October 22, 2011 - Innisfail Natural Area with Shirley

We stop in Innisfail to see the Kemp House. Historic sites attract me as much as natural areas and I am pleased that two of my favorite things are near each other. I take a photo of the provincial emblem over the door.I recall how the view on the emblem is the same as from the second floor of the house. I wish the house were open so that I could share this view with my friend. 

After one wrong turn we find the Innisfail Natural Area 10 km east –the entrance right on highway 590. There is a pickup truck there – and a sign telling us that it is hunting season and hunting is allowed in the Natural Area. This adds an element of danger and I imagine a fatal encounter. That would be dramatic!















Shirley is not deterred so we venture forth.There are no paths, at least none that we can find – just the ones made by animals that peter out. I take photos of all the colors that attract me. These are fall colours – my colours.

This was once a Homestead the guidebook tells us and “the areas that were once cultivated fields are now in various stages of regrowing to aspen woods. Over half of the Natural Area was never cultivated.” We are in deciduous forest, shrub land, grassland and meadow. This is what the central Alberta once looked like. Like early explorers, I do not know where the edge is – and eventually we turn back without seeing the pond at Kneehills Creek. Shirley leads the way back and points out where she thinks the homestead and yard were. I wonder about the family and where they came from and where they went after leaving here. There is not much left to say they were here. If they hadn't chose this place perhaps the natural area would not be here today. It provides a place to contemplate – and to hunt.

We leave without seeing our fellow hunter. I wonder if he/she is enjoying their time here as much as we did.