Sold

The sun is shining, there is about a foot of snow outside and I am drinking delicious store bought Eggnog. Is this a great country or what?

Fortunately we are not knee deep in boxes, as our movers are packing for us, but we still have lots to do. I am still going through all the cupboards to make sure everything is clean and neat and that we don’t take any rubbish along. We also have many Totes (Coloured plastic containers, very Canadian) and toolboxes, which is very handy for sorting make-up, stationary, medicine, pottery tools, jewellery making supplies, sewing, etc. All the garage Totes are black and the house totes are blue, in 3 different sizes.

As you can see from the subject, we have sold our house; we got a bit less than we asked, but still more than we paid for. The company is also paying the lawyers fees and commission. Unfortunately the occupation date is only the 25th Jan, so we had to get house sitters, mostly for insurance purpose, but they will also shovel snow if necessary, bring in the mail, water the potted plênts etc.

Mr. Tokeloshe has found a new house in Portugal cove, about 15 k’s from St John’s, that he likes, he has sent us pictures, which look good. He has also taken many photos, which he has sent to us, it looks beautiful.

At the moment he is staying in a furnished apartment, which the company is paying for, it has two bedrooms, as we will join him after our move. Our move is the first week in January 2002.

Our son finishes he’s Fall semester just before Xmas and starts at the University for the Winter semester about the 15th of Jan.

Moving

Mr. Tokeloshe has been transferred to St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. The company is paying all the expenses. He has already started working there and is very happy, as he has been there before and loves it. It is the oldest cities in Canada.

Our son has enrolled at Memorial University, St John’s, which is one of the best in the East. I am happy, as it is a change, another world altogether with the “Newfies”. It is much closer to S.A, England, etc.

Our house in Calgary is for sale. The only pity is moving from this lovely house. These are some of the pictures the realtor took.

Our lounge

Kitchen

Dining Room

Main bedroom

The den (basement)

Front of the house

Back of the house

Mr. Tokeloshe has found a new house in Portugal cove, about 15 k’s from St John’s, that he likes, he has sent us pictures, which look good.
He has taken many photos, which he has sent to us, it looks beautiful.

Roadtrip

I went with Mr. Tokeloshe on a business road trip in Alberta; we drove over a thousand K’s. I saw Red Deer (prairie town), Edmonton, etc. We stayed over in Grand Prairie (Prairies), I slept late, watched TV, read, went shopping, to the library etc. while he was at work, in the evenings we ate out and went to the movies.

G.P is like a suburb of Calgary, it has everything, “Superstore”, “Wall-mart”, “Zellers” etc. One day I was in Co-op, at the till I handed the lady my keys by the tag, which is my Co-op club card. She just looked at me blankly; they don’t have key tags there yet.

We drove hundreds of K’s on the Alaska Highway, there are signs pointing the way to Alaska, I wanted to take a photograph, but didn’t. They are still busy building parts of it into a double highway, which seems unnecessary, but apparently there is many wildlife, parts are called Moose Gap and they have slower speeds at night. There are many trees at the side of the road, so the animals come into the open of the highway. Drunken Native pedestrians also get hit on the road. We drove past a house where they were busy slaughtering a Moose in the back yard.

At Grand Cache it really started getting beautiful, with the fall colors, it reminded me of Golden Gate in South Africa. We drove back through Jasper National Park and stayed over in Jasper. Jasper is a tourist town surrounded by mountains, there are restaurants, lodging, gift shops, hot springs and even a Totem pole.
We visited Jasper in 2006 again.

We went to the Malign Canyon, which was spectacular. Athabasca falls where I did some rock climbing. Ha-Ha. (Make beleive) We took photos of autumn colors and mountains reflected in the beautiful lakes. We stopped at Atthabasca glacier again, remember we went there with Mr. Tokeloshe's folks, but it was raining then. This time the sun was shining. There are many lovely glaciers on the road.

Woman's Show

A friend and I went to the annual Woman’s show, which I enjoyed more than last time, as I knew what to expect. A cowboy offered us chocolates, what more do you want in life? We sat in a Limousine, our first, there are many in Calgary, the seats inside are in a circle and there is a TV, bar, glasses, etc. inside. We had our photo taken, with milk moustaches, hugging a person in a cow costume. There were lots to sample and freebies to take home.

I had gone there by train, but my friend went by car, so afterwards we went to Chinook Mall for lunch.

Rawson meer, 9/6/01

Verlede Saterdag het ons op ‘n stap van +- 6 myl gegaan. Dit is waar Mnr. T. gaan “Snow shoe” het. Dit is die Rawson meer voetslaanpad, ‘n mens kan nie by die meer uitkom met ‘n motor nie. Die stap begin langs Kananaskis meer en volg daarna ‘n styl 45 grade klim. Dit is sowat ¾ uur van Calgary af. Ons het rug-sakke gehad met warm/ waterdigte klere, kos, water, kamera ens. Ons het gelukkig albei met loop-stokke gestap, Mnr.T. het syne gemaak sodat dit ook ‘n “Monopod” is vir sy kamera.

Die weer het pragtig begin, ons het in T-hemp en kort broek gestap en selfs begin sweet. Gelukkig was dit bewolk en tussen die bome. Ek moes kort-kort asem skep. Op pad het ons fotos geneem van Rawson waterval, wat klein is, maar nog gedeeltelik gevries is, sodat die dik ys onder aan die hout brug vas sit. Daar was ook ‘n hout paadjie van so 1 kilometer, waarvan hy nie eers geweet het nie, omdat dit laas deur sneeu bedek was. Hoe hoër ons gegaan het hoe koeler het dit geraak, sodat ons later deur meer as ‘n voet diep sneeu gestap het. Ek het nie waterdigte stewels gedra nie, so my skoene en sokkies het nat geword. Lessie geleer.

Rawson Meer. Die meer, +- 200’, was gedeeltelik gevries, met die Sarrail berg, +-3000’ en glêtser agter, dit was pragtig en die moeite werd. Daar was ‘n ligte reën, so ons het warmer aangetrek en lekker daar bo geëet. Die afdraende was makliker, maar hard op die knië Dit het ons so 3 ½ - 4 ure geneem. Daar was ‘n paar ander gesellige voet-slaners, o.a ‘n Engels man van JHB. Ons het ‘n eekhoring gesien en voëls gehoor. Daar was baie mos en ou bome. Op pad huis toe het ons bokke teë gekom. Ons het ‘n lekker bier, “Vodka cooler” en tee gedrink by die Kananaskis Lodge, saam met ander nat voet-slaners, by daardie tyd het dit gesous.

Tokeloshe

Moose Mountain

On Sunday we went with friends on the Moose Mountain hike in Kananaskis. It was a lovely day; we took backpacks with warm clothes, water and pad-kos. The hike up the mountain is about 14 kilos there and back. It is a steep climb up to about 1000M. There were many other hikers, some at least 20 years older than we were. It was tough with loose gravel, but fortunately cool, even cold and windy at the top, with a lovely view. There is a fire lookout at the top. It took us about 5 hours, with frequent rests, I almost gave up many times. But, I did it. We are all very sore. I was so glad we had walking sticks. This is the longest and toughest hike I have ever had. At least we had no blisters, just a little sunburn. A helicopter flew over us, close to the end, so silly me waves both her arms saying: “I wonder what they will do if you say H-E-L-P!” It kept on circling around us and I got very worried, fortunately they eventually left.

Gibson’s landing, B.C. 7.01

Windy and cloudy.
We strolled the shops at Gibson’s landing and ate Halibut fish and chips at “Mollie’s place”, where they shot the TV series “The beachcombers.”

Mr. T. drove through a free car wash at a paper mill. The water came crashing down,“W-H-O-O-S-H! and suddenly we couldn’t see a thing, but we made it out alive.

Tokeloshe

Nanaimo, B.C. 27.7.01

Nainaimo, the second largest town after Victoria on the island, has everything: “Tim Horten’s”, “Chapters”,” Wall Mart”, Costco” etc. There are many Aquaplanes.

We went there to have our films developed, do shopping and check our Email free at the library. The supermarket is called “Overwaitea foods”. I kid you not and will leave it to you to wonder why. It was large and nice. There you can fill small tubs from bulk containers with peanut butter, relish, jam, etc put it on a scale, enter the bin number and it prints a label for the tub. This is very handy when you are on holiday and don’t want large containers. I think it is also neat if you want to try out a product you don’t know.

It was cool; we strolled through some nice shops and the harbor where there was a flea market on. There were also many Aquaplanes and lovely Yachts. It started to rain.

Tokeloshe

Skookumchuck, B.C. 30.7.01

We hiked 4 ks to the Skookumchuck narrows close to Egmont, through a lovely forest. It took 1 ½ hours as we took so many photographs.
Unfortunately many trees were chopped down and just left there years ago and now have moss and other trees growing from them. There were also large ferns.

“As tidal waters are forced through the narrow, shallow channel between Jervis and Sechelt inlets, the difference in water levels can exceed two meters, causing currents of more than 30 km per hour. The word Skookum is the Sechelt natives’ term for strong, chuck means water.”
We were just in time to see Kayaks play in the waves. Beautiful brightly colored starfish cling to the rocks here.
We ate Cinnamon buns on our way out.

Tokeloshe

Sechelt, B.C, 7.2001

We stayed a few days in Sechelt, at “Porpoise bay”, where we had a beautiful view of the Inlet, with seawater, from our cottage. There were geese, on the water ( and crossing the road, the traffic stops for them.), noisy seagulls, Aquaplanes, eagles, boats, a mountain and sunsets.
We had a hot tub in the evenings. The Sunshine coast has many coves and islands with houses clinging to them.

Tokeloshe

Coombs, B.C. 28.7.2001

The weather was still rainy. We snooped around the shops in Q beach and then went to Coombs. There are many houses with moss growing on the roofs and people even put sod on and let the grass grow on their roofs. At Coombs there were interesting little Western like shops, connected with a boardwalk and selling Stained glass, woodwork, pottery etc. The largest is a restaurant and Emporium, with goats living and grazing on the roof.

Tokeloshe

Cathedral Grove, B.C. 23.7.2001

The largest trees on the island are in Cathedral grove. It is beautiful; there are boardwalks, so that one doesn’t damage the forest. The oldest tree was already 300 years old when Columbus landed. It is 76 m high; many trees have fallen down when a big wind came trough a few years’ back and they were uprooted. If you walk along these, you can see how tall the trees are. Most are Douglas firs, but there are also large ferns and moss. It reminded us of Knysna.

Tokeloshe

Victoria & Duncan, 25.7.2001

On our way to Victoria, we stopped at Duncan: “City of Totems”. They also have lovely murals. The wall at the back is rough and airbrushed. The weather was lovely.

Victoria has lovely old brick buildings, Red Double Decker busses, horse drawn carriages, pedestrians, tourists, Jay walkers, flower baskets, Totem poles, a Chinatown, etc. You can see snow covered mountains from the beach (no waves). You can take a ferry from here to Seattle for $60 p.p.

On our way home we had tea at “Whipple street junction”, a little antique town, with a boardwalk connecting the Quaint Western looking shops.

Tokeloshe

Pacific Rim, B.C. 24.7.01

We drove west across the island to see what the West Coast looks like. Although not far it took the better part of a day as the roads are so winding. Port Alberni is on the Alberni inlet, where you can take a Private ferry to the sea. Ucluetlet and Tofino had little waves. There are houses on little islands and more Aquaplanes. Ferries and Aquaplanes are a way of life here.

Tokeloshe

Vancouver Island, July 2001

We stayed for a week at the “Riverside Resort on the “Little Qualicum River” in Qualicum beach. There are no waves and geese swim on the sea. We did beach combing, saw lots of colorful starfish, lazy crabs, shells and picked up stacks of pansies (Sea dollars) The weather was a lovely 23 degrees. On the island you can get lovely (Halibut) Fish and chips and tea in pots. The town has won an award for it’s beautiful public gardens. Flower baskets line the main streets.

We hiked around the Qualicum Falls and Qualicum River and took many photos. There is a lovely campground and it looks lovely to swim in the cold pools on a hot day.

Tokeloshe

Trip to Vancouver, B.C. 21.7.01

We left at about 7 am from Calgary with the Cherokee. We traveled on the Trans Canada Highway, via Kamloops (BC), Salmon arm and the lovely Schuswap lake. It is the biggest lake I have seen so far; it has beaches, houseboats and many resorts. Most of the trip, we drove through the Rockies, there are many Avalanche tunnels on the road.

We arrived in Vancouver that evening. It was still light and we won and hour as we were now in Atlantic time (Calgary is on Mountain Time.) It took us about 10 hours and we used 1 ¼ tank of gas, about $55.

We took a ferry from Horseshoe bay to Nanaimo (Vancouver Island). We drove through tollgates, where you can pay by “Visa”, “American Express” or cash, on to “The Queen of Oak Bay”. The ferries have Washrooms, lifts, restaurants, a gift shop, video arcade games etc. The ferries have a few decks and carry RV’s, busses, trucks, bicycles, motorbikes, etc. as well. We parked in 9 lanes; you must remember where you parked. The B.C ferries that shuttle all day can carry 362 vehicles, 1,466 passengers and reach a speed of 19 knots. Horseshoe bay is lovely with houses clinging to the cliffs. The ferries are so spacious I wished I could travel to SA on them, no rocking, and just a soft drone. There are no waves. We saw other ferries, they are beautiful and big. The trip takes 1 hour and 35 minutes.

Tokeloshe

Ferry, B.C. 7.2001

We left Vancouver Island for the Sunshine coast, mainland. The trip took 1 hour and 15 minutes. The ferry was called The Queen of Burnaby. We saw two whales playing in the water on the trip. It was cool.
We had a look at the “Floating breakwater” by the paper mills at Powell River. Ten large shipwrecks that keep the logs in place.

We took another ferry “The Queen of Twawassen” which took 50 minutes. It is beautiful; we see many islands and a waterfall.

Tokeloshe

Stampedin' 2001

Giddy up folks it’s that time of year again!

What I love about this time of year. Are the folks in their getup. I saw a lady sellin’ cherries (very eexpensive) along the road, cowboy hat, cowboy boots, buckle, the works, and there she was dancin' all alone, high kicken’ in 28 degrees sun.

Last Friday we rode a trail down to the Stampede parade, it was hot enough to wither a fence post. It was so dry, the bushes followed the dogs around, if ya git my meanin’. I felt like a tee totaller in the last chance saloon. The yungin went with. Lately were getting along like two six guns on the same belt. I was grinnin’ like a jackass eatin’ cactus. I saw an elderly lady, all geared up in Red and white, from head to toe, boots, hat, yo name it. Enjoin’ herself. Those horses were actin like they were tryin’ to chin the moon. One mean Bronco, he had a nose yuh could store a small dog in. He arched he’s back like a mule in a hailstorm; he was travellin’ faster than bad news at a church social.

The latest were large floats, imagine Maisie’s parade, “Honey I blew up the kids” and the Michelin man all in one, they were higher than the Plus 15’s (the bridges between the buildings) and the traffic lights, as they were anchored, they had to be lowered and tilted each time, they neared them, but this didn’t seem to be an inconvenience rather part of the fun.

This Friday we headed to the show grounds after work and gym. On the train it was a hot as Satin’s oven. I felt like stashin’ my hat in my backpack. The yungin went with. What I love about this time of year, is that you can get on a train, with a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, kerchief, bolo, etc. and nobody gives you a second look, you have to be mighty well dressed ta catch some ones eye.

At the grounds it was as noisy as a calf corral. It felt as close to Durban’s marine parade in December in the 70’s. We saw a hoss an filly wearin' long black leather coats, they weren’t hot, they were in “The Matrix”. We moseyed down and had some eexpensive Coca-Cola and Elephant ears. We saw some mighty fine lookin’ jewelry made from Pinecones, apparently the cones are cut in half, sanded down and polished. What makes them look like agates, is that each is different in pattern and color.

We came out of a buildin’; the weather had turned nasty. It was as black as midnight during a new moon. The wind came past like a freight train. My hat helped as much as a bucket under a bull. Mr. T. was getting’ mighty tired, he was winden down faster than a two-dollar watch. So we said: “See ya ‘round” and headed home. By now it was pourin’ buckets, like Noah’s flood.

On Sunday the old man and the yungun, went down the river in the patched up canoe. I dropped them off at Ghost Lake and they went to Cochran. The yungun rowed while Paw cast a line, missin’ the yungun each time by inches.
Maw stayed home ironin’ them breeches.

Y'all come back now ya hear!
Yee- Hawww!

Tokeloshe

Cycling

On Monday, another warm and sunny day, we cycled around Glenmore reservoir (a dam) . There is a lovely pavement going right round and we saw many friendly cyclists, pedestrians, roller blader’s, etc. Some we met on the loop, going the other way, also going all the way around. It took us about 2 hours, with a few rests in between and walking uphill. On the dam were sailboats, parks, wetlands and golf courses surround it. We did about 17, 5 km. and finished up at “Starbucks”

Oh Canada!

Sunday was a lovely sunny day. We went on the canoe from Bow Ness Park, North of Calgary (where we went ice-skating in winter) through town to the Zoo. This is the first trip Mr.T. did with the Kayak. I had promised myself last year to wear a flag on Canada day, but didn’t as we were on the canoe, but I should have, people were waving and chatting to us from other canoes and the banks. From Bowness, there are some beautiful houses on the banks. We saw lots of geese, (with babies in tow) and Seagulls. Nearing the city skyline, which I have never seen from this point, with sunny skies, going past Princess Island, where there was a big party, with music and lots of friendly people, most with little flags in their hats, painted on their faces and even wearing large flags as capes.

In town there were many cyclist, roller bladers, strollers and even a few wheelchairs on the paths along the Bow. We got out at the Zoo, as there is a weir, after about 2 hours and even though we had worn lotion we had burnt.

Canada Day

Verlede naweek was‘n lang-naweek, Sondag was Canada Day en meeste mense het Maandag afgekry. Sondag was ‘n pragtige dag. Onshet met die kanoe die Bow rivier af gevaar, van Bow ness park in die noorde van Calgary, tot by die dieretuin. Daar is ‘n “weir”.

Naby Bowness is pragtige huise op die oewer, orals langs die rivier het mense gedraf, fiets gery, gestap en ge- “Roller-blade”. Die stad lyk heel anders van die rivier af. Daar was heelwat kanoes, selfs mense met “tubes”. Ons het baie Seemeeue, ganse en baie vriendelike mense gesien. By Princess eiland was ‘n partyjie, mense het vlaggies in hulle hoede gehad, geverf op hulle gesigte en somige het selfs ‘n groot vlag soos ‘n “cape” gedra. Ons het gesonbrand, ten spyte daarvan dat ons sonbrand-room aangehad het.

Rawson meer

Verlede Saterdag het ons op ‘n stap van +- 6 myl gegaan in Kananaskis gegaan. Ons seun het nie saam gegaan nie. Dit is waar Meneer Tokeloshe gaan “Snow shoe” het. Dit is die Rawson meer voetslaanpad, ‘n mens kan nie by die meer uitkom met ‘n motor nie. Die stap begin langs Kananaskis meer en volg daarna ‘n styl 45 grade klim. Dit is sowat ¾ uur van Calgary af. Ons het rug-sakke gehad met warm/ waterdigte klere, kos, water, kamera ens. Ons het gelukkig albei met loop-stokke gestap. Meneer T. het syne gemaak sodat dit ook ‘n “Monopod” is vir sy kamera.

Die weer het pragtig begin, ons het in T-hemp en kort broek gestap en selfs begin sweet. Gelukkig was dit bewolk en tussen die bome. Ek moes kort-kort asem skep. Op pad het ons fotos geneem van Rawson waterval, wat klein is, maar nog gedeeltelik gevries is, sodat die dik ys onder aan die hout brug vas sit. Daar was ook ‘n hout paadjie van so 1 kilometer, waarvan Mnr. T. nie eers geweet het nie, omdat dit laas deur sneeu bedek was. Hoe hoër ons gegaan het hoe koeler het dit geraak, sodat ons later deur meer as ‘n voet diep sneeu gestap het. Ek het nie waterdigte stewels gedra nie, so my skoene en sokkies het nat geword. Lessie geleer.

Die meer, +- 200’, was gedeeltelik gevries, met die Sarrail berg, +-3000’ en glêtser agter, dit was pragtig en die moeite werd. Daar was ‘n ligte reën, so ons het warmer aangetrek en lekker daar bo geëet. Die afdraende was makliker, maar hard op die knië Dit het ons so 3 ½ - 4 ure geneem. Daar was ‘n paar ander gesellige voet-ganers, o.a ‘n Engels man van J.H.B. Ons het ‘n eekhoring gesien en voëls gehoor. Daar was baie mos en ou bome. Op pad huis toe het ons bokke teë gekom.

Ons het ‘n lekker bier, “Vodka cooler” en tee gedrink by die Kananaskis Lodge, saam met ander nat voet-slaners, by daardie tyd het dit gesous.

Sjinese Mall

Ons het ‘n oulike Sjinese Mall ontdek. Dit is in die Noorde van Calgary. Binne is ‘n groterige supermark, daar is 'n “food court”, medisyne winkel, restaurant,
geskenk, klere winkels, ens. Alles Sjinees.

Ek was gek oor die klere ek kon nie besluit wat om te koop nie. Hulle verkoop selfs swart sy pakke vir mans, soos wat hulle vir Tai Chi dra. Die satyn rokke (Cheongsam) met Mandaryn krae en “frogs” is pragtig en redelik geprys. Ek het toe besluit op ‘n swart linne baadjie met pienk satyn inset, “trim”, Mandaryn kraag en “frogs”. Ek moes dit in ‘n X -Large koop, die klere is so klein.

By die supermark het ons o.a. ‘n heerlike bottel koue Groen tee met heuning in gekoop. “Planters” grondboontjie olie, (‘n mens kan blykbaar die Kalkoen daarin ook diepbraai, maar ek dink dit kan ook ‘n lekker geurmiddel maak) Oesters, sampioene, blikke Kokus melk vir . 69c elk, ingelegde gemmer, ens. Daar is ook vars krewe, (Lobsters) Krap, Mossels, ens. in tenke, vir ‘n beter prys as by Superstore.
Ons het ook borde Sushi (take out ) vir ‘n goeie prys gekry. Die een winkel verkoop pragtige potte-bakkers breekware en ornamente vir ‘n goeie prys. Ons het by die geskenk-winkel ‘n stel "Jade" beeldjies gekoop, hulle heet Fuk, Luk en Sau, dit is baie populêr in Fen Shui. Hulle simboliseer gesondheid, rykdom en krag.
( health, wealth and power) asook ‘n klein "Jade" Buddha en klip beeldjies van ons Sjinese astrologie tekens. Ek is ‘n Skaap en Charles is ‘n Draak.

Victoria Day

Sondag was dit warm. Mnr.T. het ‘n 6 kg kalkoen gebraai in diep olie, +-350 grade C. Blykbaar moet jy die vlerke eers afhaal en laaste braai. Ons het ‘n spesiale braai gekry waarop ons "Cadac" goed soos ploegskaar, roker en giet-yster-plaat ook werk. Maandag was ‘n vakansie dag, Victoria day. Dit was ‘n heerlike dag. Ons het gaan fiets ry in Kananakis naby Bragg Creek, waar die mans jag. Ons seun en vriende was ook saam. Ons het ‘n stywe modderige opdraende gery met ‘n sinkplaat pad afdraende. Ons het fotos geneem waar ons almal poseer by ‘n bordjie was sê: “Ice floes” Die pad is ‘n “Cross country ski” roete. Ten spyte daarvan het ons dit baie geniet, ons het omtrent 5 kilos gery en ons self beloon met “Iced Cappacinos” en ietsie te eet. Die geheim is, om nie dat die strooitjie teen jou verhemelte te laat raak nie, anders kry jy “Brain Freeze”

Graduation

Woensdag was ons seun se "Graduation" seremonie by die Jubilee auditorium , dit is waar hulle opvoerings soos “Cats”, ens. opvoer. Dit was ‘n groot storie. Hulle was omtrent 500 kinders, net van sy se skool, met toesprake, musiek, orkes, ens. Dit het die hele oggend geneem. Hulle het Konings-blou togas gedra. Hulle was gevra om netjies ( black dress slacks) aan te trek, maar daar was ‘n ligte broek of twee hier en daar, meeste meisies het sandale gedra, een meisie het ‘n ou paar tekkies gedra. Meestal was hulle netjies en daar was nie Blou denim ( nationale drag) Goths, Punks, pers, goen of pienk gekleurde hare, ens. nie.

Daar was een snaakse toespraak en ‘n ander goeie deur een van ons seun se geliefkoosde onderwysers. Dit het ‘n staande ovasie ontvang. Een meisie het “Would you believe in miracles” gesing, die woorde is pragtig. Sy het dit soos ‘n ballade gesing.

Snow-shoeing, March 2001

We have had quite a bit of new snow. On Saturday Mr. T. went snow-shoeing with some people in Kananaskis at Rawson Lake . It was a warm sunny day there, (Calgary was cloudy with flurries at minus 15) Mr. T. says it was a real work – out as they climbed a mountain, these people have done it before, but it was he’s first time. He says I wouldn’t have made it, he thinks they did about 14 k’s. Even he was sore. He says it was beautiful, he took some lovely photos.

"Rawson Lake is a beautiful green lake sitting below the sheer cliffs of Mt. Sarrail in Kananaskis Country. The trail starts at the upper Kananaskis Lake parking area and leads off west along the lakeshore. At about 1km (past Sarrail Falls), turn left up the slope. The trail is fairly steep, but only for about 1.5km.
Elevation Gain: 305 m (1,000 ft)." Trail Peak

Comment: We hiked there in the summer
Tokeloshe

St John's & Halifax, 3.2001

Mr. T spent a week in St John's Newfoundland and Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was just in time for a bad snowstorm; they even closed the schools. He drove 100’s of kilos around New Foundland and Nova Scotia. He says he saw lots of snow and fisher-mans cottages. He saw the bay where the young teenagers had drowned. They were playing on the ice flows and the tide came in. Some of the world’s highest tides are there. Charles says that the snow was heaped up as high as 20 feet next to the houses. It was cold there while here they were playing golf .

Tokeloshe

Winter festival

Dit was hierdie week die Calgary Winter festival. Daar is verskllende goed aan by C.O.P. ( die ski plek in Calgary), Devonian tuine, Eau Claire mark, die skaats baan in die stad , Princess Island, ens. Somige van die items was Ys beeldhou werk (“Ice sculptures”) , “bob sled”, ski jumping, tube ry op die ys, ens.

Ons is Saterdag oggend midde-stad toe. Dit was baie koud, minus 18 met ‘n “Windchill” wat dit nog kouer laat voel. Die stad self is ook kouer as die ander plekke, want daar is so min son. Gelukkig kan ‘n mens met die "plus 15" in die stad loop. Dit is bruggies wat op die tweede vloer, oor die strate gaan. Hulle is 15 voet van die vloer af en altyd ten minste 15 grade C. binne. Daar is amper 15 kilometers daarvan al in die stad. Ons het eerste na Devonian tuine toe gegaan, dit is groot binnemuurse tuine met plante, pragtige brons beelde, hout maskers teen die mure, watervalle, dammetjies vol Koi, skilpaaie, ens. Daar is selfs masjiene waar ‘n mens vis-kos kan koop. Orals is wandel-paadjies en bruggies. Alles binne in ‘n gebou met glas vensters.

Dit is natuurlik heerlik om in die middel van die winter daardeur te loop want dit is warm, groen en vogtig daar binne. Die “Winterfest” items was maar meestal vir kinders bedoel met “Face Painting”, narre, towenaars, ens. Binne in die geboue is natuurlik “Malls”, so ons het ‘n bietjie daar rond gesnuffel.

Toe durf ons die koue aan, om ‘n paar blokke na die Eau Claire mark toe te loop. Daar is nie ‘n plus 15 soontoe nie. Gelukkig is dit binne in ‘n gebou en ons het ‘n heerlike Laté uit groot pottebakkers bakkies uitgedrink. Ons sien dat “ True North” by die Imax teater wys, maar ons sal daarna gaan kyk as ons seun saam is. Ons het toe oor die brug geloop na Princes’s island, gelukkig het daar ‘n sonnetjie geskyn maar dit was nog steeds baie koud. Ons is maar vinnig weer terug kar toe, waarna ons deur “China town” gery het. Die straat name is alles in Sjinees en Engels en daar is Sjinese vir Afrika. Ons het een ou ‘n waentjie gesien stoot , wat gelyk het asof dit vol vars krewe was. Dan kan jy amper dink jy is in Sjina.

Nuwejaarsdag, 2001

Ons was Nuwejaarsdag Kananaskis toe, ons het weer gaan kyk na die gevriesde Elbow waterval, dit was nog mooier as verlede jaar. Dit lyk soos stalgiete.
Daar was baie sledders en mense het weer op die meer geskaats, ons het ongelukkig ons sled en skaatse vergeet.

Tokeleshe