Okay here's a rough update

In our travels lately, I saw this hummingbird flying in the sky.

Okay so we have moved to a 'modest' house in a 'modest' community as we were unable to find a suitable acreage in the time we had - still in central Alberta. Our lease on the acreage expired Sept 30th and we could not wait to get away from that property. The water was absolutely disgusting, the safety of the house was questionable and - lets just say, the landlady wasn't the warm fuzzy type. It was a risk, having rented it sight unseen (except for a short video conference) from our place in the Gulf Islands of BC but it was clear from day 1 that we wouldn't be staying past our lease.

Brad's hammock

Our new place allows Brad to FINALLY hang the hammock we bought about 5 years ago. In all the places we've been, there just wasn't anywhere he could hang it... except the campground but those trees were for paying guests and our spot didn't have 2 trees in it.

Yes FG, there is a garden area in the back also. All things being equal we will put in some raised beds to add more growing space.    

Once the move was completed, we were exhausted and needed a few days to relax. I can't relax at home, there's waaaay too much to do all the time. 

Also, I have a wonky elbow that I injured getting into our old truck last October that I was too 'busy' to let heal and so I am doing that now that the move is done (golfer's elbow AND bursitis). The shoulder on my other arm is also giving me grief, so I'm a hot mess currently.

Off we went to Canmore, AB for 4 days, 3 nights. Canmore is the new Banff, the amount of tourists is just crazy.  But it was still a relaxing few days. Having lived there for 3 years many years ago, we didn't do much of the typical touristy stuff.

Lake Louise

Our beloved Robbie

Returned to the scene of the crime, 14 years on.

Evidence of the crime itself.

My other 'good son'

We had barely got the silverware put away and my youngest son (of 2) messaged to ask if he could stay with us for a few weeks while he did a job local to us. He is a Radiographer, and takes Xray pictures of pipeline welds and the like... this is oil country here in Alberta, after all. So he will be here for a while (gone home to his wife and 3 kids in Saskatchewan for Thanksgiving this weekend, but will return on Monday).

So once again, I apologize for my long absences. It has been a crazy year with the animals on the acreage and the massive garden we planted. Then finding a place to move to and then rehoming the chickens and sending the rabbits to freezer camp. Getting the packing, cleaning and move done with a wonky arm, and then eventually 2 wonky arms... it has been super tiring. We are settled now and I hope to be posting more often... assuming my blog keeps existing... (also, some part of that doesn't expire until spring, so..... no idea).

So the new page SHOULD be: www.theroguelesstravelled.blogspot.com - - at least in theory.

This town has a lot of activities. We had a drive in movie night, ladybug release, rubber duck race... we are hoping to start curling, have already joined the card playing club, there is a gym very close to the house, and I've made a friend already. No Pickleball as yet but one of the locals does play and so we will try to get something going for the winter.

So far, so good!

 

Our new adventure

Several years ago Brad & I moved from Saskatoon to Canmore. We rented a house online that we had never seen except in pictures, loaded everything we owned into a Uhaul truck, invited my then 23 year old son to join us and off we went.

We drove through the worst storm of the year at the end of January 2006, a 3 vehicle convoy, white out conditions so you could not see the road for all the snow falling, and arrived 14 hours later (usually a 6 hour drive) in Canmore only to open the door to the most luxurious home we had ever been in. In the morning, we opened the door and were stopped in our tracks - literally, by the most awe inspiring view of the Three Sisters Mountains right in front of us.

Photo by Erik McRitchie 2016

We absolutely loved Canmore and in hindsight should never have left there. At the time though...

A few weeks ago Brad came across an ad for a Workamping position just outside Canmore. He sent an email and I later sent a proper resume and we received a cordial email advising that all positions were full.

Yesterday morning we received another email that they would like to do an interview with us via Skype.. of course, we jumped at the chance. Apparently due to a family emergency one of the 5 hosts at this site has had to pull out. We were offered the position and we took it. Free Full Hook Up site and a bit of cash every month. 5 hours 3 days a week, 6 hours 2 days a week and 2 days off. The campground closes Oct 8 and with year end wind up we'd be free to head out around the 15th, which allows us just enough time to get to Osoyoos for our crossing - or we could cross south of Lethbridge into the beautiful Montana.

We Are Going Home

This morning... in an hour we leave.... so excited. Having never Workamped before we are both excited and nervous for that aspect of this next adventure but thrilled to be heading back to Canmore. 

Yesterday was spent doing last minute running around and visiting with family who were surprised, but not shocked, that we were off yet again. We were surprised too, this position just came up out of the blue. We have paid for a month at this campground and have only been here 10 days... no refunds but they have noted our extra days so that we can come back anytime in 2018 and use them up. 

This is a great opportunity to get back to the mountains. We would like to eventually settle back in Canmore, but we've been leary of how it would be if we did. This job allows us to feel Canmore out after a decade and see if it still fits without paying the exorbitant prices that are Canmore Real Estate, only to find that 'you can't go back'.

Canmore is an old mining town that had a boom and the original residents resent the 'newbies' so there is a bit of that to deal with in this town and it is a very transient community but we love the beauty of it. Hiking trails, mountain roads, Banff, Lake Louise, Mount Engadine Lodge (great lunches put on on the weekends and a beautiful scenic drive) and of course, old friends.

Wish us luck on this new adventure.

PS We have no idea what the internet will be like. Stay tuned for an update on that.