Life :: Wildlights

Well, with Christmas come (and gone), everyone has their own sort of traditions they do. Around here, many Christmas traditions include the BC Wildlife Park's annual Wildlights...  This year seems to be quite dull and boring around here, because it hasn't snowed anywhere near as much as it should have (as I write this, we secured another record high today of plus 10 C)...

Each year, the BC Wildlife park holds their annual Wildlights Festival. They, in conjuction with BC Hydro, string millions of lights around the park for people to enjoy. They have the wildlife express running (a miniature steam engine), and have changed over the last few years to include a light show, and wolf feedings...

This year, I went with my favorite neice, and her family... and had a great time. It was surprisingly warm, and we spent much longer out there than anticipated.



This year, they upgraded the light show, to include a new laser light. It was pretty impressive, and even included fog so you can see the work of the laser behind you... It was quite exciting (and I would say worth the $10,000+ they spent on it). Our experience culminated with Sofia and her perfect little 'shocked' expression with the lights flashed in front of her...

They have interactive stations where you push a button, and things happen. Sofia was learning how this all works to make the penguins swim...
We even had the joy of visiting the goats, although Sofia wasn't too sure about them...

Maybe next year she'll be more into participating... and walking on her own.
We finished by taking a ride on the Wildlife Express... just for Sofia! Definitely her highlight.

Definitely a fun time... a highlight of most... and a good tradition in our area. I'm always intrigued to see what has changed from one year to another... Lets hope everyone else has someplace to relax and unwind like this...

Life :: Padova

Well, I have to admit. First off, this post is LONG overdue. I guess a combination of working fulltime, volunteering, school work and riding barely leaves enough time for a social life... let alone all the extra joys in life...

Padova is one of those local places that holds such history... and mystery for teens of all ages. The stories growing up of rabid dobermans, and shotgun shooting security guards... all braved just to walk through a door of a condemned building, pull of a piece of paint... or even just touch the building.
Everyone in this town has stories of ghosts and goblins in this place...

Although most think the stories are within reason of the fabled 'insane asylum... Little do people know it actually started out as a tuberculosis sanitorium. There's a neat book written about the property "A Whole Little City in Itself", that actually covers the history quite well. Back in it's prime, the property only brought in electricity from the surrounding city, and otherwise grew, and produced everything else they needed. It was a self reliant city (minus electricity of course).

And... When the sanitorium closed... the insane asylum arose. Yes, it did house the 'insane' and the 'mentally ill', but it also had areas for other 'quirks' like midgets... It wasn't your typical asylum.
And now that it's completely closed... it's turning into a resort, slowly, one building at a time.

 History lesson completed... Padova has to be one of my favorite places to go. I love to drive the frontage road, along the river, and peer into the buildings. I'm not brave like most, and haven't ventured into a building (without permission)... but there's not a time when I return home with photos, ignoring everything I've taken before. It's so much fun to compare one year to another. And for whatever reason, it always ends up being a fallowed 'haunt' of mine.

I can go there every month and come out with a shot I am super happy about, and can't wait to share. This time was no exception. There was something about the fall colours that just accentuated the photos.
That being said... now that the property is turning into a resort... a cross between moving foward, and going back... it's very bittersweet.

It is going to be a mash up of new buildings, and renovated ones... and it's not going to to be cheap. Each building is filled with asbestos insulation, just adding to the cost. It's going to take years, and depending how many buildings are compromised and cannot be used, it will be interesting to see what Tranquille on the Lake will become. Speaking with the property owner - the son-in-law of the mastermind behind the transformation - he informs us that they are trying to use as many of the old buildings as possible... renovating them, moving them, and giving them a new view on life...

Although, I think I will always stand by the point that the property should become a 'Barkerville' of tuberculosis sanitoriums. Hell, although it's not as much fun as a gold rush, it was a huge thing 'back in the day'.

If only walls could talk...

Rodeo :: Interior Provincial Exhibition Part 2

So the Labour Day long weekend continued, and so did the Interior Provincial Exhibition. Saturday I took Sarah and Alyssa down to Armstrong (after a blitz trip to Vernon) to take in the festivities. We spent the day touring the facilities, the animals, the rides...

The whole reason I wanted to get there early in the afternoon was for the Chuckwagon Races... I mean, what's cuter, than some super excited miniatures horses, who look like they LOVE their job, race around a ring?

Sarah was a good sport as Alyssa and I wandered around everything... including when she got me to go up to a stabled miniature to take a photo of it for her. :)

After spending way too much money, and enjoying our time wandering around the sights, we stopped for a quick dinner, and moved off to the rodeo!! Boy I love rodeos!

This time, we got there in time to see West Coast Thunder - one of the top Drill Teams located out of the Lower Mainland. Let's just say, Alyssa and I were quite excited to watch them do their stuff!

 We, ahem, - I mean I - even got to see the Crazy Cowgirls trick riders again!

The rodeo definately kept us entertained for yet another night. The semi-finals this night were just as awesome as the night before... We definately saw loads of talent, and, for the record, I still can totally live the lifestyle.
And not only was it the cowboys keeping us entertained - but the rodeo clown to. I have to admit, I hate clowns... maybe it was because he was so far away, but there's been no sense of dread with him... Or maybe I just love looking through the lens so much.

 We ended our night by heading through the fair for some shots... I regret to say I did not have a tripod, but I made do with whatever I could find, and I have to say, I'm quite happy with the result...

 The ride home was quite quiet... I have yet to go on a road trip with Alyssa where she hasn't slept on the way home... and even Sarah joined the cloud. Thank goodness I slept in that morning, or I would have had to pull over and join them...