The newspaper -- electronically

I got interested in the NY Times this morning.  They had published 52 places to see in 2016.  I went through the list wondering if I could get to those places in a lifetime.  I discovered I have been to some of the places, maybe 10 or so.  And way down on the list, though listed in no particular order are the South Gulf Islands of British Columbia.  Some people in our house have been to two of them.

The scenery around them looks amazingly like what we see at the Shuswap.  Check it out at about #50 of places to see in 2016.  It could look like a view out of a window you have stood before.

Rebecca got interested in the topic of sentencing with respect to poachers.

I admit that the article she sent on to me was interesting, but maybe that is because she is letting me come to her crim law class.  This morning I was thinking, why audit, why not just take the class, do the exam and start working on the law degree I always wanted.  The trouble is ... I wanted too many things -- a law degree, a medical degree, a PhD ... in anything.

The world is a big place.  Hard not to want it all.

Arta

Field, B.C.

 ... winter storms bring winter disrepair ...

I am making the trip to and from Calgary more and more times each year. In the past the stops usually involved something new I could show the kids: seeing a new sight along the way – a view of a waterfall at Takakaw, a walk along the Hoodoo Trail, or a stop at the Skunk Cabbage board walk. Now things have changed. Now the stops are paced by good health – the timing to get out of the car to give my legs a stretch or even a good walk before going another of the 500 kilometers along the way. Often that stop includes Field, B.C.

Field Parking Lot ... no tourist cars here yet

It is too late to buy the cotton throw into which is weaved all of the secondary places a person might want to see there: Emerald Lake, the Burgess Shale, the Kicking Horse River. I first saw that blanket in the gas station at Field. Though it was on display, I had to go to the lodge to buy one, since they were sold out. Now I have too many covers of all weights and sizes. Still I think of that desire – to capture that beauty in a material object and then to have it rest over me some evening when I am cold and there is no fire in the hearth, as it were.

...  a playground nestles in a valley of Yoho National Park ...

That stop at Field is a golden one. There is the tourist information centre to see. The way to the Burgess shale is well signed and six or eight sandwich boards tell how those fossils fit into the creation of the world. There is a play ground and picnic tables, the meandering river with all of its oxbows, and glaciers on the mountains in the distance. I have even seen a man with a fishing rod throw his lure out into the lake. Field is a good chance to stretch people’s legs after two hours of driving. I saw it this time when it was filled with trucks there to give the place a good repair before the summer tourists arrive.

Arta

Hot Tubs at Crazy Creek

Welcome to Crazy Creek Hot Pools.

Have you ever been to the Crazy Creek Hot Pools?

This was David's first trip.

Only 40 minutes east of our home, and we had forgotten to give this tourist spot a try.

David climbed up the mounds of snow so we could capture the welcome sign and the weather.

The suspension bride is closed until the ice melts, so we will have to go back in the spring to walk across it.

We wished we could have seen what the Waterfalls look like this time of year, but we will wait.

Their ad says, "enjoy the clear Canadian mountain air while relaxing our hot pools".

"Can we come here everyday? I feel so relaxed."

Your imagination cannot dream up a scene better than what we experienced.

Two outdoor hot pools.

Maybe 10 people per pool.

No smell of sulfur.

Surrounded by mountains.

An ice cold small pool if you are daring and want to cool off. We didn't try it this time.

In spite of being relaxed, we were the rowdiest visitors to the pool.

"David, it's your turn to rescue the turtle. I will throw it this time."

David and his friend played "rescue the plastic turtle".

One person takes a turn pulling the cord so the turtles arms are ready to swim, and then gives it a toss.

The other person swims to rescue it.

At one point we had to recruit all swimmers to help us find the lost turtle.

It had entered an "intake valve" but was still within arms reach.

Whew!

Bonnie

Welcome to Crazy Creek

Hi everyone,

I like to look at mountains, especially the one in the right background

Hot pools

Cheeeeeeese.

David