ANOTHER UNBELIEVABLE TREK

          A trading post was established in about 1795 where Edmonton , Alberta is today. It was an excellent fur trading area as it was rich in what they wanted -fur. 

         However, since the furs were wanted in Europe there had to be a transportation system to take the fur to a port which was Ft. Churchill , Manitoba which is in the west side of Hudson Bay. 

       So, in 1795 , how do you get from Edmonton , Alberta to Ft. Churchill? Why canoes! Canoes will take all your furs to the nearest port. 

      For part of the years from 1795 to 1910 a yearly system was followed. 

     Some aboriginal bands wintered around the Rocky Mountain House area of Alberta. The men would travel to Edmonton in March or April. Here they would spend time building canoes. When the river became ice free they would start the trip to Ft Churchill. They would follow the North Saskatchewan river to Lake Winnipeg and then on to Churchill. This trip was all down stream.

     Then they would load up with trade goods at Ft Churchill and begin the trip back to Edmonton against the current. 

     In mid to late August they had got as far as Battleford Saskatchewan. Just past Battleford they left the river. The women and children had walked across Alberta and were waiting for them at an arranged place. Then the whole group slowly walked across Alberta to Rocky Mountain House where they would spend the winter. Some bison usually overwintered in that area so hunting was good. 

       So this was a trek that took most of the year. 

      Again one has to admire the stamina that this group had to make the round trip.

      Again, I'm sorry that I can't find a map for this trip. 

SOME HISTORY IS RECENT

     Yesterday I told you of my interest in family  and local history. However, my real passion is for Western Canadian history. I read every book I can find on Western Canadian history. 

     I wrote about the family farm I grew up on. Running across some of that land was the Carlton Trail. This trail and a number of others that connected to it ran from Winnipeg , Manitoba to Edmonton Alberta a distance of about 900 mi or 1450 km. When I was a kid in the 40's and 50's you could still see the ruts from this trail. I still know where to find some evidence of the trail. 

     The transportation system using the trail started in the 1870's . There were no railroads so supplies and trading goods were hauled from Winnipeg to Edmonton by ox cart. Each cart carried about 1000 lb and was pulled by one ox. The cart was made completely of wood and hide. 

      Western Canada was basically empty at the time. There were a few bands of first nations who roamed the area looking for buffalo. There were a few  traders. There was the odd farm.  There were no railroads and very little farming had been developed. Farm products were consumed locally as there was not transportation to send it to a place to sell it. . Local flour mills milled flour. 

      The oxcarts started at Winnipeg in the spring heading to Edmonton. Usually one man had several oxcarts. Oxen were used as they didn't need grain whereas horses needed grain. Too much grain would have to be hauled in place of freight. The men made and ate bannock and salt pork. Some game was taken and some wild berries were also available. Pemmican was also used for food. 

     So finally all the oxcarts got to Edmonton. So did they turn their oxcarts around and go back to Winnipeg? No way. The oxen were left at Edmonton to be used for beef. The ox cart drivers walked back to Winnipeg. 

     All this seems hard to believe. The men were tough...very very tough.

     So I like learning about the developments in Western Canada which wasn't that long ago. 

    My ancestors came here in 1905. There were railroads but none where they settled. 

VISIT

            I had a pleasant visit with one of my brothers today. It doesn't take long before the topic of conversation changes to family history or local history. 

           My three brothers still live and farm where we were born so they've lived in one location for  long time. 

           Many , many changes have taken place. The local district was about 4 by four miles. When the original homesteaders arrived early in the last century there were approximately 23 families. So there were 23 farmsteads and families. 

         Today there are 2 farmsteads in that area where at one time there were 23 farmsteads so we have much to talk about. My nephews live on the 2 farmsteads that are occupied. We're all interested in who lived there. 

        Local histories have been written but that does not cover all the people who lived in the area. So off we go trying to make some connections and sense of what we know. 

      One wonders about the people who lived there. Where did they come from? Most people in the area came from Ontario. Hw long did they stay in the area? What made them leave? A walk through the cemetery brings up more questions. Some families lost one member and then moved on . The grave has been left and the memories are gone. 

     Now we may not discover much new information. We did think about going over some of the old farmyards with a metal detector!

   It made for a pleasant visit. 

         

ANOTHER LESSON BY THE VACUUM CLEANER

       Today that darn vacuum cleaner played another nasty trick on me.

       I have a couple of pairs of black socks. Quite often there are quite a few white particles on them. The white particles are probably from dry skin .

      Well, today I decided to clean some of the white dust off the socks before I washed them. I thought this would be a quick and easy job. Little did I know that the vacuum cleaner had other ideas. I have a central vacuum system which works well.

     So I was kneeling on the floor vacuuming the socks. I guess I was trying to move the sock in a different position and left it on the floor for a split second. In the split second the sock disappeared. The normal reaction is to turn the vacuum off as soon as possible. 

     Now this has happened before so I take a four ft. handle from a paint roller and shake it down the hose. If the sock is in the hose the handle will push it out. So I went through the process and no sock appeared. So I'm hoping the sock isn't stuck in the line someplace and will block the line.

     So downstairs and look in the vacuum canister and there was my sock in a much worse condition than before.

    So the next time I vacuum socks I will have them tied down so they don't blow away on me!

COLD PHOTOS!

     Yesterday I was talking out loud to myself about some photos for today. Some of you heard me and said you were looking forward to some photos. So what can I do even if it's still very cold. Why of course , take some photos.

     So here are some out of focus, poorly composed photos of cold.

                  A minus 28 C sunset

                 A very white and cold city park

                  Very bright new snow

                  Pile of snow from snow removal

                  Lots of vapor coming from chimneys. Houses are heated with gas and when the furnace runs water vapor used in the burning is vented. As a result our houses are very dry in winter unless we have a humidifier.

                 Using the vapor pattern I know the direction of the wind , approximate wind speed and air pressure. 

                 Cold western sky

                  Bright early morning sunlight on houses across the street

                  Sun rise 

       At 11:25 it was minus 25 C and felt like minus 39 C. The wind was 28 kmh gusting to 39

      At 2:00 Pm it was minus 24 with a wind of 25 kmh and gusting to 42.

     So it was cold out there. My camera froze up and it wouldn't focus any more.

IT'S COLD!

          We are in another nasty cold spell. It's not record breaking cold just good old fashioned cold. Now at 8:30 PM it's minus 28 C (minus 18 F). We are looking at a low of minus 33 C. 

         We have two more days of very cold and then some warmer weather for a few days. Then it gets cold again. 

        There's been some snow with the cold so I've been outside shoveling. It's not too bad to be outside if you have the proper clothing on. 

        It's been mostly clear so I'm going to get out tomorrow for a few photos. 

WHY DO SOME OPPOSITES ATTRACT OPPOSITES?

     I'm sure that reading between the lines on this blog you can tell that the Micro Manager and I are quite opposite. With the posts on downsizing it's very obvious that we are opposites. One reader left a comment in jest  that "a war was developing between Red the Declutterer and Jean the Hoarder". One of us was very busy finding things to "decorate" the house. There are enough "things" to decorate a few houses. I know that she had a great time collecting items and displaying them . She bought very few things in a store. I sometimes ask her "Where did you get that thing?"  She always knows. Many things were picked up on garage sales or were given. The mother in law gave us many paintings. There are probably 20 of these creations in the house. The Micro Manager liked paint by number. She also liked the needle work patterns. She also took a ceramics course and produced quite a few creations to hang in a wall. 

     Then I also noticed a pattern in a few comments where it was obvious the spouses were in opposite corners of he downsizing issue. It was interesting that many different compromises were made. And then thee are the people who know they should be downsizing but just can't get started. 

     The room with thirteen things on the wall is now down to two. 

     When I went out with the Micro Manager I recognized that she was opposite to me in quite a few areas. I thought it would complement our relationship . However , when it comes to down sizing we've spent quite a bit of time discussing. However, I don't think that Mr. Pudding is right that we are in any kind of war. A siege maybe, but not a fight. 

    the bear painting is from the Mother in Law

The hands are from the ceramics course

The swans are from a paint by number kit.