Vancouver

While we are in Canada, we want to try to get to see as much of the country as possible.  We got to check off Vancouver (twice) since being here.

Our first trip there (Easter) we stopped at a famous suspension bridge.  It was typical spring weather for the area.. rainy.

When we returned in July (with friends) we biked around Stanley Park and kept going along the waterfront all the way to kipsilano beach.

It was a long trip and the girls were done by the end... they made sure to let me know.

We spent all day at Grouse Mountain (in north Vancouver) walking on eco-tours and seeing the sights including this grizzly... don't worry it was a pet bear that is kept behind some chicken wire fence.

The girls took a chair lift all the way to the top of the mountain.. while the guys hiked it. 

We took advantage of eating out and dressing up while we weren't in Fort McMurray.

 

We also took advantage of Sharon's pregnancy and made her Captain DD for the evenings out.

Softball

A great social sport we joined was softball.  Not the most exciting sport, but we can have a beer in our hand the entire time except when batting.  It is a coed league and the only reason I got to play was because they needed a girl and I convinced the team that we were a twofer.  We met some good friends and it was fun to play after work.

Team name was the SERPENTS, named after the SER (Sulfur Emission Reduction) Project we all work on.

 Sharon turned out to be the backbone of the team.  As long as Sharon was playing... we were winning.

 Actually, by the end of the game we were pretty drunk and couldn't remember the score.. We were all winners!

Banff vacation

In June we traveled to Banff and Lake Louise (8 hour drive from Fort Mcmurray) to meet our family and friends (Steve and Janice).  We went on some amazing hikes such as tunnel mountain, hoodoos trail, and the six glaciers.  By the end of the day we were ready for the hot tub.  It was a great time and we cant wait to go back.

 

The park service warned everyone about the grizzly bears and to be careful.  While the bear bells are ~75-80% effective, bear mace is actually ~95% effective for scaring away the bears.  We didn't carry either... but Sharon made sure she would scare them away ( woa bear... woa).  They say to make your self look as big as possible and yell.  Then if they do attack, lay down and play dead.  Don't run.  Actually many work friends tell me to always hike with someone slower than you... that way when a bear attacks, they will get them.. not you.

An added bonus to the trip was the famous bulldog that skateboards (as seen on Youtube).  I have to say.. he was pretty good.  Grover could learn a thing or two from this guy.

 Lake Louise was amazing.  It was the longest hike we did (~8 miles roundtrip) and after a ~7 mile hike (Hoodoos trail) we completed in the morning.  It was well worth the hike to the top.  At the top, there is a teahouse that everyone says we must stop at.  The lemonade was to die for... if you like countrytime brand (inside joke).

Once we were close to the top, we started walking across snow (in June!).  I was pretty thirsty so I melted some in my mouth.  Not bad, except for the dirt taste that was left in my mouth for the rest of the hike.

This is the end of the hike.  A view of one of the glaciers and Sid and Steve are in the background.  While we were up here, we heard snow falling from the cliffs above..... we didn't stay too long before turning back.

  We did get to see a waterfall at the end as well.  The water tasted a little better than the snow.

The guys decided to race back the entire length of the trail so I got this shot of Lake Louise on the way back.  It's a little blurry because I was running when I took the picture (It was a race!).  The water was actually blue-green color.

Highway of Death

The only road that leads to Fort McMurray from civilization is Highway 63 (from Edmonton).  Many of the locals call it 'Highway of Death' because of the fatalities.  It is a one lane road with a speed limit of 100 kmh (~70mph).  We saw a truck pass us doing about 150 kmh on a solid line and managed to just miss a mac truck.  They were pulled over by the only RCMP I have ever seen on the road.  4.5 hours to get to Edmonton.

Tar Sands work site

Not the best environment to be working in (pictures taken from highway).  Once the temperature reaches -55C, construction stops and workers will go back to camp until the next day.  As long as temperature stays above -55C, work is on and believe it or not, the Canadians prefer working in this weather condition rather than 30C.  Not the cleanest air either but this was expected.

 Sharon's work site on the other hand is pretty posh... and she has her own desk!

Skiing

Who would have thought that there was a ski hill in Fort McMurray.  Only 5 trails but better than nothing.  We went in February so it was pretty cold (about -20C).  After about 3-4 runs, we had to go to the lodge to warm up. 

Early on

We were without furniture and all our belonging for about 2 weeks after we arrived so we read more books than we had the previous 2 years.  We frequented the Fort McMurray library about every other day until the TV arrived... then back to normal.

Once our dishes arrived, we also have been cooking more than ever.  The food in town is generally over priced and not much better than we can cook at home.  

The start

We arrived on January 25, 2010.  Its taken over 6 months to finally start the blog but better late then never.  Expecting a new addition to the Clark family has given us extra inspiration to start the blog so we can share the pregnancy experiences with family and friends.

The picture shown is where we are living.  Not exactly the tepee that everyone was expecting but a newly constructed townhome.  I was told that a garage is a must as the winter is brutal.  I decided to trust the locals despite the extra cost to have a garage.  I realized this was a smart move a day after we arrived.