In Toronto

.... A bit of a gong show with this trip so far but putting it behind me.

Why, you ask?

Well the time for my flight out of Regina issued by the tour company was wrong.  I barely made my flight.  However all is well now and have been joined by my oldest friend Susan.  We've known each other since we were 6 years old.   Now we're 60.

Her husband had no interest in China but we're game for an adventure!

An earlier excursion... just a drive in the countryside nearby Regina....

Just a drive in the countryside with good friend Donna.
She lives on a farm in the area.
We are exploring her "little corner of the world".
Monday, August 6, 2018

Celebrate Saskatchewan - Big Muddy Valley & South Saskatchewan

I am very blessed.  Last weekend my good friends Donna & Rob accompanied me on a 1 1/2 day "mini vacation" to the Saskatchewan badlands.  I know they did this "for me" since this was a few days in advance of me learning about major tests I had to see if my cancer had spread.  (Note:  The news was good... no change in my condition, no cancer can be detected.)  Regardless, I had not known this at the time and there were a few places I'd always wanted to see in my own backyard but somehow never got around to seeing.  

Sukenen Ship Heritage Village
All my life I've passed by this museum on the way to & from Mossbank and "the farm".  I'd always wanted to see it.  It was very well done!  I was impressed.

St. Victor's Petroglyphs 
Nearby to where I was born... ancient stone carvings.  A sacred place in a glorious setting.

Castle Butte
In the Saskatchewan badlands.
We did a 7 hour tour that took us to many other places in this area as well, which was great fun!  
This included visiting 3 different First Nations sacred places - A buffalo effigy, tee-pee circles, turtle effigy, ceremonial circles. 

I will upload a few more pictures as the days go by.  Here are a few to start.  (Click on them for best viewing.)

Peyto Lake, Banff National Park

It was an incredible day in the Rockies.  We went to Peyto Lake.  Easy walk to the look out point.  Then we hiked ( a proper hike!) Down to thebottom.  It was quite a way.  It was quite steep.  Art said any steeper we'd have had to scramble with our hands.  For two thirds there was switch backs, so not too bad but final third difficult.  Great and different views from the bottom but you have to work for it, especially since for all the elevation you hike down has to be hiked back UP!

Then we had our picnic along Bow Lake.  We couldn't have had a lovelier location, if cool.

Just a few more pictures, some from our drive.