Life, like the weather, can throw up unexpected storms. One minute the sky is blue with fluffy white clouds and then, as you stand there watching, suddenly the clouds draw together, building and darkening as they cast out the sun. When a lack of inspiration hits, self doubt and the pressures that go with it can quickly build up, just like storm clouds.
While I have made it a goal of mine to travel in Alberta as much as possible, there were parts of this beautiful province that I have not seen, gaps that needed to get filled. Quick decisions often need to be made when the sky starts to threaten. So with storm clouds rising in front of me I quickly chose to face those thunderclouds and head out into it.
I’m just back from an epic 2464 km journey that took me around southern and eastern Alberta. Through back roads, small towns, abandoned villages and unbelievable landscapes, I drove and hiked this land and got to know her bare bones. I stopped at the lesser known tourist attractions, walked where few have walked before and went to some out of the way Provincial Parks.
Red Rock Coulee: I enjoyed my hike through here so much I know I will be going back!!
Even with all the research I’ve done and all the places I’ve traveled in Alberta I learnt a lot this trip. I was surprised and sometimes astonished, at what I saw: landscapes that I didn’t know existed, animals I’d only seen on t.v. and tourist attractions that sprang up out of the prairie from nowhere. I discovered an Alberta that I had no knowledge of.
I came back inspired by what I saw and experienced. I have stories to tell and over 4000 photos to go through. There are some pretty spectacular places and things in Alberta and not all of them are in tour books. I think more people should know about them and I’m looking forward to sharing some of these places with you.
Sometimes if we are lucky the storms end with a rainbow, a sign that all is well. I got a rainbow at the end of this storm and discovered places and people that inspired me.
I also discovered that porcupines have yellowish colored quills and they can climb trees but that’s a story for another day.
A double rainbow forms over a field while antelope graze with the Sweetgrass Hills behind.