Elevator Friday - Wrentham, Alberta

Beehive burner

I used to see a lot of beehive burners many years ago in British Columbia. They were used by sawmills to burn off wood waste. They got phased out years ago due to environmental and health concerns. When they did operate they were in use twenty-four hours a day and you could see red sparks out the top at night. The top had kind of a metal mesh dome if I remember it right.

This is a former beehive burner at Malakwa, British Columbia that I guess became some kind of diner it the past. It is vacant and up for sale. 

The real old west

Cannot miss

How can one go wrong eating at a place called “The Village Idiot Bar & Grill”?

Not dead

Just taking a short break.

I had multiple interactions with my lawyer and some related appointments. Once that was done I decided to take off for a few days. 

Elevator Friday - Skiff, Alberta

Largest barn in Canada

Southwest of Foremost, Alberta is what at one time was the largest barn in Canada. It likely is the largest barn in Western Canada. It was built by John Heninger, has three floors, over 16,000 square feet, and once housed about 4,000 sheep. Today I am not sure if it gets much use. A sign in the property says Douglas Ranch.

Canola

In my part of the province the Canola crop is not good. This one by Barons, Alberta is much better.

Random old vehicle post

Spotted today

Saw this on a fence post in Skiff, Alberta.

When 4WD cannot save you

Just a smidge east past Calmar, Alberta this truck has been sitting in a field just off Highway 39 for over a week. Prior to that the amount of rain waterlogged the fields so I have no idea if someone was drunk, the vehicle was stolen, or it was a case of y’all watch this. I am a little surprised no one has tried to retrieve it. It must be buried up to the axles.

Elevator Friday - Dinsmore, Saskatchewan

Thank you once again to Dale Redekopp.

Canola

The Canola crop is not great. Too much rain this year and the fields are patchy. Nevertheless I love seeing fields of yellow.

Random photo

Cpt Mo on Wednesday

Saying goodbye

I had a family matter that I attended to last Sunday.

Mom died last September and she was cremated. My sister and I finally got our schedules to match up. Various things kept us from doing this sooner. I picked her up in Airdrie and we drove down to the southeast corner of British Columbia to spread her ashes at a nice secluded spot. It was the same spot where we spread my father’s ashes in 1997. I had asked mom many times through the years after dad passed how she wanted to be treated when she died. All mom would ever say was to do the same thing that we did for dad.

I wanted to say a few words but there were no words to say. Mom was difficult for several years before she died. I did my best to visit her, usually one to two times a week. I ran her errands, did her shopping, drove her where she needed to go. I cleaned her condo many times. When she was in the retirement home several time I would surprise her with a soft ice cream sundae. Towards the end I was driving practically daily a hour there and a hour back while coping with recovering from being an accident victim. Before he died my father told me to look after my mother and I took it to heart. Mom could be so unpleasant at time that a lot of the time after visiting I would drive out of town, pull over, and take a few minutes to deal with the emotional frustration, hurt, and perceived ingratitude.

I had nothing to say. If anything I was indifferent. After she died it was kind of anticlimactic. In some ways it was a relief. She took up so much of my time and then all of a sudden she did not. It was an adjustment. Anything I could have said I already said to myself and debated in my mind. My father died many years ago and I miss him and think of him often. In time I hope I feel the same about mom. She had many faults but she was still my mother. It is, well ie do not know what it is, as I cannot find the right words to describe how someone who was once a person has been reduced to ashes in a small cardboard box.

The estate has been settled. The last act has been carried out. I am too old to be an orphan. I drove the sister back and made it home on the same day.

Random Okanagan photo

Happy Fourth of July to my American neighbours

Here is to two hundred fifty more!

Elevator Friday - near Boharm, Saskatchewan

Contributed by Dale Redekopp.

Fence line

I seem to have solved the issue of not being able to upload photos. I have no clue how this got fixed. If I managed to fix it I am at a loss as to what I did.

Years ago a reader commented that they wanted to see a fence line in a photo. For some reason this stuck with me and I am always looking for an interesting fence line. What looks good in person does not always translate to a photo. Anyway it was taken a few days ago.

In honour of Canada Day

Blogger and me

For some reason I could now post a photo this morning. Hopefully this lasts.

Old truck post

On a break

I have a post for Canada Day that I scheduled a few weeks ago. I had some posts that I was going to post over the next few days however Blogger will not let me post any photos. I am irritated enough that I am going to set this aside and ignore this for a few days if not longer.

Blogger issues?

Cannot seem to post pictures. There are days I hate this site. 

An update of sorts

I have been having some issues with pain. I ran out of painkillers and I was able to get more from my doctor. I have pain in my feet and was referred for x-rays on my feet and may get injections in my feet for said pain. I also had to stop in for bloodwork because no matter what you see a doctor for they seem to always want your blood. I had to take pain medication three days in a row. I have not had to do that for months. I am hoping this is a temporary thing. There is also pain in my knees that has been building which if it continues I may see if I can get a follow-up with the surgeon that put me back together.

Whatever half developed plans I had have been derailed by the rain. Rain over most of my home province and the provinces on either side of me this weekend and the next week. Once again there is some flooding, parts of some backroads and some secondary highways are underwater. Things do look very lush and green though.

There were a few days of sun last week. On a whim I drove to Derwent, Alberta because the old hotel supposedly had great pizza. Once I got there the building look abandoned with no signs of life. It looked questionable enough that I declined to chance it. Actually Derwent itself does not look like it has far to go to reach ghost town status. I almost ran across a garter snake that zipped across the road in front of my car. I stopped to talk to a local and found out there are a few snake dens there. I had never seen a live garter snake before. If nothing else I learned something. I got a pizza when I got home.

Insert ark joke

Rain, rain, and more rain. It has been a very wet June.

For the most part it has been a gentle steady rain for days. The grounds are saturated. Water is standing in farm fields. Water is seeping into basements. Gravel roads are soggy. Rain is forecast for next week.

There is a positive in this. I have not been doing much so the body has been getting a rest. I noticed my walking has been getting a little better. I could do without the worsening pain in my ankles and knees which will be checked. Patiently waiting for the sun to return. 

Elevator Friday - Bladworth, Saskatchewan

Thanks again to Dale Redekopp.

Spotted in Leduc, Alberta

Someone has too much money.

A post from Cpt Mo

Moraine Lake, Alberta.

Yellow-Bellied Marmot

Lots of these running around the Checkmate Winery in Oliver, British Columbia. This one kind of stood guard and checked out my car as it was driven onto the grounds. They must have it good there as I seen some very chubby ones.

Church on Monday

I have posted this church before, it is on a backroad near Bridesville, British Columbia. My cousin Linda and I stopped here on our little road trip. Part of the fun of a trip is introducing people to places you have been.

The weather during the trip was largely overcast and there was lots of rain. With a fair amount of travel we were able to catch up and get to know each other a little better. Making myself get out and do things was a boost to my confidence. Getting out of my car and putting gas in it is not the easiest but I can handle things at stops where I was scared to think about it before. My legs have been bothering me since I got back but I have only had to raid my painkillers once in the last few days. 

The Garbage Gobbler

When I was a kid (many years ago) you used to see these Garbage Gobblers all over British Columbia. Every highway rest stop had one. I had not seen one in many years and happened to spot one in Rock Creek.

Elevator Friday

Random elevator from Dale Redekopp.

Random giant head

Spotted in Greenwood, British Columbia.

Road tripping

After being rescheduled a couple of times I am on a road trip with my cousin Linda.

I like Linda. There are some very marked differences in our personalities. She is a type that likes to be in control and I have become more laid back. When we met up to start this I tossed her the key and she has done all the driving. 

She is Conservative but eats like someone who would be a member of the Green Party. Little if any meat, lots of fruit and salads. When we started off I asked her to swing through the drive through at McDonald’s for a couple of Egg McMuffins. This caused a minor clash as she did not want them in the car nor did she want me subjecting myself to that level of food. I was not trying to cause dissension, I actually like a Sausage McMuffin without the egg which I do not eat often. Crisis averted, I got my breakfast.

So far this has been fun. We get along well. I think she is okay with my total lack of planning and fondness to stopping at random places versus her need to plan in detail. We stopped at a few wineries that she had been to before. I have been to wine tastings but never to an actual winery. She likes white, I prefer red. I will have to convert her to the dark side. The nice thing about neither of us working is that we are in no rush to be anywhere. 

Apparently you can get wine in the Okanagan. Who knew?

Elevator Friday - On a farm near Beaumont, Alberta

Courtesy Dale Redekopp.

I hope to be doing something one of these days

May was an ugly month on the budget, as in the budget got mugged. Lots of little bills came due plus some unexpected expenses. I had to replace my second windshield on my car, for some reason it likes to attract big rocks. After setting physio aside for close to two months I started up again. Insurance coverage ran out some I am footing that expense. I took a break because I felt I needed it. Starting up again was a bit painful.

My 2018 Kawasaki 300 Versys sold within two days of listing it. I had it and my 2019 Can Am Ryker sharing a space in my underground parking. Selling it solved a minor problem. My parkade is getting power washed so my car and remaining motorcycle are parked on the street. I could not get on the Kawasaki in my present condition in order to move it. Selling solved that issue.

Rain for about the last four days. With the rain I have been working on my walking which is getting a bit better and my legs feel a bit stronger. I go in phases where I push myself and then take it easy. Less pain that way.

June is more budget friendly so I will see what trips I might attempt. 

53.5732258, -115.7454032

The site of Foley Timber School. There are two buildings here. The last time I was here a few years back it was winter.

Random Jasper photo

Fire damage and green.

Life among the ruins

Jasper National Park.

Random post

Sold the motorcycle yesterday. Decided to go to Jasper, Alberta for a quick visit.

One of my favourite places was devastated by a wildfire in 2024. Buildings are rapidly going up replacing the ones that were lost. Outside the townsite are miles and miles of fire damage to the forests. What I do not like is the whole business area is subject to paid parking where before it used to be free. Prepare to pay $7.00 an hour if you go. Trying to figure out how to pay for parking took a moment. You have to find the sign with a QR code and pay online. I loathe paying for anything this way. 

I was going to visit Jasper again this summer. I may rethink that. Jasper lost two gas stations in the fire and they are down to two remaining. I was surprised how busy Jasper was today and the two gas stations were crammed, one with trucks towing big holiday trailers trying to squeeze into a small area to get close to a gas pump. This will get a lot worse this summer. I have seen fights break out in the past when people get frustrated getting gas navigating a crowd. I am not sure if any of the lost gas stations are being rebuilt.

I love Jasper but I do not like getting gouged more than usual and it is getting too busy. It may have been ruined for me. 

Elevator Friday - near Bentley, Alberta

Thank you to Dale Redekopp.

That hurt

I put my 2018 Kawasaki 300 Versys up for sale. I bought it late in the motorcycle season in 2023. I did some minor fixes and rode it about five times before I parked it for the winter. I was stupidly busy that time with work and looking after mom. I was excited that I would be doing a lot of riding next season.

Well, 2024 saw me in the hospital for seven months and I have not been able to ride it since. It hurts a bit putting it up for sale as I had grand plans when I bought it. Sometimes you have a change of plans. 

Soon I will be down to two motorcycles.

Possible technical difficulties

Ever since landing in the hospital I became overly reliant on my iPad. I use it for practically everything. I am having some issues and I may need to replace it after ten years. Blogging may take a hit.

Abandoned bug

You used to see these on the roads everywhere. The colour got tweaked to make it stand out more.

Plan C

This is a long weekend here. My initial plan was to meet up with my sister and drive to where mom wanted her ashes scattered. A snowstorm changed those plans. My backup plan was to drive to the forestry road by Sundre, Alberta to look for bears and other wildlife. An out of control wildfire in the area scotched those plans.

Rather than give up and stay at home I went to the Torrington, Alberta Gopher Hole Museum. It is a small building a little bigger than an oversized walk-in closet in a bigger house featuring stuffed gophers posed in dioramas. I had driven by the place over the years and decided this was the day. The whole thing is silly and will get a laugh or two.