#Landscape Rock Kelowna

[leahhicksart]

Website: https://www.leahhicks.com/

Address: Smiths Falls, Eastern Ontario, Canada

Through catastrophic brain injury and resulting trauma comes a channel of expression from which I create my artworks.

Having an education in art, I have learned skills such as Life drawing, Still Life, Shape, Principles and Elements, Colour, and Fundamentals. This has given me a successful career as a well-established professional artist.

My work is represented and seen throughout North America and I have participated in various regional art shows, and solo shows in Montreal, Ottawa, and Kingston as well as having been honored to participate in The Florence Biennale in Italy, Chicago USA’s Art Expo, Toronto’s Arta Gallery’s Modern Woman and London Vogue. My Artwork is currently being shown in Prestigious Galleries across Eastern Canada.

I have had my work mentioned in numerous documents and literature. My artwork has been heavily collected by the Federal Government of Canada as well as held in many private collections and in many countries.

I continue to challenge myself to create a multi-dimensional world on a two-dimensional stage in order to achieve depth and emotion in each piece.

‘Inspiring the mind, exploring the depths of the subconscious landscape’

Business Email: art@leahhicks.com

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[smokyvalley-blog]

Smoky Valley Contracting Ltd.

Smoky Valley Contracting strives to achieve A+ workmanship on every job. With over 12 years class 1 driving and equipment operation, we assure personalized customer service, proper delivery, and planning assistance with any project. We are proud to offer both commercial and residential services.

Address: 2095 Bernau Ct, Lake Country, BC V4V 2M7, CAN Phone: 778-363-0056 Website: http://www.smokyvalley.ca

[nicolehorel]

Felt pen.

[stonesistersgroup]

The Stone Sisters of RE/MAX Kelowna are proud to present; 1385 Orchard Drive. An updated 3 bedroom home located in a fantastic quiet area with amazing outdoor space that you don't see anymore! Immaculately maintained, the main level of the home features a modern kitchen including white cabinetry, stainless appliances, granite, and opens to dining room. Dining room provides access to the private deck with an optional awning, ideal for Summer dining. Living room is spacious and bright overlooking greenery through the 8-foot window. Master bedroom is a generous size, equipped with a ceiling fan and a large closet. Second bedroom and full bathroom complete the main level. The lower level could be easily suited! You'll find a separate entrance, a spacious third bedroom, a full bathroom and a multi-functional space as well as an unfinished area that could easily be finished to allow for a bedroom or a larger lower level. Outdoor space has been professionally landscaped, beautiful rock detail, fully fenced, pristine grass area, outdoor pool- an entertainers dream! Newer windows, flooring, fencing, eaves-troughs and interior doors. Live minutes to Downtown Kelowna in a very desirable location. Visit stonesisters.com or call 250-899-6433 for more details

[emiliohvtt188-blog]

Will Landscape Rock Kelowna Ever Die?

Many residents would certainly like to have a garden as an add-on to their appealing homes. A sensational garden takes many hours of commitment and effort however can quickly be attained by not just gardening professionals but newbies too. One of the most essential gardening concepts for any type excavating Kelowna of enthusiastic gardener is to have truly great gardening guidance.

As a method to help you get going, here are a number of standard gardening pointers to creating your dream Rockford gardens:

Suggestion # 1 - Think about your plants' wellness in addition to your own.

Ensure that you stay well hydrated while gardening. As numerous gardening is carried out in the sun, includes real task and is really engrossing, it's extremely easy to do away for several hours on end without the requirement of noticing the time flying by. Continue drinking lots of fluids and ensure you're wearing sufficient sunlight cream and a hat. Your yard will just suffer if you're in bed for a couple of days with dehydration or sunshine stroke. Remember, cancer of the skin stays to be one of the top awesomes so outfit properly.

Suggestion # 2 - Layout your Rockford gardens before you start excavating.

Your energy and time is valuable so do not begin excavating holes and planting plants without having a lawn design and design initially. You might pick to utilize an specialist Rockford gardens designer or you might just want to sketch your wanted garden on a note pad yourself, relying on your budget. Either approach if you have a strategy of just what you are doing and what you desire to grow where, you will save yourself great deals of back breaking hours digging and planting unnecessarily.

Tip # 3 - Come up with a listing of the devices and tools you will certainly need and make usage of the right gadgets.

After producing your Rockford gardens style, noting the tools and products that are needed to develop your masterpiece. You may require expert equipment like heavy earth moving devices that ought to be picked and booked earlier or you might wish to plant unique plants that have actually to be purchased and grown especially. You do not wish to get half ways through your project just to discover you can easily not get a gadget on hire for 2 weeks. When this occurs it is really irritating and can easily in some cases hold up the entire task.

You have to utilize the appropriate gadgets for your gardening occasions. Some gardening devices are made for particular activities and can quickly save the garden enthusiast a excellent deal of time. If you need to get gardening devices you can easily contrast costs and makes quickly and conveniently over the web. , if possible purchase tools with long rubber deals with as they are much simpler on your joints and muscles as they are considerably less susceptible to disconcerting.

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Gardens can easily become the program piece and public event point of many houses and areas. No matter where you live or simply what kind of garden plants you prefer, with a couple of basic preparation and design you can produce wonderful Rockford gardens that you and your family and friends can enjoy for great deals of years to come. The most crucial point about establishing your garden is that you are appreciating it while doing it.

A stunning garden takes many hours of commitment and effort but can easily be achieved by not just gardening experts however newbies too. One of the most essential gardening concepts for any type of enthusiastic garden enthusiast is to have really good gardening assistance.

Some gardening devices are made for specific activities and can easily save the garden enthusiast a excellent offer of time. If you have to acquire gardening devices you can quickly contrast expenses and makes rapidly and easily over the web.

[gethealthy18-blog]

Caribou Gold Rush Trail Travel Guide British Columbia

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Caribou Gold Rush Trail Travel Guide British Columbia

As I shared bits and pieces of my trip to British Columbia last week on Instagram, the most common question I got was “where ARE you?”. Great question and to be honest, up until last week I would not have been able to tell you where I was. In fact when I landed in Vancouver I was convinced we were going to Eastern British Columbia (we weren’t) so needless-to-say this trip was certainly off the beaten path.

So how exactly did I end up spending a week on the Caribou Gold Rush Trail in Central British Columbia? Let’s discuss…

A few months ago I received a text from my friend Jonny asking if I was interested in going on a trip with him in BC. Jonny and I met a few years ago when we worked together on a trip to Banff. We totally hit it off and I went back to Banff a few years later. He now runs his own business (check out Eco Escape Travel) out of Vancouver and has clients that he works with on content creation and social media. One of his clients in the Caribou Chilcotin Coast Travel Association (CCCTA).

They had a content trip planned for June and I figured “hey! why not? I’m always down for adventure”! And adventure we did. I’ll be honest, this trip was both the highest of highs and lowest of lows. The days were exceptionally long but also packed full of activities that were truly once-in-a-lifetime. I learned a lot about this region of British Columbia and my hope is that I can inspire you to get off the beaten path and explore the Caribou Chilcotin Coast yourself.

Courtesy of: CCCTA

Where is Chilcotin BC?

Let’s first discuss where I was. Anyone who is from or has visited Canada knows how big it is. Each province is HUGE with many different landscapes and areas to explore. British Columbia is no exception. From Vancouver to Whistler to Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia has no shortage of destinations. However, the Chilcotin (as it’s called) is worth adding to the bucket list. The Chilcotin encompasses the central region of the province just on the eastern side of the Coast Mountains (where Whistler is located). The Chilcotin itself has a mountain range full of provincial parks, glaciers and wildlife yet is surprisingly accessible from Vancouver – roughly 5 hours away by car.

What is the Caribou Chilcotin Coast?

The name is kind of confusing, right? The Caribou Chilcotin Coast actually refers to THREE mountainous areas including the Caribou range to the north, the chilcotin range below that and the eastern side of the coast mountains. It isn’t in fact along the coast but instead covers hundreds of miles from southern to northern British Columbia. It is a region of central BC.

What is the Gold Rush Trail BC?

Now just to add to the confusion, this area is also sometimes referred to as The Gold Rush Trail. Why? Because this was the path miners took when searching for gold in BC. Yes, there was a gold rush in British Columbia and many remnants of it remain along the path starting in Lillooet all the way up to Barkerville. The trail actually beings before Lillooet but technically mile zero begins there. You can actually follow the whole path all the way up stopping at many historic inns and locations that still preserve many of the remnants from the 1800s gold rush.

Some stops worth making along the trail: Kilby Historic Site, The Town of Lillooet, Historic Hat Creek and Barkerville.

Why Visit the Caribou Gold Rush Trail?

There are a couple reasons why one might explore the Caribou Gold Rush Trail but I’m going to narrow it down to three: adventure, historical and indigenous travel. If you are an off-the-beaten path adventure junkie, this place is for you. This is especially true for mountain bikers who consider this some of the best mountain biking in the world.

If you’re a history buff who loves learning about the gold rush and historical travel, this area is also for you. As I mentioned above, you can literally follow the path all the way up stopping at important locations along the gold rush trail.

If you love learning about native cultures and experiencing them first hand, you will also love this region. There are so many indigenous first nations in this area to learn from. One of my favorite parts!

Some Highlights…

Most of the time when I write these travel guides I try to give an exact route or itinerary you can follow. However, because we were on a content trip, a lot of the sites we visited either a) aren’t accessible to the public or b) weren’t necessarily places I would have chosen to visit (just being honest!). So instead I’m going to share my highlights from the Chilcotin Gold Rush Trail and places I think are worth visiting. Let’s do this!

REO Yoga + Rafting Resort [Boston Bar, British Columbia]

Go HERE! If I could have spent all week here I would have. I’m biased because I love yoga but even if yoga isn’t your jam, this place is for you. The accommodations are luxury glamping with fully outfitted tents that are cozy, warm yet still feel like you’re in nature. Stay in the river tents and you’ll hear the river rushing all night – it’s the perfect white noise.

Included in your stay are 2-3 yoga classes a day (mixture of hatha, vinyasa and yin), 3 meals, accommodations and a rafting trip down the river. Rafting isn’t my cup of tea but I’m glad I did it and this area of British Columbia is absolutely beautiful. It’s considered the very southern end of the gold rush trail and is only about 3 hours from Vancouver. This place is an absolute steal and perfect for a weekend getaway or yoga retreat.

On your way from Vancouver stop for a hike in the Othello Tunnels and beautiful views at the Alexandra Bridge Provincial Park.

Lillooet, British Columbia

This is technically mile zero of the Gold Rush Trail however this area offers more than meets the eye. It’s also only about 2 hours from Whistler so could definitely be a day excursion from there. Here were some favorites:

Xwisten Experience

This is one of the best indigenous tourism experiences I have had. Stop in at Xwisten Experiences to experience how the Bridge River First Nations have been fishing in this region for 10,000 years as well as a demonstration of their wind dried salmon. They also take you up to where the pit houses are located and I don’t consider it a coincidence a beautiful eagle was flying over us. This experience is so special. Make sure you sign-up for a tour!

Fort Barens Winery

I was not expecting there to be great wine in Lillooet but boy was I wrong. BC is known for their Okanagan wines but Lillooet is soon to be on the map. Stop in for a tasting and go home with a bottle (or three!) of their delicious varieties. The setting is easy on the eyes too.

Split Rock Environmental

I’m a botanical geek so I loved stopping in at Split Rock to learn about the native flora and fauna is the region as well as try out (and buy!) some of their homemade bath and beauty products. You can also hike around their property and check out the man-made salmon run that was built to help preserve the salmon that come through the area.

TBH the accommodations in this area are slim pickins’ so I don’t have a specific place to recommend, however it’s only about 1.5 hours from Gold Bridge and Tyax Lodge (more on this below) so it’s a perfect place to stop in and out of that area.

Gold Bridge, British Columbia

This location is definitely the furthest from Vancouver, however it also offers the quietest and least trafficked area we visited. So if you’re really looking to get away from it all, Gold Bridge is for you.

Tyax Lodge

I highly recommend staying here during your trip. The accommodations are really nice (not super high end but not super rustic either) with beautiful views of the mountains. What I loved most about this place was the list of activities available. You can canoe, paddle board, go on a float plane ride to a local glacier, go to the spa and the list goes on. There are an abundance of activities at your disposal that allow you to explore the area.

Tyax Adventures

Not to be confused with Tyax Lodge, Tyax Adventures is a separate company that offers tours and lodging within the Gold Bridge area. Their tours are definitely more of the rugged variety and designed for people who love adventure. Since this post is all about honesty, I really was not a fan of their camping accommodations. Your girl can camp but this was REALLY rustic. Though I’m sure the rain and freezing temps didn’t help.

If I had planned it I would have just done one of their float plane day trips to hike in the Spruce Lake area but if you’re big into mountain biking or want something really off the beaten path their tent camps are always an option (though don’t believe their website – this isn’t “glamping”).

Chilcotin Holidays

Saved the best for last! If you love horses or have wanted to do a horseback riding adventure, you HAVE to go to Chilcotin Holidays. We did an afternoon ride through the mountains though they offer multi-day and week pack trips in addition to their day rides. We finished up the day with a white harvest meal featuring locally foraged foods like wild onions and potatoes, soopolalie berries and even wild elk and bear! The team here is kind and patient and I truly loved this experience.

From flying over a glacier in a float plane to crawling into a grizzly bear den, this trip wasn’t short on adventure. I’m somewhat biased but I really do think the Chilcotin Gold Rush Trail is a worthwhile visit if you’re coming through British Columbia or are looking to explore more of your province. This trip really gave me a lot of perspective on how much Western Canada truly has to offer and how little of it I have actually seen. I need a solid nap after 17-18 hour days but I’m already scheming ways to get back.

So tell me: Have you heard of the Caribou Chilcotin Coast + Gold Rush Trail? I’m excited for more of you to discover it!

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[jordthenomad]

Iceland, Also Again!

Now, I think the most beautiful thing about this part is how content I was to just let everything be. I was open and ready to experience whatever came my way, with three wishes: 1) I’ll finally see the northern lights 2) find some Icelandic horses 3) take excellent photos. I managed to accomplish all of those things. The northern lights were insanely cool, but you’re unable to see them fully with your naked eye. Instead, I balanced my camera on a rock against 50 km winds and took a blurry, but artistic, photo so I could truly experience them for what they are - I hope I’ll get to see them again in this lifetime.

The thing that I love the most about Iceland is how freaking weird and breathtaking it is. There is so much going on there that no wonder it is a photographer’s dream. The mountains are insane, whimsical, and gorgeous; you have every type of landscape you could imagine, the wind tends to always be blowing in a magical way, and you feel like you’re somewhere in space. It’s the perfect back drop to create something truly beautiful. My clients and I spent most of the time binge eating Icelandic candy, watching Friends, and driving through different landscapes - including going through a tunnel that was completely UNDER THE SEA! I had so many questions - how did they make it? What if it collapses? How is there electricity? I got no answers, but man was it cool.

Throughout my time there, I wore leggings under my pants at all times, got in a thousand puppy cuddles, and full on created magic. I felt so content. I questioned nothing and there was this breathtaking moment on my first full day where I felt completely at peace. We had been location scouting all day, it was windy, cold, and the pup needed to pee. We pulled over as the sun was surrounding the open plain, and the wind was sweeping around us. I took some photos and then E snapped one of me right as I breathed in the frosty air. I felt so alive and so grateful that my life and career led me there and couldn’t stop thinking about how there is so much left for me to explore and discover. That photo is one of my favourite ones ever taken of me, because it’s not just a pretty photograph, but it captures exactly when I felt whole again.

There are a million wonderful things I could say about this portion of my trip, but instead of trying to describe so many feelings, I want to let the photos do it instead.

Next stop, Kelowna for a month and then #JordtheNomad -ing to New Zealand to live out my Lord of the Rings dream!

[pinelakechic]

Days 48 to 51: It’s a Wild, Wild World!

Warning: this is a long read! :)

First of all, let me say that wool socks, toque, and down jacket are essentials to my preferred kind of camping! Before leaving Moab, Dan checked the weather and told me that the temperatures in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks were between 1C at night and 24C during the day - that was music to my ears! As much as I have enjoyed the scenery in Moab, I could not wait to get out of the heat and go somewhere that requires bundling up!

We had an early start during last morning in Utah and hit the road just after 7 AM. We ventured westward, further into the Colorado Plateau. We travelled through a matrix of arid landscapes - desert, grassland, scrub shrubs with sagebrush, and pigmy forests - which were relatively flat for the most part with table-top mountains in the distance and occasional mounds and small hills by the highway. We went for miles without seeing a single building and the colours were muted shades of straw and greyish green; even the skies were a bit hazy and overcast most of the morning.

The scenery got a bit more interesting as we entered Price Canyon, where the road travelled along the Price River. By now, the sky has also cleared up and everything has brightened up. Cliffs, towers, pinnacles, and fins of golden rocks towered over the highway most of the way, but at times they opened up to reveal spurs and valleys with sparse woodlands on the hillside.

We travelled north and stopped in Provo to go to the off-leash area at Bicentennial Park for Gimli to have a bit of a stretch. Although it was a well-maintained space relatively large, they decided to use coarse sand for the ground, so it was essentially a giant litter box for dogs! It was a bit too dusty for our liking - even Gimli was a bit hesitant picking up his ball because it was covered with sand! Being home to Brigham Young University, I guess it was not surprising to see a Mormon temple on every block…. If you know us, needless to say, we did not linger beyond letting the pup out! Continuing northward, we passed Park City and saw the sprawling, developed area near the ski hills, but we did not check out this ski resort.

For the third time this trip, we entered Wyoming again and, by now, we were used to the endless grasslands and the remoteness. We did spot a coal mine and a couple of refineries this time though. We were originally going to stop at the campground at Fontenelle Recreation Area (by Fontenelle Reservoir), but because we started early and were feeling well-rested, we decided to just make a rest stop there and move on. When we arrived, the place appeared to be deserted except for one camper with an empty boat trailer at the boat launch. The campground was basic, but it had flush toilets and each site had its own sheltered picnic table  (it was quite windy there!). It was kind of sad to see such public land/facilities (managed by US Department of Interior) not being utilized. We had a picnic lunch amongst the locals (birds and prairie dogs) and were back on the road again.

A couple of hours later, we arrived in Bridger Teton National Forest, a vast area surrounding the southern end of Grand Teton National Park. We were just about 30 minutes from Jackson and an hour from the entrance of Grand Teton, so this was a good place to stay for the night. We knew there are a few campgrounds within the Bridger Teton NF in this area, so we figured we would just drive to each one to see where we could find a spot. It turned out to be a lot easier than we thought to get a first-come-first-serve campsite close to a national park and tourist town in the middle of the summer!

We chose to stay at the Hoback Campground next to Hoback River. We found a site that backed up onto the river and decided that it was cool enough to get some firewood from our camp host for the first campfire of this trip! It was so nice being able to sit comfortably outside without any bugs! But no sooner have we settled into our camping chairs, we heard the familiar sound of distant thunder! We barely had a chance to put everything away before it starting raining! It proceeded to hail for a while before it settled into steady rain. Campfire will just have to wait.

We woke up to a chilly and refreshing morning with no rain! We met a couple, Ken and Tracy, from Florida who has a custom Class B built on a Mercedes Sprinter van. Dan spotted the brush bar on their van, so we stopped to chat with them and share van stories. 

After a walk with Gimli along the river, we headed into Jackson in search of coffee and breakfast. We found parking just outside the town center and took a leisurely walk to the shops. Fortified by the great coffee and food at JH Coffee Roaster and Restaurant, we were ready to tackle the shops! We were pleasantly surprised by how many stores were dog-friendly! Gimli sure got his share of treats. praise and ear scratches! 

While having coffee, I found the location of the one yarn store in town and we slowly made our way there. Knit on Pearl is in a cute little house and they have a very cozy set up inside. They have a great selection of yarn from local dyers  as well as commercial brands. Since I have already got yarn from merino sheep raised in Wyoming at a different store, I decided to get a skein of blue-faced Leicester-nylon blend. The colour is tonal pale straw/beige with a greyish tinge that was very much like the grasslands that we have driven through. But the name of the colourway turned out to be Elk Horn, which was somewhat representative of the region, except that elks have antlers and not horns…. Minor details!

On our way back to the car, we stopped in a furniture/interior design store and had one of those weird and wonderful random encounters! The guy working there noticed the bag of yarn I was carrying and asked if I was a knitter, and if so, whether he could have my address. He proceeded to tell us that his great-aunt was a well-known knitter who used to tour the country to teach knitting and whose work was displayed at the Smithsonian. He has inherited her stash and had no idea what to do with it!! I told him that I would be happy to take the yarn off his hands and anything I can't use, I will share with my knitting friends. We exchanged contact info and that was when we found out that he lived in Hong Kong for a couple of years back in the 80's and is surprisngly fluent in Cantonese!

After spending the morning roaming around Jackson, we headed into Grand Teton National Park for an auto tour. We were disappointed that they do not have the driving tour narration for rent, but Ranger Neil gave us great advice on where to go and where to stop given our plan to be at a campground in Yellowstone that evening. He even told us where we would most likely see bears: Spoiler alert! He was bang on!

The smoke from the forest fires in the PNW has been a problem here as well and although we could still see the majestic peaks of the Tetons, everything was covered by the haze. We avoided the crowds at Jenny Lake Visitor Center and went to a viewing point recommended by the park ranger; we went up to Signal Mountain, the highest drivable point of the park and saw the expansive valley below. We were driving through the stretch of road Ranger Neil warned us about high likelihood  of bear sighting when we noticed cars stopped in front of us and park rangers on both sides of the road directing traffic. We knew something was up! Sure enough, there was a black bear on a tree just like you would see on a wood carving! So that was where they got the idea!

We were stopping at the park signs on the way out of Grand Teton when we met a couple from Kelowna, BC, who have just travelled through Glacier National Park. Since both places were on our "maybe list", we were interested in the fire and smoke conditions. Based on what they told us, we would be wise to avoid those areas; this also means we need to rethink our next step. 

John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway took us from Grand Teton to  Yellowstone; forest fires in the recent years were evident by the burnt dead wood as well as the new growth on both sides of the road. Once we entered Yellowstone, we  travelled above the canyon through which the Lewis River flows. We caught glimpses of the river whenever there were openings between the trees. Grant Village Campground is the first campground from the south entrance and we felt quite lucky that we were able to find a spot there when we only called 3 or 4 days in advance. When we arrived at our assigned campsite, there was already someone parked there and they were not leaving until the day after. For a moment, we thought we got the dates wrong or we did not understand the labeling of the campsites! We went back to the office and they sorted things out and assigned us a different site instead.

While Dan set up camp, I took Gimli for a walk and to search for the showers because according to the map, they were further away than one would expect. I started walking further and further away from the campground and still couldn't  find the showers, so I finally asked the park ranger who told me that the facilities were 1/4 mile away! Since we were planning to have a campfire tonight and would get smoky anyway, so we decided we could go without a shower for one more night.

Being in this busy campground in one of the most popular national parks, in the middle of summer, was quite a contrast after our peaceful night in the national forest campground. It was hard to enjoy the nice weather and our campfire when we had for neighbours Drummer Boy, Mr. Megaphone from California (there were about 10 guys in the group but apparently one of them was hoarding the Talking Stick), and Bob the Builder (was he chopping wood for the campfire or trying to build a freaking shed?!).  We knew it would be busy, but there is a difference between a general louder ambient noise and specific people making more noise than anyone else for long periods of time. Fortunately, they all respected the quiet hours and we had a restful night.

On our first full day in Yellowstone, we got up early and got to the showers soon after they opened - yes, the showers were 1/4 miles away and available between 8 AM and 8:30 PM only. It would have been so much easier if they had been 24-hours and coin operated (1 shower per person per day was included in the camping fee and our tickets had to be marked off by an attendant with each use, and they had to buzz us into the locked shower rooms!). Although the location of the shower and the logistics involved in using them were a bit of a pain, the showers themselves were roomy and the water pressure was good, so as long as we planned ahead, it worked out just fine.

We learned the day before from the park ranger that they could only predict the next immediate eruption of the Old Faithful Geyser one at a time, so we went to the Visitor Center to check the eruption time. The timing turned out to be perfect: we had time to get coffee and  breakfast at the café , walked around the store for a bit, learned about why Yellowstone NP celebrates Christmas in August (See photo), looked at the bull elk on the road, and still had time to get parking and find a good spot in front of the geyser to wait for the "show" to start. It was fascinating to watch the eruption: each time, 4000 to 8000 gallons of water  (about 200F in temperature) is forced through a hole the size of a fist. The eruption we saw lasted for about 2 to 3 minutes, but it could last up to 5 minutes. We walked on the boardwalks around the geyser and saw Firehole River flow among hot springs that feed it; some of the hot springs around were of the most brilliant blues and aquamarine in colour. The water was so clear that you could see the contours of the wall a few feet into the pool. 

We visited Firehole Lake next and saw more hot, steaming, bubbling pools of water as well as a lone bison in the woods. We were expecting to see bison in herds, but it turned out this would not be the only lone bison we spot in the park… maybe that is what an introvert bison does when the herd becomes too much for them! We continued to drive through the park and when we arrived at Hayden Valley, the woods and mountains opened up to reveal an expansive grassland. Dan was just making a comment about this being prime bison territory and that I should get the binoculars ready when he spotted a dark spot in the distant. That spot turned out to be a bison that was standing among the herd. Once we stopped and climbed up the ladder at the back of the van, we could see the entire herd. It just put a big smile on my face and gave me the chills to see these majestic animals in their natural environment.

We were feeling really good about spotting that herd, but little did we know that there was a bigger herd on the other side of the valley when we drove a bit further, nor did we expect to have that "quintessential Yellowstone experience" of encountering the bison herd crossing the road  this morning!  We drove through Hayden Valley again on our way to tour the northern part of the park when we came across the "wildlife traffic jam". A number of park rangers were working on getting cars and bison moving along and we were lucky that a spot at the pullout opened up. We stayed there for a while to observe the herd up close and personal! When we started to leave, a couple of them decided to cross directly in front of us, but then the park ranger shooed them along and one of bison got spooked and almost ran into Bilbo!

We stopped to check out the Upper Falls and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and ran into Ken and Tracy again. We had a good chat with them and offered them our driveway for boondocking when they are in Seattle. It was at the Upper Falls that we encountered the hoard of tourists that we were worried about… it was so crowded that I could not wait to get out of there. Having said that, it was the only time during our visit at Grand Teton and Yellowstone that we encountered that many people - Dan was worried that it was going to be crazy busy in the parks in mid-August.

Our last stop in Yellowstone was Mammoth Hot Springs where we drove through the hot springs on what was essentially a paved bike path. The constant flow of hot water and the minerals deposited created a unique environment - vegetation was sparse and the most prominent plant appeared to be junipers-- which was starkly different from the grassy rolling hills in the surrounding. While we ate lunch at Mammoth Village, we saw a herd of elk having their lunch on the hillside.  But that these were not the last of our wildlife sighting: there was a small herd of mountain goats by the road causing minor wildlife traffic jam on our way out of the park as well as a lone elk near the park entrance bidding us farewell as we left.

Not knowing where exactly where we would go from here, we decided to stop at the next town where there was better connectivity to plan the rest of our trip. After considering a few options while stopped at a gas station in Livingston, MT, we decided to aim for Bend, OR, and then to the Oregon Coast before heading home. Once that was settled, we got in touch with Dan's karate friend, Doug, in Spokane to see if we could stop by their place tomorrow evening. For tonight, we found a site at a KOA campground so that we could do laundry. Tomorrow, we will return to Washington State briefly before the last leg of our journey in Oregon. Until then, good night from Butte, MT.

Check out our route on Roadtrippers!

[okanaganrenaissanceman-blog]

Near #finished product!! Still a few tweaks and minor things to do... not my yard but definitely feel like I've accomplished something awesome for my first real #landscape attempt I was a little nervous at first to maybe screw it up...its not my yard after all 🤣 but I let my #artistic side take over and listened to the grass and the rocks... they placed themselves basically and I just went with the #flow ...much love! ❤❤❤ Get Action! #okanaganrenaissanceman #renaissanceman #okanagan #kelowna #justdoit #motivation #inspiration #lovelife #beyou #cantstopwontstop #hustle #workhard #ifyoubuildittheywillcome #bethechange #muchlove #gratitude #getit #getaction

[lorainelaneyblog]

I’m at Swan Lake in Vernon and considering going for a swim, but the tidal pools are active and I think I’ve heard not to swim there. There is a man working around a house, like when I was there with [ ], and it was her [ ]’s house. A Chinese man comes by in a boat and I call out to ask about the swimming, and he tells me that I am right, and that it is a bad idea to go swimming.

There are metal racks acting as wharves. 

There is a metal bridge and I begin walking it, on a fucking horse, and it is treacherous, with no railings. I am to travel to Kelowna on this bridge. I have the [ ]’s on my mind. The landscape changes, entering the city. I feel the most punishing anxiety of my entire life.

Next I sort of wake up and decide to record the dream.

Next I go to sleep again.

Next I dream of [ ], and she is living in the type of apartment that I would love, and she starts yapping about my pussy and how I need it to be a certain way for men or something rude, and, thinking of it now, I see a scar, with the stitches still in, like in a clitoradectomy, and my entire vagina is sewn shut. I say what I really need is for you to go live in your own apartment and I will live here, the sense that this is one that I have rented, and somehow she’s living in it with another apartment a little ways away which is less conducive to massage. I even scout the dining area and it is huge, and the bedroom is at the back. The office space is huge too. And I’m so hateful.

As I stand and look at the water, my body cools from a sweat and I feel less and less interested in swimming. 

The Chinese man - very cheery, validating.

The man working around a house - [ ]’s uncle. Also an excellent man, always cheery, always generous, cute also, a wonderful father, the children were calm and happy, and, I hardly remember the mother. Weird.

The mother - not as peaceful, perhaps even badmouthed by my friend, who, it turned out, was a badmouthing friend. This, perhaps, caused me to ignore and judge her.

The wharves - it strikes me that they are neat, but I can’t decide why, and, thinking of it now, they would rust.

The bridge is made of the same metal, it’s as wide as a sidewalk. At first I think it’s a short jaunt and I’ll make it, but then I realize it’s long and more and more and more and more and more terrifying for me.

The horse - stupid, the way it rocks back and forth, I’m even more terrified. It strikes me that the horse is my vehicle, sex work, also writing, as the way I’ve decided to travel.

I just wanted to say the thought I had while in the bathroom, [ ] has exactly the right apartment for her perfect idiocy. 

Perfect idiocy - she does nothing, therefore she needs nothing, and yet, as usual, she has it all. This is not unlike a description of many women, they don’t have to work, and they get everything. I mustn’t resent it, I must even seek it, because uh oh. As usual 50 Cent is on my mind, but he is not on my mind in the dream at all. But also, since it is the life that I virtually recommend in the book, I must try to accept my jealousy. 

Kelowna - a place I often thought I would live.

The [ ]’s - it seems pretty safe to say I am walking a very difficult path in search of marriage.

The anxiety - I think I’m even thinking of Morocco and other trips I’ve taken and wondering why this one is so difficult.

I think what is also clear is that I’m totally alone besides my [ ], and I don’t, in the second dream, have so much as a vagina, or an apartment. Briefly I am in that other apartment and it is “all halls and stairs” as [ ] always used to say. It is carpeted and useless for work.

I’m lost.

Reading this over just now, the part which made me emotional was “it seems pretty safe to say I am walking a very difficult path in search of marriage.”

Marriage - the only marriage I want is with 50 Cent. I’m starting to feel silly about my passion for 50 Cent. If I actually meet him, he’s just another guy, ‘isn’t he, God?’

‘You will love, and I mean love, and I mean love, and I mean love, and I mean love him from the second you meet, and I mean that. You made no mistake, Loraine, trust me on this. You picked the best man on the planet, and you are the best woman on the planet. The end. Wrap, please.’

[smokyvalley-blog]

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