It is getting very noticeable that the daylight hours are getting longer.  Today was Groundhog Day and according to the friendly rodent, spring is coming early.  Spring?  We have had springlike temperatures throughout winter.  The pussywillows have been open for a couple of months now.  In my opinion, there really was no winter.

The effects of my weekend away in the snow have not worn off.  This was the second day that I was back at work and I caught myself glancing over my left shoulder with the hope that I would see mountains on the horizon as I drove into town.  Silly me.

That drive north on HWY 22, the Cowboy Trail, left me wanting more.  That glimpse of the Rocky Mountains beyond the rolling hills was just enough to keep me thinking of when the next drive will be.  The trip down that highway is like no other that I've been on.

There is open, rolling ranch land that leads into the foothills below the majestic Rocky Mountains.  Cattle

dotted the country side.  Ranch homes were spread sparsely along the way.

As I drove north on the Cowboy Trail, all I could think about was how much open space we have here in Alberta.  There are some people in the world that will never have the opportunity to experience this.  All I can say is we are truly lucky and should be grateful for this amazing landscape and the freedom to explore it.