October - Pincher Creek, Alberta

Friends it's time I got into gear and updated our mobile life.  Lots of new things happened over the summer for us.  We were going to spend the winter in Canada albeit at the province west of us where the winters are milder but....

An apartment in a seniors complex came up for rent and we decided to grab it because they come up few and far between.  Our apartment faces south, is one bedroom, 539 sq. ft. (slightly bigger than our motor home) and the price is right even when we decide to go gallivanting with the motor home.

We live a couple of blocks from our grand kids and when we look out our windows we can see their school a block away.  We are settling back in with volunteer work at the museum and generally taking it easy.  We are looking forward to concerts and Christmas with the grand kids and maybe babysitting occasionally.  Life is good :)

The wind is blowing like crazy out of the west today but the sun is shining.  We went out for lunch and then toured the countryside looking at the fall foliage.

We also discovered an over age 65 and handicapped persons park and fishing pond.  What a jewel in our town.

lots of area for having a picnic

lots of level fishing areas

so glad it is not just an oval pond but a pond shaped like a horseshoe
with an island in the middle

 

Another restriction at this pond is your catch limit per day is 2 fish.

I heard about this pond in the summer but had never checked it out until today.  What  beautiful setting for a day at the pond.

 

 

We continued around to look at the aftermath of May flooding at the Oldman Dam.  The bridge is still not repaired between the dam and the Cottonwood campground and from reading in the paper may never be. 

 

 

The release of the dam waters because of heavy rainfall and flooding in the west country has left the Oldman River below the dam with a new look.

 

the spillway is at the lower left of the photo and the river has been inundated with rocks and soil

We continued around the dam to Cowley, a town just west of Pincher Creek and couldn't help but wonder at how many more wind turbines have been installed over the spring and summer.

 

 

 

 



 wind turbines with the Rockies in the background

Beauvais Lake near Pincher Creek

We went for a walk around Beauvais Lake just a ten minute drive from Pincher Creek. 

this lake is stocked with rainbow trout

clear, cold mountain fed waters

lots of Canada geese and their goslings near and on the lake

Alberta's flower - the Alberta Rose

 

We plan on visiting this lake a lot this summer and trying our hand at catching a few of these trout :)

Canada Day and trip to BC and Montana

July 1st saw us celebrating Canada Day at the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village Museum with our son and his family.  The R.C.M.P. in their red serge marched in the flag.  One of the police officers told of the days of the NWMP and the outpost that was at Pincher Creek.

There were girls doing face tattoos, making balloon animals, bounce tents, food, refreshments and lots of visiting going on inside and outside of the buildings.   The weather cooperated and the breeze kept mosquitoes at bay.  All in all it was a fun day.

On July 2, we traveled by car to Fernie, BC and then crossed the border into Montana.  We followed along Lake Koocanusa which spans between Canada and the USA. 

Lake Koocanusa was formed from the development of Libby Dam on the Kootenai River.

We were surprised to see both sluice gates open.  There has been a lot of rainfall this spring and with snow melt it has raised the level of the lake. 

We spent the night in Libby and the next day headed towards Kalispell.  We decided to see Hungry Horse Dam before stopping for the night.  We just missed out on seeing the visitor's center.  Wouldn't you know on Wednesdays they close at 1:00 p.m.!

Hungry Horse Dam

 

We continued on the highway over the dam and were rewarded by sighting an Osprey fledgling sitting on the side of a nest and the parent ever watchful in a nearby tree.

 

 

 

 

We spent the night in Hungry Horse at a very nice motel.  We went walking after having supper in Columbia Falls and chatted with people from Indiana who were staying in the rv park attached to the motel.  You meet all sorts of nice people camping :)

 

 

Thursday, July 4th, Independence day saw us on the  Going to the Sun Road which goes from Hungry Horse to St. Mary.  It is a very picturesque drive with slow traffic and lots of stops for picture taking.  It seemed like around every bend there was more spectacular scenery.

Avalanche Creek

 

Heaven's Peak 8987 feet

Bird Woman Falls

Weeping Wall

 

Bear Grass

yes that is snow in the foreground of this picture

 

mountain goat at Logan Pass visitor's center

 

We stopped at the visitor's center and walked around.  There were masses of people out because of the beautiful weather.  A lot of people came prepared with snow gear (hiking boots, ski poles, etc.) because a lot of the trails were still snow covered.

 

We elected to forgo the icy trails and headed to St. Mary for lunch.

 

a couple of para surfers on St. Mary lake

 

If you are ever in Montana and decide to see Glacier National Park, I highly recommend the Going to the Sun Road.

 

 

 

 

June Wrap up

June was a month filled with appointments, dentist, doctor, eye checks - the works.  Glad those are over and we can start fishing.  The rivers are starting to clear and slow down.

We were able to join our grandchildren with school year end field trips.  We went with the grade 2 class to Heritage Acres, a pioneer site near the Oldman Dam.  Thank goodness they are high on a hill and weren't affected by the flooding.

1909 grain elevator moved to site and still works

Snyder House ca. 1909-1959

Doukhobor Barn ca. 1917

Knox Presbyterian Church ca. 1917

 

The children were divided into four groups.  Volunteers told the school children what life was like when these buildings were in operation or lived in.  It was hard for the kids to fully understand no electricity, riding a horse to school, working and living on the prairies.

 

 

I hate to say it but some of the artifacts I have used or have seen being used by my parents!

 

this stove was great - it has a warming oven and a reservoir

butter churn I used as a kid

party line phone

baby carriage



 This museum has a lot of volunteers who keep the buildings and artifacts in good condition.  There are also buildings that house machinery and cars from by gone days.

1917 Case 65 Hp. Steam Engine

early baler

1928 30-50 Rumley Oil Pull

 

We had a great day with the grade two students.  Especially enjoyed being with our son and grandson looking at all the neat old stuff.

 

 

On June 24th, we went to the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village with our grade three granddaughter and her classmates.  Once again the students were broken into groups so they would get a chance to see and learn about the pioneer days.  They attended a one room schoolhouse, learned about the Northwest Mounted Police, made ice cream and did a punched tin project.  

 

Cyr House ca. 1920's

Fishburn School

Doukhobor Barn

Cox Family House

walkway into village

Father Lacombe Hermitage

NWMP cabin

Kootenai Brown Cabin

Transportation exhibit

General Store exhibit

 

 

We volunteer at this museum.  It gives us something to do with our spare time when we are not traveling.