SOUTHERN ALBERTA MEETUP

 After several attempts over the years to meet up with Donna, it finally happened.

Stopped the motorhome on the side of the highway and shot out the open door.  This one was taken with my full frame digital camera and the next one was taken with my phone.

Finally, we see mountains again.

By golly, we got a photo of me!

On the left is Donna, one of Aileen's best friends in school.  She also happens to be my first cousin twice removed as her dad and mine were cousins.  Aileen knew her long before I did.  Donna's husband took this shot of us.  They had driven out from Airdrie to Carbon to visit us.

Aileen and Donna

GETTING BACK TO OUR BRITISH COLUMBIA-ALBERTA ROAD TRIP

Skipping ahead a bit, here are a few images taken at Bridal Lake on the summit of the Salmo-Creston section of BC  Highway 3.  Stagleap Provincial Park straddles the highway and Bridal Lake is right on the side of the highway.  There is a nice level trail that goes around the lake away from the highway and also a loop trail that takes you further up into the forest.  I will have to plan to take the loop trail next time we go there as there are 5 geocaches along it and perhaps some nice views as well.  We've never stopped there before and hadn't thought about it this time but it was lunch time.  There was no cell service so I didn't know about the geocaches until sitting at the computer here at home.  It's about 182 kms from home as the crow flies but much further by road.

Nice cabin for warming up built by BC Parks

 

Looking back to the cabin from the far end of the lake

Bear Grass.  An evergreen member of the lily family.  The plants seem to flower every five to ten years.  Poisonous to eat, the local natives used the tough leaves to ornament baskets giving it its other common name of Indian basket-grass.

THE RECENT ATV RIDE

 A few photos from the ride I led Friday.  The Dunebusters ride together in the winter in Yuma, AZ and gathered in Summerland, BC for a summer reunion.  This was their third and last ride of the event.

Madden Lake

Here I am coming through a tricky spot

Ernie tried a different angle

Oops!

No he didn't fall off, he hopped off to operate from the ground.

Lunch at the Madden Lake rec site

Ripley Lake

SKIPPING AHEAD TO SOME MORE RECENT PHOTOS

 I was out twice this week in the RZR. I did a quick reconnaissance of my trail on Thursday then took a group out for a ride on Friday.

Common Blue Damselfly

Western Painted Turtles

Western Painted Turtles

Western Painted Turtles

Nearly dark below the Vaseux dam, much of the light is from the security lights.

The hills are alive with these Mariposa Lilies

Heavy crop of Squaw Currants, too bad they're so bland.

Burnell Lake

Canada Thistle

Burnell Lake Reflections

Burnell Lake

Burnell Lake, geese cruising by.