My latest TripBit from 2009-07-09 14:46:20
My RedTree Gallery (now for real camera pictures)

Eight K to Paradise

I took a ride up to Island Lake this afternoon. The lodge has not yet begun summer operations and the gate beyond the park is still closed to cars. However a bicycle, and at least in my case a not insignificant amount of sweat, will take you the eight kilometers (and about 350 vertical m) from the highway to paradise. Being a beautiful Sunday, there were actually a fair number of cars on the road up to the gate, but once beyond it, there was blissful solitude in lovely country. Returning to the bustle and noise of the highway was decidedly jarring, even if many folks would consider the idea of Highway 3 'bustling' rather cute and provincial.

Although Island Lake is a remarkably gorgeous spot, it is by no means unique in this area and it sometimes seems like a few kilometres of rougher road in almost any direction will yield a generous dose of that old Rocky Mountain high. Admittedly the scenery from the main roads is pretty nice too, so it is probably the quiet solitude that paints an extra hue on the hills for an old hermit like me. It leads me to fear any suggestion of new pavement.

Life is good in the Elk Valley just now. The weather has been delightful for the last week or so, trees and plants are blooming, bees are buzzing and entertaining humming bird wars have broken out around our porch feeder. The movie folks are gone and the summer season hasn't started, so the hill is largely a personal playground for a while. The beginning of June means there is less than a month of parties, er classes, left before our youngest graduates from high school, so it is also a time of change for our little tribe. Given that our tenure in Fernie have been by far the longest either of us has ever lived in one spot, my wife and I have sometimes pondered the possibility of moving on once the kids were out of school, but times like this make choosing a alternative location a tough proposition.