YogaDance Class at Kingfisher Hall near Mabel Lake

Early last Saturday morning, I attended my first YogaDance class at the Kingfisher Hall near Mabel Lake offered by my yoga instructor Alison of Yoga North. It was a bright and sunny morning so we had the class outside behind the hall. A great group of ladies, we danced, opened our chakras and had great fun. I was able to grab a few pics but I didn't manage to get any of the dancing as I was far to busy dancing and having a great time, myself!

Alison sitting on bench at Kingfisher Hall

Sitting out in the sun in Anjali Mudra.

A stretch after dancing.

Alison of Yoga North

It was also my first time at the Kingfisher Community Hall. What a beautiful building. It has been recently renovated and is a great event and function space. It is a moments drive from the Mabel Lake community and  is across the road from the Shuswap River.

Kingfisher Hall welcome sign.

Front of the Kingfisher Hall

View of the side of the Kingfisher Hall and the school behind it.

The new stage at Kingfisher Hall.

I will be visiting the area again soon. There are always numerous events happening at the hall and visitors are welcome. 

Have you been to the Kingfisher Hall?Leave a comment or opinion below.

Blogger's Awards: Why YOU Should Apply

This is a guest post by Murray Newlands for the Blogger's Awards

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Blogger's Awards: Why YOU Should Apply

There are actually tons of excellent bloggers and publishers doing very good work, and those who stand out deserve to have their work recognized, connect with each other, and see their readerships grow. That’s why the World Media Awards exist- to recognize and reward great contributions to media from bloggers and publishers.

In my own career, I’ve learned and benefited so much from others that I wanted to help build some way to give back to an industry I love show appreciation to the up-and-coming leaders. The World Media Awards will culminate in a 1 day event in San Francisco that will celebrate the best in blogging, forums, publishing and media from around the world.

So if you are a first class blogger, why should you enter?

1. 1. Get Recognized- You Deserve It :)

You put a lot of work into making your blog remarkable. You understand it and your readers know it. The World Media Awards is a way for you to get authoritative credit from other bloggers and industry experts. That recognition will help you build your readership, make new collaborative connections, and hopefully have a few warm fuzzy moments that make all the late nights even more worthwhile.

1. 2. Meet Other Bloggers Who Care

Blogging, forums and most other online media is about conversation and interaction, but sometimes it’s easy to end up hiding away behind a screen in your office or home all alone. Meeting other bloggers and publishers keeps the fire lit and the conversation going. When you enter the World Media Awards, you’ll be listed alongside other bloggers and publishers who put the same level of satisfaction, attention and work into making their blog great.

1. 3. Expose Yourself to New Partners

If your blog or forum is part of your organization, being part of the World Media Awards will increase your exposure by putting your name in front of the thousands of visitors to our site and the award ceremony. That means you can find out who else is doing great work, strut your own stuff, and expand your network of contacts and collaborators.

1. 4. Make Yourself Irresistible to Clients

What helps your chances at winning that next pitch more than growing your network? Telling that network that you are the winner of a World Media Award. Winning an award shines a light on your achievements, and it serves as an example of the commitment, engagement and exacting standards you apply to your work.

1. 5. Be Part of the Beginning of Something Big

Because 2012 is the first year for these awards, you have the one-time opportunity to be the inaugural winner and set the standard for the World Media Awards in your category. Getting in on the ground floor of these awards will open opportunities for you as a blogger and a publisher.

The bottom line is, the World Media Awards will shine a spotlight on the year’s most successful bloggers and publishers, and on the businesses that serve and interact with them.

Now is your chance to be one of them.

The sponsors include Growmap, Pace Lattin, VigLink and Trancos.

World Media Award judges include Steve Hall, Sarah Austin, Chang Kim, Julie Wohlberg, Pierre Zarokian, Ivka Adam, Cheryl Contee, Krystyl Baldwin, Adrian Harris, Jeremy Wright, Rob Bloggeries, Dave Duarte, Tanya Alvarez, Dana Oshiro, Tom Foremski, and Judith Lewis. hashtag #wmads on Twitter.

Media partners include Adrants, Bloggeries, MediaVision, The Affiliate Marketing Awards, Read Write Web, My Blog Guest, Web Traffic Control and FeedBlitz.

Murray Newlands is author of How to Make a Blog Book and Online Marketing; a User Guide. He is also founder of the Affiliate Marketing Awards. Born in the UK, he now spends his time in San Francisco and New York. Murray works for Audience Mindshare and consults for Trancos Ins as well as being an advisor for VigLink. Actually he is working on his new book: The Email Marketing Book.

Radium Hot Springs & Invermere

I am definitely behind in my blogging, especially since we haven't done much this summer that hasn't involved renoing the house. My goal is to be much more on top of things by mid-fall, but only time will tell.

My daughter and I took a short trip to Radium Hot Springs to stay with some good friends who had rented a cottage. First I must point out that this two-level, two suite "cottage" was incredible. Very modern with every convenience. There are truly some amazing accommodations in Radium. Second, I meant to take a whole lot more pictures, but I was so busy having fun, I only got a handful.

We arrived Thursday afternoon and left early Sunday morning. In that time we went to the actual hot springs three times. The prices we quite affordable. We went once Thursday evening about supper time (which was a great time as it was pretty empty) and twice on Saturday with their "All Day Pass". We went in the morning when it opened at 9 am (it was almost empty and it was delightful) and then about 8 pm that evening (it was packed rather like "human soup" as my friend called it). The first two times we did both the cool (which is actually nice and warm) and the hot pools (amazingly warm). Our last trip we just soaked in the hot pools and then grabbed an ice cream cone from the gift shop on the way out. 

I stopped to grabbed a few pics of the gully near the parking lot that evening.

Gully near Radium Hot Spring, BC.

Sunset near Radium Hot Springs.

Radium road in stark colors.

Road to Radium Hot Springs from town.

Near Radium Hot Springs parking lot.

Sun setting near Radium, BC.

 

Friday we spent the better part of the day in Invermere. Just 15 minutes from Radium, this town has plenty to offer visitors including the most affordable groceries found in the area at the Sobey's. There is plenty to do and see downtown and I managed to grab a couple of shots in between window shopping. There is also a fantastic cafe called the Kicking Horse Cafe, located near the highway, which we visited every morning. I managed to grab a few pics of that as well.

At the bookstore in Downtown Invermere, BC.

Downtown Invermere, BC

The Kicking Horse Cafe in Invermere, BC.

Kicking Horse Cafe sign.

Patio seating at the Kicking Horse Cafe.

All in all it was a great trip. Very relaxing. Can't wait to visit Radium Hot Springs and area again. There was lots we didn't get the chance to do and see. Have you ever been to Radium Hot Springs? Have you ever visited any hot springs before? Love it or hate it? Please leave an opinion or comment below.

Canada Day in Enderby

This post is only a month late. I suppose better late than never!

A lovely morning for a parade, neither too hot nor too cool, the crowds gathered along Belvedere Street and Cliff Ave to watch. Enderby delivered up an excellent Canada Day parade this year with a combination of old favourites such as the marching band with bagpipes, the Red Hatters and classic cars and tractors as well as some new editions including the talented River Town Roller Girls, a mobile wrestling ring and the appearance of Ozzy Osbourne on a scooter (compliments of LOL House). Ozzy's second time in Enderby, he helped boost the Canadian spirit of parade watchers as he zipped back and forth with his scooter shouting "Happy Canada Day Enderby" and taking time for "high fives".

The beginning of the Canada Day Parade in Enderby!

 

A marching band.

The Red Hats

Classic Car

The Lion's Float

Players from Runaway Moon

Ozzy Osbourne riding a scooter in the Parade...

...on behalf of LOL House in Enderby.

Ozzy gets the crowd hyped up!

After the parade, viewer walk a couple of blocks down to Barnes Park where there was free entertainment and children activities like a bouncy castle, sumo wrestling and inflatable globes as well as games, food and a classic car show. Entertainment included a roller derby and wrestling demonstration as well as a live rock band Still Munro. Ozzy and the LOL House  performed a skit of poetry reading and music during the bands break.

Ozzy getting into the Canada Day Spirit!

Ozzy getting a little crazy!

Plenty of people at Barnes Park.

Still Munro plays for the people at the park.

Still Munro plays plenty of favourites.

LOL House getting ready to do their skit.

 

Amazing cars at the Classic Car show.

What did you do for Canada this year? Leave a comment below. Enjoy reading my blog? Sign up for updates in the box to the right!

Scotch Creek Trail Video

I also wanted to provide you with a short video of what you can expect to find while hiking the Scotch Creek trail. It is only 60 seconds long and contains much of what is in the longer version as well as a little extra footage of the trail.

Do you prefer the longer or the shorter video. Leave a comment below and let me know.

Scotch Creek Trail Opening

Sunday the 26th of June, was the official opening of the Scotch Creek Trail in the North Shuswap. The project was a combination of efforts by the Shuswap Trail Alliance, CSRD (Columbia Shuswap Regional District)  and Shuswap Tourism as well as many other groups and individuals. Near a hundred people, young and old alike, showed up for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony that afternoon and then hiked the new trail.

The trail itself is accessed off the Hlina Logging Road. It is a bit of a drive over the rough roads and the road is not suitable for low vehicles at this time (we drove in a minivan and had no troubles). The parking lot for Scotch Creek Trail is well outlined with rocks and there is an excellent map at the trail-head. There are no pit/compost toilets to be had at this time.

The trail consists of two loops. The shorter, easier Lower Loop and the longer Hlina Loop, though both loops can be done in an couple of hours. While the trail as a whole is a rougher style of trail, it can be used by most people. Many consider the first part of the trail to be the toughest, even though it is located on a well used road, as it climbs relatively quickly to where the trail heads for the trees and into the loops. 

Once in the trees the trail travels up for a short distance till you come to a gate. Once in the gate, the scenery instantly changes into that of old growth forest. Here the trail lends itself to a slower pace. After a short walk, hikers will come across an amazing vista at the Lookout Point. The highlight of the Scotch Creek Trail, this point looks out across the Shuswap Lake to Blind Bay and Copper Island. Parents and dog owners will want to keep child and pets in hand near the Lookout as there is very steep drop with no barrier in front of it.

Once past the Lookout hikers will quickly come across the intersection where they can choose to take the Hlina Loop, which has a spectacular view of its own and then travels to the parking lot via a different route or they can finish the Lower Loop. The Hlina Loop has only been roughed-in at this point (but is scheduled to be worked on this summer), so is only appropriate for people who are comfortable with off-trail hiking. Those finishing the Lower Loop will only travel a short distance to the end of the loop and then continue down the hill they way they came up.

Some photos from  the Scotch Creek Trail Lower Loop before the Lookout.

Winding trail through an Old Growth Forest in the North Shuswap.

Scotch Creek Trail Lower Loop

Old Growth Forest

Rougher styled trail.

Sun shining through the trees.

The Scotch Creek Trail - Lower Loop Lookout Point

View from the Lower Loop Lookup

Blind Bay from across the Shuswap lake

Blind Bay & Copper Island from the Scotch Creek Trail Lookout

More trail from the Lower Loop after the lookout.

Lower Loop trail through Old Growth Forest.

Plenty of twists and turns on the trail.

Rugged path of the Scotch Creek Trail Lower Loop

 

The trail past the gate and down to the road.

My family loved this trail and we will certainly be back for more! We will likely plan it on another Sunday this summer so we can hit the Scotch Creek Farmers' Market (from 10 am to 2 pm just off the highway when you enter town) while we are at it. 

Have you hiked the Scotch Creek Trail? Do you have another favourite in the area? Let me know by posting in the comment section below!