Visitors

My first visitors, Brent, Dawson and Jenn (not counting my unofficial visitors today of Jay and his cousin). Dawson of course is busy with the TV remote, showing me things I didn't even know I had on it. Brent now has a job with CHED radio in Edmonton and Jenn and Dawson just arrived last night - now all permanent residents of Edmonton. Their move from Regina went well and I will visit their new house on Monday to help with the unpacking - is that all I do is work when I'm in YEG? I'm finished with my own renos now and will be enjoying the city until my departure in about a weeks time.

104th Avenue Cont'd

I love the lamp posts. Each area has their own unique posts.
Here's one the the streets I explored. The house were very very large and I couldn't hear the traffic from the busy 104 Ave. It was like being in a small town.


And home again. This is the back of my apartment building - not mine for too much longer though.

Edmonton

I have been working and rushing and driving and getting home to work again. Today, I did my first walking tour of Edmonton. The weather was perfect, sunny with a north wind to keep me cool. The first stop of course was the Molson clock. SR lived here for seven years and all but one of his apartments had a view of the famous Molson's clock (which records the temperature as well). This is right behind my apartment.

Walk to the front of the Molson's brewery and you see the fort. I have only driven past this site which is right on 104th Ave. Not something you usually see in the downtown of a major city.

All of the trees and bushes are now in full bloom. The colours and scents are wonderful. The trees are laden with blossoms with the petals softly falling on the sidewalks.

One thing I always loved about Edmonton was the tree lined streets. Although many of the streets are merely apartment buildings, the trees bring the country into the city and make strolling pleasurable. I first walked along 104th (actually looking for a florist I saw while driving, but obviously was on the wrong street). Then 104 Ave turned into Stony Plain Road. I explored some of the small green side streets and found wonderful old refurbished houses in park-like settings. I felt like knocking on some doors to view the inside, but restrained myself. I then cut over to 102 Avenue to walk back. Stopped at a coffee house along the way for a wee rest, then continued home.


Along the way, to my surprise, I found the house where Spiderman lives.

David Beckham

Watched the LA Galaxy v Vancouver Whitecaps playing a friendly at the Commonwealth Stadium tonight. Of course the star of the game was David Beckham.

Beckham took all the corner kicks and he can still "bend it like beckham".
He played 75 minutes of the game. It was great watching him play. Vancouver won 2-1. Vancouver's 2nd goal was excellent but the goal scorer did get yellow carded when he pulled off his shirt to celebrate.

And, this was my buddy at the game. SR bought me the tickets to the game for my birthday gift -- thanks so much SR. I enjoyed watching the game even though I had a cold and it rained on us.

Renos

The boys helped purchase the flooring and started work on it right away. It felt so good to get rid of that awful carpet that was there.

The flooring was done, and all the trim and new doors were next. I spent a day painting the trim trying to minimize my job once it was put up, but there are so many nail holes, I now have to fill them all and repaint the trim. I have two of the four new doors repainted as well. I have a lot of work still to do but I think it will look great once finished.


Here's my work crew taking a break. Actually they were going through MY tool box and laughing at the tools I had like the all-in-one level, tape measure and notepad which is about 3 inches square and my plumb line which is actually a fishing weight and dental floss. They may laugh but they did use my tools. This is day five for the boys and in about an hour I am driving them to the airport. A job well done guys!

Alaska Highway once again

Hit the road once again to Edmonton. Am renovating my apartment and hopefully sell it.
Above is a scene of a ribbon of Alaska Highway, one of the many spectacular views seen while driving south.

The roads were in good driving condition - all clear of snow although 4 days earlier a blizzard when through the area. The rivers are just beginning to thaw and lots of snow on the mountains, but all in all lovely driving conditions. The only glitch was shortly after leaving Whitehorse, when a grouse crossed the road. I should have zigged but I zagged and consequently drove through a poof of feathers and hoped I didn't have a trophy grouse attached to the grill of my truck (I didn't but did feel bad about the bump-bump).

My driving partner this year was Sue. Here she is at the nicest lodge along the highway. We stopped for home-made pie and coffee, but they only opened their restaurant at certain hours and we didn't want to wait for the dinner hour. Most of the lodges were closed, but we did stop in Toad River where the fellow's "home made pie" meant putting a frozen pie in the oven and serving it. What a disappointment. We did see "Buckshot Betty" there, from Burwash. Loved her name so we gave ourselves names too - "Caribou Carol" and "Snowshoe Sue" (formerly known as "Spruce Grouse Sue").

Gas prices were pretty good considering - most expensive was at Liard Hotsprings - $1.409 / litre, just a bit more than Whitehorse, which was $1.379 / litre when we left. In Edmonton now it is $1.239/litre. Thank heavens I don't drive a big gas guzzler.

As usual, did see a lot of animals ON and beside the road. Saw fox and hawks, coyotes and caribou, buffalo and sheep, goats and deer, and probably some I've forgotten. Didn't see bears or moose though. Probably will on the drive home. One does have to watch each curve in the road as you don't know what will be in your path as you drive.

SR & Dustin made it into town and I now have 1/2 of the living room floor redone. I'm pretty excited about the renovations to my apartment. And just got my internet connected, so hopefully can keep you up to date on the renos.

Old Timers Soccer Tourney

Took some photos this weekend for the International Old Timers Soccer Tournament - an annual tourney held in Whitehorse in May of each year. The international part (although I'm sure many are invited but only one seems to be able to attend) is thanks to Juneau Alaska - the team that makes its way to the Yukon each May. Above is the wonderful facility we have in the Canada Games Centre - built especially for Indoor Soccer. Below are just a couple of the 400 + photos I took, many of which were displayed via slide show at the banquet last night.

It's sometimes a lonely and sad job being the keeper especially when you really are the last defender.

The fans came in all shapes and sizes. Here is an avid fan intent on the game (perhaps her dad was on the field).