Bath, Bugs and Fruit

The ol' mercury in the thermometer is a rising these days, and anyone that knows me knows that summer is my least favorite time of year. It must be that I grew up in Oklahoma where 105 degree days and 100% humidity were the norm. Needless to say I'm heated out. Well, in Northern Alberta, when the heat rises so does the bug count and I have to say I'm astounded. Want mosquitoes? We got 'em. Big Black Flies? Bucket loads. Oh and lets not forget the big one: Horseflies. Huge ones.

There's not a lot of things I hate in this world, but these three bugs together would certainly fall into the hate category. Anyway, enough of my whining. Here's a few more pics from life in the forest. Here's senor Rufus after getting a bath. He's getting big. He's 53 pounds as of today. The water seems make him look smaller though.



One cool thing about being out here is that there are wild strawberries everywhere. However, they're not exactly the same size as the kind you buy in the store so they take a little more work to pick, but they're delicious. Maybe sometime we'll pick enough to make a jar of jam.



France and I on one of our nightly walks with Rufus. We have to cover up like this and spray our face and hands with bug spray to keep from getting eaten alive. Good thing no one is out here to see how goofy we look.



France and Rufus on our walk down the airstrip. We like walking down the airstrip because we can see our surroundings better if there are any bears nearby. Fortunately we haven't seen any yet.

Summertime

Well, normally it's climbing season during this time of year. But since there is nothing to climb out her in the boreal forest except trees and this fire tower, I thought I'd post a reminiscing photo from last summer's fantastic climbing season. Here's me on a fun, beautifully crimpy 5.11a at Holcomb Valley last July. Hope you're out climbing for me!

Brother/Sister Bonding

I just spent the last week back in the States. My little sister, Cory, dun growed up and gradumacated college, so I had to go down and see her make the walk across the stage. It was great to spend some time with my family again as the whole gang was out there supporting Cory. I stuck around in the States for a few extra days so I could help my sister get her car back to California. Road Trip!

Cory and I had an unusual companion accompany us on our trip. Meet Snowmie the Gnomie. He was a graduation gift to Cory.



"Just the three of us" ready to start the journey.



Cory and Snowmie leaving school and moving on to brighter horizons. I think I feel a tear coming on.



Snowmie in Kansas City, Kansas.



Snowmie and some dragsters along the endless road through Kansas.



Snowmie in Topeka, Kansas.



Snowmie and I just chillin' at a historical site in Kansas. This sign probably should have read, "In some long forgotten year, Kansas was made a state and given endless borders in order to cause thousands of automobile drivers to go insane due to the never ending monotony of driving across our beloved flat state." I guess it sure beats riding across the state on horseback.



Cory, Snowmie, and Gorilla. Grrr!



On this road trip I learned that Cory always sleeps with her mouth open. This provided a lot of entertainment for me as we drove across Kansas.



A funny license plate.




This is Kansas. Oh and it looks like this for 430 miles. Sweet.



Yes Dorothy, this is Kansas. Fake Palm Trees and all.



Snowmie the Gnomie keeping up with Foreign Affairs now that we've safely arrived in Denver, Colorado.



Finally some topography! God Bless Colorado! Wish I hadn't left my skis in Canada...



Loveland Pass. Lots of good skiing still left in mid June.



Snowmie providing moral support while I take care of business inside.



Snowmie the Arborist.




Snowmie and Cory in Utah.



Snowmie in Vegas.



The green man trying his luck.



Gas prices in the California desert finally catch up to what I've been paying in Canada for the last six months.



"Snowmie, I think we need a coffee break after all this driving."



Mission Accomplished.