Stormy Weather

We are experiencing the first big storm of the 2016 season. Went down to Monterey for a golf get away as the event was approaching and the waves were getting pretty hairy…when we left they were ramped up quite a bit from what you see below, but unfortunately I didn't have my camera. Wind, rain, and a downed tree limb from the neighbors yard damaged our awning.

For John: Shadows of Sycamore

My friend John C. Nelson loves Sycamore Grove Park in Livermore…the trails, the sudden chance to get a peak at beautiful wild life, the stately trees, the feeling of peace it always imparts. I visited the other day and took a few photos of my favorite part of the park…the shadow play.

Hope you're doing well my friend…

your park is flourishing these days.

Oh Canada! And Our Little House on The Prairie

We just got back from our 16 day jaunt to Canada, and except for a very bumpy flight home, we had a simply spectacular trip. We stayed in a tiny town called Twin Butte in Alberta--which gave us easy access to Waterton Lakes Park but still gave us the sense of privacy and open land we have been yearning for in a vacation home. Flew into Calgary and headed west...

At the U Bar ranch near Longview Alberta, on our way to the Little House

Out in the middle of the Prairie…our home for 11 nights

cozy living room with beautiful pine walls

kitchenette, I made some great fritatta in this tiny space!

very comfortable bed

On July 4th, we played our first round of golf at the Waterton Lakes Golf Course…gorgeous!
http://www.hikinginglacier.com/glacier-going-to-the-sun-road.htm

The second photo shows a Grizzly momma and 2 cubs above the 13th green. Very scary moments!

Look for the light brown spots near the top of the green grassy hill…them be bears.

Waterton Golf Course is an unknown treasure as far as we were concerned. Nice people, low key, and great prices compared to Banff or Canmore. Pay once and play all day! And on Tuesdays, two seniors can play for the price of one.

Here is a peak through the trees towards the mountains around Waterton Lake, some 10 miles away.



Waterton Lakes Township is a lovely place to visit, nestled between high peaks and the broad blue waters of Waterton Lake.

Lakeshore on a very windy day…it's windy here ALOT!

You can ride a boat all the way across the lake to Montana and Goat Haunt.

Look at my hair! windy! Red chairs are placed around for relaxing.

These are campers left over from the Canada Day celebration...camping on grass…cool and comfy.

It was surprising to see the same kind of summer flowers in Canada that we have in always warm CA.

Downtown view…very quiet and manicured streets. You would want to live here.

I am standing on the back lawn of the Prince of Wales Hotel looking down on the townsite…

The grand Prince of Wales Hotel, a bit of the past still lingering on…

Yes that is a kilt…and he is telling this lady that today was first NO wind day he could remember….

The inside of the hotel is a big tawdry IMO and in need of a facelift.

We took many hikes on this trip, but I am just going to focus on our favorite…the Lineham Falls hike. We caught the Hiker Shuttle in town and they took us to the trailhead…for free!

Mariposa Lilly…my favorite

 This hike was simply astounding with the abundance of wild flowers…we felt like we were walking through someone's personally manicured garden..

Finally, the falls appears in the far distance...

Met a wonderful couple from Ontario at the end of the hike. Franco told us of his work restoring the forests that had been destroyed by acid rain in eastern Canada…the key was adding lime back into the soil. The forests have totally regenerated!

Waterton Lakes Park in Alberta Canada shares a border with Glacier National Park in Montana so it has been designated an InterNational Peace Park. We crossed the US/Canada border three times to visit Glacier. We toured Going to the Sun Road on a Red Bus Tour. The bus was made in 1930 and has an open top so you can take in the views. Our day was cold so we needed warmer clothes but all in all, I have high praises for this stress free way to see the famous road.



Views from the bus now on the Going to the Sun Road…cold in the car!!! bring a down jacket. Or at least find out what the temps will be in the high country.

Logan Pass Alpine Lillies

Up close lilly

COLD…July 5, 2016 Logan Pass

Look at the people-ants  hiking on the snow!!! CRAZY!

beautiful flowers at the lodge on Lake Macdonald 

Famous Incredible Bird Woman Falls

Our beautiful 1930s ride

Learn more about the Going to the Sun Road on this great website

http://www.hikinginglacier.com/glacier-going-to-the-sun-road.htm

12 days into our trip, we discovered beautiful and hidden Kananaskis Country on our drive from Waterton Lakes to Canmore…and chose to do a day hike there to Lillian Lake. K country was decimated by a flood in 2013. The flood waters completely destroyed a gorgeous golf course and took out 13 bridges found on this hike. Most have been rebuilt. We crossed 10 bridges on our short 7 mile hike. This hike gave us some very steep switchbacks and a very good work out!

Dave talking to a fellow traveler who told us about the flood and bridge rebuild

Here are some areas that still show the flood damage...

And bridges being rebuilt

On to the rest of the hike...
This might be a rose???

Cobweb in high perch

Our destination…aqua waters of Lillian Lake

Clouds in Lillian Lake

Dave at peace

Two more rebuilt bridges in this photo…

Onto golf in Canmore! This is Steven's Creek Golf Course. Just beautiful..played here twice. The skies are huge, the fairways bigger than huge. We met a nice young man and played with him before the rain set in.

Great driving range…

On the course…talk about perfect!!!