Pierre Berton’s Arctic Grail was one of my favorite reads on early exploration in the Arctic.

Now one McClure's ships has been found. They were in search of Franklin's  expedition and discovered the west entrance to the Northwest passage.

  For the full story of the crew’s struggle to survive pick up Berton's book

The Arctic Grail
The Quest for the North West Passage and the North Pole, 1818-1909
and check out link below.

This is what the daughter call her new Cervello bike as light weight and does not feel the bumps as previous one....

Last Friday off to another appointment and x-rays with my surgeon at the hospital with hopes that it would have been my final one....however need to check in every 6-8 weeks, not monthly. At times I am using only one crutch so know there is improvement as it has been over three months since the accident.

The best news though has greatly increased my mobility ( with permission of course ) is the freedom of cycling....went down Mill Creek paths one evening and rode over to church on Sunday night, seen here with some of the other members of our centering prayer group.

The rain or thunderstorms have decreased in frequency ( two weeks ago had a wet basement ) Now I love being outdoors even if spent a good part of the weekend battling weeds.

Some shots from the yard...

By my backyard rain barrel tangle of flowers and ripening Nanking cherries

New photos are from this past weekend....top one only about 1-2 inches across....  on way back to Edmonton on Sunday went on a park trail in Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation on Lesser Slave lake.

Heard lots of bird sounds but this small butterfly and flower just a trail head

....the other background shot are fields of ripening canola....love how I captured this shot as I was driving... note the car following.

Saturday July 17 a 3 hr drive north of Edmonton to Slave Lake where Amelia was to compete in a triathlon.

The lake is large with great sandy beaches and a sand castle contest in progress...

Amelia did the Olympic distance (Swim 1500 m, bike 40 km, run 10 km ) and is setting up but showing me

The new boy in her life takes lots of photos and captured him here doing so

This one is mine and LOVE this photo of Amelia warming up for her swim.

First in from her group, Lesser Slave lake is long and shallow, Amelia is running and loosening wet suit

Run up the stairs and check off her number

Drove my car to catch her at various points A bit of rain but held off...

Dogs tied up and waiting at back of car

RCMP directing traffic ...note the water bottle near front fender

...last year was in newest of Canada's Parks, Katannilik Park, Kimmirut Baffin Island watching foot and children's boat races, drinking tea and eating boiled seal

meat.

Today we are heading north three hours as Amelia has a race but I hope to spend some time in

Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park

Latitude:

55.5042005567

Longitude:

-115.566794114

My brother Don Patterson is cycling x-c fundraising for the Y's. I acted as pilot car for one leg in central Alberta leaving the city at 5:30 AM Edmonton Alberta to meet up in Killiam for his ride to Provost & beyond to Saskatchewan

In the city for a wedding Don and Debi managed a quick coffee on my front porch Sunday morning.

as I waited for the two riders   with pit stops for water and gatorade and snack bars.

Finishing at about 12:30 PM between Czar and Provost Don would continue for his second 100 KMs on his own to spend the night in Unity Sask.

Jim and I drove back to Killiam to pick up Jim's car and I did some visiting in Camrose.

  Blogging topics for the most part I am sure most of my odd followers must only think are dogs and flowers…so

This is just some random writing on a morning when I am awake early but not heading off to work as I have been doing for the past week.

At the point in my recovery where I wish I could just hop up and get a morning cup of coffee but then realizing once again crutches and the leg.

Working at the hospital full days for the last week or so has been a point of transition, but also a confirmation that I am not ready to plunge back in. Not only the mobility issues but also fatigue at the end of the day. September is my goal and probably more realistic. Between now and then have booked some days of casual coverage late July and late August.

Have been doing coverage at the Geriatric Assessment Unit, a rehab unit for seniors, and reminded me of my own rehab unit in Ottawa, thinking I will probably end up being  a cranky old lady who wants to maintain my independence.

Chuckled when I read in one chart a comment on a patient who refused further cardiac tests “ I am 96 and I don’t have to take any more!”

Other events on the home front have included the arrival of my daughter Amelia for 6 weeks from Montreal. Think she is not totally enamored with Edmonton as she is a bit of a world traveler and west coast girl, but to have a queen-sized bed, opportunities to bike and swim ( outdoor Mill Creek pool with my group ), probably working at a triathlon store and spend time with a certain young man, have been the draws. From this end though I have certainly appreciated her being here and glad I will be off this summer to enjoy some of that time.

Also have caught up with my brother Don at United Cycle, who has made it this far in his cross country bike ride fund raising for under privileged kids in the Ys. Check out the latest post "Alberta Skies" and also the new page at the top "Y Stories" http://www.ykids.blog.com

On one leg Amelia and her cousins did some riding together with him on the prairies,

So back to dogs and flowers. Ran into this lady who was walking four dogs in the ravine along my two made quite a tangle. There have been frequent thunderstorms this week, which along with the booms of fireworks cause Dysis to get concerned and want to find her people.

After the rain the smells are earthy and fresh, these white flowers are Labrador tea and here is a close up of a wild rose bud with raindrops. Also Alberta’s official flower.