Tag Archives: British Columbia

British Columbia, Canada, Hiking Trails, Monroe Lake

Scenes From A Hike – September 4, 2021

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Went for a nice hike on a forestry road that led us to the shore of Monroe Lake in the East Kootenays of British Columbia. The trek was 3.21 miles, or 5.2 KM. A screenshot of the route is below and it is an in and out via the same route.

The scene below is indicative of the scenery along the road.

Once we reached the lake, there is a foot bridge and an old dam, now in various stages of deterioration.

It is also the mouth of a creek, pretty much dried up as we are at the end of the season. Most creeks and rivers out here are snow and rain fed, meaning they tend to dry up, or they are spring fed, which this one is not. We have seen this creek higher up in the mountain in the past, but it was late October and there was runoff.

We did continue on to the right on the map and discovered some well worn elk trails that we will explore at a later date. We turned back and took the left spur which took us to some amazing scenery. We have done this path prior to this and knew what we were in for. We have also kayaked through the meadow, a post I will put up once I finish playing with video.

We also know about how to relax. A conveniently placed bench to look at the landscape.

And of course, it is not all about the scenery, lets not forget the foliage and critters. In this case an interesting mushroom and some pretty butterflies.

British Columbia, Bucket list, Canada, Dusty Trails, Hiking Trails, Kootenays

Top 10 Bucket List Items – Number 10 – Update

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I was browsing for hiking books online and came across this gem. We now have a comprehensive guide to a wide range of falls, complete with how to get there. We are considering a loop in September and will keep you updated.

As a plug, we do not purchase books from chains, preferring local bookstores. When in Cranbrook, please patronize Huckleberry Books or use their website at https://huckleberrybooks.ca/

Beer Reviews, British Columbia, Canada, Entertaining Trails, Moyie River, Retirement

The Big Day

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July 15, a big day for us, the day when everything changed, and we are positive it will be for the better. I feel slightly overwhelmed at being unemployed for the first time in 50 years or so, but also relieved that we can now move down the path to a more fulfilling future.

In all honesty, work, as much as I enjoyed it, was getting in the way of a multitude of projects that are in planning, in progress or are almost completed. More on those in later posts. This is about the “Big Day”.

For us, the CoVid pandemic did a few things. We both worked from home, which allowed us to move about and work on our retirement nest. For this, we are grateful to have understanding and progressive employers. It also allowed us to winter in our spot and test out those waters. We were successful on multiple fronts. Come spring, the decision was made that I would retire on July 15 and moved forward to attain that goal.

Moyie River
Lot 25 With Nothing On It

We purchased our lot in 2017 on the Moyie River in British Columbia, with mountain views on all sides. The intent was to retire here and spend a chunk of each winter in various locations, while basking in their warmth.

On the the 15th of July, I spent the day with all my work friends, doing minimal work of course. We went for lunch with all who could make it, as only 25% of employees were on site due to health restrictions. Prior to lunch, I was presented with my good bye gift, an ample supply of beer, each attached with a note from the person who contributed it. A wonderful gift on so many levels. I’m going to miss these people.

Now that I have more time (apparently, I’ve been retired 6 days and this is the first post I’ve done) I am planning on regular posts. There will definitely be a series of beer reviews added to the mix, to go along with all the regular cadre of photos, reviews and recipes. I am so looking forward to the R&R, and the more casual lifestyle.

British Columbia, Canada, Dusty Trails, Hiking Trails, Kootenays, Moyie River

Just A Picture – December 14, 2020

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Our Sunday stroll took us along the Moyie River near Cranbrook, BC in Canada. We followed it for about 2 miles through the bush. The river is mostly frozen, soon we’ll be able to ski it, just needs a bit more cold and some snow. To get here we go under the highway and across the tracks. After a few minutes, all you can hear is yourself breathing and the sound of your footsteps. All we saw fro wildlife on this hike was a squirrel running across the river. Luckily, nothing was chasing it. Standard equipment out here is bear spray, you never know. The bears re sleeping, but there is the odd cougar, and even some wolves in the vicinity. Pretty rare to see one. Lots of elk and deer as well. Next time out, I must remember to bring our GoPro and hook it up to my chest. It is gorgeous out there.