Had a better sleep than yesterday. Had breakfast, and visited the Trilogy Cafe right outside the field station. The guy gave me a discount because I brought my own cup! I was able to drink fresh, hot coffee as I strolled around the garden. I found the pathway on to the mud flat...and it's really muddy. Hard to believe shorebirds actually come here and that it's a vital habitat. It seems impossible to habitat. I relaxed a bit in the gazebo designed by Jan Janzen, stared out into the pond that appearently has an alligator living in it. A hummingbird darted [View Full Entry]

---

---

We are here in Anacortes, Washington sitting in the "Seefahrt". The Seefahrt is our newly purchased Nor'Sea 27, a sailboat. We are not sure of the names origin and were originally going to change it but the name has really grown on us. We picked the boat up in Santa Cruz and hauled her up here to Anacortes. We stopped to see lots of friends and family along the way. When I first saw "The Fahrt" out of the water I thought, "There is NO WAY we are hauling that ourselves. NO WAY!!!" It seemed massive. Our F250 crew cab [View Full Entry]

---

---

July 20th. Today Val, Mike, Pam and I went to sightsee the Edmonton Fort. Amazing replica of the original fort built for fur trading. Back to the hotel late afternoon and then it was Auntie Derda's 90th birthday dinner. About 40 family and friends gathered for a great evening of excellent dining, speeches, and a few family secrets revealed in quizzes. Pam and George [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well today I think we tried to see how much stuff we could pack into one day. It all began by me sleeping late this morning. I did not wake up until 6 am...can you believe it??? Once we got up, it was off to Wind Cave for the "Fairground Tour". This was supposed to be the longest tour they offered other than the candlelite tour and it was fully booked. We spent almost an hour and a half in 49 degree temperatures in the cave. I bumped my shoulder and head a couple of times on the top of the [View Full Entry]

---

---

July 20th and 21st. Today Val, Mike, Pam and I set off for a three day tour of the Canadian Rockies, before returning to Kimberley (Anne and Michael's house. We spent two nights in the park at Sunwapta Lodge, which borders Jasper and Banff National Parks. The scenery is fantastic helped by excellent weather conditions. Saw many glacier ice fields, turquoise lakes, waterfalls, a black bear, deer, a hoary marmot and lots of tourists. Pam and George [View Full Entry]

---

---

July 23, 2008 (Ames, IA) Four of us made the effort to go to the Styx concert and were pleasantly surprised. It was held on the University Campus on a big parking lot, and they expected about 30,000 people across all age groups. It was a perfect evening - warm with a nice intermittent cool breeze, no bugs and clear skies. The band came on as the sun was setting and sang a lot of their hits: Lady, Madame Blue, Come Sail Away, Fooling Yourself, Too Much Time on My Hands. If they did Mr. Roboto, they opened with it, because [View Full Entry]

---

---

July 22nd. Left Jasper NP and continued south through Banff NP on our way back to Kimberley. The weather was cloudy and wet initially then brightened to be a glorious day. Stopped at all (or most) of the scenic look-outs and spent time at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Dinner at Radium Hot Springs then on to Kimberley to Anne and Michael's house. We will stay here sightseeing until Val and Mike leave for the UK. Pam and George [View Full Entry]

---

---

“The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” Known as the Calgary Stampede is simply an excuse for cowboys to have a great party! Nine days in July, it culminates in $1.8 million prize money being given away for the best cowboys in various disciplines. Of course it is also a great opportunity for the people of Alberta and Calgary in particular to show off their own brand of ‘something special.’ We are now recovering from our week of non stop partying and look back at our time filled with lots of Yahoo’s, Yeeha’s, dancing, laughing and meeting some wonderful new friends. [View Full Entry]

---

---

July 22, 2008 (Ames, IA) The riders made it in to the Comfort Inn in great shape. A flatter course made for more efficient riding in the peloton of riders. Sunny, but not too hot this morning. The route actually goes right in front of our hotel, so we take off from here tomorrow. Scott will be the designated driver, so he won't even need to get up since we can take off directly from our parking lot. After the riders got back and showered, we all headed across the street to the Azteca Mexican Restaurant. Great authentic Mexican food of [View Full Entry]

---

---

Saturday 12th July to Friday 18th July, 2008 The events of the previous night had left Phil, Rainer and I all feeling slightly delicate as we stopped off Saturday lunchtime at the supermarket and loaded up the cool boxes with ice before heading off for the fifteen minute drive to Bolsa Chica Beach, part of the continuous wide stretch of sand that runs south along the coast from Long Beach to Huntington Beach and beyond. Faithful and Gould promote themselves as a caring, modern employer who as such believe that giving staff the odd treat will ensure a better return on [View Full Entry]

---

---