Asters plus fly

At this time of year, there are Asters growing in the wild everywhere, When I see them, I know that fall is on its way. Today, 3 September 2014, at 9:30 a.m., it is pouring with rain and the temperature is 8C (apparently feels like 4C).

This photo was taken along the Akamina Parkway in Waterton Lakes National Park, on 26 August 2014. Friends, Cathy and Terry, and I, stayed for two nights in Waterton, on 26 and 27 August 2014. This park is about 276 km south of Calgary and roughly a three hour drive. During the time we were there, we explored all four drives in the area: the Akamina Pathway that leads to Cameron Lake; the Red Rock Parkway; the Chief Mountain Highway which takes you up to the US/Canada Customs; and the Bison Paddocks. This was a driving trip, not a hiking trip - which is just as well, as a young woman was attacked by a Cougar on one of the trails, on one of the days!

A few of the things we saw during our three-day trip included fantastic scenery, 4 Black Bears (including one that was swimming in the lake), Bison, Deer (including several that we saw in the village of Waterton, where we stayed the two nights at the clean and friendly Bear Mountain Motel), Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels, Chipmunks, various bird species including the endangered Burrowing Owls (new to all three of us), a few wildflowers, several Yellow-bellied Marmots (a first for me!), a few different insect species, and a family of some species of Grouse (still not sure what kind). I even got the chance to see three or four new-to-me old, wooden grain elevators.