Usually, the September long weekend coming up marks the end of summer for most people.
School is back in session. Summer holidays are done with.
Visions of cleaning up the garden and harvest rattle through people’s minds. There is still time to get the construction and other outside work done.
But the clock is ticking.
And how fast is it clicking this year?
The venerable Farmer’s Almanac is in the news for predicting a warm fall this year. Which means maybe many of us won’t be tidying up the campsite and putting away the holiday units for winter. Not quite yet anyway.
For some of us, we are determined to make summer last as long as possible.
Which might mean another four to six weeks before nighttime frost is a regular happning if the Almanac is correct.
Plenty of time left yet to enjoy the seasons.
If you are curious about winter, the Almanac predicts above average temperatures (just slightly) for the winter season, and what they call “moderate” snowfalls for the Prairie Provinces.
Ontario will be seeing wild swings in temperatures, from “very mild to very cold.”
British Columbia will also be slightly warmer, but unlike the Prairies, will have below normal precipitation.

****

Also this coming weekend is the world famous Golden Walleye Classic, held at Shaw’s Point Resort beside Hilliard’s Bay Provincial Park.
The Golden, if it has a full field, will see 100 two-person teams striving to see who is the best at catching elusive walleye.
Prize money is over $200,000 in cash.
A nice capper for the end of summer.

****

Did you follow the solar eclipse last week?
Our part of the Peace Country was blessed with only slightly cloudy weather.
So, even though the local area only got about 60 to 65 per cent of the eclipse, the viewing was quite good.
In that 65 per cent, the moon did a neat loopy de looop on its route as it blocked the face of the sun, which was actually quite neat to see.
Interestingly, local lady Elsie Skuce (who now lives in Olds) travelled with her daughters and kids to Idaho just to catch the eclipse.
Elsie tells the News it was a spur of the moment decision. The crew piled into a car, drove the day before to the States, slept in the vehicle and caught the eclipse the next morning.
“Awesome,” says Elsie. Best part of the eclipse (other than the fact there was good weather there too) is that when the sun was totally blocked “it got really cold,” “really interesting.”
And of course, the whole trip was “worth it just to see it all.”

****

Here’s a plug for upcoming websites for this region.
The South Peace News has several websites in the works and is looking for your tourist photos from this summer.
Hopefully, you have some great summer shots and if you don’t, there is still a bit of time to take yours.
Especially, if you are a resort owner or have tourist related space, or events like rodeos, demolition derbies or pow wows, take your pictures and either drop them off at South Peace News, or email them to spn@cablecomet.com. We would like to use the photos for tourist and event promotions for 2018.
Your help is greatly appreciated in promoting our wonderful part of this great country.