Tunnel vision

Mount MacDonald Tunnel on a stop while travelling through the Rogers Pass in British Columbia on October 28, 2017. The Rogers Pass was named after Major Albert Bowman Rogers who discovered the pass in 1882 through the Rocky Mountains which was crucial for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. It is definitely a pass through the mountains however the railway builders likely wished there was a easier route. The Rogers Pass is subject to heavy snow and avalanches with steep grades. If I remember my history the Yellowhead Pass much further north was a much easier route. The Rogers Pass was chosen as it was closer to the American border and the completion of the railway would further cement our claim to this territory. There were fears of American annexation during periods of Canadian history.

The tunnel can be seen just off the highway down a bank. I thought this tunnel was much older. It dates to 1988. The tunnel is just over nine miles long. The tunnel was built to reduce the grade for trains through the Rogers Pass. The Connaught Tunnel is nearby which is just over five miles long and was completed in 1916. The Mount MacDonald Tunnel supplements the Connaught Tunnel with trains usually going east through the Connaught and west through the Mount MacDonald. In the background on the mountain you can see that snow has started to make and appearance in the Rogers Pass.

Ferry Point Church

North of Donalda, Alberta on October 22, 2017. I think this place would look gorgeous at any time of the year. The church was built in 1905 and is no longer in use. I know power was never hooked up to the church. Named Ferry Point as just north of here there used to be a ferry crossing.

I could not get inside but sometimes a peek through the window works just as well.

Science Mound School 1905 - 1954

Near Donalda, Alberta on October 22, 2017. It was named for a geographical feature in the area. Became a community centre after it ceased being a school. One of the smaller schools that I have seen. Boarded up and no longer used. A solid building that should last quite a few years.

Random thoughts

Today is October 28, 2017. I have not seen any mosquitoes in quite some time. I think I can put away the bug spray.

Wide open spaces

I really do not like windmills. They do give a scale of the wide open space here.

Look closer and you can see it

Jenn from westofthefifthmeridian.blogspot.ca posted this previously and I ran across this totally by coincidence a few days later on October 22, 2017. I was going to ask for the location and ended up stumbling across it before I could ask.

This is just off of Highway 590 west of Big Valley, Alberta south on Range Road 215. Someone has a great sense of humour. 

Sure enough, just down the road is the invisible house. There is a ladder in the background being supported by nothing.

Right beside the invisible house on a fencepost is this sign. No see a lot of "No Hunting" and "No Trespassing" signs. This one is special.

Pretty much any business

Sign on the General Store in Donalda, Alberta.

Old truck in October

I am nor really a fan of abandoned vehicle photos. I saw this in a field near Torrington, Alberta. I tapped the brakes, stopped, and thought it looked photogenic.

October 22, 2017.

Time for a theme post

I have a lot more of these. Most of these I have posted before. I thought I would post a number of them all at once.

Shelter Bay, British Columbia October 14, 2017

Out of service ferries on Arrow Lake.

Up To Date School

A former one room schoolhouse near Donalda, Alberta. Opened in 1909 or 1910. Still on its original site and it will not last much longer. I am not sure how it is still standing. There have been a few nasty windstorms in Alberta recently. I had never been here before and with the recent weather I was surprised that it was standing. Saw this October 22, 2017.

There is one occupant. A fair sized nest sits in the rafters.

Senkiw Church

A little Ukrainian Church that is no longer used in the middle of nowhere on September 30, 2017. I have been here before and posted it from a prior visit. Nearest town of any real size is about thirty miles away. There are a few farms nearby.

Just who is this guy?

I am sure all of us at one time or another get their interest piqued about someone.

A few years ago this person came into the office and became a client. When I initially met him he was soft spoken, in his late fifties, and had a religious Hebrew book with him and appeared very devout. Very nice guy and a pleasure to do business with. Since then I have seen him in the office about two dozen times.

Here is where it gets interesting.

Every time he has come into the office to see me about his file I have failed to recognize him. Every time he is completely different. Different clothes, different hair styles, sometimes a hat, different glasses or no glasses, and different facial hair or none at all. Every time he is very different in appearance and every time I fail to recognize him when he comes in the door. He came in last week and I failed to recognize him once again when he walked in the door. 

During the time I have interacted with him he has sort of been in retirement, done some work on a ranch, and recently done some work with an auto racing team among other things. Every time I seem him he is doing something very different. I am dying to ask one of these days about his background however I really cannot bring myself to ask. I am damn curious though.

Personally I have the feeling someone out there might be pulling a long term practical joke on me. Whatever the reason for someone possibly doing this escapes me. If this turns out to be the case I am dying to see what the payoff to the joke is because the setup is amazing so far.

Prairie scene

Near Oyen, Alberta June 30, 2017.

Time for a little colour

With fall things are looking a little drab. Time to brighten things up.

September 30, 2017