Spring View

The days are longer
and warmer,
we don't need jackets
in the evenings anymore.

The view outside my office window has changed scince I last took a photo of it in March, this is what it looks like now.

Lethbridge Parks and Paradise Canyon

These are photos of some of the parks we visited around Lethbridge.

Popson Park and Nicholas Sheran Park are on the west side of Lethbridge.



Popson Park is situated in the Oldman River valley.

We hiked along the river's edge. As you can see by the sign on the left this area is known for rattlesnakes, we didn't see any but we did hear cicadas and to a NZer they sound very similar.

On the way home we stopped in at another new subdivision - Paradise Canyon. It is North of Popson Park and overlooks Oldman River. There are some very nice houses here, some with views of the river and some situated in the middle of the golf course. Not a lot of privacy but very nice grounds.

These houses are two storied in the front and three in the back. The photos are taken from the back, they look out over a man made lake.

The front of some of the houses.

Nicholas Sheran Park is a large open park with picnic areas, playground, walking trails and a stocked lake for fishing.

There were lots of people walking their dogs and groups of kids fishing. We passed Don here with his canoe.

Leitch Collieries

On the way back through the Crows Nest pass stopped off at the Leitch Colleries. We strolled through the ruins of the coal processing plant.

Leitch Colleries was one of the biggest mines in the early history of Crows Nest Pass. It was the only one in the pass that was completely Canadian owned and operated.

Craig, standing in whats left of the Hamilton (mine manager's) house.

Remains of the coke ovens.

We also stopped at the Miners' cemetery in Hillcrest. 189 men were killed in this mine disaster and 400 children left fatherless. Canada's worst mine accident. The graves have been preserved behind a fence with small plaques for each miner. Some as young as 18.

We carried on to Pincher Creek and stopped off for lunch and to look at the Lebel Mansion on the hill. Built in 1910.

Frank Slide

Saturday we headed through the Crows Nest Pass to Frank. It was a clear day so we had beautiful views of the Rockies for most of the way. You can just make out the wind farm.

In April 1903 part of Turtle Mountain came down on top of the town of Frank. An estimated 100 million tons of rock slid down and ripped across the valley, crushing everything in its path. 70 people died that night.

We visited the interpretive Centre and watched a movie and a documentary produced to tell the story of this disaster and the local mining history.

Driving through the slide. Turtle Mountain is on the left. The rock avalanche covered 3 square kilometers, some of the rocks are larger than houses.

There are walking trails with views of the slide,

the Mountains and Crowsnest Pass.

Rain inside the Library

This week a pipe leaked in the ceiling and it rained inside the library.

Echo Dale

On the way back to Lethbridge we stopped in at Echo Dale. It was once very barren here, but two man made lakes and a beach have been added, picnic and BBQ areas and several walking trails.


We were lucky enough to arrive at the right time and were given a personal tour through the historic farm house, even though it was closed to visitors.

In the barn were chicks, lambs, calves and two very fat cats.

We were also shown part of the Ajax Mine. You can only walk in about 10 metres, but with the doors shut it is pitch black. We learnt more about the miner's lives. They walked 8km to the mine, worked 10 hour days and then walked back home.

Before the stable was built the poor horses had to sleep in the mines. No wonder they went blind.

In the Summer there are guided tours of the buildings and the mine entrance for children. We arrived on the day the guides were being trained.

Medicine Hat

We decided to head away for the week-end and this time travelled west to Medicine Hat. Reputed to be the sunniest city in Canada. It is only 2 hours drive from Lethbridge.

With its historic downtown district it reminded us of the central business district in Wanganui. Traditional gas lanterns are fueled by the city's own natural gas.

The Canadian Pacific Railway workers accidentally struck gas when searching for water. The exploration mapped out the one of the largest gas fields in North America.

This little house is the oldest brick house in Alberta.

Anyone for Chess? These pieces were beautifully carved from wood.

The photo of the building below is City Hall. Taken from the iron bridge, which resembled Dublin Street bridge (only narrower!) We walked along the trail beside the Saskatchewan River, it was so beautiful and so nice to be out in the sun that we just kept walking, for nearly two hours.

Across the river on the other side of the bridge is this cathedral.

Medicine Hat is also famous for the World's Tallest Tepee. The Saamis Tepee was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, as a symbol of Canada's native heritage. It towered above the Olympic caldron during the opening and closing ceremonies. After the Olympics, it was moved to Medicine Hat. It is built entirely of steel, with a concrete foundation. It is 20 storeys high (over 65 metres) and weighs almost 1,000 tons. Ringing the tepee are 10 large circular story boards, painted by native artists of the region.

Saamis (SA-AH-UMP-SIN) is the Blackfoot word for eagle tail feather headress (hat worn by Medicine Man - or Medicine Hat)

Lethbridge

Lethbridge University
This photo is taken from Scenic Drive.

The restoration of this oil fired locomotive was made possible by the former engineer.

It now stands by the Lethbridge Clinic.

Remington Carriage Museum

Last Sunday we went out for breakfast, as Craig felt like pancakes and maple syrup. I now know why Canada is so famous for their maple syrup, it is delicious.
We then decided to drive to Cardston about 45mins South of Lethbridge to visit the Remington Carriage Museum.

The museum houses over 250 carriages, buggies, wagons and sleighs.
Each exhibit tells a story of late 19th and early 20th century North American society and the horse-drawn vehicles that were used. Interpretive scenes help put the carriages into context.


The photo on the right is of a stage coach at the back and a school van. The wheels of the van are easily replaced with runners for the snow.

The canvas curtains provided protection from weather, while charcoal foot warmers and blankets kept the children warm.




The museum displays include street scenes, a carriage factory, fire house, livery stable, wagon displays and a tack room.

Craig and I both tried out this cutter, it was a lot harder to get in and out of than I thought it would be. I don't know how women managed it in the 19th century in their long dresses.




The suspension feels very bouncy and it rocks from side to side when you climb in.

Every afternoon between the hours of four and five, New York's fashionable society 'took the air' in Central Park. They would drive around and around in their carriages, hopefully gaining social recognition.

Buffalo Bills Stagecoach.

The inside of a wagon. I can't imagine travelling very far in one of these.