Canada Trip Update by JK
Hey All,
Its been about 6 months since my last input to this lil scrap book of Chris and my travels throughout Canada. Its been a pretty crazy 6 months too, with some unexpected paths to follow. I currently have a case of Bud and a good seat cos this update may take some time:
A good starting point would be back in February, March, April and May as I finished off my position at Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard Resort.
Sunshine Gondola
Upon return to Sunshine in Feb, I was put back to work. It was mid Feb and I had an evening off so made it off hill to head out in Banff. When out at Tommy's I met up with a tall blonde called Jenn who also worked at Sunshine (my girlfriend). I had met Jenn previous to this occasion when Chris and I had went to Panorama ski resort. We have been dating since then and she has been a huge part of my time here in Canada.
Sitting by the Fireplace at Jenn's house
Throughout the following months at Sunshine I had good opportunity to get more riding in, and to visit more of the surrounding Ski resorts. My boarding improved and I was riding some restricted areas thorughout the mountains. In these areas it was mandatory to carry an Avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel just in case of being caught in an Avalanche.
James - Cornace Jump 1
James - Cornace Jump 2
James - Cornace Jump 3
Chris and James at Sunshine - Back of Goats Eye Mt
There were some awsome sunny days which you could just head out in your board pants, a hoodie and your goggles. This machine above is one of the smaller piste bullys used for shaping the park. Some of these wagens are equiped with winches on the back so they can travel up almost vertical slopes for grooming purposes - never did get a ride in one but I did have a ride on a Skidoo throughout the resort.
Jenn and I at Lake Louise Ski Resort. My first time at Lake Louise Resort. Some super steep runs to carve down - Jenno took a tumble on one of the steeper blue runs on this particular day. She froze to the slope - I was already at the bottom but I did the hero thing, climbed up and rescued my girl! It killed me climbing up - then I proceeded to slide down the mountain (not by choice) on my ass due to the steepness/ice. The same day we headed out to the actual lake at Lake Louise - Pic below:
Sunshine ran a trip to Big White Ski and Snowboard Resort, Kelowna in British Columbia. This was over 3 days as it took 7 hours travelling there. During this trip I was hanging out with all the Sunshine Guest Services team (Jenn was the Guest Services Supervisor for Sunshine) Pics follow:
James at the top of the Mountains at Big White
The snow at Big White was super deep in some areas and it had some of the best tree runs - I got lost in trees for over an hour - My buddy who I was with was no where to be found. The tree runs lead out on to some serious black runs - not bad for day 1
We were all staying on hill at Big White so we all went Tubing down a special section of piste in the evening:
Tubing
My employee of the month prize still had not been cashed in - At the start of May I decided to treat Jenn and myself to a little pampering at Emerald Lake Lodge for all our hard work throughout the season. We dined eating fois gras, bison and striploin of elk washed down by a decent red. Between relaxing in their lake view hottub and sipping champagne by the Fireplace in the candlelight of our private log cabin, I think things couldn't have been better. Emerald Lake was located just after the BC border on the way to Golden.
Emerald Lake Shores
After I returned from Emerald Lake things were all in a transistional stage. I had been persuing some job opportunities, Chris was preparing to pack all up and ship out to Duncan in Vancouver Island mid May and the end of the ski season was fast approaching. Chris left on May 15th leaving me behind in Banff - His story has since been following a different plot. But the plot only thickens for my story....
I hosted a wedding at Sunshine for one of the Sunshine managers - truely a high point of my hospitality path. I was a little unsure why I was put in charge but it went fabulously with ice scultures, and the whole nine yards.
During this period I went up to Edmonton to catch an Oilers hockey game on Whyte Ave with Jenno - her home town - the Oilers were in playoff stages. As the playoffs progressed it reminded me of Belfast in the riotous Edmonton streets! When I was up in Edmonton I went for my second interview with Baker Hughes Centrilift - a company which make products for the oil industry throughout the world - things were shaping up such that I would be leaving Sunshine with a job secured in advance. I was offered a position in their Field Service Team which I accepted.
Sunshine was due to close on the 22nd of May to the public. Before this the Hotel staff and all the Food and Beverage Staff got together and had a huge party up on the hotel roof - free food and more Corona than you could shake a stick at!
On the 22nd May (closing day of the season) Slush Cup was held - this was a huge event for the staff and the public with huge buffets laid out in the restaurants to use up all the food in the fridges - guests dined well with prime rib, steak, lamb etc all from our fine dining menu on the buffet. Slush Cup consisted of a massive pond being created at the base of one of the slopes into the heart of the village (10 feet deep or so by 50 ft long) over which skiers and boarders attemped to cross without bailing into the icy waters - some were successful - some not so successful!
The following few days involved a massive clean down effort before all the staff left.
May 24th 2006 - Clean down completed - Note that even the moose head above in this pic is all bagged up for the summer - I was the person who bagged that one!
I left the mountain for good on 26th May 2006. I spent some quality time with Jenno for a few days before heading off to Saskatoon to visit my Uncle Jack and Aunt Wendy. Some time to relax before starting with Centrilift.
June 4th 2006 - Started with Baker Hughes Centrilift
I had been employed by the Canada region of Centrilift based out of Leduc, Ab for the moment. My position of Field Service engineer involves the installation of pumps driven by submersible motors in oil wells throughout the country. Each field serviceman is kitted out with a Ford F350 1 Tonne pick up truck with all the gear required to install and pull out this equipment. My truck will be arriving soon shortly. Ive been riding around with other field personel getting some experience for the moment.
Drayden Valley Install at 11pm - Note the lights on the rig and the flare stack burning!
Classic Pump Jack - Rod pumps are common all over the country. Our pumps are a little more soficticated in comparison.
A picture of me in my coveralls at a well site in Grand Prairie in North Alberta (6 Hours away from Edmonton) - my buddy Jason and I were on this particular install job for a full week
Recently bought a 2004 VW Jetta which is identical to a VW Bora back home - TDI... tidy car. Dark Blue, Fully loaded. Got a nice lil place to live in Leduc too.
Picture to follow
Was at Jenn's cousin's wedding recently - getting to meet all the family!
Picture to follow
Centrilift has sent me for training in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. I'm currently here for 3 weeks on, 1 week off, 3 weeks on again. Ive been in training with 3 other guys from Canada, 4 guys from Alaska and 3 guys from Texas.
Pictures to follow
On my week off I plan to make a trip home to N. Ireland. Itll be good to see all at home.
Will be more to follow on this posting as things progress - James, AKA Vegas Jims, AKA Frenchie
Its been about 6 months since my last input to this lil scrap book of Chris and my travels throughout Canada. Its been a pretty crazy 6 months too, with some unexpected paths to follow. I currently have a case of Bud and a good seat cos this update may take some time:
A good starting point would be back in February, March, April and May as I finished off my position at Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard Resort.
Sunshine Gondola
Upon return to Sunshine in Feb, I was put back to work. It was mid Feb and I had an evening off so made it off hill to head out in Banff. When out at Tommy's I met up with a tall blonde called Jenn who also worked at Sunshine (my girlfriend). I had met Jenn previous to this occasion when Chris and I had went to Panorama ski resort. We have been dating since then and she has been a huge part of my time here in Canada.
Sitting by the Fireplace at Jenn's house
Throughout the following months at Sunshine I had good opportunity to get more riding in, and to visit more of the surrounding Ski resorts. My boarding improved and I was riding some restricted areas thorughout the mountains. In these areas it was mandatory to carry an Avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel just in case of being caught in an Avalanche.
James - Cornace Jump 1
James - Cornace Jump 2
James - Cornace Jump 3
Chris and James at Sunshine - Back of Goats Eye Mt
There were some awsome sunny days which you could just head out in your board pants, a hoodie and your goggles. This machine above is one of the smaller piste bullys used for shaping the park. Some of these wagens are equiped with winches on the back so they can travel up almost vertical slopes for grooming purposes - never did get a ride in one but I did have a ride on a Skidoo throughout the resort.
Jenn and I at Lake Louise Ski Resort. My first time at Lake Louise Resort. Some super steep runs to carve down - Jenno took a tumble on one of the steeper blue runs on this particular day. She froze to the slope - I was already at the bottom but I did the hero thing, climbed up and rescued my girl! It killed me climbing up - then I proceeded to slide down the mountain (not by choice) on my ass due to the steepness/ice. The same day we headed out to the actual lake at Lake Louise - Pic below:
Sunshine ran a trip to Big White Ski and Snowboard Resort, Kelowna in British Columbia. This was over 3 days as it took 7 hours travelling there. During this trip I was hanging out with all the Sunshine Guest Services team (Jenn was the Guest Services Supervisor for Sunshine) Pics follow:
James at the top of the Mountains at Big White
The snow at Big White was super deep in some areas and it had some of the best tree runs - I got lost in trees for over an hour - My buddy who I was with was no where to be found. The tree runs lead out on to some serious black runs - not bad for day 1
We were all staying on hill at Big White so we all went Tubing down a special section of piste in the evening:
Tubing
My employee of the month prize still had not been cashed in - At the start of May I decided to treat Jenn and myself to a little pampering at Emerald Lake Lodge for all our hard work throughout the season. We dined eating fois gras, bison and striploin of elk washed down by a decent red. Between relaxing in their lake view hottub and sipping champagne by the Fireplace in the candlelight of our private log cabin, I think things couldn't have been better. Emerald Lake was located just after the BC border on the way to Golden.
Emerald Lake Shores
After I returned from Emerald Lake things were all in a transistional stage. I had been persuing some job opportunities, Chris was preparing to pack all up and ship out to Duncan in Vancouver Island mid May and the end of the ski season was fast approaching. Chris left on May 15th leaving me behind in Banff - His story has since been following a different plot. But the plot only thickens for my story....
I hosted a wedding at Sunshine for one of the Sunshine managers - truely a high point of my hospitality path. I was a little unsure why I was put in charge but it went fabulously with ice scultures, and the whole nine yards.
During this period I went up to Edmonton to catch an Oilers hockey game on Whyte Ave with Jenno - her home town - the Oilers were in playoff stages. As the playoffs progressed it reminded me of Belfast in the riotous Edmonton streets! When I was up in Edmonton I went for my second interview with Baker Hughes Centrilift - a company which make products for the oil industry throughout the world - things were shaping up such that I would be leaving Sunshine with a job secured in advance. I was offered a position in their Field Service Team which I accepted.
Sunshine was due to close on the 22nd of May to the public. Before this the Hotel staff and all the Food and Beverage Staff got together and had a huge party up on the hotel roof - free food and more Corona than you could shake a stick at!
On the 22nd May (closing day of the season) Slush Cup was held - this was a huge event for the staff and the public with huge buffets laid out in the restaurants to use up all the food in the fridges - guests dined well with prime rib, steak, lamb etc all from our fine dining menu on the buffet. Slush Cup consisted of a massive pond being created at the base of one of the slopes into the heart of the village (10 feet deep or so by 50 ft long) over which skiers and boarders attemped to cross without bailing into the icy waters - some were successful - some not so successful!
The following few days involved a massive clean down effort before all the staff left.
May 24th 2006 - Clean down completed - Note that even the moose head above in this pic is all bagged up for the summer - I was the person who bagged that one!
I left the mountain for good on 26th May 2006. I spent some quality time with Jenno for a few days before heading off to Saskatoon to visit my Uncle Jack and Aunt Wendy. Some time to relax before starting with Centrilift.
June 4th 2006 - Started with Baker Hughes Centrilift
I had been employed by the Canada region of Centrilift based out of Leduc, Ab for the moment. My position of Field Service engineer involves the installation of pumps driven by submersible motors in oil wells throughout the country. Each field serviceman is kitted out with a Ford F350 1 Tonne pick up truck with all the gear required to install and pull out this equipment. My truck will be arriving soon shortly. Ive been riding around with other field personel getting some experience for the moment.
Drayden Valley Install at 11pm - Note the lights on the rig and the flare stack burning!
Classic Pump Jack - Rod pumps are common all over the country. Our pumps are a little more soficticated in comparison.
A picture of me in my coveralls at a well site in Grand Prairie in North Alberta (6 Hours away from Edmonton) - my buddy Jason and I were on this particular install job for a full week
Recently bought a 2004 VW Jetta which is identical to a VW Bora back home - TDI... tidy car. Dark Blue, Fully loaded. Got a nice lil place to live in Leduc too.
Picture to follow
Was at Jenn's cousin's wedding recently - getting to meet all the family!
Picture to follow
Centrilift has sent me for training in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. I'm currently here for 3 weeks on, 1 week off, 3 weeks on again. Ive been in training with 3 other guys from Canada, 4 guys from Alaska and 3 guys from Texas.
Pictures to follow
On my week off I plan to make a trip home to N. Ireland. Itll be good to see all at home.
Will be more to follow on this posting as things progress - James, AKA Vegas Jims, AKA Frenchie