Wilberforce School

Throwing it back to the Great Road Trip of September 2019.

One of the schools on my list to find was Wilberforce. It was just where it should have been and easy to shoot from the road. It's in rough shape though, one side is wide open to the elements and it's now full of junk. Seems an undignified end for a once important building. Can't save them all I guess.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any information or old photos in the places I normally check. The only info I have is from the marker in front that shows the dates the school was in operation, 1913-1955.

Winter Hodge Podge

Hello! I am sitting here watching light fluffy snow falling outside my window and dreaming of warmer weather, and cruising the back roads. Also Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!

This post is a hot hodge podge of random winter shots I've taken recently. Enjoy and stay safe and warm!

Pretty sunrise and hoar frost. 

Obligatory lighthouse photo.

Sunset on the Lake.

Another pretty sunset!

This fiery sunrise was amazing!

Spooky fog ahead!

I realized these are mostly sunrise and sunset photos but that's when I am going to and from work, I miss long days and sunlight!

Moody Skies

I took the following photos on October 18th, just north of where I live. I wasn't planning on taking any photos, as I was on an errand to a neighbouring town, but the sky and clouds were irresistible so I make a quick detour to spot I knew. The old house out in the field looks like the roof has collapsed even more since last time I was by. I didn't have my zoom lens so I couldn't get a great photo of it this time.

I love the mood of these images. Since then we have has a huge dump of snow and some chilly temperatures. I guess winter is here!

Happy Halloween!

Hello!

November and December are the busiest months of the year for me. I work full time and also have a side business that is busy with markets and orders during the Christmas season.  It's busy but I love it (most of the time)! Is 7 or 8 hours of sleep really essential??

I have driven by this truck numerous times but was happy to see it all decked out for Halloween!

What is everyone doing for Halloween? Do you enjoy Halloween?
Also, who's with me on getting Halloween changed to like the last Saturday of October so kids don't have to be out on a school night? I know there is historical origins for the 31st...but still just sayin'.
While we're at it, lets get rid of Daylight Savings Time.

Be safe out there with the ghosts and ghouls!

The Old Barn

There is an old barn in a small stand of trees, beside a highway and only a couple minutes from my house. The highway is busy and there is not really a good place to stop. I have been admiring this barn, as I speed by, for years!

A couple weeks ago with the threat of snow coming and the fall colours still looking nice, I decided to ask permission to shoot the barn. The owner was very nice and did not mind at all. I took images from almost every side except the back of the barn. The weeds and grass were very tall and wet and I think the 3 sides I did photograph were fantastic. It started to rain as I was leaving so I am glad I stopped by when I did.

A Country Church

While out on the 'Great One Day Road Trip Expedition of September 2019', this was one of the churches along the way, near Innisfree. There is no shortage of churches in rural Alberta, some in use or occasional use, and some sadly on the verge of collapse. This one seems to be in the occasional use category. I couldn't find anything on this church in my usual search spots.

The badly faded sign states that this is a Seventh Day Adventist Church now. It likely wasn't always. However on the inside, along with Seventh Day Adventist bibles, there was a sign in Cyrillic (I think). Perhaps this church is used by a couple different congregations. I am not sure when someone was inside last but judging by some nice cobwebs all over my face, it might have been awhile. The grounds outside, however, were mowed and tidy.

Little cemetery in the corner.

I adore these light fixtures.

If you happen to know anything about this church, I'd love to hear it!

Roadside Creatures

I am posting 2 days in a row and am pretty sure I won't be able to keep up this pace. Kudos to the blogs I read that post everyday.

On the Great Road Trip of September 2019, these friendly guys came over to investigate, or maybe they were hungry. Who knows!

Squad Goals

You know what happens when you assume...

This horse had one pretty blue eye (he has 2 eyes, but only one was blue). Notice his friends heading over.

Beautiful Abandonment

I was too busy looking to the right and missed this beautiful old house on the left....luckily the driver of the expedition saw it and turned around.

What struck me most about this old home. besides the wood shaker siding, was how straight and true it still appears to be.

Chailey Corner

I FINALLY got out for some exploring in an area I have been wanting to return to, this time with a map of stops. Very organized for me...very. I met up with a fellow blogger and friends, for a full day of nothing but back roads and beef jerky, my go to travel snack. Note to self: Back Roads and Beef Jerky as an alternate blog title.

I don't even know where to start with all the amazing places that I photographed. So I will start with Chailey. I don't think Chailey ever developed into a town but there was definitely a pioneer community. Now, the Chailey district consists of a school and a church surrounded by farmland. Both the church and the school are Municipal Historic Resources as well as being listed on the Alberta Register of Historic Places. 

There was also a post office there from 1907-1956, located in the homes of various local residents. In fact Chailey got it's name from the hometown of the first Postmaster, C.H. Brown, who came from Chailey in Sussex, England. 

Chailey School SD#2140 1910-1953

The school was completed in August of 1910 and ready to open it's door to grades 1-8. In 1922, it was expanded to it's current size. 2 years after the school closed it was acquired by the community for use as a hall. It is still used on occasion. 

St. Alban's Anglican Church 1908-1978
This area was settled by mainly British settlers and the received a 50 pound endowment from the Colonial and Continental Society of England. St. Alban's and other churches who also received this endowment are referred to as '50 Pounders'. This is something I'd like to learn more about later.

The church sits across the road from the school, surrounded by trees and a well kept lawn with a small cemetery in the back. The church itself is small and was built to seat only 36 people. It was not open unfortunately and I was not able to see the interior. I think it is still used for special occasions.

Enjoy the images of Chailey!

A new door and there is no teacherage now, otherwise it looks mostly the same!
I wonder if it was always blue? Top photo courtesy of the Provincial Archives of Alberta.

Play Ball?

A new sign for an old church.

So cute!

References: https://hermis.alberta.ca/

Alleys

Whoa, I have said it before and I'll say it again. Time flies! I haven't explored near as much as I'd like, but this coming weekend should be a treasure trove of abandoned goodness...and I will definitely be posting the adventure!

If you live in Central Alberta, you will know that summer was virtually a no-show, it popped in to say hello for a day here and there but by the time we got comfortable with our flip flops on and the BBQ going....it flipped us the bird and laughed in our untanned faces, maybe next year suckers!

Today I am posting two photos. Both are an alley of sorts and both are different from my usual subject matter. I kinda love both of them and neither have to do with summer.

Enjoy the last week of 'summer'!

The Last of the Golden Fields

Our summer has been cooler than normal with lots of rain and a way above average number of tornados. Other parts of Alberta have been dry and there was major hail damage in other parts. Hope your summer is warm and sunny!

The best of the canola bloom is over. I always try to take photos of the canola and am happy with the few I took this year, all within a short distance from home. There seemed to be a lot more canola than I recall from previous years. Next up.....sunflower season!!!

Here are some images from this last month:

A Splash of Colour

Right now the landscape is dominated by fields of yellow. The annual canola bloom. I am sure my son is tired of me pointing and saying, "Look! Canola!". 

It's such a vibrant and brilliant yellow that it boggles the mind to accept that it is a natural colour. I also came across a particularly vivid kind of wild rose. At least I think it's a wild rose, I think our provincial wild rose is a different kind and a lighter pink.

Enjoy these pops of colour!

Parliament by Day & Night

The Parliament buildings of British Columbia are located in Victoria, next to the beautiful Inner Harbour. I could spend all day/week/month just watching the goings on of the harbour. Luckily our hotel was also on the harbour.

I can't imagine this area without all the hustle and bustle of tourists and traffic. As you can see in the daytime photo, it's colourful and busy and I am here for it. Even if you have been here before (which I have), there is always something new to see. It's interesting being here as an adult with my son compared to when I went as a kid/teen with my family. A whole different experience! 

At night the view from our hotel across the harbour was outstanding! You can see Parliament all lit up and the building next to it, which was lit up for Pride, was Madame Tussauds Wax Museum when I was younger (closed in 2010). Originally though, it was the Canadian Pacific Railway Steamship Terminal, constructed in 1924 and is now on the Canadian Register of Historic Places. It currently houses the Robert Bateman Centre. 

It's easy and enjoyable (and I recommend it) to walk everywhere but for something different, try the water taxi! It stops at various points in the Inner Harbour and beyond. The one we were on was green, earning it the nickname of 'pickle boat'.