Okanogan Valley

This year we arrived in the Okanagan on the September 30th after one full day of driving over the mountains passes and through valleys.

Once in Osoyoos, we headed for NK'Mip RV Resort to the site we had occupied last winter and spring. While disconecting the trailer we saw little black spots on the front and sides. 

Walking in the Rain

September 5, 2015 - Rainy Day

The rain was not stopping Lorraine from her walk. To take this picture I had to set the camera for a F stop of 32 and a 30" exposure.

As you can see at that exposure any thing not moving is in focus. Lorraine's feet did not move as she struggled to open the umbrella. 

The area near the trailer was calm but out in the open the wind was stronger and Lorraine returned with a wetter outfit, the umbrella was good exercise for the arms.

Until next time remember "Discover It and Live It".

        

Okotoks Dawgs Baseball

At 6:00pm on July 10th Randal and I went to the Seaman Stadium, the local ball park for a 7:05pm game start. The baseball game was between the Okotoks Dawgs (home team) and the Edmonton Prospects. 

We had visited the stadium last week on a spur of the moment "Lets do something we don't normally do." but they were sold out. We did buy tickets for the next Friday night game, so much for the spur of the moment. When we found what seats we were to be in, we had to find them and try them out. Four rows up right on the third base line. 

We arrived early to get a parking spot for "The Big Red Ram". Found one close to the building but far enough away so it didn't get hit by a foul ball.

 

It was not a sell-out, but everyone was entertained by load music and a pep rally to clap their hands and make lots of noise. There was lots of pregame activity. Groups by the dugout, practice in the field, and even some spying by the opposition. I'm not quite sure what was in his mouth.   

Randal took a lot of pictures using the new point and shoot Canon, but some times the small camera only focused on the fence in front of us. He lost a lot of shots, too many blurry baseball players.

Before the game fans read the stat sheets on the home and away teams.

The field still needed the tarps removed from the pitchers mound and home plate. Players dressed in uniform were the field crew. They soaked down the 1st and 3rd base line before a second crew painted the white lines.    

A group of Dawgs players were busy setting up by watering down the base lines and putting in the field markings.

The player with the hose was having so much fun two more players helped pull it to reach all the dry dirt.

We were early enough to watch the fans arrive with their rituals of blankets, food and drinks. 

Every body had come to eat and drink. No food is aloud to be taken into the field so the two concessions were quite busy. Some of the burgers were as big as the children. Many of the older adults spent the time talking to old friends. 

The home team line up was introduced and then the coaches of the Edmonton team were mentioned and commemorated for their may years to the game.

As the umpires and team captains had a meeting at home plate the fans were welcomed to the stadium and informed that the next night was "Kentucky Derby Night" so come and ware your best hat.  

Some conversations you have to guess as to what is being said.

A young girl sang O' Canada to start the game. She did a good job. 

The first pitch!

Edmonton at bat in the 1st Inning. Scored one run.

Then the Dawgs started to howl. 

At the 7^th Inning stretch a very young boy, who was hit by a foul ball, showed his brews and was then asked if he would sing the 7^th inning “Take Me Out To The  Ball Game”.  It was not dark yet but the lights were turned on.

Full house in the east stands.

The Dawgs won 5 to 1 and game ended at 9:17pm. 

The young fans then flooded the field and headed to the players for autographs.

We knew there would be a line up to exit the parking lot, so we were in no rush. In fact Lorraine used the time and the good cell phone signal to call her daughter Lynne and catch up with them.

So until next time remember to "Discover It and Live It. 

The Noise

Saturday April 25, 2015

We made a trip into Calgary today, which isn't unusual in it's self. What was unusual was the mode of transportation. We road the C train from the west end-of-the-line to SAIT for a volleyball game in which our middle granddaughter was playing. Lexi is one of the seventeen year old girls on the Maple Leaf Volleyball Club.

At SAIT the gym is split into four courts for the time of the tournament. Large floor to ceiling curtains separate the gym in half and each half has a curtain that drops to eight feet above the floor. These are the colour as the SAIT Trojans, the home teams that play in this gym during the school year, bright Red.

Why, you ask “Noise” for a title? Well when you put 10 to 12 girls on a team that play a team of 10 to 12 girls on four courts, that adds up to 48 screaming girls playing at the same time and them add another 4 to 6 teams watching. That's a lot of noise.

The C-train stops right at the SAIT Gym entrance. So we were able to walk through the halls to find the gym and then a court-side chair. Once the two sides we full, it was standing room only. There is a real shuffle of seat when one game ends and the next one starts. Lexi was in the first of the best of three games which they lost. She was side lined for the second game. Their team lost the second game and we gave up our seats to the new game spectators.

Now we were back on the C-train again. This was a first time adventure and we had purchased day-passes so we headed to Calgary's downtown core. We debarked at the 3^rd Street Stop. The outside temp had not increased at all. It was lunch time so off we walked to the nearest restaurant for a bite to eat. Our choice was Earls. Feed up and on foot we headed across the street and up the stairs to the second level ped-way. Lorraine saw a chocolate store and could not resist. In the center of the mall was a group from a band school demonstrating what they had learned to everyone in the place. This is where the next part of the “Noise” title comes up.

Back on the C-train we continue south and only got to the Chinook Mall and Community Food Store. The C-train line from that stations to the south was under maintenance over the weekend. We were told to get off and take a bus around the work to rejoin the train. We didn't want to ride a bus so our tour south came to an abrupt stop. We were hoping to see southern Calgary from a different view point but we got on the next North bound train, destination Tuscany where we had park the big red ram.

The C-train travels above and below ground on a good part off the route. When it goes into a tunnel the sound of the wheels on the track is quite loud, hence another “Noise” to contend with. This coming from a man that drives a truck with a Cummings Diesel Engine. Ha Ha.

We made it back to the End-of-the-Line and there was the truck looking so lonely in an empty parking lot. It may have been sad that it had not been along, which it most always is, for our day of adventure.

So until next time remember to “Discover It and Live It”.

Rail Tagging

April 5, 2015 - Salmon Arm, BC

Graffiti

Graffiti is writing or drawings that have been scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface, often in a public place. Graffiti ranges from simple written words to elaborate wall paintings, and it has existed since ancient times, with examples dating back to Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire.

In modern times, paint (particularly spray paint) and marker pens have become the most commonly used graffiti materials. In most countries, marking or painting property without the property owner's consent is considered defacement and vandalism, which is a punishable crime.

Rick Mercer walks graffiti panted walls while doing his weekly rant.

Graffiti may also express underlying social and political messages and a whole genre of artistic expression is based upon spray paint graffiti styles. Within hip hop culture, graffiti has evolved alongside hip hop music, b-boying, and other elements. Unrelated to hip-hop graffiti, [citation needed] gangs use their own form of graffiti to mark territory or to serve as an indicator of gang-related activities.

Controversies that surround graffiti continue to create disagreement among city officials, law enforcement, and writers who wish to display and appreciate work in public locations. There are many different types and styles of graffiti and it is a rapidly developing art form whose value is highly contested and reviled by many authorities while also subject to protection, sometimes within the same jurisdiction.

Tag: A form of graffiti signature

Tagging: Much like, but not to be confused with graffiti. Tagging is signing your name or other representation of yourself on anywhere public. (walls, bus-stops, alleyways, paved streets, etc.) 

Unlike graffiti, tagging usually takes less time and skill as it is done in one color with a single can of spray paint or thick marker.

Skytrain Railway Graffiti Removal

BC Transit has a Zero Tolerance policy towards graffiti. Their policy is to not allow any Skytrain to be in service with visible graffiti as this will only attract more graffiti. Graffiti Removal Team’s first Skytrain Railway Graffiti Removal back in 2003. We are very proud of BC Transit’s Zero Tolerance policy.

This Saskatchewan grain car has a tag that is not finished. One would wonder if the car will ever return to the artists neighbourhood for him to finish the art work.

Canadian Pacific Railway

CP Rail has a much more difficult graffiti problem to deal with. They have over 100,000 railway cars and locomotive spread out accross North America. Graffiti Removal Team proudly began working with CP Rail in 2002. Railway cars cannot be protected or inspected the way BC Transit can. CP Rail’s policy is to remove graffiti:

• Where it impacts safety
• Offensive, racist and sexist graffiti
• Obscures rail car ID numbers

The Rail Car below was one I saw stopped on the double track in Salmon Arm, BC. These tracks are adjacent to the Nature Bay Wildlife Sanctuary walking path.   

So until next time remember to "Discover It and Live It".

Nature Bay

April 3, 2015

Nature Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in Salmon Arm, BC

This morning we drove to a place to have our morning walk. We parked on the street in front of a huge home on the edge of the lake and marsh where the Nature Bay Wildlife Sanctuary gate was located.

The path was well traveled as we found out later.

On the left was the lake and marsh and on the right was the CP Rail main line through the valley. When we pasted through the gate there was a Ring Necked Pheasant walking the line as only his head was visible.  

 

Further down the trail there were signs of last year cattails breaking into seed fluff. The big house can be seen in the distance.  

The Red Wing Blackbirds were everywhere. Their calls sounded like cell phones ringing but no one answering. 

A beaver pond was in the middle of the marsh with a boardwalk that ran right to the lake and through all the cattails. The photo below shows the beaver dam with two levels of water.    

There was one lonely Mallard in the pond.  

There were also monsters living in the water.

Remember the rail line I mentioned earlier, well here is the noise that broke the silents. As it was passing it stopped and waited for another one coming from the other direction.

The nature walk must be close to the local coffee shop or everyone drives here after stopping to get their special morning fix.

So until next time remember to "Discover It and Live It".