The Prairies

Steve and I started our cross-Canada trip about as far West as you can get: Vancouver Island. We flew from Comox, BC to Calgary Alberta, however, so the real "roadtrip" portion didn't begin until later.

Enjoying some BC Ferries deck time!

Regis loves Vancouver Island!

Some friends took us to Nymph Falls near Comox...it was beautiful!

In Calgary we enjoyed visiting the Calgary Zoo, ogling the penguins, the fantastically enormous rhinoceros, and Steve's favorite: the cougar. 

The next day we met up with the rest of our roadtrip team: Kat and Malerie! The day began at 5AM, and we had a lot of driving to do!

Filling the first tank for the first time! And probably the cheapest time too.

Regis assumed his favorite place in the car. 

I have a confession: I was born on the Canadian prairies. Its not usually information I volunteer, as I consider myself a BC girl at heart, having spent the vast majority of my life in Beautiful British Columbia. But, I feel its relevant because maybe I won't sound quite so terribly biased when I diss the prairies...

Saamis Teepee: the largest teepee in the world! Medicine Hat, AB.

I know, I know. The prairies have their own kind of beauty...and I probably haven't given them a fair chance.To me, the prairies are boring. They're flat. No mountains, hardly any trees, a few sad-looking lakes...it just doesn't do it for me. So I wasn't sorry that when we started our cross-Canada roadtrip, we basically cruised right on through, almost without stopping. 

 We drove all the way from Calgary Alberta to Landmark Manitoba in one day! It was a VERY long day of travel, and to be honest I actually slept through most of it...still recovering from treeplanting season!

 One thing I will give the prairies is some spectacular sunrises/sunsets. But apart from that...it just seems really flat!

Next time: our detour through the states, and our first big sightseeing day! 

Remember That Time When...? (A Tribute to Treeplanting 2014)

As I move into the school year, I find myself reminiscing about the past planting season, browsing photos, and missing my treeplanter family. What better way to procrastinate from homework than to create a photo tribute of some good Spring/Summer memories? So without further ado...

Remember that time when...

I got up a 4am every morning to make breakfast?

 A random blood blister appeared on the side of my pinky finger?

 A 5 minute windstorm trashed our camp?

 I went into public looking like this? (Official symptom of serious sleep deprivation)

The mosquitoes were absolutely unreal and made life a living hell?

...but then you drive to the only spot with cell reception and you see stunning landscapes like this, and it makes it ok somehow?

 Nights off were spent in the tent trailer drinking gin and tonic with great friends?

 Korey and Caitlyn dropped in for an afternoon to see the camp and help with dinner prep?

 We threw a French themed dinner, followed by wine and cheese tasting?

 Karissa and I got pedicures on her birthday? And it was the best.

We stayed up late when we should have been sleeping?

We drove through the Rocky Mountains and it was beautiful?

The planters had the energy to play soccer on their day off? (seriously...)

We were hillbillies for a night?

There was a cheesies/spam/twinkie eating contest?

We delivered freezies to the planters on Canada Day? And it was so hot they just turned to juice right away? And then Beth sank into a mud pit? 

Steve offered to wash our dinner dishes (and I began to suspect there was something there that wasn't there before)?

Karissa was in her own world as she was making brownies and didn't notice that the blender had created a cloud of cocoa that had coated the whole kitchen?

 Scott and Tony threw an epic going-away party?

We kidnapped Sam at McDonalds and threw a bachelorette party for her?

We ate all our meals off tin plates, sitting in camping chairs?

There was a camp-wide talent show, and Karissa told a bedtime story?

 Us girls had some girl-time, soaking our feet and painting our nails?

Everyone went to the swimming hole after a long hot day, and it was one of the best things that happened in life?

We bought 6 flatbed carts of groceries to feed the planters for 4 days?

 I finally saw a good sunrise?...incidentally also the day Steve asked me out.  Guess it was my lucky day :)

I got to spend the season with this pack of gems?! Love these people. 

Ps. I should mention that photo cred for any and all photos that are in focus and look like the person who took them knew what they were doing belongs to the lovely Elizabeth Ashton Roth :) 

First Shift: Complete

The day before we leave Prince George, and it's 20 degrees. Shorts and Toms are appropriate. 

The next day: driving to camp...

Our new (dirty) kitchen trailer, about to be set up!

The snow is really coming down as we set up the WeatherHaven.

It was a chilly week, but now we have blue skies...things are looking up!