Highway of Memories
It was great to make a trip to Jasper for three days earlier this week.i passed many places enroute that stirred up memories of lost love, friendships with people who have since passed on, and favourite stops to visit to take photos. t
This photo is of a pond that my friend Maxine and I visited many times, once before sunrise when the place awoke to a golden glow. I stopped here for old times sake.The colours are past their peak but still lovely. There are still a few Tamaracks that haven’t shed their golden needles and aspens that haven’t dropped their leaves.
Almost every landmark that I passed stirred up a memory. The friend that I stayed with on a stop halfway home, the couple whom I visited just near what some locals referred to as “the million dollar s—house” a rest stop on the highway. The turn-off that led to the place where I used to live and the roomate that passed away recently.
I kept driving except to pick up a coffee and some licorice, a long-time habit when i am traveling. The photo shows an overcast sky but it got sunny around Hinton and stayed that way for two days.
My next stop,apart from paying entry at the park gate in Jasper National Park was a a place known to photographers for consistantly good light and a pleasing composition.I have heard about this place and driven by it many times, but not consciously. After at least a two-year wait I found it and took some photos.
My destination for the next two days was HI Jasper the international hostel on Whistlers Road. It was a great place to go for someone traveling solo with a limited budget and I met people from Alaska,France,New Zealand, Japan.I made daily trips to places that I had been to before and wanted to visit again.More about that tomorrow.
Building the Lodge
I stated in yesterday’s blog about a stroke of luck. I had stopped my car beside a pond and was focusing on some crows to see if I could capture them in flight, when I sensed a movement beside me.The crow shots didn’t work out, but I think these ones did. I will let the pictures tell the story.
Race!
This young gosling is showing its enthusiasm as it is running for the pond while its sibling chooses to graze. Who knows, maybe it is a challenge to see who will get there first. At this age, it seems their bodies are too heavy for their feet, for they will walk or run a short distance then all of a sudden they will plop to the ground and sit for a while. I get a kick out of them flapping their wings but looking at it seriously, it is probably good practise to strengthen their muscles for the first flight.
Oldest to Youngest
I got a kick out of the behaviours of the Goose families. They all are close to one another, but parents sure get on their guard if one family gets too close to another.I thought this was because I was too close but they were focused on their own species.
This above is usually a no-no composition for me but i like the mother goose view of her scattered brood.
When the goose lays her head low, as a warning to others, I believe, it is interesting to see some of the young mimic the behaviour.
Sorry for the slow shutter speed in the above, but here an older gosling has wandered from its family to peck at the younger one. I had to hold myself back, and was surprised that the parents didn’t notice. Or maybe this is just about growing up.
This one was stretching it’s wings although barely developed , then promptly plopped down , its body too heavy for its legs.
here are a family of older goslings, maybe a couple of weeks old.
And here are the newest, probably a couple of days old with both parents being very attentive.And one last shot of a closer view.
My Heartsong 