Blogs from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, North America - page 66

Hi guys, It's well and truely stampede time and the bad shirts, hats and facial hair have come out to play! Last night was my first venture into the stampede grounds to watch the chuck wagon races and the 'greatest outdoor show on earth'. It was pretty good fun, albeit a touch on the cheesy side for aboot the first hour. Basically what what I can gather the chuck wagons get millions of dollars in sponsorship to put company names on their little wagons who then chuck a flag in the boot, drive around a couple of barrels, and race around a course with 2 backriders following behind. Basically if you get in the front after the barrels you have to be a dud to lose. After the wagon races they wheel in a massive stage ... read more

A short stay in Calgary! We hit Calgary, Alberta and as we approached we saw the impenetrable fortress that are the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Really, they are just there just daring you to try to get across them! We went up the Calgary Tower to get a better view of them to appreciate their grandeur. And once again I struggled on a glass floor. Heights are still my nemesis! We stayed for a night at Horty's friend's place in the basement. I wish Texas had basements. They make a home much better I think. I'd make my basement a man geek cave! Tomorrow is my last day with Horty though and this fact is making me sad :(... read more

This morning we got up early and caught the C-Train to Stampede Park for Family Day. If you arrived before 9, then there was no gate fee! First thing we did was go into the saddledome to get some Tim Hortons, and then watch the sheepdog trials. And were those dogs awesome, or what! After the dog trials, we watched a bit of the blacksmithing finals, before heading back to see the Stampede Showband perform on the steps of the Saddledome. When we were done there, we headed across to a nice grassy area to eat our packed lunches, before catching the end of the World Cup finals - with Italy winning in a penalty shootout! We then stayed in the Bell-X arena for a BMX and skateboarding show, before heading across to get a seat ... read more

After the parade we had our packed lunches in Prince's Island Park, got icecream at the little swimming area for kiddies near the Eau Claire shopping centre, visited a "trendy" little place called Kensington (which was a fair bloody walk but well worth it just for a look around), hid out in the largest indoor garden in Alberta for a while and hit up a brewery called "Brewsters" for a well deserved pint of speciality beer (which might i add was still $4.80 in happy hour!). ... read more

Hello Family and Friends and welcome to my African Blog! I am making last minute arrangements and hope to be packed in the next day or so ..so I can enjoy stampede. Can you believe I am going to Africa. I hope you find this site easy to access and I promise to keep you apprised of my journey, observations, learnings, and adventures -- which I know there will be many. Please also feel free to connect others you think would be interested in my travels. Thank you to all of you who have helped me take this bold step! Cheers, Jan... read more