Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Tuesday 30th Nov - Last day

Woke up at three and couldn't walk to the bathroom.
Well I could walk but I had to hang onto the furniture as my balance was gone.
My first thought was "Oh No I've given us all food poisoning and we are going to die" but my stomach did not hurt so I ruled out food poisoning.
then tried to clear my ears and that helped so I made my way down to the kitchen and made some hot tea.
back up stairs and drank said tea and fell asleep again. When I woke up my ears were better a little.
I really do not want to fly with bad ears but today is the day so will just have to make sure to clear my ears a lot.
quiet day, just packing up and double checking that I didn't leave anything.
Sarah came with Keith to cleanup for Dave and Colleen tonight.
We went for a walk this afternoon and we met Mike and Anna, the new neighbours across the street. nice people and they gave us a tour of their new house.
very impressive.
Jim will be picking us up at round 4-430 to take us to the airport.
I plan on picking up a couple odd things at the airport with the US money I have left over. stocking stuffer things.
Our plane does not leave until 8 so we will have some time to fill while we are there.
we should get into Edmonton around 11 and be home to Aunt Mary and Uncle Ron's by Midnight. I will be spending the morning with them and then I am going to ask Sharon for a ride home after lunch.


Monday, November 29, 2010

monday the second to last day of this trip

Up at 5.
Very cool outside.blogged last nights adventures.
Figured out how to turn on the hot tub.
Went hot tubbing listening to Bach.
Very nice in the hot tub... very cold not inside the hot tub.
I tried to take a photo of this little bird.
I think it is a Verdin.
It was calling in very rapid 'chips'.
Made some cheese and plain crescent rolls.
Put above mentioned crescent rolls in oven.
Saw a cardinal in the tree by the house and grabbed my camera but not my jacket.
Short sleeves outside this morning not such a good idea for any great length of time.
Did manage to get a few good shots
overcooked the crescent rolls
my life so far today.
after breakfast we, Aunt Mary and I made a poem
here it is.

Twas the day of the dandylion wine they say, that little Mary did fall.
She sipped each cup a little bit, till there was none left at all.
She fell asleep on the porch, as she was only three.
her mother told each passerby, she's fallen asleep you see.
Now she yells the tale that since that day,
no wine has touched her lips.
till they toasted the bride on her wedding day, then she took a little sip.

We all went for a very short walk and ended up sitting in the sun on the south patio.
I got a few shots of Boggie and Bacall's nest and Boggie too.

Sunday evening football, rabbit statues and bobcats

Greycup time.
I found the ESPN3 online live feed streaming video to watch the game. Uncle Ron's computer gets a great clear picture.
I went upstairs to get something and saw the rabbits on the tee behaving very oddly.
they were sitting up, frozen, not moving a muscle.
I thought how odd.
Then I saw it .
The little bobcat stalking them. of course I did not have my camera , it was downstairs. off i ran. by the time I got back he had moved off to another tee but the rabbits had not moved a hair (hare).
What was really odd was that he didn't seem to see them....
the little rabbit statues. he had passed right by them within a few feet.
then he saw a rabbit move on the next tee and took off, passing three little rabbit statues that I think he could have gotten quite easily.
the little rabbits remained as statues for about another 5 or ten minutes. then they were grazing like normal.
Very exciting.
The sunset was very pretty too.
Very cold out there.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

rain, hail and sunshine. church and buffets sunday 28 Nov

Woke up at 6 and came downstairs to check a few things out on the internet.also did laundry.
It was clear when I woke up with Venus and Saturn sparkling away in the east and Sirius in the west.
The sunrise was gorgeous as clouds started to blow in.
I found out that the rock I picked up on my hike yesterday on the Lost Goldmine Trail is a schist.
A type of metamorphic rock with lots of mica in it. Very pretty and sparkly.
Then it got even cloudier.
I went out to get a photo and surprised a small bobcat in the back but he got away before I could click the shot.
The problem with digital is that there is a time delay from when you push the button to when it takes the picture.
I had a nice cheese omlet for breakfast and listened to my mediation dharma talks while I folded my laundry.
Aunt Mary and Uncle Ron were up at 9 and so I talked with them while Uncle Ron made them Breakfast.
It started to rain and hail.
the mountains were gone behind the clouds.
then we went to the 1130 mass which is the children's mass and far less crowded than the 10.
Afterwards Uncle Ron treated us to lunch at the chinese smorgasbord. Always tasty.
We all got great fortune cookies.
a quick stop at bashaws for a few essentials and home again.
They called Nancy their daughter and listened to the messages on the phone and found out that there is an internet site we can go to to find out the score for the grey cup. so now we are on the hunt for that.
go Saskatchewan!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

A hike - about 9 miles long. give or take a mile

5 am - off out the door with:
3 granola bars
a bottle of water
one camera
One pair of sunglasses
One minute flashlight just in case the half moon was not bright enough.
Followed the golf path to the end of the wall
Turned East on the road on the other side of the wall.
There were owls calling to each other from opposite sides of the road.

There were coyotes singing to each other from across the valley.
there were stars in the sky in abundance.
Venus was brilliant.
There was a bunch of noises in a bush so I took a picture to see if any eyes were looking out at me, but there were none.
The half moon was indeed bright enough to walk by.
at 545 I got to the trail head for the hieroglyphic trail.
I headed up and it was actually Quite fun,
challenging,
in the moonlight ones' depth perception seems to falter a little.
I moved slowly and made it up to the superstition gate by 630am. My mind is funny in that while I walk I come up with poetry to describe whatever is happening.
Usually not good poetry but it is fun. Such as.
"I followed a trail in the moonlight,
So bright that the trail was like daylight,
the stars overhead were sparkling bright
and some noises they gave me a fright,
But I know there's no Bear here
or sasquatch to fear
so I'll trip right along
with a traveling song
and get to the top
that's where I'll stop
pictures to see written on rock
of these I will talk.
now the hike is all done and now its not dark
this hike in the moonlight was really a lark.
It was still dark but by this time the sunrise was thinking about happening.
By the time I got up to the canyon, around 7 the sun was the light that I was walking with.
The birds woke up and there were some lovely songs that I have never heard before.
I climbed over rocks as big rooms in a house.
I looked at the petroglyphs.
I climbed higher in the canyon than I ever had before.
I ate a granola bar and had some water.
There were little birds who kept me company.
I could hear those little cliff squirrels but did not see any.
I got a great shot of the balancing rock.
I really does look like it should fall.
I stayed there for quite some time just poking around.
About 8 am I headed back down.
I then started to run into folks on their way up.
The first couple was very surprised to see me.
He was a photographer and carrying his tripod and camera and she was a tag along.
The next two were joggers! are they crazy running on that rocky trail?
Yes
A couple of sisters with two kids,
two gents dressed for hiking.
a family.
Going down went a lot faster than the going up took.
They really should oil the Superstition gate as it is the squeakiest thing in the world
I got down to the directional sign s for the two trails at about 8.45.
One can choose to either go to the Lost Goldmine Trail or the Hieroglyphic trail.
Since I had just finished the H Trail, and it was only 845 I figured I had time.
I decided to try the Lost goldmine Trail, never having been down that one before
It goes East and is not as rough a trail as the hieroglyphic.
It is lovely with lots of ups and downs and twists but it is much longer.
It follows the wire fence to the Superstition Wilderness for some of the time and brings one quite close to the mountain on the other side on the H. Trail.
At about 915 I turned around and headed back thinking that I had gone about two miles by that time wasn't sure how long this trail was to start with.
When I got back to the directional signs I ran into a multi generational family, a grandfather, his married children and their three children.
They wanted to take the Lost Goldmine trail and were curious what kind of trail it was.
Got back to the trail head at about 940 and ran into a couple who were hiking the trail for the first time.
The trail was very clear and well marked. I reassured her that they could not get lost. He said , "You wanna bet". We all laughed.
I took a look at the legend and found out that the last trail is about 5 and a half miles long.
Headed back to the house. The sun was out now and it was getting warm.
I saw a Raven flying to the moon.
I got back home by 1030 and shared all my stories with Aunt Mary and Uncle Ron who were just finishing their breakfast.
We went for a walk after my shower.
Then we went to the golf course and Uncle Ron hit a few balls while Aunt Mary and I did a Crossword puzzle and ordered lunch.
On the way home we toured the neighbourhood. golden eagle circle is nice.
a light supper after sitting on the patio and listening to music and Narnia.
We finished listening to the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Supper and a nice chat.
Another exciting day.






Friday, November 26, 2010

Friday, walks and rocks and gates... oh my

Woke at 630 and decided at 7 to go for a walk.
It was so cold last night that the water froze.
Yes you heard me right. Froze!
In very pretty patterns.
I could see my breath as I went up the golf path.
I followed the road around the Superstition road to the other other end of the wall and went over.
There was a nice path going up towards the mountain so I followed it.
It eventually joined on to a road which I then followed to a turn where there was another path toward the mountain then followed.
There were lots of birds out this morning.
The path wound a little bit through the desert.
then there was a gate.
a new gate.
One I had never seen before which only makes sense as I was on a trail that I had never been on before.
I went through the gate and heard a shot way off to the left.
Earlier I had seen a truck parked way over across the valley and so figured that's who was doing the shooting.
I would just take care not to go to the left to much.
there was a very nice little trail going up which apparenty at one time in the recent past had horses on it.
It was a very pleasant walk just me and the birds, the cactus and the sun.
I built an Inukshuk to keep me company.
I did this very carefully turning each rock over before picking it up as one never knows what is under a rock in the desert. I was not surprised by anything at all which made me very happy.
This trail came up to a fence that was running along the mountain east west instead of the one I had been sort of following north south.
This eventually led to the gate that I had been to previously.
the superstition wilderness gate.
I followed the road down from there and since I had travelled part of this road before I knew where it would end up.
At one point I headed east on this road and found another road going south
Now when I say road I mean a Quad trail or wide path, not a paved or even gravel graded road.
This road eventually led me to another new gate and the vehicle of the person or persons who were still occasionally shooting at something way off to my left.
This gate had a road leading to the break in the wall where I scooted in and then tried to cross the golf course only to be stopped by a very deep and steep sided wash which was for me,
without gloves or boots, impassible.
(fear of poisonous snakes and spiders being my main concern not to mention the chance of slipping and falling and laying in the bottom of this large crevice, unconscious, unseen and un-findable without the aid of baying bloodhounds who would only find me after running all through the desert following my trail with their sensitive noses)
I followed it around and was just going to head south back on the golf path when a flash of red caught my eye and turned me east.
A cardinal was feeding under a bush so I attempted to get a clear shot.
I almost succeeded.
the sun was getting warmer now and I was getting thirsty having forgotten to bring a drink along, so I headed back to the house down. Canyon view Trail another new road for me. Lots of new things today and it is not even 930 am.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thursday 25 Nov. - Happy Thanksgiving. Birds, birds birds

Cold out there today, only 48 F. when I got up at 5.
Finished a few more months of WW1 Diaries.
After breakfast we went for a walk and I saw a cardinal.
Male.
Bright Red.
He was with a female.
I tried to get a clear photo of him but no luck.
I will try again this afternoon.
It is Aunt Mary and Uncle Ron's 66TH ANNIVERSARY!
today.
They have been getting phone calls all day.
Big lunch of turkey pie, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, salad, mashed potatoes and blueberry pie for dessert.
very full now.
Went back out to find the cardinal and found someone just as exciting.
A male Phainopepla.
related to the waxwings
with the little hat of feathers.
so cool
lots of other birds as well
A thrasher
purple house finch
doves
cactus wren.
and a cool cactus
with many arms
that seemed to be hugging each other.
Had a light dinner and am now updating the blog.
going to watch a movie tonight
and go for a hike tomorrow.
do not know where yet.
maybe the hieroglyphic trail or part of it.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Wednesday 24 november - a wee hike

This morning I woke a 4 am so typed WW1 Diaries until 630 then got ready to go out for a hike to the mountain.
The sunrise was gorgeous .
The air was freezing.
I swear I could see my breath.
I followed the golf path to the break in the wall and headed up.
Up past the wire fence to keep the cows in.
the sun was just coming out and kissed the tops of the mountains.
I did not see any cows this morning.
The Mountains cast a long shadow over the neighbouring mountains across the valley.
I continued up past the end of the road and the path.
Up past where I had never gone before.
I ate a granola bar as I walked along and thought of snakes and cougars and havelina.
I cut over west, following the easiest and most open areas and found another road.
I walked up it up for a while and when it twisted back down the hill I set off again into the wilderness, only to find,
possiby the same road again about 5 minutes later.
It must have twisted back towards the mountain later on.
Again I followed the small rocky trail until it came to an opening and there was another wire fence.
The gate to Superstiton wilderness.
Now I was really going where I had never been before.
There was a trail of sorts which led
north into thick brush in low arroyos so that I could not even see the valley below.
I could of course still see the mountain and just kept going that direction.
The trail disappeared and I ended up weaving my way through brush and cactus, over rocks and around trees.
Sometimes I felt like I was going back downhill in order to find a way uphill.
I saw an openish kind of area and headed for that
and then wound my way up the hill until I could go no further without actually climbing some rocks or going off to one side or the other to find a path up.
I had decided that actually climbing in piles of rocks would probably not be the safest thing for a loan hiker to do.
Since it was then 8:15ish I thought well maybe now is a good time to turn around.
I had succeeded in my mission and had reached the part of the hill that I wanted too.
About 1 third up from the bottom of the ridge that then goes up the mountain.
So I looked for a place to put the camera to film my success and managed to poke my finger with a jumping cactus.
They do not make very good stands for cameras.
I ended up just filming myself.
Going down was not as difficult as I thought it would be .
There was, at one point, something poking me in the leg.
and when I checked to see what it was discovered a large cactus spine had somehow gone through my jeans and was sticking into my leg.
After I pulled the needle out of my leg, I poked it back through my jeans poking my finger in the process.
I took a shot of those misty mountains through my sunglasses. I think the photo is other worldly.
I found a wire fence running up and down the hill instead of across and thought I was on the wrong side so slid under it carefully and followed the trail along the fence for quite awhile.
When I thought that I had gone far enough down that I should be able to cut over to the road I ventured away from the fence and headed west.
It was not too long and I was indeed on a road of sorts. A trail really for Atvs that was not the road that I thought it would be. How many roads are there out here?
I followed this road down until it came to the wall that surrounds the subdivision.
I followed the wall back to the opening and came home.
the golf maintenance guys were still out so I followed the golf path.
It seems so funny to see them bundled up in toques and coats when they are cutting the grass on a golf course. The rest of the day was quiet. a breakfast , a crossword, a lunch, a nap, a few laughs with Aunt Mary and Uncle Ron. Tomorrow is their 66th anniversary.