On The Way! (2)

And now it’s on to part two, a sneak peek of articles due to be published in the coming months. With the world in turmoil and everything locked down or cancelled, here’s a nice little diversion with no TP needed. Presenting for your approval, articles that’ll be coming soon (or relatively soon – we’re backlogged), already shot, being researched and ready for action soon. It’s some crazy cool stuff you’ll love. Can you say abandoned? Can you say historic? Can you say awesome adventures? A big YES to all!

There’s hikes and a visit to an old school drive-in theatre. There’s places forgotten, classic cars, geological wonders, old trains, older train stations (one our home for a weekend) and time spent at the temple of the silver ball. And most epic, it’s a visit to an amazing place requiring a military escort. It’s a buffet of subjects wondrous, thought provoking and many that are just plain old fun. Life is fabulous when there’s variety. Mix it up is out motto and don’t for a second get pigeonholed into doing something singular.

Enough talk. Now let’s take a peek as what’s coming…

Marilyn says the show is about to begin.

Category: Other Fun. Wolseley Saskatchewan has an old school 1950s built drive-in theatre (the Twilight) and we got to capture the goings on for one showing. It was some schlock film about a giant croc on a terror spree, some almost grind-house fair that made a great night near perfect. B-movies are the best. It was the experience we were after and we got a popcorn bucket load of it – best damn drive-in party since we visited the Clearwater in Kyle years ago. We had free run of the place and staff and patrons embraced us a close friends. That’s how memories are made.

It’s May 5th 2021 and it’s been posted…Twilite Drive-in Wolseley.

Old school elements.

Category: Other Fun. The Twilight has many retro elements. The screen is one of those traditional A-frame types from the ’50s. They play Looney Toons before the feature (who does that?!) and for those wanting that vintage experience there’s a row equipped with old (and original) window style speakers. We chatted with a couple using them, who explained that if they used the radio their truck wouldn’t start later. God, we LOVE Saskatchewan!

It’s May 5th 2021 and it’s been posted…Twilite Drive-in Wolseley

On Ridgeback.

Category: Hikes & Summits. It’s not a spectacular trail, but it does have some perks. I mean, it’s in the woods, it’s outdoors and a fine, if not overly difficult, workout. With Connie still a bit off after her run-in with Cancer, it was about right and just the medicine needed.

Hiking has returned, June 26th, 2020…Tom Snow/Ridgeback.

An historic gas station…

Category: Old Things. Let me tell you how awesome this evening was. We’re shooting at an historic gas station, formerly located in Calgary but now a bit south in High River and a bunch of classic cars show up. I know! In back, a ride that needs no introduction, one that turns heads today as it did back when it was new in the 1980s. We’re talking about a legendary DeLorean. A storm would roll in and put on a show for us and it was spectacular.

This one was posted on May 6th 2021 and please enjoy…River City Classics @ Eamon’s Garage.

…And cool cars for the win!

Category: Old Things. It’s Eamon’s, once a fixture on the old highway to Cochrane, but brought to the High River Exhibition grounds to be preserved. A local car club is behind it all and more than a couple members showed up for the shoot. This gig was incredible hard work but damn satisfying. You’ll love this post!

This one was posted on May 6th 2021 and please enjoy…River City Classics @ Eamon’s Garage.

Chomp!

Category: Hike & Summits. For the love of God…someone help that guy! Here’s a our take on the extensive Drumheller Alberta Pathway system. In back the world’s largest dinosaur, which you visit and climb to the top of. We walked the length of the entire town and then some, and saw lots of interesting things. Our urban walks are rarely boring.

It’s gone live on May 21st 2021…Drumheller Pathways.

Harder to get into than Fort Knox.

Category: Exploring History. This house in many ways is visually not all that spectacular, but still we know there’s a cool back story here (presently researching). This one was harder to get into than the military base stone house you’ll see in a bit, account it being on property belonging to a strip mine and not far from where they were currently digging. If they continue as they have been, soon the place will be gone and the land underneath mined for coal. There’s a cool old cabinet TV inside like your folks might have had. We were given about twenty minutes to get in and out.

It’s been posted June 17th, 2021…Abandoned Places: The Bishop House.

A geological wonder on this hike.

Category: Hikes & Summits. The hike up Jura Creek ends (usually) at a point where three different geological formations meet. That’s pretty interesting for those into earth sciences. This trip we forgo the usual slot canyon approach (account high water levels) and take the up and over to gravel flats upstream. It’s an easy outing and quite scenic.

It’s September 09th 2020 and it’s been published (yay!)…Jura Creek Revisit.

The calm before hell.

Category: Hikes & Summits. We thought crossing a cut block would afford us easy access to the Seventy Buck Viewpoint. How wrong we were. Ahead was a couple kilometres of miserable bush bashing through slash hidden by tall grass. Jump over this log, climb over that branch, and trip and trip some more. No fun. We elected to drop down the steep front face to avoid repeating this debacle. Views, given the modest height, were quite nice but we don’t recommend following in our footsteps. We don’t need the hate. Find another way up.

Quietly launched on September 22nd 2020, it’s…Seventy Buck Viewpoint.

Measuring for a model.

Category: Other Fun & Old Things. Here’s a rather unique job offered us, helping measure a locomotive so the firm Rapido can make a model of it. We’ve visited #8554 before, located in a mothballed gas plant but this time it was to size it up piece by piece and document all those numbers. That’s a lot of work. Here Jon Calon keeps busy with the tape measure while your’s truly mans the camera recording all those numbers.

It’s our old friend CP Rail #8554.

Category: Other Fun & Old Things. This locomotive dates from the mid-1950s and was retired two decades later. It’s a rare beast, a Canadian Locomotive/Fairbanks Morse H16-44. Not a huge number of them were made and this example is one of three extant and the only one in Canada. The other two reside in Mexico.

A home for the weekend.

Category: Exploring History. When you’re offered the chance to spend the weekend at an historic train station, you jump at the chance. And you bring the entire family, the kids and their families too. Add a train trip on the Alberta Prairie Railway Tour Trains and it’s win/win. There’s a really nice apartment upstairs which served us wonderfully. We’ll show you the building inside and out. It’s super interesting and you can pay it a visit should you ride the train.

April 07th 2021, it’s here…Big Valley’s Train Station.

Reminders of another time.

Category: Exploring History. The town of Big Valley Alberta was once a division point on the Canadian Northern Railway. Down by the station they built a roundhouse and locomotive servicing facilities, in use for but a decade or so before changing traffic patterns account of merger, brought about their demise. There’s lots of cement walls like this here speaking of what was.

On July 08th 2020, we’ve gone live…Big Valley Roundhouse.

Once half in Canada, half in the US.

Category: Exploring History. This is a special train station found at the Galt Railway Museum in Stirling Alberta. It used to straddle the border to the south with one part in Coutts Alberta and the other in Sweet Grass Montana. Built in 1890 it was brought up to the museum a couple decades ago and lovingly restored. Prepare yourself for a fantastic tour, inside and out.

Dateline: April 30th, 2021, the post has been published…Coutts Sweetgrass Train Depot.

A first for us, a military escort.

Category: Exploring History. Here’s a first, a visit to a sprawling military base to take in an old stone farm house. It’s just down from an area actively used for “field exercises” – a town setting, crashed aircraft and burned our tanks (and no pics allowed). Here we see Coinoath Sarsfeld, low light photographer extraordinaire who joined us this outing, speaking with out escort. Here, we waited to shoot after dark. Scroll down one picture.

We’re back…the book’s finished…to celebrate, on December 1st, 2020, we share this post…Little Stone House on the Prairie.

And now we have to dig up some history.

Category: Exploring History This tiny farm house predates the military base. The immediate area was never heavily populated, however, so few people got displaced when the forces moved in. Here we lit it up as though someone was home. We know nothing about this subject, like zero at this point, but I’m sure we’ll be able to track down a back story. There’s one out there somewhere. Thanks to the Canadian Military for being so accommodating.

It’s December 1st, 2020 and here’s today’s post…Little Stone House on the Prairie.

To reach Cross Town, we had to go cross town.

Category: Other Fun. We’re a little crazy about the game of pinball and even document the occasional event (for 2020 – no 2021 – YEGPin is in the cards). And once in a while we like to shadow a pinball tech friend when he’s out on service calls. Here’s a nice vintage machine, Gottlieb’s Cross Town getting a “physical”.

This post was published on December 08th 2020…Gottlieb’s Cross Town.

Tune up time with with Gary Makota.

Category: Other Fun. Here some cleaning and adjusting was all that was needed to bring it back to top condition. Cross Town dates from 1966, with a couple thousand made. Looking at some writing found on the back box it spend some time out in Vancouver BC. While some of the paint on the playfield and backglass is worn or flaking, over all it’s in nice condition and played well.

December 08th 2020, it’s now online…Gottlieb’s Cross Town.

Doing the grind.

Category: Hiking & Summits. We’ve hiked up Mesa Butte many times before, each time by a different route. Keeping with that theme, here’s one we’ve never done, the shortest direct approach, aka the “Grind”. This photo shows us close to the summit. It’s not a big hill, but the views of the foothills from its summit are quite pleasant. Once on top it’s a fine charcuterie type lunch. Hey, someone built a picnic table up there!

April 28th, 2021, it’s now online…Mesa Butte (The Grind).

Cheers from Sulphur Springs.

Category: Hiking & Summits. A Kananaskis go-to, here’s the Elbow/Sulphur Springs loop. It’s a nice route, well defined, mostly in the trees, but with the occasional views like this (Prairie Mountain, right). There’s always a bottle of wine in our pack and a toast – celebrate the adventure! Oh, and there’s lots of ups and downs. And now your legs hate you.

This post was made live, April 14th, 2021…Sulphur Springs-Elbow Valley Loop.

Looping around Bragg Creek.

Category: Hiking & Summits. With the completion of a new connecting trail one can now loop around the community of Bragg Creek. It’s a nice one, part wilderness, part in town, but always pleasant and never difficult. With ice underfoot, it was a slippery day. Thank goodness for yaks. Here Connie does some learnin’ on the interpretive Alder Trail which is part of the route.

January 19th 2020, we present this post…Bragg Creek Loop.

The view from Ben’s Hill.

Category: Hiking & Summits. We haven’t been doing too many in-the-woods hikes account some nagging health issues. In town we can bail should a problem arise, but not so out in the forest. Still, we got a few wilderness treks in. And I think 2020 will have us doing more (2020 Covid update – yeah right!). Here’s the henge atop little Ben’s Hill in Kananaskis. That’s Prairie Mountain in back.

November 24th, 2021: it’s finally been published…Ben’s Hill.

No winners on this urban hike.

Category: Hiking & Summits. While we continue to get back into shape, we walk in the city. A lot! Here we explore the historic community of Renfrew, northeast of downtown, along with other neighbourhoods in the area. Shown, a “mandatory” lotto stop at a ma ‘n’ pa grocery store. We do this only at independents. Didn’t win, but one day we will. Millions and millions. No we don’t have a gambling problem (he said in denial). This is Stanley Jones, over a century in business. These corner stores are becoming rare!

On December 21st, 2020, here for your enjoyment…Urban Trek: Bridgeland-Crescent Heights-Renfrew.

In the city?

Category: Hiking & Summits. In spite of what the view might suggest, we’re deep inside the city. Taking in Nose Hill Park, there’s that palpable feeling you’re somewhere quite removed from urban life even if surrounding you, just out of sight, is over a million people. The illusion is convincing. Then hit the streets for a time before looping back.

On January 12th, 2021, here it is…Urban Trek: Nose Hill Park & Huntington Hills.

It’s a match!

Category: Hiking & Summits. On a Calgary inner city walk a house in BIGDoer yellow. Who wouldn’t love some digs in that colour! This hike has us taking in a number of really interesting neighbourhoods just south of downtown. And along the way, we come to the realization that the city is not all that flat.

Posted December 03rd, 2020…Urban Trek: Elbow Park-Mission-Beltline.

A monochrome kind of day.

Category: Hiking & Summits. On this urban walk we loop around Okotoks Alberta. The first part has you wandering river flats, on a paved pathway, then it’s into downtown, then back beside the river again. It’s exercise made fun. Oh, and along the way, we found Love and Joy. The light was so flat this day, giving the appearance we shot in black & white. Even moving the saturation slider to max did nothing to change that mono-appearance.

Posted on December 09th, 2020…Okotoks Loop.

Old school motel tour!

Category: Other Fun. On the road, we usually end up staying at “budget” Mom & Pop type motels. Not just because we’re cheapskates – well perhaps a little – but that they have such character. Sure, they might be a little dated or worn, but otherwise offer up so much more than the modern chains. Many of these dates from the 1950s and 1960s and reflect that motorcourt style so popular then. Here were explored Medicine Hat Alberta in search of old school lodgings. The city has its share of retro motels…and we stayed in one.

Things move at a glacial pace here, and finally on May 5th, 2021, it’s been posted…Retro Motels: Medicine Hat Alberta.

Category: Then & Now. We can’t really supply previews for these but know this, there’s plenty of them on the way. And we’re always shooting more. Of all the things we do, these are the most work and so are the first to get bumped. But we so love the concept that we can’t stop even if we struggle to find time to do them. As new one get posted we’ll publish the links here. There’s some awesome stuff.

Here’s one published March 20, 2020, a small town Main Street seen 100 years apart…Alsask SK Then & Now. March 27th 2020, here’s a two comparison studies showing Loverna Saskatchewan. Can you say BIG change…Loverana SK Then & Now (x2). April 08th, 2020 a silly and fun then and now, the inspiration a poorly done sci-fi flick from the 1980s…Firebird 2015AD Then & Now. Here’s a different take on this series, posted April 16th, 2020…Macklin’s Three Big Industries. Last summer we hit up Wolseley Saskatchewan and here’s a T&N that came from that visit, posted May 04th 2020…Wolseley SK Then & Now: Town Hall. August 05th 2020, the exact spot a century apart. It’s the giant flour mill in an eastern Alberta city…Medicine Hat Then & Now – Ogilvie’s.

Now aren’t you excited? I know we are to show you! There will be so many great photos and write ups and it’ll be so much fun and you’ll learn something. And believe it of not, this is not all that’s coming. Even as we publish this we’re arranging visits to new and exciting places, meaning here will be more great posts beyond what’s spoken of here. How freaking amazing is that?

They’re saying…

”Well written and well researched .You feel part of the adventure!” David Fionn Clarke.

Looking back to the first instalment…
On The Way! (1)

More random awesomeness…
Canadian National Railways #5080 – an old steamer rescued.
A tour of Sandon BC – the quintessential ghost town.
Scandia Eastern Irrigation District Museum – an amazing open air museum.

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date of Adventure: 2019-2020.
Location: Alberta & Saskatchewan.
Article references and thanks: See individual posts when they become available.