Crazy2b Adventures and OrdealsAfter a lot of work of ripping the backseat out to gain access to the front of the motor to replace the plastic drain piece, we are back on the water!! So relaxing to just get out, do a little cruising and then cut the engine and chill. The weather has been so lately! Beautiful evening with just a little breeze.
The day started early but boy was it worth it! Picked up Henry around 9:30 and off we went. I was so excited, I missed a corner and ended up in NW Calgary. Oops! After awhile we finally found the old Highway 1A into Cochrane. A quick stop at the liquor store, a driver change and down the 22 we go down to our next destination, Longview. This was Henry’s first interaction with Sophia from the drivers seat. With the looks of his grin, I don’t think he was disappointed. The more he grinned the louder she screamed!!
A quick 2 beer lunch stop in the amazing Longview Saloon and off we go west. Highway 40 just opened 2 weeks earlier, so our timing was perfect. Much to my surprise, not that much traffic for the July 1st weekend.
A few more beer stops, exchanging conversations with all kinds of wonderful peoples. Ha ha some understood and others not so much!! Moving up the road we experienced what I had hoped for so many times travelling this highway. GRIZZLIES!!! WOW SO COOL!! First, a sow and three cubs…
After spending some very incredible moments with the bears it was time to move along. It seemed every time we seen a “Watch for Goats!” sign we seen bears except this time….
Damn, time flies when you’re having fun!! We are so far behind…. Picking up the pace we headed north to the TransCanada 1 and west towards Banff. Before going into Banff, I thought we should check out Lake Minnewanka for a quick beer stop and a little site seeing. Upon doing this, we found the crowds!!! Next stop Banff!
Holy, the people!! Canada Day in Banff was NUTS!!
Time to find a parking spot and find some much needed beer, I mean food!! St. James Gate never disappoints. A very quick bite to eat along with a couple beers and Banff was in the rearview mirror!! I thought Highway 1A back to Cochrane would be the most scenic. Again not much traffic! To top off the night, as we entered into Airdrie… a CHECKSTOP!! Damn, good thing I haven’t been drinking and driving all day!! Of course, they pick us! Then out comes the breathalyzer… quickly doing the math… let’s just say I’m not good at math under press!! Okay, BLOW….ZERO!! WHAT?? YES, best day every! Then the officer decided it was time to chat about cars…OMG are you kidding me? Officer, Henry, has his thumbs over the coffee cup holes that contain a Bud Light!!! Please officer I get it, you are a FORD guy!! You have said it multiple times and you don’t like my car, thats fine ….but please can we go? “Have you tracked the car?” the officer asked. Replying with a sad look on my face, ”My wife won’t let me!” Next question!! I thinking, what the hell is going on? Then he says that I’m probably going to try the car out on the highway to Crossfield cause all the officers are busy at the check stop!! Haha, I laughed cause at this point what else is there to talk about!! I continue to think, please officer….can we go? Good boy, Henry, don’t say a word!! Don’t breath and do not take your thumbs off the death trap!! Ha Ha!! On to the next officers point…. he then asks me if i would ever buy the new mid-engine corvette? I firmly relied ” If I made your wage, Yes I would buy one!!” He simply laughed and thought about the next torturing topic!! After, oh I don’t know, maybe 5 minutes or so, which seemed like an hour…. the officer calmly says “You can go….have a good night!” WOW!! Finally!!!! Slowly and very carefully I entered back into traffic. Cautiously preceding through the intersection full of peace officers. Once completely through the Check Stop. I gave “Sophia” the opportunity to “Bark” and state that she eats “MUSTANGS” for breakfast!!!! Mindfully keeping it below the speed limit of course!!
Enjoying the backyard!
With the warmer weather upon us I get the itch to plant and nurture a few more trees! So, up early and off we go! Time to transplant another 20+ trees onto the acreage. The weather was a little cloudy which made for a excellent retrieval. Not so HOT! These little babies came from just north of Burntstick Lake. A busy little road pointed us right to the perfect location. A power line right-of-way where the trees would either be mowed or sprayed. Our new additions won’t know what hit them with the extra care and attention that they are going to receive.
This mornings silence was broken with a call that my brother, Jim, had passed away!! So many emotions run through my veins in such a short amount of time! So much sadness and at the same time, a welcoming comfort that he is no longer in pain. He fought a long hard battle and was so accepting of what was possibly going to happen. His acceptance offered so much reassurance that he was going to be okay. He peacefully passed away at home.
Goodbye for now…… Until we meet again 🍻
The warm weather is upon us and this time of year is so optimistic. You work the flowerbeds, you uncover the roses, you plant a few bulbs and hope for the best! The rest is up to Mother Nature 🤔
This year I’m going to try and propagate my red roses 🌹! I guess I will find out whether it will work or not in about a month 😀
Well I received my power rake blades this past Thursday and I couldn’t wait to get them installed and get at the lawn for 2022. Sunday morning and I got the itch to get at the mower. Installed the new blades and thought I would try them out. Hahaha!! Once in the seat I couldn’t get off. 3.1 acres later and the acreage was done in one direction. Then I run over it at the other angle and wow!! Looks so good 😀
Sun is shining and now I have time for a beer around the fire!!
Spring is slowly making its way to central Alberta so I thought it was time to wake up my roses!! What a pleasant surprise!!
Well, Joanne needs a ride to Bentley to get her bike from Lynn and Randy’s storage unit and someone thinks that he is going!!
Well, it was finally time to take the Corvette out for the summer of 2022. Within the first 30 seconds of hitting the highway, I was sideways! Cold tires + cold asphalt = possible rhubarb tasting!!! Not really a good feeling at 100 km an hour! I wasn’t even horsing around. Then off to Innisfail we went for a haircut. When I say we, I mean Swiffer and I. No haircut for Swiffter today. He’s is booked for tomorrow!
Wow, with weather like this you know spring is just around the corner! Highs of 8°C today 10 tomorrow and 15 for Wednesday! Other than about three weeks of -40 weather around Christmas time it has actually been a very decent winter. I must say it’s almost time to get the Corvette on the road…
Today I got a call that a co-worker, who retired just last June, has passed away. Lorne Moore was a very good friend inside and outside of work. He had such a big heart and was so friendly. One of Lorne’s favorite statements when you asked how he was doing, was “THE SHITS!”. We did lots of fishing together. He would sit in the back of my boat, not moving his fishing rod but somehow he always managed to out fish me! Lorne, you will be dearly missed. You were a very soft spoken man with a massive kind heart. Rest in Peace buddy!
Here moosey, moosey!
Moose calling…
A little play time during work hours!
Well after Matthew’s success he didn’t really have much interest in the rest of the season. That didn’t stop me from camping, quadding and a little bit of walking with a really sore knee!! First, out to 316 with the trailer for some scouting around Bogey Lake on leased land. The weather has been so nice that the animals aren’t having to move!
Brother, John, came out quite a bit for the scouting of the Leased Land but not much for action.
After about 4 days in 316 it was time to move up to 318 on the north side of the Red Deer river for elk. The nice weather continued through the weekend. Very nice for quadding and sitting around the fire but the animals aren’t having to move. I did see one really nice whitetail buck that didn’t see me but after stopping and thinking about the work to get him out by myself, I calmly watched him walk away. A very smart move at 4 in the afternoon, alone!!
Another season under my belt and still no luck with Elk!! Other than Matthew’s deer being sick it has been another fun, enjoyable and memorable year. I look forward to 2022 and maybe a little more luck. 😔 I know, John has talked about bow season for Elk in 2022. Damn that would be so much warmer for camping!! Let’s hope it all works out and John buys a crossbow😀
Wow another chilly night! Trailer has frozen water again this morning! Okay, enough whining!! Time to have a quick bite to eat, start the truck and head out for the morning hunt. Down to the end of the pasture we go. In the distance we see a few bucks to the west. We then drove out of the farmland and headed west down the blind line into the coulee. Well I’ll be jiggered, there’s two bucks in the same place as they were last year. But as luck would have it, we don’t have permission for that quarter. So we sat there waiting and waiting and waiting for them to make the wrong move. Either to jump one of the fences to the south or to the east where we had permission. 3 o’clock in the afternoon and still no luck! Then a local farmer come along and gave us permission to enter the south coulee. Earlier in the day we seen a nice 4 x 4 muley done there. Low and behold as the farmer walks back up the coulee we begin glassing around again and we spot the 4 x 4. By this time of the day Matthew had enough, no lunch and wind is howling and cold. Matthew’s patience has run out!! He opened the door and he states “ I’m going to get him!” So as I stayed in the truck piercing through my binoculars I watch Matthew sneak up to within 258 yards. I’m talking to myself by this time telling him shoot shoot shoot! But nothing.… Then all of a sudden I glass back and Matthews trying to get closer. Offering a little bit more cover were these great big sandstone rocks which helped a lot. Matthew disappeared around the edge of the rocks so I returned my attention back to the buck. Still talking to myself shoot shoot shoot. Then finally the shot that I’ve been waiting for. Two seconds later down the buck went! Matthew, the new proud owner of a nice 4 x 4 buck, makes his way back to the truck. I couldn’t wipe the smile off his face! It’s been many many many years coming and he finally got the opportunity to do it all by himself. I asked him earlier, before he went after the buck, if he wanted support and he forcibly said no! Oh and shooting a deer at 4 o’clock in the afternoon makes for a long night. Also, the wind hasn’t stop blowing!! It’s still a cold wind straight out of the south. We drag him out of the coulee and back to the farm. We called Henry to come out and operate the tractor (or in this case drink beer) for us as we skin and wash this thing. Obviously taking breaks in between to have a beer by the fire to warm up our fingers. All complete by 9 PM and it’s beer time or should I say bedtime? Oh, have I mentioned the wind?! It’s still blowing!
NOVEMBER 16, 2021
UPDATE ON MATTHEW’S MULE DEER BUCK – IT HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR CRONIC WASTER DISEASE!!