Yesterday we rode our motorcycle out to the Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho. We were amazed at the mass of lava and enjoyed walking on some of the many trails in the park. What is even more amazing is that somehow trees, shrubs and plant life have managed to grow in the huge, seemingly lifeless lava rock. Nature is a wondrous thing!
...where the deer and the antelope play! That song is what was going through my head while we were driving from White Suphur Springs to Yellowstone Park yesterday. Montana; a vast and beautiful state where the deer and antelope truly do roam the plains and the foothills. I tried to get a picture of the antelope as we certainly saw plenty of them however, I just wasn't fast enough!
Montana, the "Big Sky" state came by it's name for obvious reasons. It seems like we could see for miles even when we were traveling through the mountains. When we look out our front window we can see the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and it is beautiful. Here we are at the Conestoga RV Park in White Sulphur Springs.
A few weeks ago, we drove across the upper states from Ontario to Mission, BC.When we were in Bozeman, Montana, there was a heavy, smoky haze sitting over the area; a telltale sign of a forest fire burning somewhere. We'd heard of a big fire burning in northern Montana and yesterday driving south from Waterton park in Alberta, we came across a huge area devastated by fire. It looked like charcoal standing and was such a contrast from the lush green and yellow forest we had been in earlier.
Today we left Waterton Park in Alberta for Montana via Highway 6 through the Watertown-Glacier International Peace Park. In just one week the trees in and around the park have gone from green to vibrant yellow. They are nothing like the reds and oranges seen in the east, but it sure was pretty!
Apparently Waterton Lakes Provincial Park is known for it's wind. Yesterday we went for a boat ride to the south end of Upper Waterton Lake and when we set off it was extremely windy making it ideal for sailors and windsurfers! According to our park host on the boat, this summer was unusually still but Mother Nature is making up for it now!
Yesterday we went over to Middle Waterton Lake, one of many lakes here in Waterton Lakes National Park. The shore is covered with driftwood in all shapes and sizes and because we are in a national park, it is also protected. Consequently the only way we could take any driftwood with us was in the form of this photograph!
Yesterday we drove along the Akamina Parkway in Waterton Park, hoping to encounter some wildlife.
I voiced my wish, "Wouldn't it be cool to see some big horned sheep" and sure enough just another kilometer up the road, we encountered four of them.
They were seemingly undisturbed by us and our car coming towards them and they strolled leisurely towards us.
They walked right beside the car and carried along their merry way! 
"My daddy was my hero," she said. "He was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things, but most of all, he was fun. I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did."I don't want Daddy's passion to ever end. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did. I have the best daddy in the whole world, and I will miss him every day. When I see a crocodile I will always think of him, and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals. Daddy made this place his whole life, and now it's our turn to help Daddy."
Those were the words of Bindi Irwin, the “Crocodile Hunter”, Steve Irwin’s 8 year old daughter, at his memorial held on Wednesday at Queensland’s Australian Zoo. Reading the article brought tears to my eyes and made his death become more of a reality. I haven’t mentioned Steve’s passing here before this because I just couldn’t fully accept it as fact.
Both Rick and I loved watching Steve Irwin for his enthusiasm, his humour and his ability to make us all understand animals a little more and we are deeply saddened. The animal kingdom has lost one of its greatest friends and Steve’s family has lost a beloved member. Farewell Steve Irwin, we will miss you! May your spirit and enthusiasm for the animal world live on through your family and everyone who has been touched by you!
One of the hiking trails in the Waterton Lakes National Park is to the Lower Bertha Falls. The hike is a 5.4 kilometer round-trip trek around a mountain and it gave us some incredible views of the valley below. Once we arrived at the falls, though not overly large, they were pretty interesting just the same. This pic may look like I was holding the camera on an angle when in fact I wasn't.The rock formations were sharply angled giving this photograph that illusion.
Yesterday we drove from Creston, British Columbia to Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta. We spent most of the day driving through the Rocky Mountains and it became very obvious to us why they are called rocky!! The skies were mostly overcast but it was a beautiful drive just the same.
Yesterday on our journey from Osoyoos, BC to Creston, BC we drove along Highway 3 through the Kootenays, a beautiful drive. Even though we encountered some light rain and drove under overcast skies the scenery was still gorgeous. We drove through several towns; many very picturesque.Had we found some parking space we may even have stopped to check them out. Here is downtown Trail.
We rode our motorcycle to Rock Creek, BC yesterday, a 50 km. drive through winding mountain roads from Osoyoos; very beautiful. We attended the 61st Rock Creek and Boundary Fall Fair. To our surprise it was a large fair for such a small place and there were a lot of people in attendence. This girl and her horse were competing in "Barrel Racing" at the fair and they were just one pair of several competitors.
We woke up to a beautiful though chilly morning, 3C (37.4F). The forecast is calling for a high of 17C (62.6F) with lots of sunshine; perfect for going on a motorcycle ride. The campground, Nk'Mip RV Park, is beautiful; rimming Lake Osoyoos and every site has a wonderful view. We have no complaints at all!
Unlike these leaves, I am a little blue today. Part of me is excited to be back on the road again but part of me is sad to be leaving. I will miss seeing the daily changes in my beautiful grandchildren and watching as my daughter blossoms as a Mom. It is during these "leaving" times that I ponder growing roots again.
Today we are packing and cleaning the Moho in preparation for our departure tomorrow. We have been here in Mission since May 28 to be around for the birth of our granddaughter and to help with her big brother, Makai. It has been a wonderful visit; we have gotten closer to our wee grandson and witnessed the changes in him and his little sister. There is no question that leaving will be difficult for everyone (maybe not Monet) concerned; Karley, Ian, Makai and Rick and me. I predict tears in the forecast!
Our summer has been wonderful but it is over...fall is here and along with it comes the rain. After a very dry summer in Mission, today we had rain, not lots but rain just the same and we needed it. The sun has come out already and as a result the droplets on the evergreen needles are sparkling. I don't mind the rain and it certainly beats the snow that Banff is experiencing right now!
We have had a wonderful summer with fabulous weather; no complaints at all...but now it is evident that it has left and autumn has arrived. The evenings are getting cooler and the daytime highs don't begin as early as they once did. On our recent drive across Canada, we noticed that the leaves are starting to change and strangely enough it was more evident the further south we got. Even here in Mission there are some trees losing their leaves though the majority are still quite green but autumn is here no matter where you are in North America.
When we first started our fulltime RVing adventure in December 2003, we sold our house in Ontario with no thought about where or when we would settle again. We arrived in Vancouver in the spring of 2004 to visit Karley, the oldest of our five children, who moved there in 2002. We fell in love with the city immediately and within a few weeks put a deposit down on a condominium at Yaletown Park Condo's due to be completed by 2007. We have been checking the progress all summer and this is the latest photo taken just last week. We aren't planning on parking the Moho just yet but someday down the road, we hope to live here. Until then it will be an investment property that we will rent it out.
Our daughter's next door neighbours have several fruit trees in their back yard. We have watched all summer as the fruit has matured but not been harvested. As close as the trees are, they are in a backyard separated from us by a tall fence and "guarded" by two dogs. Otherwise, it would be quite simple to help ourselves to some of the gems slowly rotting on the branches. So sad!!
This black squirrel was caught running like mad to avoid being squashed under the tires of a car. I think it's a pretty good shot taken by my stepson, Bill, yesterday while they were exploring Fort Langley, BC. It's not often that a squirrel can be captured mid-dash because they can be quite fast (unless they actually do get caught under the tires)!
Having spent most of my life living in Ontario, when I think of a Jay bird I think of a Blue Jay. The first time I laid eyes on a Steller's Jay, the kind found in BC, I was in awe of their differences. There is a squirrel feeder in the backyard here with peanuts in it, a Jay's favourite treat, so it has given me the opportunity to capture them with my camera.
Yesterday, while in Vancouver we drove through Stanley Park and then we parked at Prospect Point to take pictures. There, I was able to capture this picture of the Lion's Gate Bridge, which spans across the delta of the Capilano River. This beautiful suspension bridge was opened in 1939 and connects Vancouver to the North Shore of the Burrard Inlet, giving travelers access to some of the ferries to Vancouver Island as well as a route to northern BC.
Today we took Bill and Laura into Vancouver and our first stop was at Granville Island. We went to the Granville Island Public Market; always a fun place to visit with every kind of food imaginable. It is pretty obvious that the fresh produce vendors take great care to make sure their vegetables and fruits are perfectly displayed.
This morning we took Makai, our wee grandson, as well as his Uncle Bill and Aunt Laura to the Greater Vancouver Zoo. The weather was perfect and with most children back in the classrooms, it was an ideal time to explore it. As the day progressed, the temperatures soared and the animals took shelter where they could; including behind each other.
My stepson, Bill, loves cameras and gadgets. Knowing that, this morning I handed him my camera along with the zoom lens and suggested that he might like to play with it. Sure enough he had a ball, learning more about my camera in an hour than I have in three months! This photo of the rearview mirror reflecting Rick, Bill's Dad, is one of many neat pics he took!
We arrived safe and sound at 6:30 PM back in Mission BC after crossing the continent to Ontario, Canada and back in 1 week. It doesn't seem possible that we put about 10,000 km. on the car in 7 days but it sure feels good to be not moving for a while. This morning Bill took Makai for a bicycle ride, a different kind of riding than in a car and one Makai can't get enough of.
This morning we were on the road at 6:00 AM and what at first it appeared to be fog, evidently was smoke. The air had a distinctly charred smell to it and though we couldn't see the source of it, we knew there was a fire burning not too far away. It gave the Montana landscape an eerie though quite beautiful appearance.
Now that we are driving back out west we are able to watch some pretty cool sunsets. Yesterday we were near Chicago and today we were treated to it in Montana. Of course getting to photograph the sunset has a drawback; like being blinded by it while driving toward it! It was pretty spectacular just the same!
Driving west across Michigan tonight we were treated to a pretty incredible sunset. With Tropical Storm Ernesto hustling up the east coast there has been an abundance of clouds heading for these parts. The sky changed constantly at lightening speeds and as you can see, the result has been pretty spectacular!
Yesterday we rode our motorcycle out to the Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho. 
...where the deer and the antelope play! 
Montana, the "Big Sky" state came by it's name for obvious reasons. 
A few weeks ago, we drove across the upper states from Ontario to Mission, BC.
Today we left Waterton Park in Alberta for Montana via Highway 6 through the Watertown-Glacier International Peace Park. 
Apparently Waterton Lakes Provincial Park is known for it's wind. 
Yesterday we went over to Middle Waterton Lake, one of many lakes here in Waterton Lakes National Park. 
Yesterday we drove along the Akamina Parkway in Waterton Park, hoping to encounter some wildlife.
"My daddy was my hero," she said. "He was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things, but most of all, he was fun. I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did.
One of the hiking trails in the Waterton Lakes National Park is to the Lower Bertha Falls. 
Yesterday we drove from Creston, British Columbia to Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta. 
Yesterday on our journey from Osoyoos, BC to Creston, BC we drove along Highway 3 through the Kootenays, a beautiful drive. 
We rode our motorcycle to Rock Creek, BC yesterday, a 50 km. drive through winding mountain roads from Osoyoos; very beautiful. 
We woke up to a beautiful though chilly morning, 3C (37.4F). 
Unlike these leaves, I am a little blue today. 
Today we are packing and cleaning the Moho in preparation for our departure tomorrow. 
Our summer has been wonderful but it is over...fall is here and along with it comes the rain. 
We have had a wonderful summer with fabulous weather; no complaints at all...but now it is evident that it has left and autumn has arrived. 
When we first started our fulltime RVing adventure in December 2003, we sold our house in Ontario with no thought about where or when we would settle again. 
Our daughter's next door neighbours have several fruit trees in their back yard. 
This black squirrel was caught running like mad to avoid being squashed under the tires of a car. 
Having spent most of my life living in Ontario, when I think of a Jay bird I think of a Blue Jay. 
Yesterday, while in Vancouver we drove through Stanley Park and then we parked at Prospect Point to take pictures. 
Today we took Bill and Laura into Vancouver and our first stop was at Granville Island. 
This morning we took Makai, our wee grandson, as well as his Uncle Bill and Aunt Laura to the Greater Vancouver Zoo. 
My stepson, Bill, loves cameras and gadgets. 
We arrived safe and sound at 6:30 PM back in Mission BC after crossing the continent to Ontario, Canada and back in 1 week. 
This morning we were on the road at 6:00 AM and what at first it appeared to be fog, evidently was smoke. 
Now that we are driving back out west we are able to watch some pretty cool sunsets. 
