Category Archives: Travel

Photography, Society, Travel

Old Manitoba Prairie Churches in Ruins

Old prairie Ukrainian churches in ruins. From my photo archives, Oct. 24, 2008.

If I recall, these are all north of Dauphin, Manitoba. I wonder how many of them and their bell towers are still standing 12 years later. I would love to do another road trip around the area some day. . .

From what I could see of the land, this was not a friendly area to farm. Lots of rock piles in the fields, perhaps the immigrants didn’t know what they were getting into back in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Just a hundred miles further west in Saskatchewan the land was much better, from what I’ve seen.

I’m not a very religious person, but I admire these Slavic ancestors who put faith in faith. They pulled together in the harshest conditions and built churches, community halls, schools . . .

Some broke their backs and their hearts, but others prospered, and gave back to their communities.

These photos may seem sad, but I see strength and love in them. And memories eternal. . .

old manitoba prairie churches in ruins

Society, Technology, Travel

Washington on History Channel

Watched the first episode of Washington on the History Channel tonight. Well done, warts and all. Looking forward to seeing more.

When the family lived in NYC for a few years in the late 60s/early 70s, I was was the blossoming pre-teen history nut who insisted we visit every Revolutionary War and Civil War site within weekend driving distance. . . .

One of the interesting things about both of those multi-year conflicts is how many of the major battles and events transpired in what we today consider relatively small areas geographically.

It’s something I found hard to get across to kids when I did my teaching degree with a major in history — that people/armies walked everywhere and lived off the land. That at best it would take months for communications to cross the Atlantic Ocean and back. . . .

Heck, even when my ancestors came to Canada in the late 19th/early 20th C, they knew it was a one-way trip and that they would likely never see their families, friends, and neighbours face-to-face again.

Japan, Nature, Photography, Travel

Photo Review & Sorting Project Reveals Cool Photos

I have reached the end of 2007 in my stay-at-home review of my photo archives. Deleting some redundant shots, and posting some old “finds” to FB.

Here are a few from today:

garter snake byrne creek burnaby bc
Northwestern Garter Snake on the Byrne Creek dike in SE Burnaby, BC in October, 2007. We used to run across snakes at least a few times every summer, but the last few years sighting have dwindled to near zero.


Black-Crowned Night Heron in Inokashira Park in western Tokyo, Japan, October 2007.

black-crowned night heron Tokyo Japan
Juveniles?

ruddy kingfisher nagasaki japan
Ruddy Kingfisher, Nagasaki, Japan, fall 2007.

koi nagasaki japan
Koi, Nagasaki, Japan, fall 2007.

egret nagasaki japan
Egret, Nagasaki, Japan, fall 2007

herons hiroshima japan
Herons on the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, Japan, fall 2007.


In this overall view, the herons are top right, on the flashing at the second ring from the top.

Japan, Nature, Travel

Excellent Hokusai Documentary on Knowledge Network

Just watched Old Man Crazy to Paint on Knowledge Network on the life of Hokusai.

Excellent documentary. Renowned artists and art historians are interviewed on the verge of tears in appreciation of his amazing artistic career, talent, and lifelong dedication.

He completed one of his most famous paintings at the age of 90 just months before he died.

Yumi and I have been fortunate to see some of his works in Tokyo and Washington, DC, and have a book of collected works, but this documentary also uses 8K super high-def video to reveal some his secrets and the incredible detail that makes up his best works.

Astounding.

Nature, Photography, Streamkeeping, Travel

SEHAB site visit to Tsútswecw Provincial Park (Roderick Haig-Brown)

SEHAB site visit to Tsútswecw Provincial Park (Roderick Haig-Brown) today. Thanks to Dave Smith and others for meeting us there and doing a walkabout.

SEHAB is the Salmonid Enhancement and Habitat Advisory Board to Fisheries and Oceans. These volunteers meet three times a year to gather comments and advice from stewardship groups across BC and share them with DFO Regional HQ.

SEHAB site visit to Tsútswecw Provincial Park Roderick Haig-Brown

Photography, Society, Travel

Canada Day at the BC Legislature in Victoria

It was a superb evening for a Canada Day party in Victoria, BC.

The crowd welcomed the First Nations blessing, and the mayor clearly acknowledged the contentious nature of the celebration. There was an impromptu demonstration, and that also went over well.

Here are a few photos:


I was keeping a hand over my lens in the crowd to protect it, and at one point it fogged up, producing a nice effect.


Getting some Beavertails to munch on during the fireworks

Canada Day Victoria BC