Pick up Sophie Day!

It's a special day today!  We pick up our beautiful kiddo from Whiterock.  On our way to Malta, we spotted a young cow walking along the wrong side of the fence.  We don't have phone access and wasn't even sure if we were supposed to report this or where.  Worried about the young cow, going on an adventure where she shouldn't, I stopped at a random farmer's house to inquire and let him know about the cow on the loose.  He was very thankful and said he would make a few calls to find out who's cow it was - maybe even his.  Next time, I now know to look for the milage marker so they know where to look and possibly which farmer to call.  Lesson learned! On our merry way we went, me feeling better that I reported the missing cow.  

These cows know how to
take advantage of a little shade! 

We decided to take  the back roads to get to where Sophie was so we might get to see something different.  We saw a gazillion birds - Sophie says horned larks and... I forget.  They are not the brightest whatever they are!  We probably hit a few of them.  We also killed at least a trillion grasshoppers too.  On our way, we saw a huge male buffalo.  Those beasts are so big!  Glad there was a fence to keep him off the road! They are wild roaming.  We didn't see much else interesting.  Oh!  We were "stuck" in a couple of cow jams!  Not in a rush to get out of the way! Those calves are just the cutest things around! 

We arrived no problem at Whiterock, where Sophie's team was stationed.  Met a few people and off we went.  Sophie had planned two stops for us:  Fourchette Bay and Zortman.

Fourchette Bay is an exceptionally beautiful place!  It's a "man made" reservoir - used to be a river, put a damn and voilà!  It's surrounded by huge mounds - I don't know what else to call them - it's just gorgeous.  Pictures never make it justice that's for sure.  Close by, when you are almost there, there is an osprey nest - right at eye level!  SOOOO neat to see!  You never see it at that vantage point.  It contained a young nearly ready to fledge. (pictures are on my camera in the car) 

Look! I found a
fossilized bear! 

The point of coming here, was to go fossil hunting.  We found quite a few fossils - I, of course, can't remember the name of any of them.  It was a neat experience.

After our fossil excursion, Sophie wanted to take us to Zortman - an extremely small place - it literally has one house, one store and one jail 😂 When you opened the door, it's a very small room -maybe 4x4 with nothing in it.  Would be a boring time! 

Such a small place why did we bother going? Sophie wanted to visit the little store one last time.  I  think Sophie loved this place -some of her favourite colleagues lived here and so it holds a special place in her heart.  We were happy to stop by so they could get a t-shirt.

We had dinner in Malta - at Joe's in and out.  Wasn't anything amazing but the ice cream!  Oh my!  I had apple pie flavoured ice cream and cheesecake bits (sort of like a blizzard but better).  It was delicious! 

All in all, a good day! 

Road kill: good day!  only a couple little things and little birds.

Farm animals: Cows, horses and goats

Wild animals: bison, mule deer, white tailed deer and pronghorn

Birds: harriers, kingbird, shore birds, tern, pelican, western meadowlark, sage grouse, barn swallows, gulls, great blue heron, not identified bird of prey - maybe an eagle?, night hawk, kill deer, crow/raven, mourning dove, and others I can't identify.

Wind swept prairie sunflower

Sunset starting

sunset over Nelson Reservoir