My weekend away - Part 1

I know it's been a week since I was in Alberta, but I want to share some of the photos from our visit.
I'm starting with the lovely, if slightly rundown B&B we stayed at near Camrose, Alberta.

 The Haselwood Mill Bed and Breakfast is located at the original site of the Hazelwood Mill which (obviously) was in operation fro 1901-1964.

The house is in need of a coat of paint but was lovely inside.  The bottom level is primarily the owner's home, with one room set aside as a dining area for her guests.

Guests enter up the external stairway to the rooms and access the lower level down a flight of stairs inside.

This was my room.  Isn't it lovely?

To the left behind the door, was the door to the small bathroom, which contained a sink, toilet and shower.

We were so impressed because each of the four rooms had it's own bathroom.  We guessed each of the rooms was a little smaller than it would have been originally but having the private bathroom was such a treat.





This is the Hazelwood Mill building. The current owner has used it in the past as an antique store, but more recently it's been closed and much of the building taken over by the pigeons.

She let us in to see the space. Later R and I talked about what could be done with the space.  We think  that with some work, the building could be turned into more suites. But of course, we don't own it...it's easy to dream when one doesn't have to pay for it.

The original beams might be dusty and show evidence of bird poop, but were in great shape for being 114 years old.

I fell in love with the old wringer washing machine.  It brought back so many memories.  I might have bought it, If only I had a place to put it!
Also on the property is old garage/diner.  The owner told us the previous owners had built it so the husband would have a place to rebuild motorcycles.

It was neat to see the old Texaco gas pump.  I didn't think to check to see what the price of gasoline was but I'm sure it was much less than today.
(No, the pump doesn't work).

Apparently, soon after building the garage, the wife decided to put in a small 50's style diner. It was so popular she expanded...into the space her husband was using for his motorcycle restoration.

I'm not sure where he went then.... I didn't think to ask.

R was really interested in the diner as he has an old train station on his property that he's been pondering how it might be turned into a small cafe.

Did I ever tell you he and his wife ran a B&B on their farm for several years?  They've been far too busy in the past few years with work and children, but R is looking to when he's able to retire.

This was place was so interesting, it even had the old time booths (my photo didn't turn out).  The owner told us she uses it to serve breakfast when the rooms are at capacity.

The following morning R and I were up early; he to go running and me to take a walk.

The house and mill are probably a half mile off the highway.  About half that distance is what must have been the old highway.  I walked out to it and turned right, and followed the old road to where it connected with the new highway about a mile or so away.

The railway tracks run alongside the old road.  I stopped to take a photo. As I was thinking, I wonder if the trains still use this track, I heard a train whistle behind me in the distance...the far distance.

As I walked along the road the sound of the train got closer and I stopped at an opening in the trees to see if I get a photo of it as it passed.I didn't think to count the cars, but it did take a bit of time to pass by.

Just before the main highway was a marsh.  There were lots of birds, but because it had rained the night before the shoulder was muddy and I nearly slipped as I tried to get closer to get a few shots. So I stood back at a safe distance. On his way back from his run, R saw my footprints and realized I'd been there.  (I'm pretty sure we were the only people out wandering about that morning).

Across the highway, the road meandered through the fields.  I walked as far as a curve about 1/4 mile in, but then turned around and headed back.  R went much further, and found the road took him around to the small community of Bittern Lake.

On the way back I stopped to check out the wild roses that grow in the ditches.  They are so pretty and smell just as sweet.

On the way back, I took what I thought might be a another path to the B&B through the bush just to the left of the railway tracks.

This turned out to be not a bright idea.  Because of the rain the night before the ground and grass were soaking wet.  My shoes were soon full of water and I was laughing because not only were my shoes and socks wet but the path was taking me further away from the B&B property.

 Eventually I turned around, and went back the way I'd come.  This is looking towards the mill.

I can imagine in the winter time this road could be impassable.  But it was a lovely place to walk with the wild flowers growing nearby and birds calling from the trees.

I must admit though I was glad to get back to the house so I get out of my wet footwear.  When R arrived about 20 minutes later, we were both laughing because he'd run the same path and was soaking wet too! Good thing we both brought extra shoes.

The owner told us she's had the property up for sale for nearly a year.  I'm not sure how long she's been there on her own, but she did say it's becoming more difficult to manage by herself.  I hope she's able to find someone to take it over, as it's such a lovely place and in a great location.  It's less than hour from Edmonton, but in a peaceful rural setting.  I know I'd be quite happy to stay there again.

Tomorrow, I'll share some of the photos from my brother's birthday.  We had such a wonderful visit!