Just past Medicine Hat on our way to Calgary, we looked up and saw smoke billowing from farmer's fields. At about the same time, local radio was calling for all hands on deck - anyone who could lend a hand to snuff the out of control fire was welcome to try and help. Not having any particular schedule we headed towards the blaze just north of Redcliff.

When we got to the scene, there was actually several different fields on fire as the blaze had spread over several kilometers. There were water trucks with hozes on the scene but they were taxed and spread thin. Therefore the locals were running around batting at small fires with shovels and laying wet tarps over the advancing flames.

Being an expert in firefighting, I started a new tactic - instead of bashing the flames with a shovel I started dug dirt from the field and threw it on the flames. This proved to be quite useful and several locals started incorporating the technique into their fire squelching routines

Eventually we were black from soot and covered in sweat. But there was rejoicing because we had put out one of the sections of fire. Leaving the bigger fires to the professionals, we went for a little swim in the Bow River.

-steve-

Phoenix got contracted to put up a couple meteorological test towers on Banks Island and Porcher Island, off the coast of Prince Rupert between the mainland and the Queen Charlotte Islands. The only reason they got the contract was because they offered to engage in some major cost cutting. One cost saving technique was camping on the island sites without the need of daily helocopter service. So this is what we did. Our 10 day island adventure started with a shopping spree in Prince Rupert to buy camping supplies and food. My Safeway bill was about 6ft long totally $1700. Food is expensive!

Camping on the uninhabited islands was no holiday. The bugs were fierce and the temperature was hot and humid. There is always rain in those parts and the islands were more like swamps than rock. Nevertheless, camping in the wilderness was an adventure and we had many good times. I also got 5 or 6 helocopter rides as they were esential in getting us out to the islands along with our gear and equipment.

-steve-

It's hard to believe the summer has flown by so quickly, but looking back, we have kept ourselves really busy! We took the July long weekend to visit the Columbia Icefields - a truly remarkable experience when you think about the mass of snow and ice that ends up feeding three oceans, and most of Canada's population with water. Somehow Steve convinced me that hiking the lateral morraine of the Athabasca glacier was a good idea. We realized later that we were still in glacial territory and we were lucky that we didn't fall through a hidden crevace. We've done some other hikes as well - trying to get outside and enjoy our amazing summer weather.

After a weekend of playing ultimate frisbee in Ho-Down, the Calgary invitational tournament, both of us could hardly walk. But the picture of Steve laying out ballerina-like was completely worth it. We played 5 games throughout the weekend, and then Steve and I rushed off to play in a flag football tournament later...good exercize to say the least.

And of course, there's always Snap. She's managed to worm her way into our hearts, and it's difficult when she's so cute, to get mad at her for killing my flowers when she sleeps in their pots. Ah. We love her.

-amie-