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.

Day 10 - Horsin' Around in Calgary

Day 10 for the fellas was spent in Calgary enjoying a little down time with their wives.  It was going to be the first day that the group would head over to the Stampede Park grounds.  There is so much to see and do, everyone scattered to find what interested them the most.  

Dark skies threatened a rainy day.  Donning their finest cowboy duds, along with rain gear, they were off.

David and Lori pose at the entrance of the Calgary Stampede Park.

Bonnie and Ron were right behind them!

Jill and Pam shopping at one of the many shops set up on the grounds.

The Stampede Park is a huge facility.  More like state fairgrounds as we know them.  The buildings in the park seem fairly new.  There are lots of fair food vendors, agricultural exhibits, animal exhibits and activities for children.  Sheep shearing contests, vet science exhibits, draft horse pens, pedal tractor pulls for kids, the list goes on and on.  The daily schedule of things to do begins at 8:00 and ends late into the evening.

Everyone eventually met at the Grandstands at 1:15 p.m., the big attraction for our group today was the rodeo.

  

Great seats for the rodeo events.

David and Lori

 

Before the rodeo began the crowd was entertained by free style riders.

These guys did so many aerial stunts it would be impossible to post all of the images.  

There really is something for everyone at the Calgary Stampede.

Rodeo Cowboys fired up the crowd as they harnessed up, and slowly made their way to the stage below.

The rodeo opened with the flag girls speeding around the arena.

This world class band, performed in sharp precision.

Jill and Ron are enjoying the rodeo events.

A bevy of stampede queens, each representing their local rodeo or stampede, were introduced.

A pair of Indian Hoop Dancers colorfully, demonstrated their art.

While bulls or broncs loaded into chutes, flag riders and rodeo bullfighters (clowns) performed.

Light rain showers came and went along with the sunshine.  When the rodeo was over everyone scurried for transportation back to the hotel.  Some hit a local watering hole while others headed back to the hotel for an adult beverage. 

A total of 14 people met for dinner at The Vintage Steakhouse in downtown Calgary.  Are you wondering where the extra two came from?  Mike and Lisa,  friends from Florida, were in the same hotel to attend the Stampede too.  What a small world we live in.

Day 9 - The Girls Arrive in Calgary!

Late afternoon on July 4, the guys had arrived in Calgary.  With the opportunity to have a leisurely morning, they took full advantage of the free time.  Ron and Fred spent the morning chasing down the rental cars.  Stu took his bike to the local Harley Davidson dealer for a 5,000 mile service.  Not being able to stand having filthy motorcycles any longer, Joe and David headed for a wash bay.  The Calgary Stampede officially began at 9:00 a.m., with the Opening Parade.  Mike opted to experience the pageantry that begins the Stampede by heading downtown to see the parade.

Just two weeks ago, part of the downtown district of Calgary was flooded.  This included the area where most of the Stampede activities were to be held.  The Calgary Stampede gives a huge economic boost to the city.  The local government and businesses knew that Come Hell or High Water, the show must go on!  Everyone pulled together, cleaned up all of that mess and they were ready for the business of tourism.

Most of the girls were due to arrive on the same flight around 1:30 p.m.  Pat landed earlier in the morning thanks to creative schedule changes by the airlines.  Ron and Fred were at the airport to pick them all up.

Joe, David, Stu and Mike found a nearby florist.  All six of the men purchased this beautiful arrangement for Bonnie to thank her for the work on this blog.  It was a huge arrangement.  The gift was not necessary, but thank you very much.  I am enjoying them!  In addition to this arrangement, they purchased flowers for their wives too.  Nine days on the road has a way of making a guy miss his best friend.

On the first night of their arrival, the fellas had dinner a block or two away from their hotel at Ric's Grille.

They met this lovely young lady, Carrielyn,  who matched them quip for quip.  (Actually, she probably upped that game by leaps and bounds.  She was extremely witty.)  

Feeling a little jet lagged from the early start to their day, and hungry, the girls were in need of a snack and hydration.  Here they are at the nearby Ric's Grille.  The food is very, very good.  The staff is extremely friendly.  You've met Carrielyn!  

 David, Lori, Pam and Joe had dinner at a Sushi Restaurant then went to Ric's for a special desert - Cappucino Ice Cream with a cookie crust.

 Everyone in Calgary wears cowboy hats during the Stampede.  Boots and hats is where it's at!

Pam is fitting right in.

Ron and Bonnie

Stu and Jill

Everyone was on different schedules this afternoon.  Fred and Pat explored the area on foot.  They stopped at a couple of local establishments for nourishment along the way.  They were both caught in a major thunderstorm and were soaked to the skin.  No photos of Pat, I promised.  

Mike and Pam were missing in action.  We did not run into them last evening.

Following dinner, everybody headed in early for a good night's sleep.  They wanted to be in good form for a busy day tomorrow.

Day 8 - Whitefish, Montana to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 289 Miles Ridden Today. Total From Indianapolis - 2457 miles.

Mike, David, Fred, Ron and Stu before leaving Whitefish, Montana.
Today they will be leaving the United States for Canada.

Lucky for Stu, that Grizzly Bear is made out of fiberglass.

Mike liked the Elk.

 That was the plan.

 Let's hope the guys don't have any problems here!

They are getting closer to Canada!

Arriving at the border.

While going through customs, everything worked out just fine.

Stopping at the Visitor Centre is a must do. (Canadians spell some things differently than we do.)

The adventuresome six rolled up on this bad boy.  They just had to stop and check it out.

David, Joe and Ron just come half way up those huge tires.  All three of the men are 6 feet tall or more.

The Titan 33 - 19 is the biggest truck in the entire world.
That enormous truck can haul 350 tons at a time.  To help put that into perspective, it would take 17 quad-axle dump trucks to haul that much tonnage at one time.

 That yellow crop is Canola.

The scenery is just as beautiful here as it was in the United States.

 The guys could see this storm brewing.  They were heading right into it.  

Two different vehicles stopped and warned them about the heavy hail that was accompanying this nasty weather.  Heeding those warnings the group turned around, headed back and were able to skirt around the storm.  The only thing that they encountered was a little rain.

The Alaskan Adventurers have arrived in Calgary!