Stampede

 It’s the morning of the Stampede Parade, the official kick-off to Calgary Stampede activities.  Like many of the parades in the US, the route is jam-packed with people.  Some of them have been out there since the night before to stake their claim to a certain spot on the route.  Lucky for us, we have reserved grandstand seating in a prime location.  However, we had to get up early to board the bus to arrive at the seating a good two hours before parade time due to streets being closed to traffic.  Good news, we were right in front of Tim Horton’s with fresh donuts, etc. and close access to restrooms.

Interestingly, there was a mini parade of sorts to whet the appetite to the main event.  Like all parades it was started with the traditional police siren escort, banner and grand marshal riding in an auto.  Let the fun begin!

Notice the White Hats?

Former and current Miss Calgary Stampede Queens

Royal Mounted Canadian Police minus the mounts

There are many bands, horses, floats, groups and specialty acts.  A lot of the bands were the drum, bagpipe and fife complete with kilt regalia.  There’s a lot of Scottish influence in this part of Canada.  Also interesting to me, the number of varied Asian influences.  To keep their culture alive there are several Asian clubs that are in Calgary and they each had their own unique presentations in the parade.

A group of Shriners on Segways

Stars of the parade are the horses and costumed riders

Did I mention they had horses?  As you might expect horses and more horses was very evident.  They had big horses, work horses, little horses, decorated horses and just plain horses.  Enough horses that they ran street sweepers along the parade in groups of three to pick up, you know, the evidence during the parade.  The sweepers were even decorated and were great crowd pleasers, as I’m sure the parade participants were very happy too, jus’ sayin’.  The sweepers in teams of three were strategically placed and after the parade was complete, they dutifully made sure the streets were auto and pedestrian worthy once more before the streets were returned to normal traffic.

Real stars of the parade the team of street sweepers all decked out

We visited the Stampede grounds that afternoon after the parade.  The best way to describe this is a State Fair type of atmosphere.  There are exhibits, animal shows, other entertainers, a midway full of games and food, vendor hall, rides and of course, daily rodeo activities.  The grounds are the former 1988 Olympic venue that was held in downtown Alberta.  The first afternoon was free admission for the populace so the crowd was intense.  From our perspective, I did not recognize a decrease in crowd size anytime we visited while we were there.

Entrance to Stampede grounds, that's me in White Hat on right

Of course, the major draw is the Stampede Rodeo.  There are daily rodeos that begin in the afternoon.  Our day to go had a lot of Texas cowboys competing.  So many, that it seemed as if it was Texas versus Canada day.  It was great fun to watch and even though our seats were high up in the grandstands, you could watch any one of three giant screens that would give you a close-up view and replay of the contestants attempts.  What was interesting was that there was not a Team Roping competition in this rodeo.  Even more interesting was the Bull Riding competition.  The bulls won the day this day.  There was only one rider who managed to stay on for the full eight seconds.

Saddle Bronc competition, big screen above stands too

Our seats at the Stampede Rodeo

Later in the day, after the stands have been cleared and the arena grounds properly prepared, the Chuckwagon Races are held.  This was my favorite event at the Stampede.  I had never seen this before and was certainly glad the rules were explained in advance.  It’s kind of like a sport you don’t know about the rules, it makes for a more interesting experience if you understand what to look for during the competition.  The daily heats and times are kept so the winning teams can compete in a finale.  Of course, the horses are the real stars.  These are highly trained thoroughbred teams that pull the wagons plus there are two outriders that are part of the race using specially trained horses for their role in the competition.  Quite exciting to watch!

Start of the Chuckwagon Race, loading the stove!

Amidst a flurry of activity they are off, don't knock over the barrel

Leaving the arena to round the track with outriders behind them

The finish and Team 3 in yellow wins this heat

After the Chuckwagon Races are complete for the day.  The arena is groomed to allow a portable stage to be brought in for the night’s extravaganza.  This is a sensory presentation with loud music, dancers, singers, fireworks, light display and a drone display to overwhelm your senses.  We didn’t stay for all of it because we did not want to wait on the train platform forever to catch the train back to our RV.  We saw enough to say we were there and able to beat the crowd.  The Calgary Stampede has now been checked off the bucket list.  Glad to have been there, done that, but probably would not go back.  Getting too old for that much fun!  More to come in the next posting, see you there.

This will get your attention for sure

Calgary Activities

 

The day after our tours in Banff National Park was a much-needed rest day and another day to enjoy the cooling rain showers.  As you can see from the pictures, God provided another display of His marvelous goodness to us on this trip.  What a rainbow.  Again, pictures do not provide the experience we saw.  The color was the most vivid I have ever seen in a rainbow with the added double rainbow that is clearly visible.

WOW and Double WOW!

Incredibly Beautiful

We used our day off to get things ready to move to Calgary and to restock our supplies at Wal-Mart.  I even worked up the energy to wash the rig since it had not been cleaned after our 2,000-mile march from Texas to Canada.  Canada Day is July 1^st, and every community has some sort of celebration planned.  We were going to go checkout the activities but decided to forego those plans due to being tired and having to move the next day to our Calgary destination.  Not to mention the sun doesn’t set low enough for fireworks until well after 10 PM in Canada.  Well to our surprise, after we had gone to bed, we hear fireworks and are able to watch through the bedroom window from our bed the local celebratory fireworks.  One of the best front row viewing of fireworks ever.

We moved from our RV park in Cochrane, Alberta (slightly Northwest of Calgary) to McMahon Stadum in Calgary to join the fellow travelers on the Fantasy Tour of the Calgary Stampede and Glacier National Park.  This is a 14-day extravaganza with something almost every day.  Days 1-6 find us in Calgary followed by days 7-10 driving and visiting nearby Waterton, Alberta, Canada and finally days 11-14 driving and visiting West Glacier National Park in good ol’ USA.  By the way, Waterton is the Canadian equivalent and extension of the US Glacier National Park.  The US/Canada border is in between the parks and is readily visible.

Calgary, We are here!

Back to the chronological sequence, our first night with the group involved an introductory dinner followed by information and a ceremony.  We were handed playing cards upon entering the dining room.  We were instructed to find the couple that matched our card and we had to interview each other to introduce each other to the entire group.  Our couple was from Berlin, MA, John and Cindy, who were traveling with another three couples on the tour.  The dinner was great, and we got to know each other very well during our time together.

Entire Fantasy Tour Group

After dinner we received detailed information about the activities ahead of the group along with instructions on using public transportation in Calgary.  Most of our travel was by bus.  We did use the C-Train to move from the stadium to downtown Calgary and back again.  Then the highlight of the entire evening was the history of Calgary and the Calgary Stampede followed by the solemn ceremony whereby we were bestowed with honorary Calgarian citizenship.  Of course, followed by the White Hat presentation, which is the required dress for the parade and stampede.

Looks pretty spiffy and we ARE the good guys!

The next morning we traveled by bus to Calgary Tower for breakfast then were given free time to roam Rope’s Square a few blocks from the tower.  To return to our rigs at the stadium we had to use the C-Train for the return trip.  Rope’s Square is full of shops, eateries and assorted entertainment for the masses.  It is several blocks long and the streets are closed to vehicular traffic.

View from the tower of Stampede grounds

Up there was breakfast in the revolving restaurant

After walking off the breakfast meal and feasting our eyes on the many wonders in Rope’s Square we headed for the train and the stadium.  Need to rest up for the next big day ahead.  Tomorrow morning’s big kick-off Stampede Parade.  See you then.

First C-Train ride to Stadium

Exploring Banff

 

We had to get up early to meet our tour bus for Lake Louise and Lake Moraine.  We met the van at a hotel in Canmore at 8:30, which is approximately an hour’s drive from where we parked the RV.  Very early for a couple of travelers.  Alex, our driver, thanked us for being early.  We had one more stop to make in Banff to pick up the remaining passengers.

We were impressed with our driver’s safe driving and recommendations for getting the best pictures.  When we pulled up to Lake Louise, we were maybe 300 feet from the lake.  Definitely a better choice than trying to drive ourselves to find a parking spot around a mile away.  No fuss, no muss.

Here are a couple of pictures from when we first arrived at Lake Louise.  The first gives a sense of how many people were there and the difficulty in taking a picture it presented.  The crowds were due to the popularity of the spot and the three-day weekend encompassing Canada Day.  July 1^st is Canada Day which is their equivalent to our Independence Day celebrations.

Too many folks in the picture

Ahhh! That's better.

We did manage to get a selfie eventually.  Plus, here is Beverly from a different angle that shows the hotel, Fairmont Lake Louise Chateau, in the background.  There’s also a photo of the front entrance of the hotel.  You can book your room here for a paltry $1,700 Canadien per night or up to $2,800 for this 5-star experience.  If you prefer, you can stay a short quarter mile away at the 3-star Lake Louise Inn for only $550 to $950 per night.  Nope, think I’ll stay in the RV.

Lake Louise Selfie

Fairmont Lake Louise Chateau

Hotel Front Entrance

The color of Lake Louise and Lake Moraine comes from the glacial silt that is washed down from the glaciers.  Most of the silt settles to the bottom of the lake but the rock flour is so fine it stays suspended in the water.  It is this ‘flour’ that reflects the greens and blues from the sunlight giving a turquoise shade of the water.

Beautiful color set against the snow and sky

Our next portion of this tour will be to Lake Moraine which is at a higher elevation.  Again, our driver suggested the best pictures are obtained by climbing the Rock Pile.  As you can see from the photo, this is indeed a rock pile that is aptly named, but it does have steps that are strategically positioned.  We wondered if we could make it to the top and were relieved to see we were not the only ‘old’ folks struggling.  This fellow was asked many times if he was okay.  He always politely responded that he was just taking a breather before continuing to make the climb.

Oh boy, here we go!

Everyone needs a breather now and then

Once again, Alex came through for us.  Indeed, the best pictures are found at the top of the climb.  The views were fantastic, and we only wish the two-dimensional pictures could show what we were viewing with our eyes.

Beautiful, and the view is nice too!

Moraine Lake Selfie Time

Crowded on the Rock Pile too

Once we descended the Rock Pile, we took a picture at the lakeside to remember the difference between the two viewing locations.

Lake Moraine the view from up top is much better!

Well, looky here, if it isn’t my ole buddy from Canmore.  Who says these guys are mean and ferocious.  He was so glad to see me, he gave me a fist bump.

Friends forever, jus sayin!

After the tour was over, we returned to Canmore where Beverly and I had a flatbread pizza at a patio table.  We could spend our time enjoying a lazy lunch and people watching before preparing for a second tour of the day.  This tour was named Banff highlights and Wildlife Tour.  We left Canmore early to find a parking spot next to the train station where the tour would pick us up.

After securing a spot, I noticed some Porta-Potties close to where we parked.  What I did not notice was the proximity to the railroad tracks, that is until it was indelibly stamped into my memory bank.  You have never experienced anything like it.  The facility was about 20 yards at the most from the tracks.  When the freight train came barreling through and blasting its horn, the entire porta-potty vibrated and shook like crazy.  Of course, not being able to see, I thought I was a goner and the train was coming through that door any minute.  All I could think about was the headlines that would read, “Dumb American Used Wrong Bathroom at Wrong Time.”  After my heart rate settled back down, I cautiously exited and to my immense surprise, realized I was still alive, although quite shaken up literally.

Finally, it was time to board the van for our excursion and thankfully my mind and body both had time to settle back down to their normal state of anxiousness.  Katie our driver was originally from New Zealand.  She had visited the area before and fallen in love with it.  She moved back to Banff as soon as she could and provided wonderful details as we moved from place to place. 

The first place we stopped was up a mountain that provided a beautiful view of Banff town and surrounding area.  This prompted Beverly to announce that she would build a house there because of the view.  Of course, this is only about the umpteenth place she will have a house.

Thanks Katie, that's Banff town behind us

Great place for a picture window in the new house.

Moving on, she pointed out some avalanche scars on the side of this mountain.  We are in avalanche country and there are signs everywhere warning of the possibility of avalanches.

Two big scars to right of center

We stopped at Lake Minnewanka.  This is the only lake in Banff National Park that allows motorized boating.  All other lakes allow only kayaking, canoeing or paddleboarding.  We did not see any power boats, but you can see the beauty of the area.  There was a boat at the dock that offers sunset cruises.  Since the sun does not set until well after 10 PM, we decided to skip the boat ride.

Picture postcard

Katie likes taking pictures as much as driving

Our next stop took us back up in elevation to a spot that had a hoodoo.  Who knew that Banff in Alberta Canada had a hoodoo?  I thought Bryce Canyon was where you went to view hoodoos.  Like I said before, we learn something new all the time.

Bow River with hoodoo left bottom

We did see wildlife on the tour.  We saw elk and mountain sheep.  We even saw elk mamas and babies.  Katie showed us some areas marked in red tape.  This was to let hikers know that the mamas and babies are in the area.  It seems the mamas are aggressive and protective of their territory for a period of time after the babies are born.  So, the message of the red tape is go around and leave the elk to themselves.

Mountain Sheep, pretty scruffy looking

Elk right outside the van

Mamas and babies, don't mess with me

One of our last stops on the tour was at the Bow River Falls which are located right in the town of Banff.  The temperature was cooler at this place due to the colder water running through the area.  Beverly pointed out this is another place she would build a house to live.  So, for the umpteenth and twentieth time we have another place to have a house when our ship comes in.  See you down the road.  We’re moving to Calgary in a day or two.

Thanks again Katie

Canada - We're Here!

 Crossing the Canadian Border from Montana at Coutts, Alberta Canada proved to be very uneventful.  There was no traffic at noon time and with just a few questions and answers later, the border officer wished us a good trip and bid farewell to us.  So much for all the chicken stress.  We could have kept the $4 of chicken uncooked in the freezer and left off some of the chicken spaghetti meals without any worries.  Oh well, all's well that ends well.

More than ready to see this.

Our first happy face after crossing the border.  Made for a very welcoming sight and expectations of good things to come.  Thank you Canada, you made us smile too!

Happiest barn we have ever seen.

There are many different things to get used to in Canada.  For example, the posted speed limit is in kilometers per hour as opposed to the US standard of miles per hour.  The same goes for distances as well.  Fuel is sold by the litre (liter) instead of by the gallon.  Canadian dollars are different than US dollars.  Many things have double labels, one in English and one in French.  There are many products in a store you recognize but the brand is something you are not familiar with in America.

110 KM/H equals 68.35 MPH

We are using the credit card for most purhases because the CC company will automatically convert pricing to US for us and we don't have to deal with getting ripped off by local exchange rates.  Fueling is interesting when paying with a credit card.  The pump asks you approximately how much Canadian money you wish to pre-approve (four choices are available) on your card.  After you have pumped the fuel, the correct amount is actually charged to the card.  This was a mental gymnastic exercise for me the first time I encountered it and didn't quite get enough pre-approval to completely fill the rig.  Got close but not 100%.  Prices are advertised in pennies.  So a price of $161.9 is $1.62 per liter Canadian money.  Mentally you have to convert liters to gallons and Canadian dollars to US.  Not so easy the first time out.

There are some very interesting road signs in Alberta.  When approaching a major intersection, you encounter a sign that reads, 'Important Intersection Ahead.'   We were taken aback somewhat when we saw a sign that read, 'Texas Gate.'  We had no idea what or why that sign was there.  Did they really think going past that sign would lead you to Texas?  It was only after encountering it in several places that the mystery (to us) was cleared up.  It was announcing to the driver what we in Texas refer to as a 'cattle guard' crossing for the roadway.

Oh, you mean cattle guard don't you?

There are several things I really like about their signage.  One in particular is a blinking warning sign well in advance of a traffic signal that blinks when the signal is about to turn red.  This to a RV driver is very handy indeed.  It gives you plenty of notice to slow down and prepare to stop.  Though not a sign, they also have extended 'merge' lanes that allows a vehicle plenty of room to get up to speed with already present traffic.

We noticed almost immediately when crossing into Canada some farmers' fields with very pretty yellow flowers.  It resembled a bright yellow blanket laid out across the land. 

 Beverly and I wanted to know what the crop was and what was its purpose or usage besides being very nice to look at so she did a Google search.  Come to find out it is a rapeseed plant of the mustard family.  Its seeds yield rapeseed oil which is named canola oil after processing.  The name Canola is a blending of the two words "Canada" and "ola" which refers to "oil, low acid".  Who knew?  We learn something everywhere we go.

We are staying at an RV Park just North of Cochrane which is between Calgary and Banff.  This makes for a convenient place to move around and explore the area in Banff before joining the RV Tour group in Calgary.  We rested on our first day and then took off to see the sights.  We stopped at a Visitor Center in Canmore and had a delightful conversation with a gentleman that had worked in Dallas some and knows how to talk to a Texan and understands a Texas accent.  Isn't God wonderful?

He showed us some trails to explore (both in the car or walking) plus some good eating places.  Since it was raining off and on that day, we chose to go to some of the areas around Canmore and hold off on going to Banff due to visibility issues from the clouds.  Our first drive took us down Alberta 42 into a different park area.  We found the eatery at the golf course he recommended and chowed down.  Such a lovely view to enjoy lunch.

Might be hard to make par being distracted by the view!

Afterward, we continued our trek.  As we are driving along, Beverly yells out 'bear'!  I immediately made u-turn because she spotted it coming out of the woods as we passed it.  This is the first ever bear in the wild we have spotted, so we had to get pics to prove the sighting.  Heretofore, we didn't believe there were any bears anywhere and that it was like outer space alien visitation stories, all made up or imagined.  This was pretty exciting for our first day out in Canada and really got us pumped up.

There he goes back into the woods

After some more driving and looking around, we decided to call it a day.  Returning to the RV Park we settled down for a rest and booked some guided tours of Banff.  We decided to do this because this is a three day weekend leading up to Canada Day on Monday.  This is their July 4th type celebration and the crowds are supposed to be horrendous.  It is difficult to find parking close to the popular areas of the park so we decided to do the tour guide thing.  As you can see in the next post, this worked out to be a great decision.

We went to Wal-Mart to replenish our supplies.  You have to carry your own bags to use for carrying purchases back home.  Canada does not furnish shopping bags.  We also found that products are displayed differently than in the U.S.  Then we run into signs like the one below.  Guess every country and culture has their own eating preferences.  See you down the road for more adventures in the next post.

Okay then, guess we'll have to sacrifice and eat it anyway!