I officially launched Day Trips From Edmonton June 20, 2009 at the Spruce Grove Public Library. About 30 invited guests attended, as well as some very welcome library patrons. It is always a pleasure to celebrate a new book surrounded by friends and family.

Attendees enjoyed cake, which was decorated with an edible image of the book cover. Communities and attractions mentioned in the book generously donated a wide assortment of door prizes from travel items, clothing, and lunch bags, to water bottles, gift certificates, cookbooks, and other promotional items. There were enough door prizes for everyone to win something.

Before signing books, I read a story about how the City of Wetaskiwin got its name, and delivered the following speech.

Day Trips From Edmonton Book Launch Speech

I guess you could say I’ve come down to earth with this book.

People ask, why did you write about day trips?

There are a number of answers. I love to picnic and explore new areas. I think it’s only right to know about the interesting things you can see near your home region, and I like the simplicity of not having to pack for overnight trips. I also like going home to sleep in my own bed at night.

While writing this book did take some research, I am very familiar with the areas it includes because I grew up mostly in Sherwood Park...and often traveled farther east and every other direction with my family. I lived north, in Athabasca and Lac La Biche...and drove between these towns and Edmonton many times. I’ve been living in the Stony Plain area and exploring here for the past 10 years...and we all tend to go south, so I have spent time that way as well.

Writing this book has given me the chance to describe a number of one-of-a-kind attractions:
· The Klondike Ferry Crossing, where you can ride a ferry in the prairie…and imagine the gold seekers of long ago
· The Red Deer ghost tour…(where one of the ghosts is a pig)
· The ribstones historic site… more than 1000 years old…and one of only nine sets of petroglyphs in Alberta
· The Alberta Honey Producers Co-op…right here in Spruce Grove…you can see how that delicious clover-flavored honey is processed, and
· only 10 minutes away…Wagner Bog is a more than 500 acre natural area. You can see a number of habitats not normally found together, as well as 16 of the 26 orchid species found in Alberta. Many are blooming right now.
· Em-te-town is a man-made ghost town that will take a full afternoon to explore, and finally…one of my favorites…
· the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve, a place where it’s always dark at night…and a place where those Dot to Dot in the Sky books come in handy.

All these sites are within two hours of downtown Edmonton.

Day Trips From Edmonton also includes a list of best places for birders.

I describe designated important bird areas, certain migration routes, sanctuaries, and the Beaverhill Bird Observatory, where between 2000 and 4500 birds are banded every year.

You can take part in a birdathon or observe birds being banded.

I did this and actually got to hold a saw whet owl, one of those small owls that are about the size of a coke can.

Your journey should be as pleasant as your arrival at your day trip destination.

I hope reading tidbits of Alberta history will make your travel time even more interesting.

I hope that knowing what happened in earlier times along the way changes what you watch for and think about as the scenery goes by your car windows.

When you see the grey sagging pioneer buildings, imagine the first settlers choosing their homesteads according to the lay of the land…fertile soil, easy access to water, and eventually proximity to railway stops.

Notice the different habitats, watch for wild game, and think about how early pioneers depended on their skills to survive.