Saskatchewan Yurts

Flora Bora Forest Lodging Yurt - florabora.ca

It may only be because I like the word "yurt", but a friend of mine stayed at the Flora Bora Forest Lodging yurts this summer and highly recommends it.

New experience? Check.

Place I've never been? Check.

... and really, that's all it takes (keeping in mind the fine print)

New experiences will not cause me or any of my companions to break my moral code and probably won't kill anyone

to add something to my bucket list.

My First "Instameet"

My Instagram handle: @drake.anna

Two weeks ago, Vanessa texted me and asked if I was interested in going to an "Instameet" in Regina. I had no idea what that was, but as I am almost always up for trying something new, I said

"Sure! Sounds like fun! ...what is it???"

In response to which she sent me to @instameetyqr, which led me to the discovery of a bluebird migration in Saskatchewan, which is a completely different post.

Eventually, we figured out that we were a week early for the Instameet, but that just meant that we were very ready for this "meeting of Instagram enthusiasts" by Thursday evening.

We met at Wascana Place, I was early enough that I got a t-shirt, and eventually (just as it started raining) we headed to the marina to kick off our walk.

Bluebird Migration in Saskatchewan

Jenn Smith Nelson - travelandhappiness.com

I have been invited to the first Instameet in Regina, and while perusing the "travel + happiness" blog for details, I came across a post about the annual bluebird migration.

Added that to my bucket list of things to do and I'm Very excited about next spring now!

"...flocks of brilliant blue wings flutter across the prairie skyline..."

Jenn Smith Nelson

WELCOMING SPRING WITH ANNUAL BLUEBIRD PILGRIMAGE

So. Excited.

Up Next: Mount Rushmore and Theodore Roosevelt National Park

I have made a decision.

I'm cancelling my September camping reservation for Buffalo Pound Provincial Park in Saskatchewan, and I'm driving across the border to North Dakota, where I'll camp for the weekend in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

On Saturday, I'll drive down to South Dakota, visit Bear Country USA, Mount Rushmore, and the Crazy Horse Memorial. On the way back to camp, I'll drive through the Black Hills National Park and check out the Historic centre of Deadwood.

Within the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, there are two scenic drives and multiple easy hiking routes to be explored for the rest of the weekend. Also, Makoshika State Park is nearby, so if I get bored of the TRNP, maybe I'll wander over there.

"There are not many places where you can run the risk of being trampled by a bison and bitten by a rattlesnake at the same time."

I am inspired. Can't wait to explore!!!

Hopefully, I won't get trampled by a bison OR bitten by a rattlesnake...

Photo by North Dakota Tourism/Jim Gallop

Hiking in the Canadian Rockies

Yesterday, a co-worker stopped by for a quick chat and told me all about her upcoming holiday plans which include renting a cabin in Canmore, Alberta and doing a few day-hiking-trips.

...

And part of me said "WHAAT!?!? I could go hiking in mountains that are right next door!? I don't need to travel around the world to do that?!?"

And another, more sane part of me said "You are an idiot for not thinking of that sooner..."

...

I'm mostly ignoring that part of me, in case you were wondering.

Since then, I've done a bit of quick research, and found that in the Banff/Lake Louise area alone there are 16 easy to moderate hikes. I found a down-loadable PDF document that has details on them.

Incredible.

My first solo camping trip!

Part of the series: Experiencing Saskatchewan, The Great Saskatchewan Bucket List

I have been camping my entire life. When I was younger, my family went at least once every year, and then when I got older and moved away from home, we still went together as a family, but once a year my siblings and a few friends would get together and rent a couple of sites at some park we'd never been to before for a weekend. The weather is always hit-and-miss (one year we actually went to the nearest Tim Horton's to get a break from the rain) but the memories are second-to-none.

Since moving to Saskatchewan, I've had new camping companions, and we've been slowly trying new parks every year. We started in Cypress Hills, and the next year we were at Sask Landing, last year we went to Rowan's Ravine, and this year we were feeling very adventurous and booked three weekends of camping at three parks: Rowan's Ravine, Echo Valley, and Buffalo Pound.

As it turned out however, our plans changed unexpectedly and very rapidly. We had a great weekend in June at Rowan's Ravine, and two weeks later, Doug had a job and was living in Edmonton while Anita packed and listed their house and she and Hayden were moved before the end of July, which was our next planned camping trip.

Blue Moon, July 31, 2015

I bought out the campsites, and when all of my potential companions were unable to join me, decided to experiment and see if I would be okay spending a weekend alone at a campground. I've been hesitant to do this for a few reasons (I'm very nervous about using an axe) but decided to "Just Do It."

I solved the axe-wielding problem by bringing pre-cut kindling in the form of left-over cedar shingle scraps from a co-worker's newly re-done roof, bought myself a camp stove and dining shelter, and off I went. I also bought fire-starter, just in case. (Didn't need the firestarter... #winningatlife)

I left Regina at 8:30 Friday night, and arrived at Echo Valley campground around 9:20. There was a blue moon in the sky, and it was just coming up, pale yellow and hanging so close in the sky it looked like you could almost touch it. I'm sure that was the kind of moon that inspired the nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle". I tried to get a picture of it, but my camera did not see the same thing my eyes did, plus I was driving while trying to take the picture, and so what I got is a slightly out-of-focus, completely crooked picture of a small moon in the sky. Sometimes, the lies our eyes tell us are so much better than what a camera can see... or I need to get better at using a camera.

My Iceland Itinerary(ies)

The picture that started it all: National Geographic Photo of the Day
September 4, 2012 - Litlanesfoss, Iceland
Photograph by Wild Wonders of Europe

I have spent some time researching and refining my tour(s) of Iceland, and have determined that if necessary due to time and budget constraints, my tour of Iceland can be broken up into 3 or 4 trips, each doable in 4-10 days.

Here are a few options that I think would work for touring Iceland:

Part 1: Reykjavik and the Golden Circle (4 days)
Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavik, check into hotel, wander around the city (if desired)
Day 2: Walking tour of Reykjavik, covering the Harbor, Lighthouse (Grotto), National Museum, and Hallgriskirche (samples only)
Day 3: Golden Circle Tour and then spend the night at Blue Lagoon Spa
Day 4: Fly home

Part 2: Westfjords (7 days)
Day 1: Fly into Reykjavik, then fly to Ísafjörður. Pick up rental car, check into hotel.
Day 2: Drive to Látrabjarg, spend the night in Breiðavík.
Day 3: Drive back to Ísafjörður, stopping to hike the Dynjandi walking trail and see the waterfall on the way.
Day 4: Ferry across to Hornstradir Nature Reserve, hike for the day, ferry back to Ísafjörður
Day 5: Kayak around the bay, explore the area - find a hot spring
Day 6: Day trip from Ísafjörður, explore the area... maybe check out the glacier??
Day 7: Fly home

A year ago I was driving down the Oregon coast

Sigh. As if it has been a full year since that trip, and I haven't even posted one picture of it since I got back.

And I had such good intentions, too!

I was smiling quietly to myself about that trip as a group of friends and I sat around my backyard eating cherries last night; still a highlight for me was the impromptu cherry-spitting contest that we had at an unplanned beach stop that day.

*UPDATED July 2, 2015*

I shamed myself into writing about our trip - you can read about it here: Vancouver to the Grand Canyon and Back Again!

The cherry-spitting contest photos specifically are here: Oregon Coast

the turquoise trail

I have been inspired again to start blogging.

A good friend of mine has started her own travel blog, and I am loving reading about and following along on her adventures.

Right now, she is touring Eastern Canada solo on her motorbike. Amazing.

GrownupBackpackers.com

Have you heard this quote about life?

“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don't need to escape from.”

Seth Godin

I'm not really sure who Seth Godin is, but I love the idea of a life from which you don't need a vacation. For me, that reality would include a high enough income to be able to live comfortably, travel extensively, and save easily for retirement.

All of that aside, a co-worker of mine and his wife are currently backpacking around Europe for 6 months. I'm loving following along on their blog: heels and cameras: a couples travel guide

And while I'm not at all sure how their experience ties into the quote about a life you don't need to escape from, they both make my mind spin giddily.