Exploring blog with the White Turtle. Exploring can be a single day trip or multi day trips to many locations. Tag along as I head out in the White Turtle to in search of amazing images. I exploring our great country and taking pictures at the same time is GREAT!!!
I have had an E bike for a number of years. Really I did not want one, but with a lung issue I was forced to get one to keep riding.
I have always loved bike riding and before I got sick I would ride several hundred kilometers a week for fun. When I got sick riding was a big no. I could ride but the problem was that if I hit a little hill or got caught with a head wind I was in trouble. Then one day I spotted an E bike that I loved. I got in my car and chased the rider down. That afternoon I drove to Medicine Hat and bought one at Cyclepath. They were the only bike shop in southern Alberta that sold E bikes at the time.
After a ride
E bikes are not cheap!
They are not a cheap investment!! Compared to a regular bike that most people ride they are a huge investment. If you are an avid bike rider and this is your only chance to stay on the road it is worth it. I am not a huge fan on motorcycles so that was not on the list. I really only wanted a bike for around town and maybe a few trips around Lethbridge each year. But after buying the E bike I have found a lot of other uses. At a campground you can use them to run to the office or a nearby grocery store. When visiting a smaller community you can explore the community without a lot of traffic issues or parking problems.
I was in Waterton on the hunt for some birds. So far the day was pretty productive but there was still a lot of daylight remaining and I wanted to get some more pictures. I decided that I would stop at one of my favorite spots. Maskinonge is located just outside the Waterton Park gates and I find a lot of birds pass through here. I parked my van the White Turtle II in my favorite spot. I came across the usual birds as soon as I arrived, a mix of song birds, a Heron, a couple Trumpeter swans and a number of ducks.
Trumpeter Swans
The hunter becomes the hunted
I was enjoying taking their pictures but the birds seemed nervous. I spotted a couple hawks and an eagle across the lake and even they seemed nervous. Then the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I heard a noise a ways away, but close enough that I turned towards the noise. It was like I was being watched. I reached down to make sure that the pepper spray was still on my belt and wondered if I needed it if it would still work. I looked around but could not see anything but I felt it, then I spotted it.
Hidden on the ground behind some trees it could survey the entire lake. It was not close enough to pounce on me but it wasn’t that far away. I tried to get a better angle to get a picture but it was well hidden in the trees. I did not want to approach to close as the closer I got the worse the angle would be to get a picture. Also the closer I got the more chance that I would get injured should it get spooked.
A good perch for the hunt!
I finally found a spot that I was in the open but a ways away. I watched it for a while but it did not seem like it was in any hurry. By its size I could only imagine what it was like when dinosaurs roamed this area. It was HUGE!!!! I also realized what it must have been like to be hunted by a Pterodactyl.
After watching it for several minutes I figured that it must be asleep as it had not moved since i spotted it. I then took some pictures of the birds in the area that were also confused by this massive invader in their wetlands. They would go about their routine but they were keeping a close eye on it.
It moves!!
After about 20 minutes of photographing the birds I heard another noise. It was getting ready to move. Before I could turn my body it was starting to rise behind the trees. Then without warning it put it’s nose down and started coming towards me. I had fortunately left enough space so that I had time to react. I swung my camera around and grabbed a few shots, not even thinking about the bear spay on my belt.
Before I knew it it was looming over me. As it went past I noticed that all the birds in the area were taking off and seeking cover. It headed west towards the river then it turned to the north. As fast as all that happened it was again quiet. The lake was now empty of birds but it would only be a short time till they came out from hiding and flew back from their hiding places.
I survived
Well they say that any time you survive an adventure it is a good one. I had survived!! I realized that I was now getting hungry and it was getting late so I decided that I would head to the campground for supper. A good day it was, a number of great images and an experience that I have not had in Waterton before!!
I wanted to add some extra airflow and a screen door seemed to be the best option. For me there is nothing better than sitting on a screened in porch to enjoy the late evening light or the early morning light without worrying about mosquitoes. Now I can lay in bed and enjoy the scenery and no bugs.
I want to do a screen for the side door but have been putting it off till I figure out what I am doing with the layout of the van. A back screen seemed like a great idea. I can say the view is second to none while laying in bed. Plus when the heat of the day gives way to cool evening breezes the van cools off REALLY fast!!
My lawn chair and the back door screen
I priced out having this made locally but the company that I had quote from was not overly encouraging, nor were they cheap. I thought of having my wife sew it. But I knew I would tweak it and she would not be happy to make the changes. So I went REALLY hi-tech and bought some high quality screen, some Velcro and a roll of duct tape. After about an hour of design and tweaking I had my screen. I am thinking of some adjustments but so far it performs 100%.
Velcro grabs on the carpet that I put under the bed to stop the mattress from slidingCan stay in place when the doors are closed
The only time I think I will remove it is in the winter. I want to get a insulated blanket done for the back and the side door. Once I have the insulated blanket I think I will take the screen out. I can use the screen to make a pattern for the blanket.
I also have made a canopy that goes over the back doors when they are open. Now I can leave the doors open in the rain. Another luxury of the White Turtle III.
What you see when you slow down!! I was out for a walk the other night at Belly River Campground in Waterton Lakes National Park. I have to walk slowly with my lung condition and this night was no different with the heat and humidity. As I stopped to catch my breath I could hear something in the tree beside me. It was a gentle noise like a light breeze but I could hear something in the tree. I stood still for a minute then this little guy appeared in front of my face, He had been checking me out as I stood there and had decided that I was no danger. Probably because of my wheezing he figured he could outrun me 🙂 🙂 . So he continued with his feeding. I was able to shoot a pile of images, the only thing that caused me to stop shooting was the horde of mosquitoes that showed up and the fact I left the bug spray in the van.
So the next time you are out shooting, don’t be in a rush. Slow down and see all the things that you would miss if you were rushing past.
I gave in and got a window!! I was not going to but after seeing these great windows that Wilderness Vans got in I had to get at least one!
In the past I have had RV’s with those cheap sliding windows that let more air in then they keep out. But this window is one piece and dual pane so it is VERY quiet!! Plus it does not let in any air when driving or parked. When I first got into the van after getting it installed other than the fact I could now see out I did not even notice that the window was there.
Closed with the bug screen
With the blind closed
Open so you can pass things through. Great for eating or cooking outside
Open from the outside
Add to that the fact they are VERY functional and getting one was a easy decision. I love the built in blind and screen as well. They are really tinted so even without the blind closed there is a lot of privacy.
An additional benefit is that I could buy them locally and they even installed it. I took the van in on my way to work and by the time I was ready to go home it was done.
A few weeks ago I could not believe how well things came together with the radio in the van. Some days things work out amazing and this was a major blessing and saved me some time and money as well.
When I am out shooting I like to have a radio to stay up to date on happenings as well as with the weather. Like most vehicles the radio in the Transit (White Turtle III) shuts off after about 15 minutes. A design that for most vehicles is great as it stops the battery from being drained. In a RV type vehicle it is nice to be able to listen a little longer. I did a pile of research on this and the only thing that I found to do was to run a power line to the radio that would power it after the key was off and after the 15 minute timer passed. I had been turning the key on and off to reset the timer every 15 minutes but this was a PAIN!!!!
Then a couple weeks ago my son and I were on the way to Calgary to get some supplies and we stopped for the night. For some reason after listening to the radio past the 15 minutes I pushed the power button and on it came again. That was weird!!! Tried it again and again and it worked each time.
I have looked up if anyone else knew about this but it seems even with it being there nobody knew about it.
So this discovery saved me some work and some money. PERFECT!!!!
