A Quick Trip East

On the edge of the Alberta Foothills

A few weeks ago I drove to Saskatoon.  Expecting a long time driving, I left early at 7am.  Travelling north out of Cochrane on Highway 22, I came across several Alberta foothills scenes lit by the low and warm coloured morning light that shows off this part of the province.  I didn’t stop, but promised myself that I would to come back to a few of those locations with my camera.

When home again a week later my old brain had put that promise off in a file somewhere.  My idea for an early morning photo shoot was supplanted by early morning coffee and reading in my comfy chair.

A few days ago, as I stood in the living room looking outside at a beautiful morning lit by the rising sun, that file in my brain was recovered.  It was too late to do anything about it, but the next morning I was up and driving north to look for the scenes I had seen.  The image above is one of those scenes.

The reason I went to Saskatoon was to position me to then go to Last Mountain Lake Wildlife Area.  That area is south of Saskatoon and turned out to be an hour-and-a-half drive. The main focus of this area is the Last Mountain Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary.  It was first set aside by Canada’s federal government in 1887, making it North America’s first protected area for birds.  Through this area migrate Sandhill Cranes, Whooping Cranes, Snow Geese, Pelicans. and a host of smaller birds.  Some breeds of ducks migrate through that area, but many ducks live their life there.  I wanted to case the place out to determine if I was going to return once the bird migration starts in later September and early October.

What I saw was an area with marsh, grasslands, and open water.  There were a few migratory birds about when I was there, but evidently when the big bird migration begins, there will be many more species to observe.  I plan on going back either in late September or early October with binoculars, cameras, and the longest telephoto lens I can carry.

Here are a few birds that I did see on my exploration of the Bird Sanctuary.

Blue-wing Teal in their Fall colours

Snow Goose with a Killdeer behind it.

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Esoterica:

Travel Coffee Report

(Saskatchewan trip to Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Medicine Hat)

As many know, I make an effort to search out good coffee shops when I travel.  The term ‘good’ I know is a personal thing, but so be it.  My rating system is from 0 to 10.  My ratings of some of the players in the coffee house worlds are:  Starbucks is 4; Tims is 3;

Second Cup is 3.  In Calgary, Sought and Found as well as Kawa Espresso Coffee Bar are usually 10, but can be 8 now and then. I always order a latte for my test.

Now, regarding my most recent Saskatchewan trip findings:

• What used to be a favourite of mine in Regina now fails to produce a latte that is worth the visit.  It is called The French Press and is on South Albert.  The ambiance is great and it’s popular, but I’ve stopped there three times for a latte in the past few years and it has let me down each time.  I now rate it a 6, down from 9.  Their head Barista reads as very qualified, but he’s never been at the espresso machine when I’ve been there.  Where I did have nice latte in the city was at 13th Ave Food and Coffee House.  I rated it 8.

• Moose Jaw:  Evolve - Rating about 8.  Be careful of their hours—they don’t open before 8am and are closed on Sundays.

• Swift Current:  Urban Ground Coffeehouse.  My rating is 8 and they are consistent.

• Medicine Hat:  Station Coffee.  My rating is 9 to 10.  A new find and very good.

Finally…..

‘A little work never hurt anybody…..but why chance it.’

Anonymous