Agathe, WW56. October 2010

Agathe our 56th ww, was visiting from Montreal. But really Agathe is from Paris, France and was studying in Montreal. We were her fist woofing experience.  Agathe said that she had a `very peaceful and  healthy time`, exactly what she needed. Agathe was able to attend the local Kicking Horse Culture Anniversary Celebration a real hodge podge of local performers. She also travelled and had a quick visit of Banff,while I had an appointment there. Then one Friday Agathe took the medi bus to Radium for a visit of Radium Park. Agathe helped do fall cleaning at the lodge, moved soil around the pond, but best of all Agathe put the garden to bed for the winter. She did a great job of pruning out the old raspberry canes.  Agathe left here for Vancouver for a short holiday. In December she sent me a note that she is back in France. Perhaps we will see Agathe in Rockies again. I know she enjoyed the scenery.

WW 55. Simon, Budenhein, Germany

July 5th to July 26th

‘Eh’ Canadian Lodge was Simons 1st WWOOfing experience, and looking back I realize that he couldn’t have picked a better time to be here. In July the snow is off most of the mountains, the weather is generally sunny, the Kicking Horse Culture Outdoor Concert Series is in full swing and most of the back roads are open. Further, this is when we need the most help. The strawberries are just finishing and the raspberries are ready for picking. Simon helped a lot around here, which gave us time to do other things outside of work. Simon helped Loren with the cabin, applying the sealer to some walls and the floor, finished cleaning up around the woodshed, weeded in the garden, picked plenty of strawberries and raspberries and helped with the ditch for the pond infrastructure. He went fishing with us at Susan Lake (where he was fortunate enough to be able to photograph a cow and calf moose swimming across the lake- WOW!), and reeled in his first fish, scrambled to the ridge on Redburn Mountain (something I’ve always wanted to do), hiked into Thompson Falls with my parents and neighbours and attended the Kicking Horse Culture Outdoor concerts. In the quiet times around here which Simon called ‘countryside and peaceful life away from the cities,’ Simon practiced his guitar, and it really did show, as even in the 3 weeks he was here, his guitar playing improved. Simon left for a WWOOFing opportunity on Vancouver Island, and we were sad to see him leave. But glad we had the chance for him to experience his first WWOOFing home here in the Blaeberry.