Walk To Brock Update #5

Fort McMurray! How many of you have been here?

In 2011 Fort McMurray had a population of 61,374; a year later it was 72,944; and current estimates say 133,000 by 2028. In this boomtown, housing prices and rents are far higher than one would expect in such a remote area.

The chilly temperatures open the door to wonderful winter activities for the whole family, indoors and outdoors! Fishing, hunting, camping, hiking,  sledding, tubing, skiing, snowboarding, hockey, curling, swimming and exploring....the list goes on and the adventures are endless!

A visit to the Northern Lights Quilt Guild (a member guild) website provides a recipe for home made hand cream to soothe our dry hands - from the 1999 Spring issue of 'The Canadian Quilter'!

Thinking about continuing our Walk, I found that flights are booked to capacity because of the high transient worker population and people unwilling to drive on Highway 63 which goes to Edmonton. We are waitlisted for a flight.

Here is something fun one guild is doing. Victoria Quilters Guild has a concurrent Walk to Brock challenge: The quilter who guesses most closely the total number of inches the guild will amass by the end of March 2014, receives a  prize donated by Daphne Grieg.   Now that sounds like a fun competition, and knowing Daphne, a terrific prize!

Below is the map as to where we are at.  Not to scare anyone, but we still have to cross 3 provinces to get to Brock!   We may need to extend the deadline or start running to Brock to get there in time for Quilt Canada 2014.

Quilters, pull out those UFO's, get to the quilt store and buy fabric for a new quilt... we have to get quilting to get those inches. Go! Go! Go!