9/5/2009 Hangin' Out with Wilf & Marilyn

Since I was the first one in bed last night I was the first one up this morning. They must have partied really hard because no one stirred until after 9 and the guys didn't rouse until 10! That is just unheard of for Bob!

Finally every one was ready to get out and do something. We piled into the Dodge, gosh it pains me to write that, and off we went.

I guess I'd better explain that remark above. Bob has his FORD, Wilf has his dodge and Lyle has his gmc. None of the others are worth capital letters in this blog! Anyway, there is a constant argument between these three as to which brand has the best truck. Dear readers, FORD does, hands down!

So we get into the vehicle and head to the top of the mountain nearby.

Here's Bob and Wilf checking out the scenery,,,,or looking for wildlife, either one could be correct.

It was so beautiful up here!

I got this picture of Wilf and Bob next to the vehicle. I think Wilf was saying like "there is no truck like a dodge" and Bob was laughing because Wilf bought one.

As we came down off the mountain Wilf pointed out this Canadian Moose. If you say so Wilf.

Another dead tree (s) for you LaVon.

Wilf & Marilyn then took us to the most photographed dead tree in Canada. Little did we know that we had already snapped a picture of it yesterday. In fact I used it yesterday's post for LaVon's dead tree. Today's pics are much better though.

This tree is called the Burmis Tree after a coal-mining town that thrived here in the early 1900's. The tree has become a symbol of endurance for the people of Crowsnest Pass.

This tree has been here for over 700 years. The tree died in the late 1970's and lost its battle with wind and toppled to the ground in 1998. The Crowsnest community refused to leave it lying there. Between local and federal governments, community businesses and private citizens raised and stabilized the tree.

Stainless steel brackets anchor the roots with rods drilled deep into the sandstone. Another support reduces the movement of the root section and can be tightened if the tree moves.

The Burmis Tree once again stands on its sandstone pedestal at Crowsnest Pass greeting visitors telling residents they are home.

We went back to their friends house again today as Wilf had something to return to Cal. I took the opportunity to take some pictures.

They've done a lot of work to the inside but it still has a lot of its century old charm.

Judy and Cal had four of their five sons there for the weekend so there was a lot going on. We got to meet their grandson, Carter.

....and their granddog, Winston.

From here we went to the cemetery. There is a very nice memorial for all the miners who have lost their lives over the years. The town of Hillcrest was the place of Canada's worst mining disaster.

Our last stop was the Hillcrest Miner's Club.

This is where the guys came to play a game of pool last night. Bob kept insisting I had to see the pool table. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it.

This table measures six feet by twelve feet. I've never seen anything like it. The pool balls look like ping pong ball size on this table.

Look how big the cue stick is!

We BBQ'd burgers, had corn on the cob and a whole bunch of munchie things for dinner. Good food and even better company.

After dinner we met some of Wilf and Marilyn's neighbors and we sat and talked and laughed and laughed and laughed. What a fun day this was!