Here’s a tour of two massive machines, along with all that remains of a third, that once worked at a Central Alberta coal mine. Look up, look waaaay up, they’re freaking huge! Wide angle lens are mandatory should you visit and if you’re not thoroughly impressed by their sheer size,...
Here’s a retail complex that is no more and since we photographed it last spring has been demolished to make way for new development. We’re exploring Stadium Shopping Centre, in the community of University Heights in Calgary, weeks before it was to be leveled. Dating from the early 1960s, everything...
When bored to tears on evenings during the worst of the pandemic (first wave in particular), we’d take time to social-distance explore if the chance presented itself. It was simple: find a suitably interesting location we knew we would be free of people, one with character and simply wander about....
The Ogilvie Flour Mills firm once had a good sized network of rural grain elevators scattered across the Canadian Prairies. At the peak, latter half of the 1920s, there was a couple hundred such places (and change) in three provinces, with roughly a quarter of the total in Alberta. Had...
This in-town hike has two personalities. For a time you’ll take in the far-reaching green space that is Calgary’s much loved Nose Hill Park. Go deep inside and you’d never know you were in the city – how pleasant. Another section has you in a 1960s/1970s era neighbourhood, full of...
by Chris Doering · Published January 9, 2021 · Last modified April 2, 2021
After what seems like an eternity, finally here’s part two of the “Walking about Wolseley Saskatchewan in search of historic buildings” series photographed back in 2019. It’s complicated and unfortunately sharing our adventures (and there’s a TON in queue some going back years) had to be shelved for a time,...
One of the Team (unnamed) seems to have been blessed with a photographic memory when it comes to locations, but for the life of them, there was no recalling where this Boler was spotted. That was until late one night months later and completely out of the blue…CLICK! Funny how...
King Edward VII reigned over the British Empire for only a brief period, from 1902, on the passing of his mother Queen Victoria, till his own untimely death in 1910. Brief as his tenure was he left his mark on Canada, a fledging country still finding its own way at...
Here’s a fabulous Calgary Urban Trek with lots of variety, taking in Bridgeland, Crescent Heights and Renfrew, plus a bit of Tuxedo Park. Ahead it’s much history and character. A fair sized loop with a short steep push early on, it’s otherwise pretty easy going. There’s busy commercial strips, quiet...
To keep the lights on and fresh content coming here at BIGDoer.com, we take on outside jobs. There’s many hats worn here and we’ll even grab a broom if it’ll advance the cause. Running a website of this scope would drive most into bankruptcy, or minimally inspire friends and family...
We use the Red Deer River Valley as a base of operations for many adventures. The area has all the things we love, historic stuff (going back eons!), much fabulous scenery, interesting people to hang with and great everything. Then there’s the free crash pad we get to use when...
More than a summer ago, in world so much different from today, the Team was out exploring in the Wolseley Saskatchewan area. There it’s wide open spaces, charming little towns, much history and a pace more relaxed. It’s big skies above, limitless fields of grain and then there’s us, a...
Deep inside an industrial park, in Calgary’s Bonnybrook neighbourhood, it’s something strange and unexpected. Here among all the trucking firms, metal working shops and compounds full of cannibalized vehicles; here between busy Ogden Road and the sewer plant, it’s a couple small houses side by side. Tucked away behind a...
It’s that giant silver lollipop thing west of the QEII you see when driving through Airdrie. You can’t miss it. And up there in big proud letters on that shiny metal sphere, for all to see…spell it out with me…A.I.R.D.R.I.E! Dating back many years this water tower hasn’t seen use...
Here’s a fun town-hike to consider. We’re in the community of Okotoks Alberta, taking in a big loop through parks and green spaces, quiet wooded areas and busy streets. For those into history, there’s a number of heritage buildings along the way to see and overall it was for us...
There by the trees at a bend in the creek, in a scenic valley very un-prairie like, there’s remains of a charming old farm house. It’s been a while since it was called a home but within surely a few memories remain. Picture fresh bread in the oven, washing on...
We’re looking at a legendary Gottlieb Wedgehead! These single player machines are highly regarded among the pinball fraternity and are known for their awesome game play and interesting themes and design. Made in the ’60s to ’70s and named for their unique tapering backbox, they are sought after and quickly...
Always on Boler patrol, no matter the place or time, here’s a chance find in a small Alberta town. And with that bold colour, it’d be a hard one to miss. We’re out hanging with friends, we’ve getting to know some new to us back roads and here’s a vintage...
When overnighting it on some extended adventure, we like to get to know our temporary hometown. Come evening we’ll often wander about randomly and play the curious visitor. It’s a great way to unwind and any chance to soak up a local vibe is something we love. Maybe it’s things...
This in-the-city hike will have you exploring a number of Calgary’s well established neighbourhoods. There’s many fine old homes to see, historic commercial blocks and lots of very un-city like green spaces to take in. It’s sidewalks and meandering paths, busy streets and quiet wooded parks. Along the way comes...
Aimlessly cruising in search of something to photograph, it’s a target sighted. It’s a jet, an old Boeing 737-200, parked on the apron*, a plane in plain sight, just waiting for us to come by and snap a picture or two. We’re at the south end of Calgary International, the...
WE’RE BACK! The memorial seen here belongs to a railway labourer that perished on the job over a century ago. What he died building, interestingly, has similarly gone away, the track on which he toiled pulled up and the line now abandoned. As goes the person, so goes the things...
This hike starts out well enough, but roughly mid-point takes a turn for the worse, before things improve again. The destination is a little bump in the Sibbald area of Kananaskis, with a really nice vantage point atop some cliffs open to the south. There’s rolling hills all about, precipitous...
by Chris Doering · Published September 17, 2020 · Last modified September 22, 2020
With this post ends a special series. Seen through eyes of wonder, we take in the last of three little churches documented by the Team, belonging to Meota Parish. This one’s beautiful (they all are) and in addition is the most senior of the group. It’s been around over a...
We like to cover subjects that some might see as odd or usual. They always ask..”you’re into…that?”…and the answer is almost always yes. It sure keeps life interesting. Today’s photo-essay demonstrates it perfectly, a look at an old disused railway line deep inside the big city. It’s true, we find...
This is our second time hiking up Jura Creek in Kananaskis. On the first, long ago, we did the slot canyon approach, hands down the primo option in terms of fun but not always the best choice in certain conditions. This day, due to high water and the resultant slippery...
by Chris Doering · Published July 22, 2020 · Last modified January 14, 2021
Join us and take in some fond memories of a glorious weekend spent in little Wolseley Saskatchewan, waaaay back in the summer of 2019. It seems so long ago. As it happens, the world got in the way and we had to move on to other projects for a time...
Visiting with Ghosts: taking in a group of abandoned buildings, homes included, that long ago comprised as town of sorts, but today stands empty and forgotten. They’re saying… ”Good luck to you both, you do amazing work.” Laura Combden. More… This is Alderson. 80 Years Empty. A Forgotten Place Called...
Here’s a look at the second of three little country churches belonging to Meota Parish, all located a short distance from each other, a bit south of Calgary. There’s St James in Priddis, Christ Church out in the country near Millarville and this visit has us taking in St George’s...
We came to photograph the Big Four Building on the Stampede Grounds for an article we’re doing on unique mid-century architecture in Calgary. Can you say zig-zag roof? That’s the focus of the planned piece, which will look at buildings done up in that style or similar in form (wavy...
Kenopsia: "the eerie atmosphere of a place that's usually bustling with people but now vacant or abandoned."
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