Day 13 - Calgary, Alberta, Canada to Banff, Alberta, Canada. 82 Miles Ridden Today, Total Miles From Indianapolis - 2,539.

This morning the group bid farewell to the city of Calgary.  The girls packed the luggage into the rental cars while the guys retrieved and put their gear onto the bikes.

The guys led the way out of the city.  The ladies followed in the vehicles.

The group made the 82 mile trip to Banff.  We had lunch at an Irish Pub, did a little browsing around town and headed on to the Fairmont Hotel.

Joe and Pam preparing to leave Calgary for Banff.

David and Lori 

Stu and Jill

Pam and Mike

The Olympic Village at Calgary

The ski jumps and bobsled tracks are here.

Joe

About half way between Calgary and Banff,  the group pulled off the highway onto a scenic overlook.

Pat, Pam, Jill, Bonnie, Lori and Pam

We arrived in Banff

Fred and Pat at St. James Gate, the authentic Irish Pub where we had lunch.

 Flowers everywhere look spectacular. 

Looking over the golf course and Bow river in the Bow Valley

The Fairmont Banff Springs

Day 12 - The Last Opportunity at the Calgary Stampede

David and Lori received word during the night that their grandson was going to make his appearance into the world about 3 1/2 weeks earlier than anyone expected.  They anxiously awaited word all day of his birth.

Today was our final day to spend in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  Unfortunately, the forecast predicted a chance of rain today.  That would be a 60% chance of rain.  The rain started falling lightly some time mid-morning.  Just before noon the intensity of the rain increased dramatically.  In fact, it was raining cats and dogs!

By rodeo time the rain had mostly stopped.  The damage was done.  The surface of the arena was covered in  2 - 3 inches of muddy muck.  For those cowboys that got bucked off, I think it made those landings a little softer.

 Here are images from today's rodeo events.

The riders with the parade of flags coming into the arena from behind the chutes.  

This rodeo is about to begin.

Saddle Bronc Riding

Calf Roping

The lead Rodeo Clown (bullfighter), this guy was hilarious!
When it was time to work, he was all business.

Calf Wrestling
Boy oh boy, did those calves take those cowboys for a slide.

More Bronc riding

You just have to have purdy girls.

The good news came.  Congratulations to David and Lori, on the birth of their sixth grandchild!  The little one had finally arrived without incident.  Lori reported that everyone was doing just fine.  Photos were shared, he is a beautiful baby.  Our best wishes to the new family!

Barrel Racing, despite the conditions, a young woman from Florida set a new low time, for this event so far for the 2013 Stampede.

Bull Riding, those guys are some kind of crazy.

This bull mowed down the gate puller, then slipped and fell as he shot out of the chute.

He recovered with the cowboy still on his back, jumped up, and continued bucking.

For this cowboy an 8 second ride!

Teams of three children had to catch this pony by the lead rope.  

One team member had to climb on that pony's back.  When the child mounted the animal the timer stopped.

The only all girl team.

The pony didn't cooperate with the event.  This young lady was taken for quite a ride.

These kids are some kind of tough!

Pick up girls on ponies herded those little ponies back to the gate. 

 The ponies were corralled behind the chute area.

Most of the group ended the day with dinner in downtown Calgary at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

We congratulated David and Lori again as we wrapped up our last activity in Calgary.

Day 11 - Chuck Wagon Races in Calgary

The morning broke in glorious sunshine, not a chance of rain in the forecast.  The air was dry with just a hint of a cool crispness to it.   This was going to be a beautiful day!  

Again today everyone was on their own schedule.  Some headed off to shop in downtown Calgary.  Others made their way back over to the Stampede Park.

Shhhh....a super secret luggage sale!  Jill and Pam stimulate the Canadian economy.

The crowd begins to swell at the Stampede Park.

So much to look at.

Stu, the leather shop owner, and Mike

Stu and Mike hit one of the many shops set up in the Stampede Park grounds.

Trick riding exhibition, this is an eleven year old!

A competitor from the World Championship Blacksmith Competition.

Originally the competition began with 16 countries being represented.  The competition was narrowed down to a final five Farriers.  This young man represented Scotland.  He had the unfortunate draw of a mildly unruly horse to shoe.  Each competitor had to clean, trim, and fit two hind shoes for each horse.  The catch, those shoes had to be crafted from two pieces of flat, stock steel.  David's horse pranced around a bit, backed over him twice before settling down.  Being terribly behind at each phase of the judging he was pronounced the winner just before the Chuck Wagon Races.

These two probably do belong in Calgary Stampede jail, for some transgression that might, 

or already has, occurred!

Clydesdale Team

Mike and Pam have great seats for the races and evening show.

Joe and Pam, ready for the evening's activities.

The Chuck Wagon races began with the same pageantry as the rodeo did.

One of the teams coming to the staging area.

Teams entering the staging area for the start of the race.

And their off!

Those Chuck Wagon races were something else.  The wagons were pulled by teams of Thoroughbreds.  Each wagon team was followed by two Out riders.  The start of each race was chaotic.  People (Out riders) were on the ground holding the teams back right before the starting horn sounded.  Then wagons and teams raced around the starting barrels, dirt and mud flew everywhere!  The Out Riders vaulted themselves onto their Thoroughbreds with a single jump, bouncing on the ground just once.

Following the Chuck Wagon races, the arena was quickly converted into a gigantic stage.  Stage Crews along with the biggest John Deere tractor that we've ever seen aided in the transformation.

The show begins!

Canada's version of KISS

The show ended with a tribute to the people of Calgary that were affected by the terrible flooding.  Not only were many people's homes flooded (at one point 10,000 people were evacuated from their homes, but the Stampede Park was flooded too.  In fact, the Saddledome was still closed due to the flooding.  The water inside this building was up to the eighth row.   Locker rooms, food concession areas, washrooms, mechanical rooms and the arena still need further restoration from the mucky waters.

The Young Canadians, aerial performers, ballet dancers, opera singer, violinist, singers, were outstanding!

Today was still another amazing day at the Stampede.