When we wake up and it is a sunny day, which is often in Cochrane, Voldemort and I pile into our Dodge Journey and undertake, yes, a journey. Of recent we have visited Pat and Diane just outside of Wetaskiwin, headed along the Icefield Parkway to Jasper and most recently turned east to Drumheller.
Homer (below) lives with Pat and Diane and recently lost his beloved partner in crime, Blackie. He seems a little bit lost and I am sure we can all understand his melancholy. It was Blackie who always led the way into adventure and so Homer must now make his journeys alone.
On our journey to Jasper we were inundated with spectacular views of the mountains, the icefields and of course wildlife. W e came upon a majestic gang of elk journeying by the Athabasca River and the next morning saw perhaps the same bull laying down in the grasses covered in frost. My brother-in-law, the consummate hunter, informed me after seeing my photographs that it was a royal bull elk which is determined by the number of points (7) on each side of his rack. Learning something new every day is a journey unto itself.
On our side trip to follow the Athabasca River, we stopped to photograph yet one more fantastic view. And as I turned to go back into the car I was drawn to this raven. He sat there quite calmly allowing me to take his picture and fluffed his feathers as I clicked shot after shot. There is a spiritual journey in native folklore when you choose your animal totem. If I were to take this journey I would choose the raven….or would he choose me?
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
― Ernest Hemingway
ddcleve 
Incredible! Wish I was there.
Wow
It is such a little word to describe such big mountains…
The photos are magnificent and your words Charming as well as inspiring. Spent the day beside my brave friend as she Sat patiently waiting for the chemo to drain onto her chest thru the port… Lol the port up till now is this pricey albeit lovely restaurant at the end if my street.
Her fight to climb her personal mountain is none the less glorious but hardly as beautiful Maybe when she closed her eyes patiently Waiting she imagines her hubby floating somewhere in the heavens depicted in the movies as heaven is often in the mountainous clouds….
Life back here in the glorious metropolis of the gta is good busy with the day to day chores stresses and simple pleasures we have all come to know as our daily journey
Who knew your sons global adventure would lead you two thru a Canadian truly Canadian version of seeing our western Canadian world.. Step by step .. Elk to raven moments in front of such a majestic backdrop.
God bless and thanks be given for the marvel of technology that allows you to sharr such An epic journey as easily as picking up and pointing a phone and touching one button! Oh how life as evolved in 30 years Your raven photo shall become my screen saver in the am.
I sit here in my bed staring out the window at sunrise from the 14 th floor feeling gob smacked by gods view of the lake I can only slightly remember one brief trip to Calgary a life time ago to see the mountains nearby to reflect the life effecting moments gazing upon them… And think
Wow….again I repeat as I started wow
Thanks as always for sharing with the class
Xo Sent from my iPhone
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I really enjoy your “wilderness” experience and pictures! It is our own private Canadian Geographic blog! Keep them coming !
Rhonda
Laying down, covered with frost – what an animal! LOL
Great shots!