August 30 -

The fire outside Cranbrook seemed to intensify last night, sending new billows of smoke up as I watched from the motel. The sun appeared this morning about 8 am, orangey red through the smoke that covers the area. I'm glad I passed that section of the highway yesterday; the road ahead seems clear.

Met an elderly man out walking this morning who stopped to pet Jessie and say "hello". And met Donna, a young woman who is having tests to determine whether she has a brain tumour or the beginning of MS. Not a great choice. I hold her and the firefighters in prayer today.

Not far down the road from my motel I found there are some nice campsites! But then I wouldn't have met Donna.

The Rockies are a feast for the senses. At one of the rest stops/viewpoints, I met Tomo, a young woman on a purple motorcycle. Of course, we had to chat! She is also exploring Canada. We took mutual pictures.

I wonder what the early explorers thought when they caught their first glimpse of the Rockies! I think I would have turned around and gone back home! It's amazing that they went on...without roads, without supermarkets or tourist bureaus!

I've seen mountain goats, deer, elk, lots of squirrels who scolded Jessie. One doe and two young ones blended into the grass so well I almost missed them. It's easier to stay focused without radio or tapes playing. What does the Creator want me to see here? What does she want me to hear?

Passed a house with plywood cutouts of the mountains in it's front yard. I wonder if the person who lives there ever looked out their back door....where the real thing sits!

Coming through the fire sections today I noticed many trees infected with the pine mountain beetle. Hopefully the fires will at least diminish that threat to the future forest. At one of the info centres the woman said they are seeking a natural preditor for the beetle...one which won't become harmful to the environment in some other way.

I also noticed coming through the fire zone that some trees are still green, like the fire just went around them. But large areas are black with all vegetation burnt. In some areas, the fire jumped across the three lanes of highway.