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Mwah!19 June This is madness… this is SPARTA!It feels good! The Spartans finally won a soccer game! It was a muddy battle, but the team stayed strong. We’ll say it was all thanks to Eric and his outstanding 4 goals, but really we all know… it was the war paint!
Our worthy opponents put up quite a battle, but we strived in the end. They were such good sports that afterwards they invited us out for a drink with them. It’s interesting to see the mixing of two teams outside of the soccer world. They cleaned up nice… us Spartans on the other hand, we were still muddy, but pumped to party.
17 June The Trip Continued..... So I just put up photos for those who don't have Facebook yet....
Here are the rest of the entries...
Mile 151 1/2 On the Colorado River In the Grand Canyon
So the trip is almost to an end. It is Day 5 on the river. From where I sit on the waters edge I can hear the sound of water gently lapping the rocks. The trickle of a waterfall is at my side, drowned out by the roar of rapids just down stream. Fear hits my mind as I wonder if the water level will rise tonight as I sit just mere feet above the rivers edge. The cool breeze off the water is a nice refreshing reprieve form the hot desert heat. I turn out my only light, and for a moment I'm surrounded in darkness. Looking up all I can see is a deep dark night sky captured in between towering inky black canyon walls. The canyon is breathtaking. Stars wisp the sky and bring me back home with the familiar Ursa Major lighting up the sky. The sound of the water get stronger, I quickly turn my light back on... Shining it at the waters edge I wonder... Will it it rise above our pearch and wake us from our slumber? Only the night hours will tell.
Fun Fact: Across the river from where we slept that night was the exact spot where they filmed the 'cliff sleeping' scene of the Grand Canyon IMAX movie.
We had to write a reflection paper on our trip as part of the course. I thought I would include it because it sums up a little bit of everything the happened on the trip.
Reflection on the Grand Canyon By Heather Miller One word… wow! That was by far the best field school I have ever been on. Sad to say, that it will also be my last field school. Geology in a way is like learning a new language. In order for someone to fully understand the concepts they need to surround themselves by the culture and every aspect of the language. The same ideas apply to field school. They best way to learn something it to go out there and touch it. Get your hands on the rocks. It was wonderful to see how a concept so simple can affect your life. Without field schools to guide the way for new students how will they truly experience geology the way it should be seen?
Through this journey I managed to find a few moments to jot down my thoughts. Looking back on them now, I realize that my first glimpse of the wonderful desert around us was not much unlike Edward Abbey’s first views in his novel “Desert Solitaire”. Walking on sand dunes, sleeping on the playa, along with seeping under the stars are amongst my favourite features of the trip. The one that tops them all though, is waking up at 3:00 am and driving to see the first rays of sun hit the canyon walls. Every where I looked the beauty that lies in this hidden world was immaculate and was calling out to be explored.
The end of Day 5 on the river (Mile 151 ½), Carmen and I set up camp down a cliff by the waters edge. As the sun set behind the canyon walls could hear the sound of the mighty Colorado gently lapping the rocks at our feet. The trickle of a spring by our side was masked slightly by the dull roar of the rapids awaiting us around the bend. It was sad to think that our adventure on the river was coming to an end. Over our heads we observed a bat, swooping and diving near the water. His dark black outline faint on the starry night sky. I didn’t a single care in the world.
I know for sure that I would defiantly come back to the Grand Canyon again. Whether it’s for school, or pleasure I know every time there will be something new and exciting to explore. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to view geologic in a new light.
What an awesome trip.... I'm definitely going back some day!
The TripSo, I just go back from the Grand Canyon a few days ago. Has it ever been weird adjusting back into the grind of things again. Being totally removed from civilization (except for the group of tourists we were with) puts everything into perspective. From this whole experience (besides geology) I've learned that time is on our sides, and that we should make use of it and life life to the fullest. Being back in the city everyone is running around, busy all the time and generally stressed with life. It is important to take a step bask every once in awhile and look at what we have accomplished, and set new goals of what we want to do.
On the trip I managed to find some time to jot down a few things. They are only a glimpse into the my adventure, but provide a window to show how amazing the trip actually was.
Memoir in the Moonlight
Wow! That's the only word I need to describe this wonderful adventure! The best part yet... it's ONLY DAY 4! Writing this I sit bundled up in my sleeping bag, looking over a beautiful lake. Location... unknown, Nevada. Seems to be a reoccurring theme of this trip. (Just heard a fish jump in amongst all the cricket sounds) The serenade in the moonlight fills the air as I look up from my resting spot to the wonderful peaceful lake in front of me.
The Past few days have been wonderful!
Day 1: Besides my water curse (ask me later), we drove all the way to Montana from Calgary. We set up camp late at night in Dillon Montana (just south of Great Falls). We got to spend the night in a wonderful K Yo' A campground http://www.koa.com/where/mt/26152/ During the day we discussed the age old question... Why are the Plains flat? and made a few stops at the Montana volcanics (square butte, ect.)
Day 2: Home of the SPUD! I got a spud for you! Welcome to Idaho! Today was the big day to the start of all the van jokes... on our way to look at the Tuff Cone, Jerry (our prof) jackknifed our u-haul trailer into the side of our van. It happened so fast... and we were all in shock. Didn't know what to do. No windows were broken, thank god! But it still gave us quite a scare.
Ever camped in a city before? Well the evening of Day 2 we did... We set up camp in the middle of a trailer park, in the MIDDLE of Salt Lake City! Since we were sleeping under the stars, we had the wonderful spot on the grass right beside the restrooms. I have slepped in the city before (Calgary) but never before in an RV park. To make it better we were the ONLY ones that weren't in a motorhome.... the wasn't a single person the in the whole campground that was in a tent either. Puts a whole new meaning to roughing it.
Day 3: We started out the day doing a little hike, got to look at where the Wasatch Fault cuts right through the city, and the stupid idiots that built million dollar homes right no the fault. Right now it isn't active... but you never know. We visited the Sand Dunes that day.... my camera cave me a scare, but I whipped it back into shape!
That night we drove on the Hw 50... the longest road in America to sleep in the middle of the desert. It became our epic adventure in the dark... with LTOR music playing the the background, we drove over an hour, plus backtracking to find our camping destination. Jerry, (now know as our 'Basin Ranger') lead us through the darkness, out across the craton...! Stepping out of the van we were greeted by a howling wind, sand, and salt. It was midnight, and we had finally reached out camping destination... the Playa! We slepped out on the salt flats that night deep in our sleeping bags. Some point in the night the wind stopped, and I peered out my sleeping bag. Millions of stars filled the wonderful clear sky. I must have fallen back asleep staring at the stars cause next thing I knew, I was greeted by a beautiful sunrise! The start of Day 4.
Day 4: We had an early breakfast, (cereal and bananas... what every morning has been so far), then went and checked out the moving rocks! Sitting on the island later on we discussed missions, and got a chance to take in the vast landscape in front of us... The is when it set in, we had just slepped in the middle on the desert!
We drove to Lehman Caves, passing though the Utah / Nevada border on the way. We stopped to eat in a little diner in the border crossing small town. The Lehman Caves were fantastic. They were first discovered by Absolum Lehman around 1885. We went on a little tour though the caves... the whole time being in awe of the magnificent surroundings.
That night we drove in the dark again to location 184? miles North of Las Vegas. More curses from the trailer came out, as our TA got a speeding ticket ('big rig 41'). It was funny seeing the state troopers expression as he walked by our van, cause the night before we had written on it with a white board marker.
Back to now... camping in a Wildlife Refuge, sitting in the moonlight... listening to crickets.. gazing up at the stars... this is the life!
Tomorrow we head to Vegas... only for a few hours.
Written on day 6, morning after watching the sunrise over the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
3:00 am... Wake up call. Sky is dark, moon is bright. Everyone is groggy tired and Grumpy.
3:30 am... Stuff packed, we leave our campsite (Jacob Lake) and drive to the Grand Canyon... On the road there are deer everywhere, half asleep, dazed.
5:00 am... Arrive at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Bad news, we are still half an hour early...
5:30 am... We stumble out of the van for the BIG SHOW.
First Glance: Breath taking! I don't know what else to say. Everyone tells you that it will be one of the most life altering sight you will ever see, you never believe them though. We sat on the point near Angles Window (which we get to see later from the river) Snacked on frosted wheat's, and witnessed that most breathtaking sight in the world.
Sitting on a rock near the edge with Carmen, we listened to John Mayer 'Waiting on the World to Change' Fitting song for where were were... sitting on the edge of the Grand Canyon... reflecting on everything in front of us.
I'll continue later with the other half... I need to get painting... lots to do today!
14 May Another wonderful weekend! The days of summer are whipping by...Written today... at work... before lunch. I am currently sitting in my office on the 5th floor. The sounds of the office are all around. Doors opening, phones ringing, the quite background buzzes of people chattering about their weekends. As for me, I'm staring out the window wishing I was outside. Well, only if though an office across the hall from me and out their window (looking on to another building) counts as outside.
Went
up to Ted's Cabin at Burnstick Lake for the weekend. It was so nice to get out of the city and
enjoy the wonderful clean air. The
place was as beautiful as I remembered it but the lake was colder then I
remembered it (yes we did jump in, the ice just came off 7 days before!). We should have busted out the wet suits,
which would have made it prime. There were a grand total of 21 people throughout
the weekend which made the Châteaux on the lake the most bustling and hustling
place around.
This
week is going to be another busy one. So
much for catching up on sleep! Last
night I played soccer for the Absinthe Team… and yes! WE WON! Yay! Tonight I
play for the Spartans. This will be my
first game against my brother and I'm very excited! Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I think the plan is to help my Mom paint, and get most of my Grand Canyon assignments done. I want to get through a good chunk of it so I can enjoy my up coming weekend! There are tones of things planned for the week but I think I should just push them aside and put my ass in overdrive homework gear. 07 May The Start of SummerJune 1st, I guess we’re not there yet. For me, summer started last Friday. Sure it was raining, cloudy and depressing but I still managed to have an awesome time. That’s what summer is all about.
Friday started out with a half day of work. I had geoScout training (mapping program here at work) in the morning, then I got the afternoon off. Half day Fridays seem like a bonus, but really we still put in the hours by working an extra 45 minutes M-R. I took the train home at noon. Ate lunch, and then was off back to downtown again. Why? Because I lucked out and managed to get bicycle parking! If I would had called during the day I would had just stayed at work. Oh well, the number was at home anyways. It didn’t matter to me one bit, all my troubles of taking transit downtown had melted away.
Friday was busy with work email, I have finally been added to the list. Yay! I’ve now joined the cult! It feels great! We were trying to decide Friday what to do, in lue of camping only being one night. There were many ideas bouncing around but know one had set anything concrete. The one thing that did catch my eye was Craig’s idea of going for walk around Fish Creek Park in the rain. I didn’t think much of it till I got home, and didn’t even know if he was serious or not. Later on the evening I texted him and asked… Who knows, it wasn’t raining that much anymore. Sure enough he was still game for the idea so I drove over.
Fish Creek Park was beautiful. There was a light mist of rain which made everything smell fresh and clean. It was so calm and still with only the random sound of a bird way off in the distance. The lighting was dull and flat and if it was any darker it would had been borderline eerie. Because it was still early the sun was still up, hidden behind the clouds but still there. Off in the distance we could see some deer grazing, innocent and unaware of the busy world around them. Everything was breathtaking. We walked down to the river, attempting to take some cool photos along the way. It think I got some good shots but I haven’t had time to look at them yet.
Afterwards we walked back to Craig’s place and hung out there for the evening. Almost everyone came over and we played charades and pictionary. TONES OF FUN!
Saturday was the big camping day. It was my first time going to Travers and boy was I ever excited. I packed up and booked it over to Craig’s, we didn’t end up leaving the city till ~3pm (I think) but it seemed to work out ok. Travers is located off the 529 highway in Little bow Provincial Park. For more information, http://sunsite.ualberta.ca/Projects/Alberta-Lakes/view/?region=South%20Saskatchewan%20Region&basin=Oldman%20River%20Basin&lake=Travers%20Reservoir&number=123
The area was beautiful, it was so nice to get out of the city and relax. Everything was so much fun, we played soccer, had a piñata for Trevor (his birthday today), and sat around the camp fire and just enjoyed life. It was wonderful! An added bonus also, we were the only ones there Saturday night. The dirt bikers left earlier in the evening. Next time we go back I’m bringing the sail boat. It would be so cool to bomb around on the fireball. The wind would be perfect!
Craig and I headed back early Sunday even though we didn’t want to. On the way home we took a side trip off to the Resort Area and ended up stumbling upon a small lake side community. One of these days when I’m rich (haha ya right) I’ll buy a cabin on a lake! There was on for sale on welist.com but I can’t find the listing. My guess though would be around $700000. It was a decent sized place right on the water.
We made it home in good time, early enough for me to wash clothes, have a nap and eat. Then I was out the door again. Sad to be missing soccer that evening but my family had tickets to Just for Laughs presenting Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood. Man was it ever funny. They did a skit where Brad ‘stole a dancing monkey and snatched the body of Sir. John A McDonald with a pickle in Miniberries at Kippersoft’s house of Flame juggling. He would have gotten away with the crime but his silly putty just happened to fall out of his pocket and was left behind.’ You’ll have to ask me about it later……… it was funny!
A great way to end a fantastic weekend. 03 May Metro Train Biking WalkingMetro: Free paper downtown that gets handed to me every Morning on the street outside of my building. It's in par with reading level of the Calgary Herald, and offers a brief look into the news of the day. What I found interesting in it today was the half page review on the Coolpix S200.
Train: I've started taking the train to work and believe it or not, it's actually faster then the bus. So here is the scoop, I drive my car to Brentwood Stn., hop in the train and I'm off to work. Not to shabby. Way better then waiting for the bus in the morning.
Biking: I'm mad at the City of Calgary, I think I’m actually going to write my Alderman about this one. Over the last few days I've been trying to find bicycle parking downtown. In order for me to park my bike in my building I would have to pay $60 a year. That's not to bad.... well when I called to get a spot I was informed that there was a waiting list. WOW, I can't believe there is actually a waiting list for BIKE parking. Ok, next option was the city of calgary... they have a few lots downtown and it says right on the webpage "use alternate transportation to avoid congestion in the downtown core such as, carpooling, transit, walking and biking." They offer some solutions and actually have a few parkades that contain bike cages. This is for a small fee of $10 a month of course. To make things worse when I called they told me it was full also! UGH.....So much for encouraging environmentally friendly transportation.
So now I don't know what to do...... do I risk parking my bike on the street? Or do I continue with taking the train to work?
Walking: I had something good to write here, but now I'm all mad about the bike thing. It will have to wait for another day.
30 April it's funny how things unfoldI'll begin things at the root of my very hectic day.............
It all started sunday... Woke up nice and early, trying to condition my self for the day to come. Was planning on doing some of my GC assignments but that never happen. Instead I had an awesome impromptu lunch out with Katherine. Best idea ever, I haven't seen Katherine in ages. We went window shopping after... didn't actually buy anything anyways. All the styles this season are lacking inspiration, they are just for the lack of a better word, dull.
Had our first Absinthe Minded outdoor soccer game sunday night. It was an awesome time, it always is. After the game we went to Jack Asters for an after game beer. Come on, we have a rep to live up too... we are after all a beer league. I didn't have anything to drink anyways tho, still on antibiotics for the wisdom teeth. This is where it all went down hill............ I should have gone home after the game, it's know ones fault but my own for staying out late but it set the tone for my whole entire day today...
Monday morning, 6 am, first day of work!
So, I get up at 6am and take my time getting ready, I got LOTS of time. haha... oops.
Start panicking when 6:45 rolls around.... i'm thinking "I have soccer tonight, how in the world am I going to make it to the south before 6:30 when I finish work at 5?!?" With that in mind I make the last minute choice (the wrong choice) to drive to work and park just outside of downtown at Crescent Heights school. To my despair, when I get there... all the parking is gone. NOW WHAT DO I DO? Clock is ticking, it's now 7:00am work starts at 7:30 and I'm not even in DT yet and to make it worse on the OTHER side of DT from my office. UGH!
So, I drive back the way I came, across 16th to the only street that doesnt have 'no parking signs'. Now I'm even farther away from work. So I book it across 16th, my high-heels (another bad choice) taking me as fast as I can go. Then I stand and wait at the bus stop, cause I know there is no way in this life time that I will make it to my office walking through DT in 25mins... yes it was already 7:05 at this pt. Wasting time at the bus stop I decided to call and see when the next bus comes... 9 mins, F-me. I just missed one. (they come every 10min). Here is the next bad choice... I start walking... man do my feet ever hurt at this point. It's just my luck that as I'm about 1/2 a block away i hear the sound of the bus driving by.
7:07 ugh, I book it as fast as I can from 12th Av NW, down the hill, across the river through Eau Claire... that's when I see my saving grace!!
7:18 One nice yellow taxi cab sitting outside of the Sheraton Hotel. YAY!
I hopped in, told him my tale of woes and told him to step on the gas cause I was a women on a mission NOT TO BE LATE. The cabby was really nice and took fast ways through DT, avoiding all the lights. $7:20 later we pull up to the Western Canadian Place building 9th av and 6th st with 4 mins to spare. I gave the cabby a nice tip for his wonderful service and was on my way. Took the elevator up to the 10th floor (insert elevator music here) and arrived at work by 7:28................ 'Heather breathe, you made it!'
So my new boss comes to meet me. I must have looked like a mess. He shows me my office (yes i have an office!!!!!!, a nice upgrade from the cube that I was in at EUB for the last 2.5 years) that has a view through and office to someone else's window. Hey, it's still a window. I get set go on the computer and am left to my own devices for an hour or so.
Random ppl came by and introduced themselves. Including Dennis from school who was the summer student last year and stayed on with Apache during the school year. This was his last day with them, moving on to bigger things with Nexen. He showed me the ropes of the computer system which was a bonus. I would have never found some of the stuff on my own. After that there was a training session for us newbies. Then the Northern Geology Manager (my boss) and the Southern Geological Manager took Josh (the other glgy summer student) and I out for lunch. We ended up at Ceilis, my chicken wrap was ok but the fries were awesome. Afternoon was uneventful, just reading papers and such.
4:45 HOME TIME! Well not really... walk to the bus stop... it's 4 blocks North and 2 blocks South from my work. Not to bad, but the fact the my feet hurt... it was annoying.
On the bus... 5:05.... get off the bus... 5:20. Walk to the car, across 16th ave again(I hate that intersection on 2nd st). In car and home by 5:37. yay, I now have to make it to soccer my 6:30.
Eat (power-bar), change, go!
Traffic............................................................. lucky me Deerfoot North is a parking lot. THANK YOU RADIO for the traffic tip. I use some invasive thinking and avoid it by 32nd ave to Barlow. I take the most convoluted way to get to the field. YAY I make 6:30 on the dot!
Soccer game was good, we played a fun but challenging team. As a first time playing together as a team we did excellent. Still lost, but that's ok. Oh ya, a guy took me down... accident of course, but man will my neck be sore tomorrow cause of it. I took a guy down too... I totally didn't mean too. oops... nothing hurt, so everything was ok.
After soccer, it was straight home for a nice long hot bath.
WOW what a day... now it's bedtime!
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