Kayak Bowness August 8, 2022

February 3rd of this year was the last time I was on water at Bowness Park!  I hoped for cold temperatures because it had been warm for a couple of days and conditions for skating were deteriorating.  It did get cold for two days straight and that made ideal conditions on February 3rd to lace up my skates and create many kilometres of original etchings in the ice.  Well, I wish it would get colder for a couple of days right now! With the unusual high heat that is hanging around, I headed to Bowness to go back on the water, only this time I would be paddling in my kayak. 

This is where I took kayak lessons a few years back.  This morning, I went early enough to beat the heat and to be in and out before the kiosk opened to rent out canoes, kayaks and paddle-boats to the public.  I entered the water from the ramp which you can see at the left.  In the winter, that is covered with a rubber matt for walking up and down with your skates on.  It was an easy entry.  I aimed for that bridge ahead to check out that part of the lagoon.

It was as calm as calm could be!

That section where the Boat House is leads out to the open area of the lagoon.   I did numerous laps around just as I have when wearing skates. No one else was on the water yet, I shared the space with ducks.   This one seemed curious and stuck close by going back and forth.  

See that bridge up ahead, that's where I am going next.  

This is the summer view and this.....

.....is the winter view!

passing under the bridge

This canal is also available to skate on in the winter.  

It's narrow and winds through the trees for a little distance.  

This was a good place to play with maneuvering my kayak in narrow spaces.

Yes, I wore pig-tails today!

view on the way back

How cool would it be if I could just paddle up and order a cool non-alcoholic beverage to go! 

Happy Hour would have to also include the early morning.  

Don't paddle and drink!  

I did a few more laps on the lagoon and then was ready to head on in.  That is the ramp straight ahead that I need to aim for.  I was glad no one was around to witness what I was not sure executing this exit might look like.  

I made it!  

It was the easiest exit I ever experienced.  

me & my packraft

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary August 5, 2022

It's been quite some time since I dedicated a few hours to just birding.  Lately hiking, sketching, kayaking, celebrating and little get-aways have filled all my fun time hours.  This morning was dedicated to enjoying the scenery and the birds at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.  I went early enough to beat the racing traffic on the Indy Deerfoot 500!  This was my view as I arrived at the lagoon.  I could already hear a variety of bird songs and squawks.  

It was calm enough for a reflection with a bit of wind wave in the water.

Clouds like these happen when the wind blows and it did blow, which kept it cold enough for a few layers with one pulled over my hands to keep them warm.  With the wind, nary was there a single bug to bother me.  

a juvenile Cedar Waxwing enjoy a berry

It was exciting to see a Baltimore Oriole! 

This little puff of fluff is a Western Wood-Pewee.

Swainson's Hawk performing an over the shoulder check

Eastern Kingbird with a spider's web

one of dozens of juvenile American Robins

I came away with sightings of more species but the photos did not turn out or I did not even capture a photo.  There were two families of Wood Duck ducklings and a bunch of Mallard ducklings belonging to one Mom.   Two eagles were drifting in the wind's waves in the sky as were the two Swainson's Hawks.  It was a pleasure to be "out & about" this morning at the Sanctuary, the place was so alive! 

Citadel Pass Banff National Park & Assiniboine Provincial Park August 2, 2022

After hiking Sunshine Meadows a week ago and seeing the wildflower explosion, I knew not to prolong a hike into Citadel Pass so I could witness its wildflower peformance.  The last time I hiked to Citadel Pass was mid July of 2019. Knowing the Sunshine Gondola would be back up and running this summer with our world getting back on some kind of positive track, I kept in the back of my mind to do this iconic premier hike.  It is one of my favourite places to venture to for the beauty and for knowing there would not be many other hikers.  Today it was me and one other solo lady who were doing the day hike and there were only about a dozen or so others who were backpackers either coming or going into the backcountry campsites in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park.

I hopped on the Gondola a mere minute or so after it began running.  When I arrived at the Village, I opted to keep my long sleeve shirt on which remained on the entire hike and I passed on spraying on a coating of bug spray which I never did need the entire day.  It was cool and it was windy which made for perfect hiking conditions.

At the junction, instead of going straight towards Rock Isle Lake, I veered left for the trail to Citadel Pass.

I enjoy this part of the trail because it is mainly flat with views for forever.  Today the trail and the meadows were lined with thousands and thousands of Hippies on Sticks.  I could see Quartz Hill & Ridge in the far off distance.  That was where I was headed.

passing by Rock Isle Lake

Hippies on Sticks being the wild and crazy wildflower they are!

Those dark clouds over Quartz Hill stayed there for a bit and then disappeared.  For most of the morning, the sky looked threatening in all areas surrounding where I was but it was never that way where I was.  

I have a closer view of where I am headed.  

It is to the left and to the base of Quartz Hill which is in the middle.  

Once the Paintbrush wildflower show began, it became never-ending and only grew in abundance.

I was loving everything about this day so far.  My heart was singing loudly along with my loud shouts every now and then at blind corners and through the treed sections to announce my presence.  

Throughout the day, I had to perform some self talk, telling myself to carry on you don't need another Paintbrush photo!  I did not listen to what I had to say!  The wildflowers were in their prime and this was the day to take it all in every which way possible.

I reached Quartz Ridge and had this view back from where I came.

From Quartz Ridge, I had this view of Howard Douglas Lake down below, Citadel Peak in the centre far off distance and from here I could see the area where Citadel Pass is and that is to the left at the base of Citadel Peak.  It looked so close but there was still a long way to go.  

at Quartz Ridge 

Before leaving Quartz Ridge and descending to Howard Douglas Lake, I did a check-in with myself as a reminder that on the way back when I am probably going to be feeling a bit tired, I will still have that long steep climb back up from the Lake to the Ridge.  I was still good to carry on and would face that when the time came.  

Howard Douglas Lake

I was excited for the balance of the trail to Citadel Pass after leaving the Lake behind.  

The wildflowers carpeted every open grassy area there was.  

vibrant red Paintbrushes in front of Fatigue Mountain

I arrived at Citadel Pass! 

I set up my tripod to capture my destination shot.  Mount Assiniboine is peaking through just under my arm on the left in the photo.  Those dark clouds came and went and came and went but it still remained blue sky with a few white fluffy puffy clouds above me.  

This was my view as I relaxed on that big rock and savoured my snacks.  The other solo lady arrived and she claimed another big rock behind me. We shared a few pleasantries and then it was like we were kindred spirits, we got lost in own peace at this piece of paradise.  She left for the return hike a few minutes before me.  I passed by her and for the balance of the hike we remained about half a kilometre from each other.  

I swear the wildflowers grew in beauty and population during the forty-five minutes I spent at Citadel Pass!  I guess I was so focused on getting to Citadel Pass that I passed by this view of the flowers and Citadel Lake on the way in.  

wildflowers lined the trail

There seems to be more red from the Paintbrushes than there is green from the grass!

I kept looking back to see if I could see Mount Assiniboine!  

There she is!

getting closer to Howard Douglas Lake

When the sun came out from behind the clouds, the colours in the Lake looked incredible! 

Climb time came!  It was a very slow go not only for taking a break to catch my breath but also to admire the beauty behind me the higher I got. There you can see Mount Assiniboine to the right and Howard Douglas Lake below.  

Whew, I made it back up to Quartz Ridge!

From this spot on Quartz Ridge, it would be mostly down with a bit of up along the way.

At the edge of Quartz Ridge, I could see where I was headed and it is in middle in the far distance.  It is still quite a bit of distance to cover. Time was on my side for getting the Gondola back down so I did not rush it.  

same photo as above with orange showing the trail

I got all that distance from Quartz ridge covered and was happy to reach the intersection and head down to the Gondola. That is Mount Bourgeau in the middle, a sign I am almost done.

Once back at Sunshine Village I decided to get on the Gondola and head back down to my car.  I thought if I sat and relaxed a bit, I might have to book a room for the night.  There was no waiting to get my ride.  This is the view of the ride down.

I was so pleased with how today played out!  I was thankful for the cool day and the wind.  There may be another gondola ride in me, maybe early September when the ground cover is decorated in autumn hews and before it stops running on September 11th.  For now, I am feeling sky high from such a wonderful adventure into Citadel Pass!  

Kayak Carburn August 1, 2022

Carburn Park is one of my go to places when I head off to be a birder but this morning it was my go to place to practice paddling in my packraft. While I have been to this Park numerous times in all seasons, I have never been on a dog day of summer like today was forecasted to be.  I went early to beat the heat but mainly to be in and out before the holiday hoards arrive. 

Instead of entering the water from the platform, I entered just below where my kayak is sitting.  I few years back, I learned how to get into and out of a kayak from a dock and I knew right then and there, that was not for me.  The location below my kayak was a tiny bit sketchy with mud and at a steeper angle than it looks, but I managed fine. 

Another reason for going early, was to experience calm waters.  The wind was forecasted to pick up later.  This was my first time for being out on the water at Carburn.  I always admired it from the path along the shore on my way to the forest to be a birder.  This morning I listened to the bird songs from a whole different vantage point.  

the reflections were incredible

After spending a little time practicing my paddling technique, I then aimed for the middle, stretched my legs, put my feet up and just sat.  My kayak moved about slowly and gently on its own and I just admired whatever was in front of me . 

Time passed and I was feeling I was ready to head to shore.

Instead of getting out where I got in which is behind me over by the dock in the centre of the photo, I found a more user-friendly location while I was exploring the lagoon.  I dropped the packraft on the grass and let it dry in the sunshine before heading back to my vehicle.

As I passed by one of the benches, I spotted this painting.  I saw on the news a little while ago that someone was leaving paintings in the city parks and they were for the taking.  I love this piece of art but I did not take it.  My plan was to now go home and do some art work of my own while keeping cool inside.

my version of delicious cool treats

I let my mind wander to a place filled with mouth-watering, lip-smacking cool treats!  

What I saw in my mind, I put my vision to paper with the help of tutorials. 

I had one of these popsicles after a hike on the Icefields Parkway the other week when I was up that way for a few days.  It cooled me down then and sketching this yesterday cooled me down too.  I picked tan toned paper so the white would pop and laid the shades with coloured pencils. The brightest white markings are done with a gel pen.  

Strawberries, creamsicles, ice cream and watermelon are all thirst quenchers and cool sweet treats.  All four of these projects were completed on tan toned paper.  The strawberries and ice cream on a waffle cone were done with coloured pencils while the creamsicle and watermelon slice were done with water-colour paints.  

The watercolour projects were enjoyable to do as I learned two new techniques.  While the paint on the top of the creamsicle was still wet, I sprinkled some grains of salt onto it.  After it was completely dry, I brushed off the salt and was left with a different look, an icy look.  For the watermelon, I drew a triangle and painted it with plain water.  Then I dropped a few drops of three different shades over the entire triangle. While still very wet, I picked up the sketchbook and began tilting it to move the paint around until I got the look I was after.  When moving the paint around in that manner, it does not go beyond the wet so stays within the shape of the triangle.  A few seeds were added with black paint and white gel pen plus two shades of green and a bit of yellow were brushed together to make the skin of the watermelon.