Sunday Hang Out by the River

Last weekend was the long weekend with Labor (also known as Labour in Canada) Day.  Saturday was the big tubing trip and Sunday we were planning on going on a hike.  Then, we were going to just hang out at the house.  Then, since the kids were at grandmas, Bob asked to have the house alone with Mikey.  So, we hopped in Tito and took to the road, not really sure where we were going to go.  We headed towards Kananaskis, but didn't quite make it all the way there.  I guess a bridge is out along the way, so we pulled off to the side and hung out by the river for the afternoon.  Played a little cribbage and Shereen did some yoga.  I got in the water a few times and just enjoyed being outside.  Came home and made some cheeseburgers and watched 'Seven.'  Thus, ending the long weekend of adventure.  Here are a few photos:  

(The water came up pretty high so I decided to roll up my shorts)

(This is my Miley Cyrus look with my shorts rolled up and pockets out)

(The water was quite chilly and I'd say it only took about 2 or 3 minutes for your legs to go numb, but it felt great!)

(Shereen was a bit timid as she got in)

(A new hairstyle)

(Time for some cribbage)

(We took a blanket along, but if I had to do it again, I'd take some beach chairs.  This is cribbage from a different angle.)

(Our view as we sat by the river)

(Yoga time)

(She got pretty serious when it came time for yoga)

(She knew I was snapping away pictures but didn't want to smile too much, but I got her to a little bit)

(Not quite sure if this was a push up or some yoga position)

(A few pictures from when we got back - see if you can find the bird...)

(Sunflower)

Blue Rock Campground

A few weekends ago, we went on a little 'camping' excursion.  It was unlike any other 'camping' trip I've ever been on, but I still had a lot of fun.  I think it took about 4 hours to pack the trailer and get it road ready.  I'm used to just throwing a tent in the back of a car, grabbing some food, and hitting the road.  I will say, the meals were of a much better quality than what I'm used to - we had steak one night and pork chops another.  Ended up going to Blue Rock Campground.  The spaces were big enough where you didn't feel like your neighbors were on top of you and it was a beautiful area - lots of little hikes around as well as the Sheep River Falls.  Anyway, here are a few of the pictures from the weekend.  

(This little spot was literally a 3 minute walk from our campsite)

(I had a little fun with the camera on these pictures and let the shutter open for a bit)

(Same falls)

(This was a little further down stream)

(Here's a colored photo, again with the shutter open a little longer)

(Yeah, there are lots of water pictures in this one - first time I used this feature)

(I really liked the colors in this photo)

(This was down just a bit further)

(The girls and I got up early on Saturday and went for a hike along Junction Creek)

(A nice little view of the trail)

(A little 'pool' area)

(I just loved the way the trees looked in the light)

(A little moss on the trees)

(Another mossy shot)

(Another trail shot, it was a great hike.  We were actually on the wrong side of the river for about half the hike...)

(We found a rock and planted ourselves there for lunch.  This was our view.)

(And behind)

(It's easy to see a bit of the flood damage with the trees jammed up behind me)

(The ladies did a great job on a hike, but the mosquitoes were terrible, absolutely terrible)

(Breakfast - bacon, eggs, and some taters)

(Mikey helping set up the tarp)

(She was trying to shoot a squirrel or crow or something, having fun with the slingshot)

(I did a bit of cooking in the morning.  Socks and sandals are not comfortable.  I wish I had my 'Japanese' socks with the space between the toes.)

(Bob enjoying breakfast)

(Mikey drinking her coffee)

(A stone statue in the shape of the Olympic guy)

(Got up early on Sunday and went on my own hike, a chance to get a little peace and quiet and solo time)

(So, the river snaking its way through the valley was the one we followed the day before)

(Taking a little break at the top of the mountain.  It was a pretty steep hike without much of a trail, at least one I could find.)

(Yep, me taking a selfie)

(The requisite jump shot photo - seems to be one of my new favorite photos to take)

(Water source on the way back down - stopped and filled up my bottle)

(Wildlife in the campsite area)

(As you can tell, it was pretty close)

Sheep River Provincial Park and 'Forget Me Not' Pond

Made my way with Bob and the family over to the Sheep River and 'Forget Me Not' Pond.  It was just an afternoon/evening trip.  We get out of the car, and the daughter points at the mountain in the first picture and says, "I want to climb that!"  Well, it didn't take me but a moment and I was in.  Within five minutes we were off.  Shortly after, she said she was only joking, but still came along for the hike.  After we got back from our short hike, we went on another walk and then made some dinner close to 'Forget Me Not' pond.  Here are a few of the photos from our adventure.  

(We didn't have a trail book and just headed towards the mountain)

 (Had to cross the river to get to the other side)

(She <3 ny="" p="">

 (A view as we made our way up to the top)

(A view of the other side of the mountain and valley - notice the flood damage)

(Me hammin' it up)

 (She got a bit tired and rested and I continued up the mountain and this was the view)

(The mountain in the first picture, is actually one behind this one.  Which would have been another 2 or 3 hour hike so I got to here and made my way back down.)

(The trail as I was making my way down)

 (Yep, I was there and here's a photo to prove it -as you can tell, I'm not one for heights...)

(That's a picnic table, again, remnants of the flood) 

 (Just a fun photo)

 (Our second adventure)

(We were trying to get to a pond so Bob could do some fishing.  Unfortunately, the bridge was out because of the flood.)

(For being an hour or so outside of Calgary, it was a sweet little spot)

(The little guy having fun by the river with his bear whistle)

 (A downed tree)

 (Bob doing a bit of fishing - no one was around)

 (Rock Stack)

('Forget Me Not' Pond)

(Me and the pond)

(Time for dinner)

 (Oh yeah - hot dogs.  I think I ended up eating 3 which didn't feel so great later.)

(Family Time around the picnic table)

(The little guy was the hot dog roller)

(Not sure what we were talking about in this photo, but it must've been good)

 (A little bit of wildlife as we left)

(Just hanging out by the side of the road)