Day 22 Writing in Stone Provincial Park 9th May 2015
I woke up with a start at 8.50am. Brekky ends at 9am. Short story – we did not get to brekky at Knights Inn.
Compounding fact – I seemed to have woken up cranky Mel who is wondering why this happens when the roof is not falling in chicken licken!
We ended up at Freson Bros for brekky again. Me -not in the best frame, Chris – his ever cheery self. What a different place- coconut yoghurt and fruit salad off the shelf + for Chris a cheese sammy heated in their microwave. All was well.
Chris is reading ‘The Happiness Project’ as we travel. He had just read about the categories Gretchen Rubin makes: Satisficers and Maximisers.
This seems to perfectly define him (Satisficer – takes action once their criteria is met) AND me (Maximiser – even if an ideal something is found, keeps looking until every option is examined).
The latter being the reason for my new rule: ‘Find something to eat anywhere’. Oddly this is a book we discovered on our 2012 trip to the USA in the Village bookshop in Bellingham.
Beside us in the Freson café was a young boy decorating a cake for his “Mom” for Mother’s day – fluoro kind of icing. Got talking to the woman decorating the cakes – this young boy comes every year. Beside the table was a pile of cakes covered in white icing waiting for young enthusiastic decorators.
On asking her how we get to Taber ( a landmark for us on the way to Writing in Stone) she said “Go down to Cassils Rd turn right. Go down to the Stop sign turn left and keep going to Taber. Yep endless prairie straight road later we were at Writing in Stone.
Now this park –Writing on Stone is Hoodoo Heaven.
Unfortunately we are one week too early for everything helpful. Like guided tours. Still we found printed guides to help us, and found the start of the guided track.
With the river on one side we climbed up amongst the Hoodoos. Between them we caught glimpses of the rest of the valley and the river below.
It felt very peaceful and strangely spiritual.
The walk wound through the Hoodoos. Surprisingly some of the vegetation was green and lush.
Although one of the major attractions is First Nation petroglyphs they were faint and probably would have benefited from interpretive guidance. The most famous is the Battle Scene.
The first surprise was that I think we both assumed this Petroglyph was ancient and that it would be kind of clear like the diagrem. No it was post European settlement – dated late 1800’s. The second surprise was that is could hardly be seen.
Chris noted that “in all cases the “dick brigade” was evident with scrawled initials over it-don’t get it!!!. But from our perspective the walk was so varied that the petroglyphs lost importance.”
Ambling back on my own while, Chris tramped off on a photography safari, I spoke to a woman who asked what I thought of the Battle Scene.
Beyond herself with excitement, panting with exertion and sweat rivulets down her face, despite appearing it was beyond her she had walked to see the Petroglyph.
Once we reached the Battle Scene we turned to head back. Chris went on ahead to take photographs and I dawdled along enjoying the scenery, chattting with people on the trail, and viewing wild life and scenes through the binoculars.
I got back to the car – no Chris – left Hansel and Gretel signs about where I was, and headed down to the river. Dangled my hot feet in the freezing cold river. Back to the car – still no Chris. Retraced trail and met Dad with his daughter who had seen Chris.
Chris arrived describing his near-death experience a snake on his path – we had been warned about Rattle Snakes. I was too consumed with thinking something had happened – but hadn’t – too pay attention till later.
The late afternoon light was beautiful and at the lookout above we were joined by an older man grey-white long beard and camera with blinkers.
He commented on the beautiful light, the best view of the mountains in Montana from Milk River highway and we could only second everything he said.
Peaceful and beautiful not all able to be captured on film.
While landscapes were being captured on film
I spent time scanning the prairies!
Stayed the night in nearby Milk River – this was the place I learned a valuable lesson. On our way to the park I raced in and booked. Did not ask, thinking small town, simple place = not expensive. Booked and paid and found it over $100. Lesson – always ask the rate, and check before you go it might be cheaper online.
