNE3XkfgqXcRiMiIJTC7W9gaFYh8BOoOSswzHd5BeBgACQH1KHu3qTUOWltjyt_Vio693fkZ8odQ_PkguoNEjukm2TnY-u2DYvKljgF4uQ2WCMrPDMjAJWtPMHsKMFzQsJckWJWBAYSl4R4rQk-ve6DIb0Yu-MxerJ6TEY/s4032/IMG_7429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh771KTE0zwg7rL_OkuB6QwNGNE3XkfgqXcRiMiIJTC7W9gaFYh8BOoOSswzHd5BeBgACQH1KHu3qTUOWltjyt_Vio693fkZ8odQ_PkguoNEjukm2TnY-u2DYvKljgF4uQ2WCMrPDMjAJWtPMHsKMFzQsJckWJWBAYSl4R4rQk-ve6DIb0Yu-MxerJ6TEY/w480-h640/IMG_7429.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Having fun and testing out my skate brakes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hoped for a little more snow splash!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwy0aSZVuK7Ux-U4zIKDvmBPQ_WSAUHWbO14oHqE9WUh-kQMObdaax7nIGT0EgU_OxCxIP0l6XkecHHxHaDDw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The fire pits were rip roaring and it was nice to sit awhile early on when it was still cold. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw-BtvIOBTdNGqRQsi1WpyzAz3mPGhAASW4U8VC7dBesqZ8f9EhkFDkrDTBanBTAutw1gD55MAnMVWLNZnCMA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After just short of two hours and seventeen kilometres later, sharing The Ice Trail with a few others, the temperature rising, the ice conditions were beginning to decline. I felt fulfilled, it was time to give thanks for a gorgeous morning of skating and head on home. We will see what the next few days have in store and whether it will be worth it to lace up and etch away! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅</span></div><div><br /></div><div>It's time to post an update on my progress with conquering! Now that I have less than 100 kms to go on the Grand Canyon Virtual Challenge, I am motivated to get to the finish line. I know I won't need the 37 days that I have remaining, my hope is to complete it in two weeks time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tfWh4A2rteUgpQvE1iR_t7UY2RaKneCHVuuO4GAZbPxTi-Ofk6XNvFMcWh24-qcO35UAJYRUW4rCmGcQwqREhUfl2zmn0IGHbgMpJbzcczIxy4LA9nNGDjPddtZj9Y5wU8-EaFeqOcgSHAkAvD1Kdscoq7QPLcxZe1-6Noz4BWWjyXZYVZVUuknMBGA/s1061/GC%20Stats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1061" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tfWh4A2rteUgpQvE1iR_t7UY2RaKneCHVuuO4GAZbPxTi-Ofk6XNvFMcWh24-qcO35UAJYRUW4rCmGcQwqREhUfl2zmn0IGHbgMpJbzcczIxy4LA9nNGDjPddtZj9Y5wU8-EaFeqOcgSHAkAvD1Kdscoq7QPLcxZe1-6Noz4BWWjyXZYVZVUuknMBGA/w640-h438/GC%20Stats.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The map shows in blue what I covered so far and the red is what is left. I left my pacer in the dust or I should say the rapids. While I am at 80% complete, the pacer is back there at 60%. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHonopQnqW-FXh1lPsCUovAb87ax4U4ZU4sXoZTNaC_DAZKVFYWg-h7K668bIOadsz4_lkB7ABh9RgJeAbQh2mXNt6BonjsSMqfUHJiL3x08OxivTnWKDAaQ75ukSZjN1pb3ge1ChweF9UOFjPsCBHuGsBjRZ2VIb65tVzGXWcgKjnbK1zGrhwLPkypg4/s1144/GC%20Map%20so%20far.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1144" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHonopQnqW-FXh1lPsCUovAb87ax4U4ZU4sXoZTNaC_DAZKVFYWg-h7K668bIOadsz4_lkB7ABh9RgJeAbQh2mXNt6BonjsSMqfUHJiL3x08OxivTnWKDAaQ75ukSZjN1pb3ge1ChweF9UOFjPsCBHuGsBjRZ2VIb65tVzGXWcgKjnbK1zGrhwLPkypg4/w640-h406/GC%20Map%20so%20far.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There I am, still floating down the Colorado River. The views all look the same so I have not been checking in each time I post my distance covered. I have been venturing off the river at times just to see what else is around. There are numerous hiking trails that lead up along the Canyon walls. I will do an update once I have crossed the finish line.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmU6qInLIgbdiSBmVF3KlflxJI6w4Iv6nvAsG1CSJKrirIobfTqf0cYXXLNuB2P4BzSsw4iNOQIOp_zKjn8XMeA8Tgs9-WqAYW1UYcMfNhXFZnrEP1_vW1M46HvHOzMQVQ_ZfOQaNf_kyJehlTaPzCmdRXfegKHLm1XYYwVWnMIx9LPBH3iYduN0FcXYg/s1830/GC%20Location.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="1830" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmU6qInLIgbdiSBmVF3KlflxJI6w4Iv6nvAsG1CSJKrirIobfTqf0cYXXLNuB2P4BzSsw4iNOQIOp_zKjn8XMeA8Tgs9-WqAYW1UYcMfNhXFZnrEP1_vW1M46HvHOzMQVQ_ZfOQaNf_kyJehlTaPzCmdRXfegKHLm1XYYwVWnMIx9LPBH3iYduN0FcXYg/w640-h338/GC%20Location.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I jumped the gun and joined the crusade for the Banff Virtual Challenge and I am going great guns of fire on it. When this new challenge was announced on Valentine's Day, it called my name loud and clear. It opened for registration on the 15th, I jumped on board and started the challenge on the 16th. This one resonated with a lot of the members of the conqueror community from all over the world. Many have been to the area, lots have plans to go and the rest will virtual enjoy Banff National Park. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5psgEEqRQVERcwN2EXN23ZjUw41M9AICQmSb-dI0C8jt57mPPIXJRlTH5uCFrAi7fJCDFIntcUrh76dtRnS3wYuXmN8jB6epjzwLmRWllfyLNGbWtyzrDZfOUlMc8cpetHr1jln5REE242LITlZ6mNje9-5rApQYgxYJo746fNuRPcwokNwyjj-acEM/s833/IMG_7559.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="833" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5psgEEqRQVERcwN2EXN23ZjUw41M9AICQmSb-dI0C8jt57mPPIXJRlTH5uCFrAi7fJCDFIntcUrh76dtRnS3wYuXmN8jB6epjzwLmRWllfyLNGbWtyzrDZfOUlMc8cpetHr1jln5REE242LITlZ6mNje9-5rApQYgxYJo746fNuRPcwokNwyjj-acEM/w400-h400/IMG_7559.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The plan is to reach the finish line by the weekend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIihxJjAQHgK7Sr8wMHwPetHS7FVG5lkaqjADZUX-YZ9PNsxyDXb3EXp4CdCyUBFrwbRP8iBP6gLJOmbrK2zDOhX7aF0Ydzrf6-mNm4zpbiQkL5Tady7zJFR-qeUGoZfV1e7NNJQLfM9XLQz8a5HHjpstKf7O9QuTEzqdwXcJc_rEmQ6YxDGejZHMdSFI/s1049/Banff%20stats%20so%20far.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1049" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIihxJjAQHgK7Sr8wMHwPetHS7FVG5lkaqjADZUX-YZ9PNsxyDXb3EXp4CdCyUBFrwbRP8iBP6gLJOmbrK2zDOhX7aF0Ydzrf6-mNm4zpbiQkL5Tady7zJFR-qeUGoZfV1e7NNJQLfM9XLQz8a5HHjpstKf7O9QuTEzqdwXcJc_rEmQ6YxDGejZHMdSFI/w640-h474/Banff%20stats%20so%20far.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The route for this virtual challenge displays different than the others I have done. Parts of the route are on roadways and one mountain peaks and that is where the broken grey lines are. The start was at the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse and the finish line is downtown Banff. The route worked its way up to Skoki Lodge after exiting the village of Lake Louise. I thoroughly enjoyed that section as I have hiked many trails in that area and even up a few of the Passes, a Ridge and a Mountain. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObGPHVGo_NSs-tBYwokVHJsJD-XrXRz7yxZzCoot7jc_YL6UdS774nEACiR3s354tYKx8CAI9ciLAA87SbDQlEfu6yamSOlXbWX67ntTAqbp7DCqu42J8cUKVET8-NcjK-sKiC5MJej8WnbrTwz9eJBqhfOGhboUaNBYHhFIa_CSOdjjNJSvZNoT6umk/s1251/Banff%20Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="1251" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObGPHVGo_NSs-tBYwokVHJsJD-XrXRz7yxZzCoot7jc_YL6UdS774nEACiR3s354tYKx8CAI9ciLAA87SbDQlEfu6yamSOlXbWX67ntTAqbp7DCqu42J8cUKVET8-NcjK-sKiC5MJej8WnbrTwz9eJBqhfOGhboUaNBYHhFIa_CSOdjjNJSvZNoT6umk/w640-h508/Banff%20Map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After entering today's distance from being "out & about" birding at Carburn, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it puts me virtually walking along Vermillion Lakes Road. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz-V50I5wy3FNKGJsq4hMRrkQAyghJvJnwQBQYMtOv_P7A3uTKsikDe8_PdJG2Bovfp-GNrgDVhJ3v6tZMb0UB7fNzUA_BNPzsQEkivQmcf77zXUSpt1EEGfFZktJ4x9L1TrEjLvb4l9COULIv_5G-AA9pmfCOpQdfB5MlcJEASLZszqz3PdtB0uvHts/s1160/Banff%20location.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1160" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz-V50I5wy3FNKGJsq4hMRrkQAyghJvJnwQBQYMtOv_P7A3uTKsikDe8_PdJG2Bovfp-GNrgDVhJ3v6tZMb0UB7fNzUA_BNPzsQEkivQmcf77zXUSpt1EEGfFZktJ4x9L1TrEjLvb4l9COULIv_5G-AA9pmfCOpQdfB5MlcJEASLZszqz3PdtB0uvHts/w640-h450/Banff%20location.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I received three postcards so far with long stories attached to each. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuwqjgnNdRFjKkR0ZnXYA4i5VLhNr3NmP-mdzE7Lml_OdJ6orRTY_IjIgoH-_9MpfZXt2gTHW_hvxvyNysY_1t8S9nlzDuc5m3fsKEivz003VDZpo-sJgNyq1a4ke67X8ekd7fqmM39uYUytrnhmVFVJHG253ayC0OMb8_nYAi9JH5uzp_B4A-2nFTtc/s832/141887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="832" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuwqjgnNdRFjKkR0ZnXYA4i5VLhNr3NmP-mdzE7Lml_OdJ6orRTY_IjIgoH-_9MpfZXt2gTHW_hvxvyNysY_1t8S9nlzDuc5m3fsKEivz003VDZpo-sJgNyq1a4ke67X8ekd7fqmM39uYUytrnhmVFVJHG253ayC0OMb8_nYAi9JH5uzp_B4A-2nFTtc/w640-h450/141887.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ny0UcHyiFsqSLH3g60lvPdiVcbQQwf6-WBTyxspP4Cajr-EWuECm1exdx7Xsyd2wi75qsf27NNaSOCxVID-vGuLy5Xu_FdCPvca0ZidG2BQ1t5_29xglznWrUjlJhqRdJjPISM2wFN4vJ7wsNdPVxIU5EeiY6bH1KpL6jnoqI4BzEu3UoAdI-k5VdOc/s832/141892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="832" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ny0UcHyiFsqSLH3g60lvPdiVcbQQwf6-WBTyxspP4Cajr-EWuECm1exdx7Xsyd2wi75qsf27NNaSOCxVID-vGuLy5Xu_FdCPvca0ZidG2BQ1t5_29xglznWrUjlJhqRdJjPISM2wFN4vJ7wsNdPVxIU5EeiY6bH1KpL6jnoqI4BzEu3UoAdI-k5VdOc/w640-h450/141892.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7DhHRylWgXHuakeHRbA-TdrlOsltJEnTyKKo_R_kkXV6B2EF3YU-By1prtx_K_fc0MgopVB9D3w-mnmtcE9-UB9hg0KqsAR4wfPyWOIsaN4mMq-nV0ZcRkpvhfFGtT1XC-WBlQGkSDTzrzgmGV7zgQZz8lj6d29TIhmXhQz_4Qoz1Lrr8R6AEBREmII/s832/141897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="832" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7DhHRylWgXHuakeHRbA-TdrlOsltJEnTyKKo_R_kkXV6B2EF3YU-By1prtx_K_fc0MgopVB9D3w-mnmtcE9-UB9hg0KqsAR4wfPyWOIsaN4mMq-nV0ZcRkpvhfFGtT1XC-WBlQGkSDTzrzgmGV7zgQZz8lj6d29TIhmXhQz_4Qoz1Lrr8R6AEBREmII/w640-h450/141897.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I spent loads of time looking back at my photos of the places I have been that I am now going to virtually. So many wonderful memories came flooding back. I shared with the Conquer Community that I have in reality lived the stories that go with these postcards. This virtual challenge has captured my heart!<br /><br /><br /><br />Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-73653646059404234882024-02-14T16:45:00.199-07:002024-02-15T06:00:25.211-07:00filling the days with love of all sorts<p>With a bit of new snow and a chill in the air, my motivation to be out & about has jumped up a few notches! I will take any snow flakes that fall, they still remain far and few between as we reach the middle of the month that typically receives the biggest snow falls. The bit of new white gold helped with making trails far less slippery. That was the case for my visit to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Warm layers were necessary but spikes were not. More than once on each visit to the Sanctuary, I pass by this creek that runs out to the river. What I noticed this time was where the animal prints were!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK7kpu_ikEEsl8VBr3vBObAzPOnR16Ko5qgeJrIST7_tKPbw66q0HD8oCcRB2eQm27S7uxSYmpVYmUn-ipIvuh28wywtL3L8xGRsILW3Eb5kOJDxeOgECSMVv-5GhO4fyFv5aG8AesKVISBJQ6gW0k-_ANVbjo3OkHYdGLGjD-nhW0zsyIFsDEnIydJ8/s3289/IMG_0944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3289" data-original-width="2564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK7kpu_ikEEsl8VBr3vBObAzPOnR16Ko5qgeJrIST7_tKPbw66q0HD8oCcRB2eQm27S7uxSYmpVYmUn-ipIvuh28wywtL3L8xGRsILW3Eb5kOJDxeOgECSMVv-5GhO4fyFv5aG8AesKVISBJQ6gW0k-_ANVbjo3OkHYdGLGjD-nhW0zsyIFsDEnIydJ8/w498-h640/IMG_0944.jpg" width="498" /></a></div>It's still the season where the usual suspects are the ones that are hanging out, such as the White-Breasted Nuthatches. Their distinct sweet song is easy to identify and when I tuned into the tune and turned to see where it was coming from, I spotted it with a treat in its beak!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBEklYflgW3ul0_FoM1Bl7aHcZqaoeG62MucGpTWtlSh305qAkZoNladpF5EwnMd4GW-elaWJzUs4NIOuLrbY7Z7GusSGJ5n8ab-TUN8GF0LJEKWjm_aBl4H09FqTmCv2Y-g0BY8E9OiGmyGCKTYI1lFva37Rkv3pTD4b1n3xIK1dYnH5RQUbkA02JYU/s3048/IMG_0942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="3048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBEklYflgW3ul0_FoM1Bl7aHcZqaoeG62MucGpTWtlSh305qAkZoNladpF5EwnMd4GW-elaWJzUs4NIOuLrbY7Z7GusSGJ5n8ab-TUN8GF0LJEKWjm_aBl4H09FqTmCv2Y-g0BY8E9OiGmyGCKTYI1lFva37Rkv3pTD4b1n3xIK1dYnH5RQUbkA02JYU/w640-h448/IMG_0942.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The Northern Flickers were very vocal! Their behaviour appeared to me like not only were they flying about but also flirting around. This Flicker spent lots of time going and coming from this hole in the tree and also calling out while peeking out. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zkwtWMFaXPoXF_xrhrMjqs4sbVdAOoXd1YIdQ2J37v-W_W1S9L67VQD1i56oynI7a3TGlW5n3WWmSiM_XOsOKxwxjZjhL7vSOthIngLvGoMBzSYWz8CrmIeBrFIWPVHB_rj6HlbRwp1vuOubkTk-K2YKwY9ULSxRr0cIU4fQLI7GTLJjQ_1zfr6KPzw/s3648/IMG_0908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zkwtWMFaXPoXF_xrhrMjqs4sbVdAOoXd1YIdQ2J37v-W_W1S9L67VQD1i56oynI7a3TGlW5n3WWmSiM_XOsOKxwxjZjhL7vSOthIngLvGoMBzSYWz8CrmIeBrFIWPVHB_rj6HlbRwp1vuOubkTk-K2YKwY9ULSxRr0cIU4fQLI7GTLJjQ_1zfr6KPzw/w640-h480/IMG_0908.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">After ducking and dodging from Black-Capped Chickadee fly-bys, this one landed on my fingers when I put my hand out. I know it was expecting a treat, but I had none. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XmXmKvdPXFjSv37MasuYn2BblCiU3Xjk3XCsCS6t-5lth8Zi3csSgUuQpQqkNdyItZJfRgEVnZdsS8L64reGZuBOkP4O0-KrG50Hy4x3AwivjsV9QL65kezk-0CWOUp34Dwk5SUp_hEG85unmNDosipyHlPYk63-mHeneBa1Wesa4HRktR7-IQgrPNM/s2640/IMG_0827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2640" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XmXmKvdPXFjSv37MasuYn2BblCiU3Xjk3XCsCS6t-5lth8Zi3csSgUuQpQqkNdyItZJfRgEVnZdsS8L64reGZuBOkP4O0-KrG50Hy4x3AwivjsV9QL65kezk-0CWOUp34Dwk5SUp_hEG85unmNDosipyHlPYk63-mHeneBa1Wesa4HRktR7-IQgrPNM/w640-h518/IMG_0827.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Coming to the Sanctuary regularly makes it easy to know where to go to see what you want to see. The House Finches have their usual hang out and that was where I saw them hanging out. This male was amongst about a dozen or so other Finches who appeared to be mostly males. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-B8xLcAbHhrKWxzkWifzG2l0DaJJtQg71jWL8UAQYAYAqfpIVfTfYzXCKGfGZQ0OvldkL74WqZlb1i5dthIef6iudYkYMORRWy6UqUZ2duIkg-_w6fNFRaoyMf4VT5ZtzWGAVMUtZBhOOWnqyGkNhULpNh8Vo4QC81Y5rP9cis2YS0e-yAc9PY09In0/s2803/IMG_0887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2099" data-original-width="2803" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-B8xLcAbHhrKWxzkWifzG2l0DaJJtQg71jWL8UAQYAYAqfpIVfTfYzXCKGfGZQ0OvldkL74WqZlb1i5dthIef6iudYkYMORRWy6UqUZ2duIkg-_w6fNFRaoyMf4VT5ZtzWGAVMUtZBhOOWnqyGkNhULpNh8Vo4QC81Y5rP9cis2YS0e-yAc9PY09In0/w640-h480/IMG_0887.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Lots of time at the Sanctuary is spent staring and looking at what I can spot. On this visit, I spotted this! I never noticed it before but that does not mean it wasn't there. It sits on the bank of the river and I am thinking the side facing the river is probably open. I wonder if it was built by the Sanctuary Staff?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNhbFf0ToEltg8cBfm0kK4tgukC99wqrER9jKk987fIkvJzlApB8gs3mqo8B99lj4CVuIhVMUoo9H5WCIZrr2DMeXnIrSI6x1TrPHk81wqn2abgxtsSkVVxvzZbPrZfeQn7AQIhVPNxq34g1WmpZVatdxTzlVW80E3RdZ4HDwyiredmBo0CDLdyyvesk/s3141/IMG_0930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2229" data-original-width="3141" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNhbFf0ToEltg8cBfm0kK4tgukC99wqrER9jKk987fIkvJzlApB8gs3mqo8B99lj4CVuIhVMUoo9H5WCIZrr2DMeXnIrSI6x1TrPHk81wqn2abgxtsSkVVxvzZbPrZfeQn7AQIhVPNxq34g1WmpZVatdxTzlVW80E3RdZ4HDwyiredmBo0CDLdyyvesk/w640-h454/IMG_0930.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">🛫 🛫 🛫 🛫 🛫</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is Neustift! It's in the Stubai Valley in the State of Tyrol in Austria. This will be my home away from home for a little while in a few months time. I have been preoccupied with getting plans in place. There are just a few more items to check off the planning list and then I might let myself begin to get excited! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJ4QhC8Fap0UPTAAAbq0lXhWL_HmR8oTBm-Vb277MHWFBIHY_ej8c-VhHQg4MMVs4tlP1509s-wHAUzSPvjJPNGHkPVoGcVwU9fyS6cZQSHFJ6CxDDcT8vQJQDIsKjT69ecl90W2Q0cY_kKmkkU18LRGhYMlY5xiJzAe99bZ8xciIJURvZ5SI8wjX9l4/s1505/Neustift.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="1505" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJ4QhC8Fap0UPTAAAbq0lXhWL_HmR8oTBm-Vb277MHWFBIHY_ej8c-VhHQg4MMVs4tlP1509s-wHAUzSPvjJPNGHkPVoGcVwU9fyS6cZQSHFJ6CxDDcT8vQJQDIsKjT69ecl90W2Q0cY_kKmkkU18LRGhYMlY5xiJzAe99bZ8xciIJURvZ5SI8wjX9l4/w640-h358/Neustift.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">⛸⛸⛸⛸⛸</span></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Being Valentine's Day, I wanted to acknowledge it in a way that meant something to me. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij10PwT2_XQUr-3X3_Ubd7T6tdss9LXq1nQUDK3-ifSG9c12GN5vtoRtxUkhv62bbshpdBvwgV0xzviPtM67t9D3e4bHK6qxW8eaM3B_TCdMBBAIh28R56JAw4_WDza-LskgO7mO5OtdwSZ54IFmce8y5KElQWcJ-fx1Qd3OBXLeuJDausI-nPWa-XO0o/s4030/IMG_7359-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2696" data-original-width="4030" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij10PwT2_XQUr-3X3_Ubd7T6tdss9LXq1nQUDK3-ifSG9c12GN5vtoRtxUkhv62bbshpdBvwgV0xzviPtM67t9D3e4bHK6qxW8eaM3B_TCdMBBAIh28R56JAw4_WDza-LskgO7mO5OtdwSZ54IFmce8y5KElQWcJ-fx1Qd3OBXLeuJDausI-nPWa-XO0o/w640-h428/IMG_7359-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>With a forecasted temperature to be cold, I knew the ice at Bowness would be ideal to skate until my heart was content. When I arrived, everything was covered in a light layer of frost. The Parks Person came over for a short chat and then he said he would turn on the gas fire for me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGFtNWHYJo_5n3YsnIzD_ktz12YJw2o2HlXw0RVxaGeOoDpoh3WsGQLz3J2_c6IQSbMQ5BaCIJsGImt-VSobSH7xSw0kVPG45gTxCqNSaj0pfDFxrmVswuURy-FUPlzbw993aesgc6rZIf5c8MOGehcDK_alPkHbpRmCMQvwlzqn2O1lvfv6mL8Ovbz4/s4032/IMG_7335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGFtNWHYJo_5n3YsnIzD_ktz12YJw2o2HlXw0RVxaGeOoDpoh3WsGQLz3J2_c6IQSbMQ5BaCIJsGImt-VSobSH7xSw0kVPG45gTxCqNSaj0pfDFxrmVswuURy-FUPlzbw993aesgc6rZIf5c8MOGehcDK_alPkHbpRmCMQvwlzqn2O1lvfv6mL8Ovbz4/w480-h640/IMG_7335.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">my morning greeting</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz7GN-YBb8zdgvqWumag_8gRk_Ut1iLbt3pveDeV7c-O57HnPGocITx0c8MVTqsy5JCYvhN_rtV6LQn8F1FCA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The sun was on the right spot to clearly show my first carvings in the ice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_4H4JfYLZ_1df-P8tY6JeX9RzV4bq505BkxIW_-WHSuxHYlxCS-S_UCvX6rrpMBfUAo-afSAjhfSzNLLDllnJr_KycVb2QoohGAd2pCzvK4833LxmbXUmIz6PaWP5v1LWFXjvNvV92ICU552wxdBTA42dLwCop63WF7aNW5iUin0TPf0UKC3pTxV02w/s3737/IMG_7356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3737" data-original-width="2118" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_4H4JfYLZ_1df-P8tY6JeX9RzV4bq505BkxIW_-WHSuxHYlxCS-S_UCvX6rrpMBfUAo-afSAjhfSzNLLDllnJr_KycVb2QoohGAd2pCzvK4833LxmbXUmIz6PaWP5v1LWFXjvNvV92ICU552wxdBTA42dLwCop63WF7aNW5iUin0TPf0UKC3pTxV02w/w362-h640/IMG_7356.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This photo gives me the feeling of how nippy a morning it was! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQDl3YghcccBzzUpILYxhvNlyfNqWiiRko0g1HMayAP7EbrQDPivN1B1TQ2bxSDnSbjsE2l3hszfhrCF40jGOp1lHt__oIAErNTm5oJRYNOxumxUk4unB6A3VwgQ9VztqE2aZAQYqRzoLCbl_8nnyyhRXVwAAio4yLKwhVWQpfo_7wJqygqsD4UXZxeo/s4032/IMG_7372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQDl3YghcccBzzUpILYxhvNlyfNqWiiRko0g1HMayAP7EbrQDPivN1B1TQ2bxSDnSbjsE2l3hszfhrCF40jGOp1lHt__oIAErNTm5oJRYNOxumxUk4unB6A3VwgQ9VztqE2aZAQYqRzoLCbl_8nnyyhRXVwAAio4yLKwhVWQpfo_7wJqygqsD4UXZxeo/w480-h640/IMG_7372.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>This time around, I covered just over seventeen kilometres which I added to my Grand Canyon Virtual Challenge. I am making good progress with reaching 70% complete. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-84020158785972452412024-02-09T17:43:00.182-07:002024-02-10T05:10:08.311-07:00Skate Bowness February 9, 2024<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEbAzKHoY7Zo3krGRHW4KWP1NzGuM5zQ_Mc5Zwfgf4rvDEAkGWIExW9EVoukukqwZjEMpVp9ORYCYg4pvDQ-s4KhRIztXSt6t3ULSxiMKH78JD44saqL_Z5hkxnaaqN8Z8tH1oBe9c8cWJvI7h3Y7so2F4HlYEFAc5lVvw81OGdhB-3_9j0AijTfm62A/s624/skate%20sketch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="102" data-original-width="624" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEbAzKHoY7Zo3krGRHW4KWP1NzGuM5zQ_Mc5Zwfgf4rvDEAkGWIExW9EVoukukqwZjEMpVp9ORYCYg4pvDQ-s4KhRIztXSt6t3ULSxiMKH78JD44saqL_Z5hkxnaaqN8Z8tH1oBe9c8cWJvI7h3Y7so2F4HlYEFAc5lVvw81OGdhB-3_9j0AijTfm62A/w640-h104/skate%20sketch.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Sunshiney; font-size: large;">It's visions like this that outdoor skating dreams are made of !</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgZpgS_pKlid4owNpHcc4c8ZTNLNCpAEkRz47KvON_8lofD0y26kY2MvKPa-s25ExwNqeVcOtab0I1Y0bsOvMvoH6gzOZtU3Lr46Hcb6OQhM1NySldc1i2VgZowa57uYdmMvMRidd5UnKUhI5AZZZnbexAYxtBmVDJWaqJdelfdKOy7lrFEdrQTEkskA/s822/7306b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="644" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgZpgS_pKlid4owNpHcc4c8ZTNLNCpAEkRz47KvON_8lofD0y26kY2MvKPa-s25ExwNqeVcOtab0I1Y0bsOvMvoH6gzOZtU3Lr46Hcb6OQhM1NySldc1i2VgZowa57uYdmMvMRidd5UnKUhI5AZZZnbexAYxtBmVDJWaqJdelfdKOy7lrFEdrQTEkskA/w502-h640/7306b.png" width="502" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>After a few days of freezing fog, ice pellets, frozen mist, frost, freezing drizzle, ice fog and other similar weather forecasts, the day finally came where I could comfortably get where I wanted to go to lace up my skates once again. It snowed last night and what a welcome that was! It now looks and feels like what winter should look and feel like. The priority of the Parks People this morning was to clear the snow off the ice surfaces, walk-ways and sitting areas. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the fire will soon be roaring</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxT5vF5MxS5bWnFODEtwyKVZmKkSKpFXSPs8V3fUT5afmFWilZEDL4hl3f1e0x6ZkdNl4RPGz8omVU_pZLEfI_i-ZechV0OgImlCHNrvLU_EqqOqbRw8sXrV74zKlvElHBjLgGhkbSFv3St6ilOwxZFu8tSh8-ZyleIHxpK3-Y5GMB-WQwEKa_q_Cv8hM/s3370/IMG_7261.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3370" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxT5vF5MxS5bWnFODEtwyKVZmKkSKpFXSPs8V3fUT5afmFWilZEDL4hl3f1e0x6ZkdNl4RPGz8omVU_pZLEfI_i-ZechV0OgImlCHNrvLU_EqqOqbRw8sXrV74zKlvElHBjLgGhkbSFv3St6ilOwxZFu8tSh8-ZyleIHxpK3-Y5GMB-WQwEKa_q_Cv8hM/w574-h640/IMG_7261.jpg" width="574" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the Ice Bikes </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIk9A_t_BEe2xwznltuV-_DLvEcon55u3bs0w8hlGv9Zgec7mQvkaVk8ChyhXeD_he-3L2zbULIuBxloxevEIkI-x81xG4dD07VbdUmz6ABl7aCnb4oILT6AaS1mDHTU23rJiqE-JC3r6_m6CYZAMr4N33NjC-aDQ7Wl6-VcqFhn7ZkaKHqdvwIKNYl4/s4032/IMG_7276.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2418" data-original-width="4032" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIk9A_t_BEe2xwznltuV-_DLvEcon55u3bs0w8hlGv9Zgec7mQvkaVk8ChyhXeD_he-3L2zbULIuBxloxevEIkI-x81xG4dD07VbdUmz6ABl7aCnb4oILT6AaS1mDHTU23rJiqE-JC3r6_m6CYZAMr4N33NjC-aDQ7Wl6-VcqFhn7ZkaKHqdvwIKNYl4/w640-h384/IMG_7276.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">leaf frozen in ice with a dusting of white gold on top</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDBPGa15-ngdjh1xXPeZZXENOGPQpEF48AbackqUrIsC9k3riKCf7EF2Xu_HDq1LCK8RBmVCAWPuubTJpgIZypF6m2bGVAeD3p37gSsXe6qRVh0QQEOl5dwN_61fbatvO2ciiQ_DL80k6gc5PrypVlNh3S47yYam_wTt0fNhiIQNuPuMNsM9sTx1mh8M/s4032/IMG_7322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDBPGa15-ngdjh1xXPeZZXENOGPQpEF48AbackqUrIsC9k3riKCf7EF2Xu_HDq1LCK8RBmVCAWPuubTJpgIZypF6m2bGVAeD3p37gSsXe6qRVh0QQEOl5dwN_61fbatvO2ciiQ_DL80k6gc5PrypVlNh3S47yYam_wTt0fNhiIQNuPuMNsM9sTx1mh8M/w640-h480/IMG_7322.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">clearing a path</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinV6qZ9ncY87vwbaoBS9cdZGWNdawiSs6EX5v48lQmDeAcsElxhifDO1ZATInlK0linIaFRrChRJfP2Jes7sydgLYkYx8rzEKh7fYIQebqV3JPHaEQFXlCnuA9Hq3UX6cHVJxmKftZoYQ9dqnLNEPBDISNrHDoTu0YMQIHwRLGdaHKPanC2W3agp_H5_o/s3632/IMG_7325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3632" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinV6qZ9ncY87vwbaoBS9cdZGWNdawiSs6EX5v48lQmDeAcsElxhifDO1ZATInlK0linIaFRrChRJfP2Jes7sydgLYkYx8rzEKh7fYIQebqV3JPHaEQFXlCnuA9Hq3UX6cHVJxmKftZoYQ9dqnLNEPBDISNrHDoTu0YMQIHwRLGdaHKPanC2W3agp_H5_o/w532-h640/IMG_7325.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ready for new wood and a rip roaring fire</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35CD9NaWejuzrpupP9s5AuxEVzwCPzJuUf6mqQYxBECqmDAychrQZsurV8zPlnFxMTXI0oj8kvZrvI91gQCQrv5ECXC3MYlCj12BS1316rOkMZAVet6WDCnnXE7Ot78Y8ee-M1yFin85wRHNXN-N6B2j6KqJrA9c2bqZ5hX3MK5hHtiVtfdcTS_2Np50/s4032/IMG_7285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35CD9NaWejuzrpupP9s5AuxEVzwCPzJuUf6mqQYxBECqmDAychrQZsurV8zPlnFxMTXI0oj8kvZrvI91gQCQrv5ECXC3MYlCj12BS1316rOkMZAVet6WDCnnXE7Ot78Y8ee-M1yFin85wRHNXN-N6B2j6KqJrA9c2bqZ5hX3MK5hHtiVtfdcTS_2Np50/w480-h640/IMG_7285.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>As I gingerly walked down the rubber ramp to the ice, the groomer drove away, he just completed sweeping the snow from The Lagoon. Flooding the ice would soon follow but it was already sweet looking enough. After a few laps around, I skated under the bridge then etched my way along the tree-lined winding canal. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dws3ZZqbNS1E5XH_0aLixpXihvjsqLUZvgCEIdszKhBMV28HKN3Tdnjk-fc0pYpcwHpggWOo9ajOHFBrquzUg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I last skated two weeks ago which felt like ages ago! Between terrible driving conditions, very warm winter weather, life's happenings and unfavourable weather, it was only today that the stars aligned to get back on the ice. Yes, this is what outdoor skating dreams are made of!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNhvxsitlyQrnYGKESO-fRpyIl8MSptRiR6htClUlmCQVE7BCW9VOJWhrYH3BfCHgQ3qqstC-yPnXF_oqmk_VFKns4VP8HK9SPvgUpqUwZqhyphenhyphenf_94Z_Mdp4StukwuopQZH0PTy98saW43TbWDUQVpxLJFR4xxR7RzXJRkE9W5iMOpZqjlLDwkFn0Kbe0/s4032/IMG_7292-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNhvxsitlyQrnYGKESO-fRpyIl8MSptRiR6htClUlmCQVE7BCW9VOJWhrYH3BfCHgQ3qqstC-yPnXF_oqmk_VFKns4VP8HK9SPvgUpqUwZqhyphenhyphenf_94Z_Mdp4StukwuopQZH0PTy98saW43TbWDUQVpxLJFR4xxR7RzXJRkE9W5iMOpZqjlLDwkFn0Kbe0/w480-h640/IMG_7292-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCoG4zmUVlM4gf1U8MDt-mja10FYUfUaWiEr1FszqQPRoN44tmVCsz9qUKq8YgiyU-heYUTzpECxmJ1Yp5iNtHIg-rzhZkGsJYn3jSdmbtFFZt0pfdJhr_yZVg4rraGR8l_XRhc1HHkl1qyJUPlziunMWxQXZKnnRa9S1nKblPowjEqGCTghSkGclz44/s4032/IMG_7306-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCoG4zmUVlM4gf1U8MDt-mja10FYUfUaWiEr1FszqQPRoN44tmVCsz9qUKq8YgiyU-heYUTzpECxmJ1Yp5iNtHIg-rzhZkGsJYn3jSdmbtFFZt0pfdJhr_yZVg4rraGR8l_XRhc1HHkl1qyJUPlziunMWxQXZKnnRa9S1nKblPowjEqGCTghSkGclz44/w480-h640/IMG_7306-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the sights and sounds while skating a section of The Canal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzBnPbeKowwgO2pe7qXxUP1BFNhO2u6oo9TT_Y056qgloXC-oBVEWGzksaHfJdznHjmA12LW5kmTJtOON10Ww' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">skating under the bridge towards The Lagoon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW73Fth4XheVoIgr36hyJ612d9dGVi0Ugqd5asXhg37j9Jb6ZEgGfD6h1oM553l4GX5lJJIByh5q_z-5zWZUskmPGtxXivz3KHeTSgMCqnfHkXpF-niVB6Q7zd2q1PIULPzHN4U9s39Tx0CvWmqw3rYmy28DCkc-Ldxagkx4Gp9IdoQkpVlSq5qzmkaxM/s4032/IMG_7311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2622" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW73Fth4XheVoIgr36hyJ612d9dGVi0Ugqd5asXhg37j9Jb6ZEgGfD6h1oM553l4GX5lJJIByh5q_z-5zWZUskmPGtxXivz3KHeTSgMCqnfHkXpF-niVB6Q7zd2q1PIULPzHN4U9s39Tx0CvWmqw3rYmy28DCkc-Ldxagkx4Gp9IdoQkpVlSq5qzmkaxM/w416-h640/IMG_7311.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I etched another heart! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaywYHAj8eQH7_E5HXAt8-jKzlwzVkqXEoWuAU8QZOB8f5bPkuCvovTnIt5kziiNHiM1fG1k5f4Ejusfe90C-sCqgM51sQXKPgHz6gB-i5vgVN5y4QT2qsQe9BjGgD9xv6BrwIYM2VB5AGPQzq1T9iEhE_Cy5m82pND1p6lCqaVSY18Wh0yrtugfb4Lo/s2635/IMG_7316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2130" data-original-width="2635" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaywYHAj8eQH7_E5HXAt8-jKzlwzVkqXEoWuAU8QZOB8f5bPkuCvovTnIt5kziiNHiM1fG1k5f4Ejusfe90C-sCqgM51sQXKPgHz6gB-i5vgVN5y4QT2qsQe9BjGgD9xv6BrwIYM2VB5AGPQzq1T9iEhE_Cy5m82pND1p6lCqaVSY18Wh0yrtugfb4Lo/w640-h518/IMG_7316.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After skating just over sixteen kilometres, I was ready to gingerly make my way back up the rubber ramp. Each activity has its own unique feeling to offer that I thoroughly enjoy. I don't know what it is but there is a feeling I feel when I skate that I do not feel from any other sport that I participate in! I hope for more days like today!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><p></p>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-59489533714540020992024-02-02T05:30:00.001-07:002024-02-02T05:30:41.474-07:00over the Snow Moon<p>In 2024, February's full moon appears on the 24th and it's called the "Snow Moon". It will be fullest at 5:30am MST on the 24th but it will be below the horizon. The moon will best be witnessed February 23rd around 5:15pm MST in the NorthEastern sky. This year it is a micromoon which means it will be full when it is at the furthest point from earth. Typically, the heaviest snowfalls occur during February, so there you have the "Snow Moon"!</p><p>This is my watercolour painting of the Full Snow Moon. This painting will be used for February in my 2025 Calendar. I shared my plan of making a calendar <a href="https://stillmakingwaves.blogspot.com/2024/01/over-wolf-moon.html"><span style="color: #ea57ea;">in this post</span></a>. I included a pale pink heart in the moon to represent Valentine's Day. All the white is gouache with a bit of either pink or grey watercolour paint mixed in. The splatters are pure gouache and I let them fall where they may, representing snowflakes and stars. </p><p>Many fun memories came flashing back when I searched through blog posts and my digital albums from years gone by. While I had no photos of a full moon for any February, I did have a load of photos depicting how much snow there was in Februarys gone by. I choose the photo below the painting as my reference photo. It was taken on <a href="http://alexmac2008.blogspot.com/search?q=Halfway+Hut+snowshoe"><span style="color: #ea59c1;">February 21, 2015</span></a> during a snowshoe outing. I put my own twist on the painting. Using my imagination, I made it look like a late evening scene as the Snow Moon was at its biggest and brightest. </p><p style="text-align: center;">With so much snow, a purple/pink late evening sky, the full moon, I love 💗 this look. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGemGyh41yf_2INk2HEO2DU3llLn2NJLEreLilOVYDzzo0dw2aOrVrZo2gpzCCpQhkLFefvPDYNtfzmeUn5P7YFKbIXuUl5rY9AR4Cc670VNpi1X7YGgoEDuuPjyqtVoSFvmnpLZrFaLqSihPchmr9eLzWcPPaoSrBVJzr36gM22ofQGLMm6w3Q5RL9Jc/s2207/Feb%20Moon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="2207" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGemGyh41yf_2INk2HEO2DU3llLn2NJLEreLilOVYDzzo0dw2aOrVrZo2gpzCCpQhkLFefvPDYNtfzmeUn5P7YFKbIXuUl5rY9AR4Cc670VNpi1X7YGgoEDuuPjyqtVoSFvmnpLZrFaLqSihPchmr9eLzWcPPaoSrBVJzr36gM22ofQGLMm6w3Q5RL9Jc/w640-h366/Feb%20Moon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">the reference photo</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0tcSIoJqkGDhrpTVMUB3LScOGGcxQB0s7_SDA7DcBLJ2qDETxUHSmvIiobLYwuQK6ZCjARfbg0RkioTSKXZYE_v1SJLcXEQwRse8napOWoK8UK9VqVQ5iek69hu95CO9v-2OdqJNtwEr5tcxMN5KYWL2JMh3_aqKai6wtbaYcQsw3_r9hKm4CuDFUZc/s3019/Feb%2021%202015%20Halfway%20Hut.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1716" data-original-width="3019" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0tcSIoJqkGDhrpTVMUB3LScOGGcxQB0s7_SDA7DcBLJ2qDETxUHSmvIiobLYwuQK6ZCjARfbg0RkioTSKXZYE_v1SJLcXEQwRse8napOWoK8UK9VqVQ5iek69hu95CO9v-2OdqJNtwEr5tcxMN5KYWL2JMh3_aqKai6wtbaYcQsw3_r9hKm4CuDFUZc/w640-h364/Feb%2021%202015%20Halfway%20Hut.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>While browsing blog posts and photos, these are a few of the February fun times, from over the years, that jumped out at me. They would certainly make one believe that yes February is the month with the heaviest snowfalls. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8HsAnWj2ta9soAIp0nk60Wuw3Z_guyHEEZGXjRw1cGpXLhfSqRZ4OZC7SvFCECrDM7hnGEr_eJozyZPuPiv5IGoW9eSsJ6S1Y2YbWY-mDXCnWe6KIn8N3zhRYbUyOC-ForUJB4OCkkTbtDR9QaZ_4RgIs6g6Cu3dkPaPhvAHSbLkE2lIhfPuQVTNRxY/s6000/snow%20moon%20collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="6000" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8HsAnWj2ta9soAIp0nk60Wuw3Z_guyHEEZGXjRw1cGpXLhfSqRZ4OZC7SvFCECrDM7hnGEr_eJozyZPuPiv5IGoW9eSsJ6S1Y2YbWY-mDXCnWe6KIn8N3zhRYbUyOC-ForUJB4OCkkTbtDR9QaZ_4RgIs6g6Cu3dkPaPhvAHSbLkE2lIhfPuQVTNRxY/w640-h512/snow%20moon%20collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Now that we are into February, I will be curious to see what transpires this year for snowfall this month. If this month is anything like the past two months, it is best to expect anything and everything in one form or another! I have faith in the typical February, my skis and skates still sit at the front door! </p><p>On the evening of February 23rd, I will be outside with hopes of witnessing the Full Snow Moon!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-67841513515686899262024-01-31T16:47:00.215-07:002024-02-01T06:20:43.532-07:00leaving January 2024 behind<p>What have I got to show for January 2024? I have loads to be thankful for given how wild and crazy the month was! I am making good progress on the Grand Canyon Virtual Challenge and as you can see, I am ahead of plan. It has been quite the task finding local paths and trails to walk that are not sheets of ice. On one occasion it took hand holding between friends to make our way along sections. Another day it was all about purposely becoming one with the ground to gingerly shimmy my way down a slope. For another "out & about", I was thankful to find a parking spot in the grass off to the side of the lot to avoid crossing metres and metres and metres of ice to get to the trail. My spikes have not been serving me safely on sheer ice. Some outdoor skating rinks have closed due to inclement weather! The ice has deteriorated from the plus double digit temperatures we are having! I wish the ice was where it should be! Rant done! Yet, I carry on virtually floating down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5r_GBY8KpCCjLZJgdbLJMNIRZhZUSrHfCh2pxV1CQl7IJVXwEnJoWTKS4fepaj11cgFR_Hij5U1KqoJnJsrJQr4B_FNZYSAM-WuL3qUku88PefxhXHSl06sd_gdbh3MN0T-7Hxo8kKK3jvRrSW4L9MYUfAuEnOKSNdBlV2z4kokKeOvT1g-otNGk6ow/s1864/to%20date%20Jan%2031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1864" data-original-width="1147" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5r_GBY8KpCCjLZJgdbLJMNIRZhZUSrHfCh2pxV1CQl7IJVXwEnJoWTKS4fepaj11cgFR_Hij5U1KqoJnJsrJQr4B_FNZYSAM-WuL3qUku88PefxhXHSl06sd_gdbh3MN0T-7Hxo8kKK3jvRrSW4L9MYUfAuEnOKSNdBlV2z4kokKeOvT1g-otNGk6ow/w394-h640/to%20date%20Jan%2031.jpg" width="394" /></a></div>Here we are, my community of conquerors! The orange star is just above my marker. A few members of our community have already crossed the finish line. Two conquerors reported in our private chat that they just received their medals.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExKQooWEDeCyEnL5txU5UwclOcyfzbnYnULWwVRbaP4eeO7SHzSjuXJv_7vDy7Wp8_XGEYsMXgw7f7Y1zTVS8egGoYc6up2smRbti6L9HF3noS2Rc1n0CkoOFgvrUvdjmF_zCzLS8L9Uz4-1rMuDBRuRrb69m2TJKgg-1Z3An4PMHbBCgw9EcJHHuVuE/s1843/community%20on%20map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="1843" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExKQooWEDeCyEnL5txU5UwclOcyfzbnYnULWwVRbaP4eeO7SHzSjuXJv_7vDy7Wp8_XGEYsMXgw7f7Y1zTVS8egGoYc6up2smRbti6L9HF3noS2Rc1n0CkoOFgvrUvdjmF_zCzLS8L9Uz4-1rMuDBRuRrb69m2TJKgg-1Z3An4PMHbBCgw9EcJHHuVuE/w640-h374/community%20on%20map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">three recent postcards</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8dXTqCJd3sdZfhilrOc25M2_X6O7ROkW9pwvZ-s9tKHhUoUCYkIOo1Kkzvk24XT2yFS5uchqIzewDYkU05l5_OKxaBZM9UTO9JEnhsu6AGi6-dY4QST4C2J3KjgxnxLys5pY2n9PFGz9qC4b4niPqbJ1lwkkxGdjcwGNXGHyqDK9CbIDn73JN8WwoeA/s832/148937.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="832" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8dXTqCJd3sdZfhilrOc25M2_X6O7ROkW9pwvZ-s9tKHhUoUCYkIOo1Kkzvk24XT2yFS5uchqIzewDYkU05l5_OKxaBZM9UTO9JEnhsu6AGi6-dY4QST4C2J3KjgxnxLys5pY2n9PFGz9qC4b4niPqbJ1lwkkxGdjcwGNXGHyqDK9CbIDn73JN8WwoeA/w640-h450/148937.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVn7Ys3XYVpn36l8uFGIaa2AXeyauGAaWFNpb7UMzOr5IiCzapdtrewOSHEC_VmMGcgTWe_YQTv_j6SIWIDZf7JL55Q0fPTI-GDabQwXUiD1fXkytzp9lPKFyC_m75QJeI5E_ZCopE3IwpgpigKr9lFbxh1dycK9BiTUdLMY57UVyxlI9lc0Qc8T44tg/s832/148942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="832" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVn7Ys3XYVpn36l8uFGIaa2AXeyauGAaWFNpb7UMzOr5IiCzapdtrewOSHEC_VmMGcgTWe_YQTv_j6SIWIDZf7JL55Q0fPTI-GDabQwXUiD1fXkytzp9lPKFyC_m75QJeI5E_ZCopE3IwpgpigKr9lFbxh1dycK9BiTUdLMY57UVyxlI9lc0Qc8T44tg/w640-h450/148942.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEhnOfYV656Jfvi1SSxgxlBLPvsY2iqDGRi-PWnpNxLj4w0o7hYm0-x9QQG-IX9IRPrCtQDTL8NM6hDITL1hs5Cu-fpKw3elDsM48CxO_LjCu8RnL5AI-8YbgwWo1IFh-FX9DGXPgr_9NmvQCmSXlTN7Cz0zHZ3vkwcxR8qicIQDszBMsJZL2Waka4bw/s832/148947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="832" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEhnOfYV656Jfvi1SSxgxlBLPvsY2iqDGRi-PWnpNxLj4w0o7hYm0-x9QQG-IX9IRPrCtQDTL8NM6hDITL1hs5Cu-fpKw3elDsM48CxO_LjCu8RnL5AI-8YbgwWo1IFh-FX9DGXPgr_9NmvQCmSXlTN7Cz0zHZ3vkwcxR8qicIQDszBMsJZL2Waka4bw/w640-h450/148947.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0nMu8jITKJ8nG1G_JTH14Hb6xh2f-Ehcmt0FL51HmqBQlU5PAy7NhL_vEw_QKaN-2LlMlfL1zsDOoiSifPEU11qqUzq63iI9QTH1ldMDGtyooo2aq3Q2ROZIZaPK77sWoJ-w3hTP9DbJ5WzGIN-SKc6IZ8JSP1GQ2lCKD8LY8CQe1MiA86-Z47QDD-8/s220/th.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="214" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0nMu8jITKJ8nG1G_JTH14Hb6xh2f-Ehcmt0FL51HmqBQlU5PAy7NhL_vEw_QKaN-2LlMlfL1zsDOoiSifPEU11qqUzq63iI9QTH1ldMDGtyooo2aq3Q2ROZIZaPK77sWoJ-w3hTP9DbJ5WzGIN-SKc6IZ8JSP1GQ2lCKD8LY8CQe1MiA86-Z47QDD-8/w41-h43/th.jpeg" width="41" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0nMu8jITKJ8nG1G_JTH14Hb6xh2f-Ehcmt0FL51HmqBQlU5PAy7NhL_vEw_QKaN-2LlMlfL1zsDOoiSifPEU11qqUzq63iI9QTH1ldMDGtyooo2aq3Q2ROZIZaPK77sWoJ-w3hTP9DbJ5WzGIN-SKc6IZ8JSP1GQ2lCKD8LY8CQe1MiA86-Z47QDD-8/s220/th.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="214" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0nMu8jITKJ8nG1G_JTH14Hb6xh2f-Ehcmt0FL51HmqBQlU5PAy7NhL_vEw_QKaN-2LlMlfL1zsDOoiSifPEU11qqUzq63iI9QTH1ldMDGtyooo2aq3Q2ROZIZaPK77sWoJ-w3hTP9DbJ5WzGIN-SKc6IZ8JSP1GQ2lCKD8LY8CQe1MiA86-Z47QDD-8/w41-h43/th.jpeg" width="41" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0nMu8jITKJ8nG1G_JTH14Hb6xh2f-Ehcmt0FL51HmqBQlU5PAy7NhL_vEw_QKaN-2LlMlfL1zsDOoiSifPEU11qqUzq63iI9QTH1ldMDGtyooo2aq3Q2ROZIZaPK77sWoJ-w3hTP9DbJ5WzGIN-SKc6IZ8JSP1GQ2lCKD8LY8CQe1MiA86-Z47QDD-8/s220/th.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="214" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0nMu8jITKJ8nG1G_JTH14Hb6xh2f-Ehcmt0FL51HmqBQlU5PAy7NhL_vEw_QKaN-2LlMlfL1zsDOoiSifPEU11qqUzq63iI9QTH1ldMDGtyooo2aq3Q2ROZIZaPK77sWoJ-w3hTP9DbJ5WzGIN-SKc6IZ8JSP1GQ2lCKD8LY8CQe1MiA86-Z47QDD-8/w41-h43/th.jpeg" width="41" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0nMu8jITKJ8nG1G_JTH14Hb6xh2f-Ehcmt0FL51HmqBQlU5PAy7NhL_vEw_QKaN-2LlMlfL1zsDOoiSifPEU11qqUzq63iI9QTH1ldMDGtyooo2aq3Q2ROZIZaPK77sWoJ-w3hTP9DbJ5WzGIN-SKc6IZ8JSP1GQ2lCKD8LY8CQe1MiA86-Z47QDD-8/s220/th.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="214" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0nMu8jITKJ8nG1G_JTH14Hb6xh2f-Ehcmt0FL51HmqBQlU5PAy7NhL_vEw_QKaN-2LlMlfL1zsDOoiSifPEU11qqUzq63iI9QTH1ldMDGtyooo2aq3Q2ROZIZaPK77sWoJ-w3hTP9DbJ5WzGIN-SKc6IZ8JSP1GQ2lCKD8LY8CQe1MiA86-Z47QDD-8/w41-h43/th.jpeg" width="41" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0nMu8jITKJ8nG1G_JTH14Hb6xh2f-Ehcmt0FL51HmqBQlU5PAy7NhL_vEw_QKaN-2LlMlfL1zsDOoiSifPEU11qqUzq63iI9QTH1ldMDGtyooo2aq3Q2ROZIZaPK77sWoJ-w3hTP9DbJ5WzGIN-SKc6IZ8JSP1GQ2lCKD8LY8CQe1MiA86-Z47QDD-8/s220/th.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="214" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0nMu8jITKJ8nG1G_JTH14Hb6xh2f-Ehcmt0FL51HmqBQlU5PAy7NhL_vEw_QKaN-2LlMlfL1zsDOoiSifPEU11qqUzq63iI9QTH1ldMDGtyooo2aq3Q2ROZIZaPK77sWoJ-w3hTP9DbJ5WzGIN-SKc6IZ8JSP1GQ2lCKD8LY8CQe1MiA86-Z47QDD-8/w41-h43/th.jpeg" width="41" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Knitting squares has been providing much pleasure! To-date I have knitted 24 squares of the 35 that I need to make the blanket. The stack is growing and the higher it gets, the more excited I get! I did a test run of laying them all out to begin coming up with some kind of a pattern and figuring out what shades of yarn I need to buy more of. What I am finding is that I can get lost in knitting and knit away my cares and worries. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn-0IkxtkG5bT1uaB4s4raSE2V062qqO8fcqKhyphenhyphenKkGIW8EP9XkVMIMT1LqlyDzs6im_2uf9gVimETPhCnOhkPwj23UDGbpoNNBYa1dmi2Vz65fOCv7sF3DkLdDeAzggtdgiiTgbozDHbQ3xjt3sH82JZSmNbcmN1nrqZyoYiQwP9e0QpOIoPIQU3jICs/s2165/IMG_7479.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2165" data-original-width="1588" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn-0IkxtkG5bT1uaB4s4raSE2V062qqO8fcqKhyphenhyphenKkGIW8EP9XkVMIMT1LqlyDzs6im_2uf9gVimETPhCnOhkPwj23UDGbpoNNBYa1dmi2Vz65fOCv7sF3DkLdDeAzggtdgiiTgbozDHbQ3xjt3sH82JZSmNbcmN1nrqZyoYiQwP9e0QpOIoPIQU3jICs/w470-h640/IMG_7479.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: x-large;">❆ ❆ ❆ ❆ ❆</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have a few final photos to share from my last days at Lake Louise this past week. On my second last morning there, I captured a selfie sitting in the throne by the Ice Castle. I wasn't going to but thought what the heck just do it! Have no regrets! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SvO-fucr31DjUs_Q9KHE4s1xUWd797GeAGIkgtpo5eA8domt2Uy_qPCBFSWZQuzekpLBSR0kEojfUWToCiVdJ3gHDJvngPdB9nA_lgB5mOxOmnlZcvu1vRPWJrDIvddAOfr_ba55KkrVzAVO3-QODRdHmReEPrz3gEA_jBWODp13-ekutkE06VzhB_E/s3527/IMG_0430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2158" data-original-width="3527" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SvO-fucr31DjUs_Q9KHE4s1xUWd797GeAGIkgtpo5eA8domt2Uy_qPCBFSWZQuzekpLBSR0kEojfUWToCiVdJ3gHDJvngPdB9nA_lgB5mOxOmnlZcvu1vRPWJrDIvddAOfr_ba55KkrVzAVO3-QODRdHmReEPrz3gEA_jBWODp13-ekutkE06VzhB_E/w640-h392/IMG_0430.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>On my final morning, January 25th, I drove up to have one last look at Lake Louise and the Ice Castle, before walking the Lake shore and then doing some hiking around the Village. It snowed over night and the skating surface was covered in a blanket of white gold. I captured this photo of the Ice Castle shortly before sunrise. It looked glorious and regal! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsq8BTwuZywn0jYIop65Uua9VwJrXm_DrHuot_njCMCe4XG7ACgK_aYE01RXWKEdzHjFBijTXw9f4xIkkyaJjt3lVWlUwortMUy-r0XwuRmSYNWBRefRLBe5Z7Nh-0m03GKUuCbI3xjj3ik2Kn7X5UpJz8R6ZUQAqaoNmH7apneHnYsUOui-6pftjsSg/s3648/IMG_0546.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2094" data-original-width="3648" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsq8BTwuZywn0jYIop65Uua9VwJrXm_DrHuot_njCMCe4XG7ACgK_aYE01RXWKEdzHjFBijTXw9f4xIkkyaJjt3lVWlUwortMUy-r0XwuRmSYNWBRefRLBe5Z7Nh-0m03GKUuCbI3xjj3ik2Kn7X5UpJz8R6ZUQAqaoNmH7apneHnYsUOui-6pftjsSg/w640-h368/IMG_0546.JPEG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Upon my return from walking the trail across the Lake to the far end and back, the groomer was now out clearing the snow off the skating rink. I watched for awhile, at times he and his plow were lost in a cloud of snow. Not quite ready to leave, I cleared snow of a bench then sat for awhile to just breathe it all in! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuvhdqQdMGKd9cZn83xnUVXtBeRTN-uAxTylYpFLGXGKH1FCH_-Zd6r3zDQCRxE4XqoTREMaucdLX0SJL4bXDxyFauaxkzXaz9ScrSzpJZPYj04Rc2tEtix-ApOKItjDVddM1iw-aVuP8vGD5r-0qSqi1T9np-5nm7cCfxObyuWYWLLxiEXH3PbQF3SQ/s3648/IMG_0575.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuvhdqQdMGKd9cZn83xnUVXtBeRTN-uAxTylYpFLGXGKH1FCH_-Zd6r3zDQCRxE4XqoTREMaucdLX0SJL4bXDxyFauaxkzXaz9ScrSzpJZPYj04Rc2tEtix-ApOKItjDVddM1iw-aVuP8vGD5r-0qSqi1T9np-5nm7cCfxObyuWYWLLxiEXH3PbQF3SQ/w640-h480/IMG_0575.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Five days later on January 30th the Ice Castle was no longer! It was actually taken down on the 29th. After I left Lake Louise on the 25th, the area received rain and above freezing temperatures throughout the day and night. The Ice Castle was melting and pieces were falling off. For safety reasons, it needed to be taken down and the area cleared. I took a screen shot of what the webcam showed on the morning of January 30th. The brown area at bottom right is where the Ice Castle was. Also reported was that the ice sculptures that were carved on the 26th and 27th by teams from various corners of the earth, for the Annual Ice Sculpture competition, melted before the judging even took place. All this is just a part of the wild and crazy month that January was. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyy2FaeMq-e6gmtoeOmq-jRxQUrqABV2GHTgVBVDbZbaLEWNywx1_saIRchjsUawI-fISZp4PyCsjN8zsFPNGRsQH64wJjPo6HIdRzUxN4GpJw8-ppOMswSjVCAwzeAzZeGa9ah48ff-1aTQUFV3mf-FVsyO-fYEIWHREOwD0cS-VnJ6yFw3RUBKsS5j4/s1062/IMG_7473.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyy2FaeMq-e6gmtoeOmq-jRxQUrqABV2GHTgVBVDbZbaLEWNywx1_saIRchjsUawI-fISZp4PyCsjN8zsFPNGRsQH64wJjPo6HIdRzUxN4GpJw8-ppOMswSjVCAwzeAzZeGa9ah48ff-1aTQUFV3mf-FVsyO-fYEIWHREOwD0cS-VnJ6yFw3RUBKsS5j4/w488-h640/IMG_7473.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">🖌🖌🖌🖌🖌</span></div>I am looking forward to February! This is a rough sketch for my "over the Snow Moon" watercolour painting. I used a photo from a number of years ago that I took while on a snowshoe trek. February's full moon is called the "Snow Moon" because it is known to be the month with the most snowfall. Will that hold true this year? Stay tuned, my painting will be ready soon! <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiv6o2UJL43QZv79fV4FkLn30xQcCy_RDlZENiFM5kCX3fawVk3UsLa6MZhSeRlzqpkSdrloyWduBZzsdH2FnyYUYpOD3lg39J1IMCGyJ1mt1G7-GWn49tNpy5u70ZtEwCeGIUXG6tYgbS4BuYccILQs-XJdNRNgljpZSiybAwGEkn5GQm2H8SIqU2B8o/s3041/IMG_7480.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1820" data-original-width="3041" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiv6o2UJL43QZv79fV4FkLn30xQcCy_RDlZENiFM5kCX3fawVk3UsLa6MZhSeRlzqpkSdrloyWduBZzsdH2FnyYUYpOD3lg39J1IMCGyJ1mt1G7-GWn49tNpy5u70ZtEwCeGIUXG6tYgbS4BuYccILQs-XJdNRNgljpZSiybAwGEkn5GQm2H8SIqU2B8o/w640-h384/IMG_7480.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-15286208805236301922024-01-27T18:29:00.003-07:002024-01-28T06:04:57.780-07:00living life locally<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">✅It's back to reality after enjoying an amazing escape to Lake Louise! Reality means getting out the door early the next morning to capture photos of the Full Wolf Moon. This is the year where I want to make every effort possible to witness the full moon each month. I shared my mooning plans in this <a href="https://stillmakingwaves.blogspot.com/2024/01/over-wolf-moon.html"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Srisakdi;"><b>blog post</b></span></a>. Technically, it was full Thursday night. I took these two photos Friday morning roughly around 4:30am. It was overcast when I first looked out from my deck, but a few minutes later the clouds were gone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8tVQE_t7WNGfmE347YKPZ4y8hzP5AcB8O_XyKzR4PIFd-XklQlVhAo3UxK0RFAM_NIs1aEa22g6d_UPWZ8EEnUphoeRKEiEzvid0Eln70YyaZLHkbbHNjruj63FZrsBj5b-PZ5YcKfYJipyzqpaFsLRMp661tiALj6jnCyrpH-zgP5g31sUYAfFg2tw/s3048/IMG_0595.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="3048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8tVQE_t7WNGfmE347YKPZ4y8hzP5AcB8O_XyKzR4PIFd-XklQlVhAo3UxK0RFAM_NIs1aEa22g6d_UPWZ8EEnUphoeRKEiEzvid0Eln70YyaZLHkbbHNjruj63FZrsBj5b-PZ5YcKfYJipyzqpaFsLRMp661tiALj6jnCyrpH-zgP5g31sUYAfFg2tw/w640-h448/IMG_0595.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmEvIAQkee0EHoeHKMK9e_jMZ59VXTL2mn9o2ZdR1uDbBUUXbgNIuy3co0riXHV9L0-_K9kKqVXRf3oQtwAAlqcVQ1JNYKfd1wWG4xLZ9NBrS509td_IsMMadV28rXKVRM5TZnrEP5tNLkV9hC4hcazcODPRbFk665RToDRE_sCHe3o71h3pZdTpmEO4/s3048/IMG_0613.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="3048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmEvIAQkee0EHoeHKMK9e_jMZ59VXTL2mn9o2ZdR1uDbBUUXbgNIuy3co0riXHV9L0-_K9kKqVXRf3oQtwAAlqcVQ1JNYKfd1wWG4xLZ9NBrS509td_IsMMadV28rXKVRM5TZnrEP5tNLkV9hC4hcazcODPRbFk665RToDRE_sCHe3o71h3pZdTpmEO4/w640-h448/IMG_0613.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>✅Reality also meant getting back to Bowness to skate! The Full Wolf Moon was still up when I arrived but I had to be quick on my blades to find the right spot to take a photo before it dropped lower behind the trees. When I got home and downloaded my photos, was when I saw a fraction of the moon was reflecting in the freshly flooded ice surface. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqk5JqDwDvBy-1-8CPlB39PrdSvMJ27GQHaZYDqsbLrBaut1q0NRWU29HFHISJB8Mof6GOvQrCrTr_BbmnTODfG1SZU0XHzEJWDVN2K2JFIAhjnMu2RWuyDxHcHQO4LCGGpuoeIynOCQn10B8aRZlYw6xf7dAZ9X9cqm5QvXE_bRlwe6z75jJVIhG4GKM/s4032/IMG_7209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2794" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqk5JqDwDvBy-1-8CPlB39PrdSvMJ27GQHaZYDqsbLrBaut1q0NRWU29HFHISJB8Mof6GOvQrCrTr_BbmnTODfG1SZU0XHzEJWDVN2K2JFIAhjnMu2RWuyDxHcHQO4LCGGpuoeIynOCQn10B8aRZlYw6xf7dAZ9X9cqm5QvXE_bRlwe6z75jJVIhG4GKM/w444-h640/IMG_7209.jpg" width="444" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">the moon meeting the trees</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeal6gVnbMNTCniutlI42pYUqfY51PA1U4GvP5DvlbCj_ObP-3N4SG58HBXE1GdkYa16-UFZ0mABSQL1yfpUBXmL0XfGn74Fw0p_DnAmt9AX2Ruv4SJ1quErjaL3i1d7xlFjpZXj68G158I3ni6e5iE7qUTWwVev9On6HlnHMTzGkbszXHaBNvHyHsgg/s3612/IMG_7207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3612" data-original-width="2590" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeal6gVnbMNTCniutlI42pYUqfY51PA1U4GvP5DvlbCj_ObP-3N4SG58HBXE1GdkYa16-UFZ0mABSQL1yfpUBXmL0XfGn74Fw0p_DnAmt9AX2Ruv4SJ1quErjaL3i1d7xlFjpZXj68G158I3ni6e5iE7qUTWwVev9On6HlnHMTzGkbszXHaBNvHyHsgg/w458-h640/IMG_7207.jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Do you see what I etched? The ice in this location had been swept but not flooded. It took a few laps to get it defined enough to show up in a photo. It measures about ten feet by ten feet. About thirty minutes later, the groomer drove over it washing it away! I will make more another day. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoSihQezpfNSyHsyBT2dSLnyIna-BDBENMiJisyWJdUKy2fZaSlWrj_BF60xXa-XSx4UE29Fmo1QGHla5V4fMpk_zes9jG5sQNb8Wy2HSYo1SnX2v32CZqWp4QSPGhoe36NXZn5J2RZYcPFNlACN7DgPAXc5ctjkbHO9hM9ZJnu3FRhuWV7W3p1uUBj8/s3472/IMG_7225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2464" data-original-width="3472" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoSihQezpfNSyHsyBT2dSLnyIna-BDBENMiJisyWJdUKy2fZaSlWrj_BF60xXa-XSx4UE29Fmo1QGHla5V4fMpk_zes9jG5sQNb8Wy2HSYo1SnX2v32CZqWp4QSPGhoe36NXZn5J2RZYcPFNlACN7DgPAXc5ctjkbHO9hM9ZJnu3FRhuWV7W3p1uUBj8/w640-h454/IMG_7225.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I enjoy skating so much and I like the health benefits (mentally & physically) that come with this activity. I also enjoy adding other fun ideas to make it even more enjoyable. The above design is one of those ideas, yet it's this shadow that catches my eye and leaves me laughing.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiY0wXLWBGg6GAGgd4kzmCQUpyrkc3rFX52zf4Cd7fag_cwxjywcss4v_u3bbpvshV01JSGScbIOLyegSNgcy-kEXEg3DbnY-llvxkuoDGrfBc2TcRhXAmJqnZkSQuWr2zrlOA3XA27xca6cRqaKDaKUP9Pu6zE6yH3bMeN1gEtd38s8KqjSRiywcbcPk/s3469/IMG_7234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3469" data-original-width="1977" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiY0wXLWBGg6GAGgd4kzmCQUpyrkc3rFX52zf4Cd7fag_cwxjywcss4v_u3bbpvshV01JSGScbIOLyegSNgcy-kEXEg3DbnY-llvxkuoDGrfBc2TcRhXAmJqnZkSQuWr2zrlOA3XA27xca6cRqaKDaKUP9Pu6zE6yH3bMeN1gEtd38s8KqjSRiywcbcPk/w364-h640/IMG_7234.jpg" width="364" /></a></div>My hope is to skate again in the coming days. The forecast for each day is sunshine with close to double digits celsius above freezing and not going very low over night. Those are not good temperatures for ideal ice surfaces. I will be monitoring the reports. <p><br /></p><p>✅Getting back to reality also means paying a visit to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. I half expected to see more birds than I did figuring they may be confused with the warm weather and come back sooner rather than later. That could still play out over the next few days. </p><p>The Full Wolf Moon was no longer full by now but it still was worthy of capturing a photo this morning. The pinkish hues surrounding it seemed to make it glow brighter. While you would never see a wolf at the Sanctuary, you very likely would see coyotes but that was not the case today. I have seen and heard coyotes howling but not when there was a full moon. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjpKbBI6lVFSeStLcPceQ3EzoU8yjnEsBBGN7afqVWiXC1S_Shzh5Tj-3tCQaciqhkJFIMhR8xtVVOsWjTIRMAvR8kIY9JBUvsIHilgeYURkbXegxniGOJaJusHj7ohBh19PocQZfd1z-LmWGY-_ix9Lm8AYsBRn55RxCxFffw2GEWD9oMspyc4sOCh0/s3048/IMG_0628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="3048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjpKbBI6lVFSeStLcPceQ3EzoU8yjnEsBBGN7afqVWiXC1S_Shzh5Tj-3tCQaciqhkJFIMhR8xtVVOsWjTIRMAvR8kIY9JBUvsIHilgeYURkbXegxniGOJaJusHj7ohBh19PocQZfd1z-LmWGY-_ix9Lm8AYsBRn55RxCxFffw2GEWD9oMspyc4sOCh0/w640-h448/IMG_0628.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>There is not much snow locally, the ground is brown and what snow there is, is dull looking also. It was a nice treat to find this area looking like this, clean white snow. Most of the paths and trails here are ice or slush. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YvFfWGe6QcYOiV_E0AmsrafTZBUt1WNirKwnssMX85x9SO2b_q88baSETeWM6fZ_qDfhmAAiGED-l86NUwYRooT34JLEEn3Cv-8eFvGzWZ3yh3CWXN4eOuJ7ULKsLHYbAFDF-yk4Xv0oCUa6Wyj9dwYU0D6W0aW6A9WUeCUbb8ACi6A7fM6S4hE7Pes/s3648/IMG_0659.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YvFfWGe6QcYOiV_E0AmsrafTZBUt1WNirKwnssMX85x9SO2b_q88baSETeWM6fZ_qDfhmAAiGED-l86NUwYRooT34JLEEn3Cv-8eFvGzWZ3yh3CWXN4eOuJ7ULKsLHYbAFDF-yk4Xv0oCUa6Wyj9dwYU0D6W0aW6A9WUeCUbb8ACi6A7fM6S4hE7Pes/w640-h480/IMG_0659.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Black-Capped Chickadee</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eq0FuhWptpK9NujKFG5TLZt_g0rS1rrpu8qpFQcqzTZcV-JfVy3UUB4fYw9AAq9OwxMlvpOI-HiZrrLg6Kv26iJdjsufH9mLEmLwcneox2Rpza_AIAe3fh8wDHq0e8SDxb5sAwsXjv2Ch-D81JlGNt2j_dM2dKPJFOGxLgshMSI7JeBggh9cIlJ4lUY/s3048/IMG_0667.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="3048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eq0FuhWptpK9NujKFG5TLZt_g0rS1rrpu8qpFQcqzTZcV-JfVy3UUB4fYw9AAq9OwxMlvpOI-HiZrrLg6Kv26iJdjsufH9mLEmLwcneox2Rpza_AIAe3fh8wDHq0e8SDxb5sAwsXjv2Ch-D81JlGNt2j_dM2dKPJFOGxLgshMSI7JeBggh9cIlJ4lUY/w640-h448/IMG_0667.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">White-Breasted Nuthatch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIOZ9LVAt0VLEQGgKrY3BT6sz04dcdODh3d7wsfckmMJdkE-GxxDw8dx4b_qq1b83ivsCNqQ3cTvUMdmKoz6CnWxyH3z8K7MzJRfYu8VdVogGab3JSod97TS2Z2qmI9iZkxIDLlXCEePUqV2HmLqMylNLOyvZpOQ90M_6hyJA0XdAbiAwLqpz01GWP98/s3048/IMG_0670.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="3048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIOZ9LVAt0VLEQGgKrY3BT6sz04dcdODh3d7wsfckmMJdkE-GxxDw8dx4b_qq1b83ivsCNqQ3cTvUMdmKoz6CnWxyH3z8K7MzJRfYu8VdVogGab3JSod97TS2Z2qmI9iZkxIDLlXCEePUqV2HmLqMylNLOyvZpOQ90M_6hyJA0XdAbiAwLqpz01GWP98/w640-h448/IMG_0670.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Male House Finch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oNQTgwJ0_zNp2kly27aQjBCSAf_fqRCbdxGGVt8Az1y251X3HSz4Eys7PQAs2_IOhohcstrZFB-kAIB29DzW6VWNsoPzmnoiGw7BR0Rh7jfldfRUz8Nz1mI33NUtJs2Na25V4FmmPGNQWnMNZaNUUXVFZw4veMYA75zGKEIyYxg2j-J3NE0PcgF7U1c/s2849/IMG_0684.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1953" data-original-width="2849" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oNQTgwJ0_zNp2kly27aQjBCSAf_fqRCbdxGGVt8Az1y251X3HSz4Eys7PQAs2_IOhohcstrZFB-kAIB29DzW6VWNsoPzmnoiGw7BR0Rh7jfldfRUz8Nz1mI33NUtJs2Na25V4FmmPGNQWnMNZaNUUXVFZw4veMYA75zGKEIyYxg2j-J3NE0PcgF7U1c/w640-h438/IMG_0684.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I will keep trying to make weekly visits to The Sanctuary always with hopes of seeing something out of the ordinary but if all I hear are the Chickadees dee-dee-deeing then my heart will still sing too!<br /><p><br /></p>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-64521111438554792342024-01-24T20:37:00.006-07:002024-01-25T05:39:09.668-07:00Lake Louise January 24, 2024<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With a new skiff of snow over top of freshly groomed trails, I aimed for the Bow River at the Lake Louise Campground knowing the cross country ski conditions would be ideal. The early morning cloud was beginning to lift as I crossed the bridge over the river. I could see the trails had been recently groomed and it was easy to tell no one had skied here since the flurries fell.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PHaXN28gOru4fpJNmIsR235muYmK4g9yrgI6tBntMW93oYYCiJo10nfDC_KYZvmeAzvdfPcFV3ckykiaN8ZmBCdTyIOU0adAWfNz5K6ufht6395UWrvTnY52wupORDlzy2TeC8JNcf2YwzCx7l9mKR6_UnCVeMCIIRZh5JBfn9OrCcpL1UAwuLElVFk/s3257/IMG_0441.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3257" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PHaXN28gOru4fpJNmIsR235muYmK4g9yrgI6tBntMW93oYYCiJo10nfDC_KYZvmeAzvdfPcFV3ckykiaN8ZmBCdTyIOU0adAWfNz5K6ufht6395UWrvTnY52wupORDlzy2TeC8JNcf2YwzCx7l9mKR6_UnCVeMCIIRZh5JBfn9OrCcpL1UAwuLElVFk/w538-h640/IMG_0441.jpeg" width="538" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> After crossing the bridge, I veered right to glide around a section of the Campground first. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9Vg9jkqdr1mPF9CwtFZTbhLElPi38aaoqamwdZ2FUb2Ayz5wFFcpIPiMV6OcGW_9NxEh_lnqFIEcn5-LwcD_Rsc36q5cIZPm-CqSKJhzMWcYgj6RGi0t9AWv4uqYH4JQTWYqDNlJTcWOVyfyNGXYrJhO6aeWz-UuxaLie54bPG6lEwRAgngdvkXf7cY/s3648/IMG_0444.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9Vg9jkqdr1mPF9CwtFZTbhLElPi38aaoqamwdZ2FUb2Ayz5wFFcpIPiMV6OcGW_9NxEh_lnqFIEcn5-LwcD_Rsc36q5cIZPm-CqSKJhzMWcYgj6RGi0t9AWv4uqYH4JQTWYqDNlJTcWOVyfyNGXYrJhO6aeWz-UuxaLie54bPG6lEwRAgngdvkXf7cY/w480-h640/IMG_0444.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div></div>The temperature was on the warmer side for January in the mountains and the forecast was to go above zero again. A layer of glide on my waxless skis was perfect for the conditions. Mostly it felt effortless to glide along. A flat top low post with no snow was easily accessible to place my camera on to capture this selfie.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBvDZ7PgNyXLvdXZ3IJ9IGt7jhid23ueiqemFyA4M0xPWPEJfWcqoFlan1nqo6XbWJpCW7rXz-Ewa8751aIoQve57s5E8rxohU5bp03Q2V7pg9MClDDQ3TL_a6cL-yZk_7Te3CqkKE3LRxls9cwTcvP0JFPbFNPNZ3wODtzpGTbXh2c4SjFgXz0vj3RE/s2652/IMG_0445.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2652" data-original-width="2127" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBvDZ7PgNyXLvdXZ3IJ9IGt7jhid23ueiqemFyA4M0xPWPEJfWcqoFlan1nqo6XbWJpCW7rXz-Ewa8751aIoQve57s5E8rxohU5bp03Q2V7pg9MClDDQ3TL_a6cL-yZk_7Te3CqkKE3LRxls9cwTcvP0JFPbFNPNZ3wODtzpGTbXh2c4SjFgXz0vj3RE/w514-h640/IMG_0445.jpeg" width="514" /></a></div>After roaming through the Campground, I arrived at the wide open area where I could access the trail that follows the Bow River. The pillowy meadow looked so dreamy! There were still low clouds off in the distance, they added character to the view.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4Ymj-bvxtWljwMKspIqQTpcv4usxtBU3XNGi3URmf6rrwEJGRXYYTaZdTH2jeTAEcIeGX8Pmslzs6YMsC7UABHRNdF2qDEtQ4uul0ZezEBtdC_u4CyinpD3gUCfQreFgZ60y-3wt5iTse27xaPfFS4Ub8dhAr_UARa7YeTQI8KmGIlyP91O6lTNpjTA/s3648/IMG_0487.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4Ymj-bvxtWljwMKspIqQTpcv4usxtBU3XNGi3URmf6rrwEJGRXYYTaZdTH2jeTAEcIeGX8Pmslzs6YMsC7UABHRNdF2qDEtQ4uul0ZezEBtdC_u4CyinpD3gUCfQreFgZ60y-3wt5iTse27xaPfFS4Ub8dhAr_UARa7YeTQI8KmGIlyP91O6lTNpjTA/w640-h480/IMG_0487.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>As I skied along here, I could only hear my skis gliding along and each breath that I took. I could only feel each beat that my heart took. This was medicine for the soul! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uTPMuu5NvVWwXiv6yyKeGf48ZE59E1DrWjDaXge4X96KxLlJ8Cg0qq1rT3SZRlPaRIUGL4oh26YfFAQZAjAvHzdjDYzLyTNCMCJwsxhcCa7Y6CfzXfiUM_sxQN2MCAAs4VRnCsto-xnlcPg1m3SiKEMF_NwG1DWlhthh4LK3KayJay0YNHJ9OpW52Bw/s3648/IMG_0461.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2612" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uTPMuu5NvVWwXiv6yyKeGf48ZE59E1DrWjDaXge4X96KxLlJ8Cg0qq1rT3SZRlPaRIUGL4oh26YfFAQZAjAvHzdjDYzLyTNCMCJwsxhcCa7Y6CfzXfiUM_sxQN2MCAAs4VRnCsto-xnlcPg1m3SiKEMF_NwG1DWlhthh4LK3KayJay0YNHJ9OpW52Bw/w458-h640/IMG_0461.jpeg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I arrived at the bridge at the far end of the loop. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SR32l84AzZUPJWKyxnvRacjr34__jUSk-4NlFWOI3P_H0YluRfm75m8WP8grWld7ImZQ5kutWbEuydCu3XdBCYW3sMYV3H9V_gWf3U4daQTx7tWq7jhPC2xYokpbSy9pp05tMVao-7jDKth_tySWmNzw-5S1k8BI7KviR_O7_IXQLnMntuFJT4L97zI/s3648/IMG_0463.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SR32l84AzZUPJWKyxnvRacjr34__jUSk-4NlFWOI3P_H0YluRfm75m8WP8grWld7ImZQ5kutWbEuydCu3XdBCYW3sMYV3H9V_gWf3U4daQTx7tWq7jhPC2xYokpbSy9pp05tMVao-7jDKth_tySWmNzw-5S1k8BI7KviR_O7_IXQLnMntuFJT4L97zI/w640-h480/IMG_0463.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> view from the middle of the bridge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlLpameSdpMuFFtIOiGl-vtNXgWLj78xIaiTsmOPO2VE1g7zgXjq39436o1TCQrZXw6AHUcp39FboLtVc9ACPYHoYDxJB2Nib87QRIHUzQaQjy6-IrsNKOTjDH8DPBvNXPfFHSh0MernqLsHmxnQaPRBEAgOIM-mTUBDUpZI7Rf-pMQlmzoKI8oiafc4/s3496/IMG_0470.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2291" data-original-width="3496" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlLpameSdpMuFFtIOiGl-vtNXgWLj78xIaiTsmOPO2VE1g7zgXjq39436o1TCQrZXw6AHUcp39FboLtVc9ACPYHoYDxJB2Nib87QRIHUzQaQjy6-IrsNKOTjDH8DPBvNXPfFHSh0MernqLsHmxnQaPRBEAgOIM-mTUBDUpZI7Rf-pMQlmzoKI8oiafc4/w640-h420/IMG_0470.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I skied to the other side and meandered along the trail through the forest. Instead of continuing through the forest for the entire stretch back, I returned and skied back the way I came, I wanted the open views.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">through the forest on the other side</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleaKV1m0oWyhVBxMJIIcMdZBO61uGZ-WqlR17adebb6TQhzLKEyNy8hHnMzz6vwYAwPD3RFX_w-F1tt7uVNkSKkm3YI358AZZERu48G00lUmigGvDFt8v366Ql94Rjqz7Z_5uqZNThX6MogB16-DYA1t5mJw3ROYEypTIy63bbbHiKjOUtdzuO9eJID4/s3648/IMG_0472.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleaKV1m0oWyhVBxMJIIcMdZBO61uGZ-WqlR17adebb6TQhzLKEyNy8hHnMzz6vwYAwPD3RFX_w-F1tt7uVNkSKkm3YI358AZZERu48G00lUmigGvDFt8v366Ql94Rjqz7Z_5uqZNThX6MogB16-DYA1t5mJw3ROYEypTIy63bbbHiKjOUtdzuO9eJID4/w480-h640/IMG_0472.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">crossing back over the bridge for the return ski</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitT5Gol8loVdtOGhiYXLIcYQaH51keKTvdsK8wAyRyLitt6WhmUTcII9UByCZp3uWKg6WEko6nD3hCEu8sBgWh6fU-wyF6QPK0m3qJF25H0VzGeYaVO2vlYVV7S1zlgtb-VKT9vQhcVccTPsQvBTsKf7_risAkxs_hgnNQ0Fiy9hBOEl_omDNM06j3cTY/s3648/IMG_0476.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitT5Gol8loVdtOGhiYXLIcYQaH51keKTvdsK8wAyRyLitt6WhmUTcII9UByCZp3uWKg6WEko6nD3hCEu8sBgWh6fU-wyF6QPK0m3qJF25H0VzGeYaVO2vlYVV7S1zlgtb-VKT9vQhcVccTPsQvBTsKf7_risAkxs_hgnNQ0Fiy9hBOEl_omDNM06j3cTY/w480-h640/IMG_0476.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">back to the open views</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Zj16maxzs9bFjd1PChnuVs3w-cmSUB7ZahscbgCSYpt_A0_ocATSUEiJkeKmC8SBLzYQoYacD6VMLVCYAQ4TpHcXvZrtF9idkCYpdaw8DLmmpToj9wvRyOes7doNnqPJ2PeiiGrhSkDw7XBxchqbJXdd48u_6KOOOW5QBoH9L3lFeb65v77Rc_1Ahzw/s3648/IMG_0484.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Zj16maxzs9bFjd1PChnuVs3w-cmSUB7ZahscbgCSYpt_A0_ocATSUEiJkeKmC8SBLzYQoYacD6VMLVCYAQ4TpHcXvZrtF9idkCYpdaw8DLmmpToj9wvRyOes7doNnqPJ2PeiiGrhSkDw7XBxchqbJXdd48u_6KOOOW5QBoH9L3lFeb65v77Rc_1Ahzw/w640-h480/IMG_0484.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">music to my ears </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxe_tkuewwcj3h095K5qTjN7CFhoTYgV_pYqPyE0AwrhNjdV7xx3B0vDH-Ek0TfpR06A-m7jDvTCoheXQfIig' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div>I arrived back at that dreamy meadow. From here I did another loop through another section of the Campground then aimed back to my vehicle. By now, it had warmed up quite a bit and I could feel it taking a bit more effort to glide along. My timing was perfect, it was now warm enough to……<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6iUGuyG7DqSx0jIWNad1KmcUV-8VFrSk3clNhMSnHdcqB7EbmNGywjp5cEo6Kz1wvjACsVeUiPFwZghVfbMlEaCV1E3jslsxGBYBxjIOGUejFesn7IavNlPzakKp-0emeL0Sz9QZ8qq0yrAin-LdT58AaVugwe1N4dD0dnv-NqORSLh097xMZq9Kpp4/s3648/IMG_0487.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6iUGuyG7DqSx0jIWNad1KmcUV-8VFrSk3clNhMSnHdcqB7EbmNGywjp5cEo6Kz1wvjACsVeUiPFwZghVfbMlEaCV1E3jslsxGBYBxjIOGUejFesn7IavNlPzakKp-0emeL0Sz9QZ8qq0yrAin-LdT58AaVugwe1N4dD0dnv-NqORSLh097xMZq9Kpp4/w640-h480/IMG_0487.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">……sit out on my balcony, catch some winter rays and savour an adult beverage!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-uie09rAXiVZADZcqMK8K0ZXJzWu-O0PN9brQYDc-Qpg-Uqlam4Iu0YYBy08jFtbKVH4CVaoBvubdYN11M1CKpxU1uVvcsUIesjmpFzWIhEQv53InUG1klxm_oSgIJrTV8PYD-MdwTpNXFVhOuaNLjdBaPeefV4fiuYKGspVUq6GsHSqBDhegW9HpO0/s3018/IMG_0505.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2567" data-original-width="3018" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-uie09rAXiVZADZcqMK8K0ZXJzWu-O0PN9brQYDc-Qpg-Uqlam4Iu0YYBy08jFtbKVH4CVaoBvubdYN11M1CKpxU1uVvcsUIesjmpFzWIhEQv53InUG1klxm_oSgIJrTV8PYD-MdwTpNXFVhOuaNLjdBaPeefV4fiuYKGspVUq6GsHSqBDhegW9HpO0/w640-h544/IMG_0505.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A Whiskey Jack flew in for a visit!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9K_dQG9sDpbYBSoOHLz0yZWtEtLUdN41PmHJR4PBNVmHDVd8GrueU91khyphenhyphenf9JH6bGmdPXlYMAZFRAX77DYnKwZ3wy5aSCwBp7NliQcEkxoiHuOh2ious3oUFo9TpxACfVRyll-b5typZl8RuhITLl-EP4gET4l6bmW3RQ_NMBW7gKnD2s6RWfJG2tBc/s2736/IMG_0536.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="2429" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9K_dQG9sDpbYBSoOHLz0yZWtEtLUdN41PmHJR4PBNVmHDVd8GrueU91khyphenhyphenf9JH6bGmdPXlYMAZFRAX77DYnKwZ3wy5aSCwBp7NliQcEkxoiHuOh2ious3oUFo9TpxACfVRyll-b5typZl8RuhITLl-EP4gET4l6bmW3RQ_NMBW7gKnD2s6RWfJG2tBc/w568-h640/IMG_0536.jpeg" width="568" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I built a snowman!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioncehRpR_SLLWFOxSeHQM7HOFFmQiw7Pal7u48CNW9OseiKH0EevhmkMo5XhrlY6ARDF6GMkMfCjXaFyeAIN9wMtzjrI1TpzMb3tWxUUwjAAkFjMlucr5hvuN_4dyr-pvsQjf-9gHT8_RxXTctHaDv32b0UaaWE_7z67CeItzn4Xzdwn7wMXHaxz_ieo/s3136/IMG_0538.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3136" data-original-width="1958" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioncehRpR_SLLWFOxSeHQM7HOFFmQiw7Pal7u48CNW9OseiKH0EevhmkMo5XhrlY6ARDF6GMkMfCjXaFyeAIN9wMtzjrI1TpzMb3tWxUUwjAAkFjMlucr5hvuN_4dyr-pvsQjf-9gHT8_RxXTctHaDv32b0UaaWE_7z67CeItzn4Xzdwn7wMXHaxz_ieo/w400-h640/IMG_0538.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was mesmerizing to watch and listen to the drops fall from the melting icicles. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14K9TuUOtvDjr300Ce6en0YkQB48tav7HXENnQDkgwqwi5yOUwrPcYVOtOhVIS_EJV7A_ajWVOtIUdDbFm6rjXHWDE0NYcE628j4dunh-SxyU_8Ba0iIJjg557wTkplfk3K09y725iKiJfoXGvjFrf0mcVz40KsIp7veQMpKr9Fe72UEgSpSBBxRBhsA/s3646/IMG_0517.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3646" data-original-width="1716" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14K9TuUOtvDjr300Ce6en0YkQB48tav7HXENnQDkgwqwi5yOUwrPcYVOtOhVIS_EJV7A_ajWVOtIUdDbFm6rjXHWDE0NYcE628j4dunh-SxyU_8Ba0iIJjg557wTkplfk3K09y725iKiJfoXGvjFrf0mcVz40KsIp7veQMpKr9Fe72UEgSpSBBxRBhsA/w302-h640/IMG_0517.jpeg" width="302" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7u1EiuBuJq3pTh9dpoxVRMMlCSFo_qfKhKHmfzNTnuVlz1A25QStGk5E1N00Wky_0KyiXU9_REIpnUrh_NZc3QSvk1eHCBiXG8Hy4cx3-lDvceDv1nHA6JjT9KdFHqbOjSptPY-g-Vf1-V2iljSY9jyClrDx7Npf0sms_uje-ciG4QeBuTMO-gcKPe8/s3648/IMG_0519.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2034" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7u1EiuBuJq3pTh9dpoxVRMMlCSFo_qfKhKHmfzNTnuVlz1A25QStGk5E1N00Wky_0KyiXU9_REIpnUrh_NZc3QSvk1eHCBiXG8Hy4cx3-lDvceDv1nHA6JjT9KdFHqbOjSptPY-g-Vf1-V2iljSY9jyClrDx7Npf0sms_uje-ciG4QeBuTMO-gcKPe8/w356-h640/IMG_0519.jpeg" width="356" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8Ct0C-_R00EaBb1q_MwnRKMW3o5BiuRHsySUjHwipdLb0otOM1qojSnsvsyXPAmc_sqq2EoALXWNnxfaEcDWebjgzncN2MWN41Z_7lylWuZVCaARFZ5xQgEIiH7sdb8UIkFNUtL_pDnQvr1TqivnAI2tx32ces5leZnZ2pADDddvDx_Z5mUzvmArbdo/s2224/IMG_0520.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2224" data-original-width="1150" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8Ct0C-_R00EaBb1q_MwnRKMW3o5BiuRHsySUjHwipdLb0otOM1qojSnsvsyXPAmc_sqq2EoALXWNnxfaEcDWebjgzncN2MWN41Z_7lylWuZVCaARFZ5xQgEIiH7sdb8UIkFNUtL_pDnQvr1TqivnAI2tx32ces5leZnZ2pADDddvDx_Z5mUzvmArbdo/w330-h640/IMG_0520.jpeg" width="330" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-57376302712691010812024-01-23T19:16:00.196-07:002024-01-24T05:52:41.143-07:00Lake Louise January 23, 2024<p>My hopes were to skate on Lake Louise this morning but after seeing what it looked like yesterday, I had doubts I would be skating here any time soon. Yesterday, it was covered in snow except for a very small section in the middle. People were reporting the surface was quite rough with lots of cracks and holes. That recent brutal cold spell took a toll on the conditions. </p><p>Even if I didn’t skate, I still wanted to go out on the ice and capture a photo of the Ice Castle. As I rounded the corner at the head of the lake, I saw the sweeper just finishing up clearing the entire gigantic surface. He must have started early, it’s the biggest cleared surface ever and the sun wasn’t even up yet. I quickly went back to my vehicle to grab my skates.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Before lacing up, a lady offered to snap my photo at the Ice Castle.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuN-LTbU6DAJQiOs8m785GFhHalpmql_UVPkahPuQrL289PRPS_4sqmM7d2bnc2mB6hBkwsifDwqax2KHsk6vwila12fTREApvNz91ZjzYKHvigJbEyeiH_eVxkRxwIqo72OxRAqzGbibpwHwSaQ7tvwq4YPt9UZvrjPLDdZVkGV5FjsEDNlyc5BjfpHM/s3392/IMG_0361.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1995" data-original-width="3392" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuN-LTbU6DAJQiOs8m785GFhHalpmql_UVPkahPuQrL289PRPS_4sqmM7d2bnc2mB6hBkwsifDwqax2KHsk6vwila12fTREApvNz91ZjzYKHvigJbEyeiH_eVxkRxwIqo72OxRAqzGbibpwHwSaQ7tvwq4YPt9UZvrjPLDdZVkGV5FjsEDNlyc5BjfpHM/w640-h376/IMG_0361.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We both laced up and began etching away. The ice was rough, there were many large cracks and lots of holes and big bumps. There were also smooth sections mostly around the outer edge and along the centre so that’s where I skated. For the first little while it was interesting to watch the low clouds dance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsDV_KjrV53pU8n7cr0We3qFef_0BT4UGUUIjCt2zKnwIrH0cd3OHXhBMSbpAXuXc5l2aRKNB_ZUqhXizEK8bNtQxMfKuJr5lXTs6IueAhIHRaDjJYsE_DDuf0kN6Ea8nL1_v9JYNvYQS6rjeqTMb5H60LZFQ8UrCB3IHySNIvcZV5g41m53RWI5EAMg/s3648/IMG_0366.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsDV_KjrV53pU8n7cr0We3qFef_0BT4UGUUIjCt2zKnwIrH0cd3OHXhBMSbpAXuXc5l2aRKNB_ZUqhXizEK8bNtQxMfKuJr5lXTs6IueAhIHRaDjJYsE_DDuf0kN6Ea8nL1_v9JYNvYQS6rjeqTMb5H60LZFQ8UrCB3IHySNIvcZV5g41m53RWI5EAMg/w640-h480/IMG_0366.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipux4pA0dAiAWDQUOwHyShQyABl-G1CqE0K9EDg2TKRefMkLGg8fhBCVyDhnTtSTSmE5j3CpVrXztzSYD0ZuB5dPmE7sY3ui6RgvnaEcbgNJSKxcTKLoDJpTG4tCWChvMDlMYPsK_cU387W-0eDPURkzmHf6gjrWIw-iF3gdiKhRht10KOhZf_cxo1WfI/s3648/IMG_0364.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipux4pA0dAiAWDQUOwHyShQyABl-G1CqE0K9EDg2TKRefMkLGg8fhBCVyDhnTtSTSmE5j3CpVrXztzSYD0ZuB5dPmE7sY3ui6RgvnaEcbgNJSKxcTKLoDJpTG4tCWChvMDlMYPsK_cU387W-0eDPURkzmHf6gjrWIw-iF3gdiKhRht10KOhZf_cxo1WfI/w640-h480/IMG_0364.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnUpSjtyiuONBAL-j3yN-kOnHbqCxxJEjwnDvMDKSo8UbAhHwtFoaADTZeqyQOJqBgsSNi76xImvANFpbAlVSKrZjycqF11kE2urPBn_oDldh6xN0KIPnpqQGczWvshwYa3hBcM2YUmpKN47SgFGOxi9SgraP-nh6yzT3zobQqubl4m6Zr9t64W5iwpU/s3648/IMG_0368.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnUpSjtyiuONBAL-j3yN-kOnHbqCxxJEjwnDvMDKSo8UbAhHwtFoaADTZeqyQOJqBgsSNi76xImvANFpbAlVSKrZjycqF11kE2urPBn_oDldh6xN0KIPnpqQGczWvshwYa3hBcM2YUmpKN47SgFGOxi9SgraP-nh6yzT3zobQqubl4m6Zr9t64W5iwpU/w640-h480/IMG_0368.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Then, I saw a familiar face! What were the odds that Elladj Balde would be here this morning! I skated towards him, chatted to him and his wife and another lady. Just like back in <a href="https://stillmakingwaves.blogspot.com/2021/03/skate-x-c-ski-louise-march-3-2021.html">March of 2021</a>, he was kind enough to be in a photo with me. For the second time, I was lucky in my love for skating!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNNKARLmh5U78x9hSRQ0R7K1g7ZdrDBFopbr7rN_2EsjcBzNjjgN9Wpke6ma-3d5urBc1xwKewMmthcq8vsrmvLFvlFfFKXQhj-aJT535AtokoDNlJeyh-d2llhDKMo1xPCVpv5Wg48xFdSKMuylrAVdWM1bUt8SjPuqTmFiqS_1upYxecY7NtXiHnkk/s3648/IMG_0375.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNNKARLmh5U78x9hSRQ0R7K1g7ZdrDBFopbr7rN_2EsjcBzNjjgN9Wpke6ma-3d5urBc1xwKewMmthcq8vsrmvLFvlFfFKXQhj-aJT535AtokoDNlJeyh-d2llhDKMo1xPCVpv5Wg48xFdSKMuylrAVdWM1bUt8SjPuqTmFiqS_1upYxecY7NtXiHnkk/w640-h480/IMG_0375.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The dark low clouds lifted and the sky turned shades of pink then blue. I continued to skate, time passed, distance covered added up and I was feeling fulfilled. It was time to get my boots back on and find a place to settle to savour some tea and scenery.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUe-NZ6BvupBO6mBOGzBXcy7suhxgl293e_EQ3F3xGqAeTYVxo3RFHu4KNYZLJUsmErlqb1vqjaRPFlNET9Vhz3CV5RqJlSRTvzrUY3bLtfJpmZEMnqzpGgtW848ZLaGamPSqH3-y4WJa587Ow2sxFkMualZKxoLW2p4WznRHGVuYMGojYtVdbbaMsh4/s3648/IMG_0381.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUe-NZ6BvupBO6mBOGzBXcy7suhxgl293e_EQ3F3xGqAeTYVxo3RFHu4KNYZLJUsmErlqb1vqjaRPFlNET9Vhz3CV5RqJlSRTvzrUY3bLtfJpmZEMnqzpGgtW848ZLaGamPSqH3-y4WJa587Ow2sxFkMualZKxoLW2p4WznRHGVuYMGojYtVdbbaMsh4/w640-h480/IMG_0381.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrnATdwRt3wh_j9nG0BESlrsDB5aSlt4LxD_VsXQPKDhq3eBgC4DsuGIHIP0UqGMcnUWypMLM8v-AKwBwD8PC8X1V79_vietZzBwgUGe_uENNLIkPC8sz_pL-Ogw2EhpjNYWpacVLtp3ISz_u5I91lEA8lnsJn86nSjfXoG4NgADxf0JhiFPEXhATsZw/s3175/IMG_0385.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3175" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrnATdwRt3wh_j9nG0BESlrsDB5aSlt4LxD_VsXQPKDhq3eBgC4DsuGIHIP0UqGMcnUWypMLM8v-AKwBwD8PC8X1V79_vietZzBwgUGe_uENNLIkPC8sz_pL-Ogw2EhpjNYWpacVLtp3ISz_u5I91lEA8lnsJn86nSjfXoG4NgADxf0JhiFPEXhATsZw/w640-h552/IMG_0385.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLI-9kbfzS8xQFyeXGnEwsgwo1LbSrTksYsnHJqT9IsTXYIOVYgx9NyZZpl3XHlcLPZ4k9WPZ-pPTCfeD6ygvntBcBoRD0GD9QndI0pMzbYkcRwymqQDX0ljwcNkSm5NQ9UzMyC85mYjjNGTlpyVAOw-t8VFIM1IghxgHhilzmZfCF6ShXfYIe4hFXOM/s3648/IMG_0388.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLI-9kbfzS8xQFyeXGnEwsgwo1LbSrTksYsnHJqT9IsTXYIOVYgx9NyZZpl3XHlcLPZ4k9WPZ-pPTCfeD6ygvntBcBoRD0GD9QndI0pMzbYkcRwymqQDX0ljwcNkSm5NQ9UzMyC85mYjjNGTlpyVAOw-t8VFIM1IghxgHhilzmZfCF6ShXfYIe4hFXOM/w640-h480/IMG_0388.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">tea time</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9PJyQQTeZTGlxk5mn7y48EG6P-qppkTtZI_zmC0N1zmjMS2iee_2i63OZTgPSp431a_DqoNHFebRcLUtQkMStIya3CoXgcPem4ewQMFE-wda7Lf9kWcqsy9CPPiORn_tMfBApHZ6JA7UePLMucgxUZWPLVIJw3_Hz9oRL5C8NtZSlkB-EntuU9KpldU/s3262/IMG_0394.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2392" data-original-width="3262" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9PJyQQTeZTGlxk5mn7y48EG6P-qppkTtZI_zmC0N1zmjMS2iee_2i63OZTgPSp431a_DqoNHFebRcLUtQkMStIya3CoXgcPem4ewQMFE-wda7Lf9kWcqsy9CPPiORn_tMfBApHZ6JA7UePLMucgxUZWPLVIJw3_Hz9oRL5C8NtZSlkB-EntuU9KpldU/w640-h470/IMG_0394.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxxheV0Tlg2BYL2Q2XNbUa4vHOprsCKqgGSegn0YIBzoTVtfhFaN9jh1-AYIndBt5nwOFFDrh_2nogLegJDkA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> view from another bench where I sat for awhile</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFGvoEjRbzoIK1sLmJK1OT0fGTgDtvA6cJJbrgsYXX0Qx905p-DQK5hBiiUmiAK7swucEN2p7NBF7odut8zOmdX-u3QM3adSmpRYEf7K4224FYZOo3frsd1yS6uyI8t5gWh9uoAvf6saRTB8YLoGIqyuSYtM5MQ0wwlSxoalrgjPAJxoOStrpsYGv-v0/s3648/IMG_0396.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFGvoEjRbzoIK1sLmJK1OT0fGTgDtvA6cJJbrgsYXX0Qx905p-DQK5hBiiUmiAK7swucEN2p7NBF7odut8zOmdX-u3QM3adSmpRYEf7K4224FYZOo3frsd1yS6uyI8t5gWh9uoAvf6saRTB8YLoGIqyuSYtM5MQ0wwlSxoalrgjPAJxoOStrpsYGv-v0/w480-h640/IMG_0396.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The flurries started not long after I arrived back at my suite. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I enjoyed the view from the warmth of inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AMNFZzOq2QTEwdt3cJibrJeN1XCreSy-QH-4hd6_35krv0KuZ0vklhF4kRI7BlaoJu9VqnFKSJBPR3ysrpC7uN5KkW96DvOKPo2V8SHk-sd0C70YAPEakOiJwgYRrerQtatnJpecWHz7Uv8DThz7yRqvNKJ8KwbTzJvVHJMSzpA8iXqespaCqRzJyAI/s3267/IMG_0348.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2537" data-original-width="3267" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AMNFZzOq2QTEwdt3cJibrJeN1XCreSy-QH-4hd6_35krv0KuZ0vklhF4kRI7BlaoJu9VqnFKSJBPR3ysrpC7uN5KkW96DvOKPo2V8SHk-sd0C70YAPEakOiJwgYRrerQtatnJpecWHz7Uv8DThz7yRqvNKJ8KwbTzJvVHJMSzpA8iXqespaCqRzJyAI/w640-h496/IMG_0348.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eventually, I bundled up and sit outside to fill up on more fresh mountain air!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZL7ZIRv61CxZsqrAUrsdYOwCtswFmqcW__UetVPXRvGNpdLS90J8GYS0wn60sheobIKvkFZPYXnzujkC1hyphenhyphenbZHAhFYEsdJqtkUgpyp2YWnTmCOEVvSJmHlhIM8KT7ciSX6szXjuzXeXG9Aq5wsah8qocULx3l5B865rb2oyNsDsXmt3ZAPKTnK8T0D0/s3404/IMG_0405.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2133" data-original-width="3404" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZL7ZIRv61CxZsqrAUrsdYOwCtswFmqcW__UetVPXRvGNpdLS90J8GYS0wn60sheobIKvkFZPYXnzujkC1hyphenhyphenbZHAhFYEsdJqtkUgpyp2YWnTmCOEVvSJmHlhIM8KT7ciSX6szXjuzXeXG9Aq5wsah8qocULx3l5B865rb2oyNsDsXmt3ZAPKTnK8T0D0/w640-h402/IMG_0405.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207488586465281429.post-87234512650590338632024-01-22T18:11:00.001-07:002024-01-25T05:40:42.148-07:00Lake Louise. January 22, 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It’s this view that makes me walk a little faster! Just after these trees, the vast view of Lake Louise and the surrounding peaks greet you! I was excited to be at this winter-wonderland and I was curious to see it all. My first impressions were, it looks so beautiful, it felt warm and the snow level was low. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB83Bjw3CYRWBhlyIUx5cG_kRB3rSvYt8-M7qE-i_oKaXI_mvAyvHyIi10Aiwd1okYBX5E4ut95EH2fas5CVe4iPjL7Uctm2pbGlOKXAwwtjgPaLJQTCGsInVLOawm9itsTtAAmi1Nc4XQN_pJXKAwAFaNu1XeHBeT8hjSNMeckalU8XB0lIX1EVmeETA/s2816/IMG_0215.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2816" data-original-width="2658" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB83Bjw3CYRWBhlyIUx5cG_kRB3rSvYt8-M7qE-i_oKaXI_mvAyvHyIi10Aiwd1okYBX5E4ut95EH2fas5CVe4iPjL7Uctm2pbGlOKXAwwtjgPaLJQTCGsInVLOawm9itsTtAAmi1Nc4XQN_pJXKAwAFaNu1XeHBeT8hjSNMeckalU8XB0lIX1EVmeETA/w604-h640/IMG_0215.jpeg" width="604" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is what I was talking about, the view past those trees! That little snow marshmallow is there every year. With more open water than usual, a wonderful reflection was offered. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfArzlG_pCryOzuw5TRqeuVNOomm-dllrG45lq9k1CAiPQa4L6or6ntF2aaMMJfBzGBoYG1XY6bu2jbXvSGEqF-mThIlyEm5MduzVC27UneiPlbsD2ZSfGDsNtma_7Ar6rV7axOinHcbRjKgpYXJtRAaKP-W6q37U1b81byGqFY55UHrAowGB-SfMC3U4/s3648/IMG_0220.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfArzlG_pCryOzuw5TRqeuVNOomm-dllrG45lq9k1CAiPQa4L6or6ntF2aaMMJfBzGBoYG1XY6bu2jbXvSGEqF-mThIlyEm5MduzVC27UneiPlbsD2ZSfGDsNtma_7Ar6rV7axOinHcbRjKgpYXJtRAaKP-W6q37U1b81byGqFY55UHrAowGB-SfMC3U4/w640-h480/IMG_0220.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">bridge over the creek</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaPo9luyvwWSkcWJ33rlNfwsX5A_O4MG3EXyR7iKnuxIezS1-9C_h_guuec6uHm9iJebMqDt4RDUfqIpDSiz8IHfZ8SC1_0aNISDWkkTq5RxlvoRfhasCXeLk0T6a7WpND8vWjdsRFdc6ewkeYJNYOcvBeYHd72bN3tL9wWfO2nTWd8tPEp1IE5z-mww/s3088/IMG_0223.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1950" data-original-width="3088" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaPo9luyvwWSkcWJ33rlNfwsX5A_O4MG3EXyR7iKnuxIezS1-9C_h_guuec6uHm9iJebMqDt4RDUfqIpDSiz8IHfZ8SC1_0aNISDWkkTq5RxlvoRfhasCXeLk0T6a7WpND8vWjdsRFdc6ewkeYJNYOcvBeYHd72bN3tL9wWfO2nTWd8tPEp1IE5z-mww/w640-h404/IMG_0223.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">After crossing the creek, I strolled towards The Chateau. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is the walkway from The Chateau to the Lake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfsUsMKI3Qd-raESUpuZGnwumFRHdVOkBe5SCaD-SV_VGYcO2rPzb8ibsVzqyq9PT8ozfAWay2jWyLKHw8ZEqKAEUklPJHq_DCvrBTailownIoQ_j6rEC9Y81aMthTqrUG8cIsv-gLLQm20BtrYuQ5DqR8wB5QTWmMEV9Od6TkbYArwqFLcTocAx6s-o/s3379/IMG_0229.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3379" data-original-width="2534" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfsUsMKI3Qd-raESUpuZGnwumFRHdVOkBe5SCaD-SV_VGYcO2rPzb8ibsVzqyq9PT8ozfAWay2jWyLKHw8ZEqKAEUklPJHq_DCvrBTailownIoQ_j6rEC9Y81aMthTqrUG8cIsv-gLLQm20BtrYuQ5DqR8wB5QTWmMEV9Od6TkbYArwqFLcTocAx6s-o/w480-h640/IMG_0229.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first thing on my agenda was to enjoy an adult beverage at the Ice Bar. I opted for what was called a Chili Chocolate Orange. It’s Chili Vodka, Grand Marnier, Hot Chocolate plus a couple other little things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe0QoggD2aYK1A3-I9QnspuOySNjEeivx2pJfHWcFddgQKL6MtneGarAoc9T4fjPUQUWExP9Kc3ensrw8r2_CUFxw0c84ItxbrN6wRp1PhgBPcyN5m7aGW3A4XR6T79etigcEZWYJ1XTnRnx-7PF9ZaR9nq3e0NbpNIRdi7_nduZs-y-B0MwAWPOyQI4/s2616/IMG_0231.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2512" data-original-width="2616" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe0QoggD2aYK1A3-I9QnspuOySNjEeivx2pJfHWcFddgQKL6MtneGarAoc9T4fjPUQUWExP9Kc3ensrw8r2_CUFxw0c84ItxbrN6wRp1PhgBPcyN5m7aGW3A4XR6T79etigcEZWYJ1XTnRnx-7PF9ZaR9nq3e0NbpNIRdi7_nduZs-y-B0MwAWPOyQI4/w640-h614/IMG_0231.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While savouring my spirit, I admired the ice sculptures within the Ice Bar. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3rBwV9bW1RebaNpLzpu8Fza4r2CEKfiocTfdDjLgxRPfufORcKiMqeYykuiy7c9RuTfR7snhbA1q2wZqOGNpqYzp3HlXXvrn8qEsHbnLHdN1rtogIFw-GucPvskxQ4s2iEuvvq3eP0xhDeE44b75eFRNHlUpPyFpHbHwZzLcwK5wg_cNJO8iRKNsej0/s2736/IMG_0243.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="2640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3rBwV9bW1RebaNpLzpu8Fza4r2CEKfiocTfdDjLgxRPfufORcKiMqeYykuiy7c9RuTfR7snhbA1q2wZqOGNpqYzp3HlXXvrn8qEsHbnLHdN1rtogIFw-GucPvskxQ4s2iEuvvq3eP0xhDeE44b75eFRNHlUpPyFpHbHwZzLcwK5wg_cNJO8iRKNsej0/w618-h640/IMG_0243.jpeg" width="618" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UsA40LSBlDv8w_PqRZVcmGgVDdq4n1vTjHhRSw3Sm5SMkh_IQsiyFMp2rLzaTRIKm4QLJ8S_2-f_kL_OdVuBThtbAzb1ffzBXqpvfaDRclwyfHmx1P89srvNbgW9iYK06NnwPdYq0qLHRBb4T33OT5L7sYCD8K3MB_NCDI3qdx-UQgfzEVGBSztY0B8/s2754/IMG_0246.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2754" data-original-width="2687" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UsA40LSBlDv8w_PqRZVcmGgVDdq4n1vTjHhRSw3Sm5SMkh_IQsiyFMp2rLzaTRIKm4QLJ8S_2-f_kL_OdVuBThtbAzb1ffzBXqpvfaDRclwyfHmx1P89srvNbgW9iYK06NnwPdYq0qLHRBb4T33OT5L7sYCD8K3MB_NCDI3qdx-UQgfzEVGBSztY0B8/w624-h640/IMG_0246.jpeg" width="624" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagtzR5-D0Ji1g5PhrC620zseSl1dsjg6N81qLiAS1BuYtj0vIASQATdgMlZRBEAcCYS8n6cPRy8slvQUu0P5raVXvP7M_6VVCNX5faUq-Jg2nbrXiJ_74d43RPEStRD26t5Wulnk7JD80jtDL_55kYhGPtbBQTVhuukJy8Sg9lkIkpBZcoX69GukRbf8/s2723/IMG_0249.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="2723" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagtzR5-D0Ji1g5PhrC620zseSl1dsjg6N81qLiAS1BuYtj0vIASQATdgMlZRBEAcCYS8n6cPRy8slvQUu0P5raVXvP7M_6VVCNX5faUq-Jg2nbrXiJ_74d43RPEStRD26t5Wulnk7JD80jtDL_55kYhGPtbBQTVhuukJy8Sg9lkIkpBZcoX69GukRbf8/w640-h512/IMG_0249.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The walls of the Ice Bar represent mountain peaks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW00k3Tjk5r8kP4MQ4oR1m49XbkT9k-uOpOSB9s-YOaaX7qxpE0xmHijAyJAEKUVbWDdkFTeC22-HSQFXx_gsCu0Lmhyphenhyphen41yBjy7EDn4mhbBc5dxqIX9Y5l0rAK_6VbGmFh0_Kc1zHZplltriXO_Iv1730VpJ6ftkmDy8IK5QuEabUroIAK9_lMXb_9ZyI/s3061/IMG_0255.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3061" data-original-width="2400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW00k3Tjk5r8kP4MQ4oR1m49XbkT9k-uOpOSB9s-YOaaX7qxpE0xmHijAyJAEKUVbWDdkFTeC22-HSQFXx_gsCu0Lmhyphenhyphen41yBjy7EDn4mhbBc5dxqIX9Y5l0rAK_6VbGmFh0_Kc1zHZplltriXO_Iv1730VpJ6ftkmDy8IK5QuEabUroIAK9_lMXb_9ZyI/w502-h640/IMG_0255.jpeg" width="502" /></a></div>The beverage warmed me up which was not a necessary thing as it was a warm day to begin with. I left the Ice Bar and aimed for the Lake to walk to the far end where I could see the ice climbers. This is a zoomed in shot, she is nearing the top of the climb.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVna8SwunmmvvOEn1QSU1HknyD9D0iHjKyLWV-3uBN8F7nwdE7tMbHwOnUyp8jY2I_V852uq2yH6pMkMZpmD96CZPAaTMf3BOfbMCfHItpDNAUD9yiA0Za8lFs1EQHz1DXLhAAQlV7E7CzGJYr81lbZdd2iq1NlyEN-5yL_0jmikyY2KOY4dwrHifd54/s2879/IMG_0284.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2879" data-original-width="2495" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVna8SwunmmvvOEn1QSU1HknyD9D0iHjKyLWV-3uBN8F7nwdE7tMbHwOnUyp8jY2I_V852uq2yH6pMkMZpmD96CZPAaTMf3BOfbMCfHItpDNAUD9yiA0Za8lFs1EQHz1DXLhAAQlV7E7CzGJYr81lbZdd2iq1NlyEN-5yL_0jmikyY2KOY4dwrHifd54/w554-h640/IMG_0284.jpeg" width="554" /></a></div>This open pool of water is quite the size. I don’t remember it being this big during previous winter visits. I like that I could capture a reflection showing a good stretch of the peaks.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_wmTMG0D-NlApahvrjthvEhE-mcFSCO1hQezS40oSTn7fSIhLTeUztvZL-pWStV5P1iB_syaeZLfeTlGv0SzsUpK30pLMddVvBApXVcagjQb4FSMurfr5G3jwMZ96MJzeDzz-uPlJqjevGkJiO2AnjFx0m6mlKhSCcGYkSSeLo2fj608THJLDYCc8Oo/s3648/IMG_0289.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_wmTMG0D-NlApahvrjthvEhE-mcFSCO1hQezS40oSTn7fSIhLTeUztvZL-pWStV5P1iB_syaeZLfeTlGv0SzsUpK30pLMddVvBApXVcagjQb4FSMurfr5G3jwMZ96MJzeDzz-uPlJqjevGkJiO2AnjFx0m6mlKhSCcGYkSSeLo2fj608THJLDYCc8Oo/w480-h640/IMG_0289.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">view looking back at The Chateau </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDd96qc5OsJm7KZ1vqskLBGsu65nt0sfPjxHMlGj0CgRecHovF8L-PuSmJQ16dN27tx7HLpDxHtxligt0jDbe-MuG0jrorP0PscWDyq7A1lAZ-MFKZrO9AmgPDv9KyWZzcQ-yfHeTlIpcvhmlVFawkvzXQj_NQTVp0iFeWuFBeBbXRNHZRqyx9GrocsY/s3648/IMG_0313.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDd96qc5OsJm7KZ1vqskLBGsu65nt0sfPjxHMlGj0CgRecHovF8L-PuSmJQ16dN27tx7HLpDxHtxligt0jDbe-MuG0jrorP0PscWDyq7A1lAZ-MFKZrO9AmgPDv9KyWZzcQ-yfHeTlIpcvhmlVFawkvzXQj_NQTVp0iFeWuFBeBbXRNHZRqyx9GrocsY/w480-h640/IMG_0313.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">horse drawn sleigh ride </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKs7hYfGjO8i6S4dwaqtsEHvF8D7XzPMErp5JlVP2wRlYhpIjZ7oHlidDzMtwhxq8EyVUSXPhGSrE-02xIvvqSVRROTZna_Vmiylwl5Jih_-EjK9cL3Hhy8jA4D7J8D7lUJqIWOw-JD5yaUMANMulb5o6QbZe3HOKyLT1_Hx7gpioHoX1tHD08ZT3i7Kg/s3332/IMG_0318.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3332" data-original-width="2243" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKs7hYfGjO8i6S4dwaqtsEHvF8D7XzPMErp5JlVP2wRlYhpIjZ7oHlidDzMtwhxq8EyVUSXPhGSrE-02xIvvqSVRROTZna_Vmiylwl5Jih_-EjK9cL3Hhy8jA4D7J8D7lUJqIWOw-JD5yaUMANMulb5o6QbZe3HOKyLT1_Hx7gpioHoX1tHD08ZT3i7Kg/w430-h640/IMG_0318.jpeg" width="430" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">view following the creek back to my vehicle </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9tLSudbz-yNcCzboWxYoAfwGPMjSEtaRC7VQV0do9m_wvimU0AvGDMromEMEYRD0m6MRFT_dbIy7n0CUipBoh6mc9Y67gngUrIcaGTpTifcab5-7XbBkKR5-iTKt72VTGYKeSYvOtc5asHEudYy4Cs1FP8yhfPHglhkgOc2WMoSD8G4sFZjTf2zXsiE/s3331/IMG_0327.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3331" data-original-width="2650" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9tLSudbz-yNcCzboWxYoAfwGPMjSEtaRC7VQV0do9m_wvimU0AvGDMromEMEYRD0m6MRFT_dbIy7n0CUipBoh6mc9Y67gngUrIcaGTpTifcab5-7XbBkKR5-iTKt72VTGYKeSYvOtc5asHEudYy4Cs1FP8yhfPHglhkgOc2WMoSD8G4sFZjTf2zXsiE/w510-h640/IMG_0327.jpeg" width="510" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really wanted to skate but the Lake Louise ice surface was not groomed, it was covered in snow, the available surface to skate was very small and there were dozens and dozens of skaters and walkers on that small space. So…</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I remembered a couple of years ago, Adventure Designer told me about the rink at the Lake Louise Recreation Centre. I wanted to skate so drove the few minutes there to check it out. This is a view of the outside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeIMvubW6lU2MhAmiDlcWFrolI7a4nWkHMtTwnZO_b9QeJV5jZI-V8BSrnzWJJZ7-G_bQ1ACUT_1n_VhbsG4VjzWtoEo0GuYt3p9PuS_cwNH348Ce2li0JdyomjJcsIXwPdiebO1ciLdZFR2bSZMKhw407ZD9Pb3wwOZtVFVc01kAmeuuOltw4csZZiY/s3648/IMG_0344.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeIMvubW6lU2MhAmiDlcWFrolI7a4nWkHMtTwnZO_b9QeJV5jZI-V8BSrnzWJJZ7-G_bQ1ACUT_1n_VhbsG4VjzWtoEo0GuYt3p9PuS_cwNH348Ce2li0JdyomjJcsIXwPdiebO1ciLdZFR2bSZMKhw407ZD9Pb3wwOZtVFVc01kAmeuuOltw4csZZiY/w640-h480/IMG_0344.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is inside!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjO5P4_MSXtuF1Vxm_hFnJgjV2rfY95ghF8x9YUrtklkVehZz2TKr2kDV6uXFJEnBbUimG0Tk3oK6gsJQtXeWve3e3IODAxpMRXxH-1Ffw5bnDExJslQtzVLNTfQZ4l3XK62n1_AZAXWJgwD2H7i2fisqlNFxFWwBJOtx7E9PcrjzSKOA4HKwP901BWU/s3648/IMG_0335.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="3648" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjO5P4_MSXtuF1Vxm_hFnJgjV2rfY95ghF8x9YUrtklkVehZz2TKr2kDV6uXFJEnBbUimG0Tk3oK6gsJQtXeWve3e3IODAxpMRXxH-1Ffw5bnDExJslQtzVLNTfQZ4l3XK62n1_AZAXWJgwD2H7i2fisqlNFxFWwBJOtx7E9PcrjzSKOA4HKwP901BWU/w640-h398/IMG_0335.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">view from inside looking out </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCzPv75LOZOSKDDxwq4z3E3Ca4DcRcpDvwGWtQUC0tIiBQZ3IXqMehTcWexwVONzvh1OxlHBh7ghSc5HR2KWA5nKmgaK0O6I2ir0TACJZuutEd8xcPc4P7kqvLoLN7TIUJFZoEQ3m94cevUh_QuNNZHvfody2orLszucH9esuppe-unZa2_pnKdLm2I4/s2666/IMG_0338.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2519" data-original-width="2666" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCzPv75LOZOSKDDxwq4z3E3Ca4DcRcpDvwGWtQUC0tIiBQZ3IXqMehTcWexwVONzvh1OxlHBh7ghSc5HR2KWA5nKmgaK0O6I2ir0TACJZuutEd8xcPc4P7kqvLoLN7TIUJFZoEQ3m94cevUh_QuNNZHvfody2orLszucH9esuppe-unZa2_pnKdLm2I4/w640-h604/IMG_0338.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">another view looking outside while I skated</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27Eqtg4C9l9kBoJSdLKSMN6nULkAF0UCfrhjEJfxrbsRcyjZLJfPJI_kcF8wodkw-ahlpdT7OVYbYsl_Auw-i2_R6BKbRViqdphO6af1sqGqKDSi5v5I_R247P1cHHYGKp79uXclf_Bl2UbotueTMP1pkA8MESy1C7Aul5nyWrSQwNl_Idgd-IONo6is/s3506/IMG_0339.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1969" data-original-width="3506" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27Eqtg4C9l9kBoJSdLKSMN6nULkAF0UCfrhjEJfxrbsRcyjZLJfPJI_kcF8wodkw-ahlpdT7OVYbYsl_Auw-i2_R6BKbRViqdphO6af1sqGqKDSi5v5I_R247P1cHHYGKp79uXclf_Bl2UbotueTMP1pkA8MESy1C7Aul5nyWrSQwNl_Idgd-IONo6is/w640-h360/IMG_0339.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I enjoyed forty-five minutes of skating and it was delightful. A couple were just leaving as I arrived and no one else showed up. This may be my go to place to skate if the Lake Louise ice surface is not maintained. I will have to see what this warm weather does to the ice conditions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p></div>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08603505336382163423noreply@blogger.com8