We've been Stampede-ized thoroughly. After a five-hour overnight flight to Vancouver followed by another hour to Calgary and airport pick-up by my cousins Peter and Shane, we finally got a quick nap before heading to the Stampede grounds. By 7 p.m. we were in our seats in the grandstand, watching the world-famous Rangeland Derby. If you haven't seen chuckwagon races, well... you really need to put it on your bucket list. After a stage show and massive fireworks we headed back out of town to the cousins' home in High River and hit the sack at 1 a.m. Next day we were back at the Stampede to see the rodeo, explore the midway and swelter in 90+ºF temperatures. A great time was had by all.
Jim, Cousin Shane, Joy, Myrna and Hunter
Yesterday we drove to Claresholm to visit with Mom and Dad - found them in great spirits and doing well. We all had lunch at a new Chinese restaurant in the little (tiny) town of Stavely - Dad's birthplace and where Tony and I spent the first 7 and 9 years of our lives. Nothing much has changed in the past 56 years except for the new Chinese restaurant. If you're following our trip on a map of Alberta you'll find Calgary, High River, Stavely and Claresholm on Highway 2 heading south. If you kept going south past Claresholm you could - in a day or three - find yourself in Las Vegas. I know. I've done it.
Here are a couple more shots from the Stampede. The top is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride. The bottom is the finish of one of the chuckwagon races. What an event! Calgary really did it up big for the 100th birthday of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Well over one million people will attend the 10-day show and I think most of them were on the midway with us on Wednesday.
Okay, today we're heading to the ranch. Map watchers: west of Stavely, just off Highway 22 about 8 miles south of Chain Lakes Provincial Park. Or you could google Chimney Rock Bed & Breakfast or Facebook Dames on the Range. I'll catch up with you from there.
