Random autumn post

White Bear, Saskatchewan - Dale Redekopp

White Bear is located northwest of Kyle. The community got its name from the probable sighting of a white prairie grizzly bear there in the late 1800's. White Bear was an active community in the 1930's with about 250 residents, and numerous commercial establishments including four grain elevators. The last elevator, a well photographed Pioneer with a leaning annex was struck by lightning and destroyed in Jun 2017. It still can be seen on Google Street Views from 2014.  The only commercial establishment still open in town is the White Bear Hotel. The population was 25 in 2021, up from 10 in 2016.

The one and only Cpt Mo Wednesday

Fieldscapes - Dale Redekopp

A Baker's Dozen

A baker's dozen in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota.

- Michael Truman

Past Presence Website

Twin '61 Chevys

Sighted near Lancaster, Minnesota.

Always loved that curved wrap-around back window.

- Michael Truman

Past Presence Website

Random wildlife post

Jasper, Alberta.

 

Weekend diversions

Chris Doer and Connie Biggart and a friend of theirs, Rob Pohl, are working on a project.

By the way, check out www.bigdoer.com

I have known Chris and Connie for a few years and I recently met Rob Pohl. All of them have a project they are working on called The Beer Parlour Project where they document small town hotels and taverns mainly in Alberta. A few years back I was talking with Chris and he mentioned that bars and small town hotels would be a interesting category for blog posts or possibly more. I find this intriguing. I am what not sure what will come of it, maybe a book or an article or something else entirely. The group has been to a number of places in Alberta taking photos and doing interviews and gathering research.

I found out that they were going to be in Coleman, Alberta September 15 and dropped in. They invite people to come by and share the experience. Coleman is a former coal mining town and this is an old hotel. There are rooms upstairs that you can rent, and apparently they were booked solid that night. I hung out for a few hours because I was curious. I left before the band came on after eight as I had a long drive back.

I had driven past this place before on prior road trips and had no idea it was a functioning business. This is the kind of place that I have not been to in ages. I like to check the signs and notices in places like this. You never know what you might find. There were only two beers on tap. One was Bud Light (hard pass) and the other was from a local brewery. I tried the local stuff and liked it. Looking forward to seeing what place they want to visit next.

Jasper, Alberta post

Random wildlife post

Random notes

Dropped in on mom for a quick visit. She is still in isolation due to COVID. They let me see her in her room with a mask on as long as I kept my distance. Mom sounds healthier from when I last talked to her on the phone and she looks good. I made sure she had everything she needed. It is only a matter of time until they let her out of solitary confinement and back into general population. She is on the mend. 

Random Alberta September

To absent friends

Random notes

I had today and tomorrow off.

I had some things scheduled today and a road trip planned for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

My car needed new tires. It was in the shop at eight this morning and rolled out with four new all weather tires. Next I took the motorcycle to the shop and left it with them. It is getting new tires and a couple of minor repairs. There were a couple of minor errands. After that I was going to visit mom.

I just got off the motorcycle in the parking lot of the shop and my phone rang. It was the retirement home where mom lives. One of the nurses told me that mom had informed them that she was not feeling well. They did a test and told me that mom has COVID. She is in isolation in her room and I am not able to visit her. I gave mom a call. She sounds like she has a bad cold.

Life gets in the way. Plans change.

Random road trip photo

Mad-Coon Saloon

This guy was advertising the Mad-Coon Saloon during the Maddock Rural Renaissance Festival in Maddock, North Dakota this past weekend.  Lots of indoor and outdoor games, flea markets, people dressed up in Renaissance costumes and of course, beer and burgers (my personal favourite).  Fun times at the country fair.

- Michael Truman

Past Presence Website

St. Michail’s Cemetery, County of Two Hills, Alberta

Close to Township Road 540 and Range Road 90.

The cemetery was established in 1908. There was supposed to be a church here, it was never built. Many people were buried here in unmarked graves during the Spanish Flu epidemic. The cemetery was abandoned in the 1950’s. More of the graves are unmarked due to fires years ago and the wooden markers rotting away over time. There are about forty known burials here. There are many more unknown.

Internet has been out for the day

A small commercial construction project burned down a block and a half from me early this morning and somehow internet and cable in my area was affected. It is still down. First world problems.

On the bright side I was able to stop at Lundbreck Falls, close to Lundbreck, Alberta on Friday.

Lazy Sunday post

 

Random fall post

Coordination is a thing

Thursday morning I managed to bash my right foot on my bed and felt instant pain. I was off that day but due to certain people not meeting deadlines I had to drop into the office for an hour to get a client file wrapped up. I gingerly got my foot into my shoe and hobbled off to the office. Later in the day when I peeled my shoe off I discovered the two smallest toes were purple. I am sure I did not break them. 

I had Friday off. I took a drive. I had some half formed plans to take a trip somewhere with my extended weekend, I could not get anything to fall into place. I took a day trip just to get out of the house. Maybe I should have stayed home. Now I have four purple toes. The pain has largely subsided when I move it so that is a good sign.

Random Alberta September

The Wednesday Cpt Mo post

Spaca Moskalyk Ukrainian Catholic Church

Near Mundare, Alberta.

Spotted in Drayton Valley, Alberta

Visited mom yesterday and spotted this when I took her out for ice cream.

The start of a prairie pyramid

 

Random Saskatchewan - Dale Redekopp