Jasper

Well I made the right decision not to spend 5 months in Jasper, it is beautiful but way too small. Eight of us went on a road trip this weekend. We went for a hike, my first one, which was more like walking around in a forest. I think we could have pick a better trail but none of us are from here. It did have some beautiful views at the end. However don`t really like walking along cliff faces without a hand rail. I know i`m a wuss but it was a long way down. On the way back I drove for the first time in Canada! I drove a pick-up truck for a bit as Sean was tired. Not as weird as I thought driving on the wrong side of the road and turning didn`t seem as strange when I was actually driving. I was however following the other car so was just copying. We also stop at a waterfall on the way back. The spray of it was cold enough but the guys decided to climb up and go under it. Us girls decided just to watch as got soaked enough from the spray coming off.

Zoo Ranch

The Zoo has a ranch where it does some conservation work just outside Calgary. They are currently part of projects that are breeding Whooping Crane, Vancouver Island Marmot and Asian Horses as they are close to being exist. They have re-introduction programmes for the animals once they are old enough. It was interesting to see the work that they do. It wasn`t particularly exciting as couldn`t get to close to the animals as they didn`t want them to have too much human contact.

Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

We nearly missed the second day of the tour as our train decide on that particular morning not to run. Trains are as bad here as they are back home always when you actually have to be somewhere! Saw more of the prairies on this trip, they reminded me of the fields back home. Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is a cliff top that native Indians used to drive buffalo off in order to kill them. It is called Head Smashed-In as one day a young Indian wanted to see what happened before he was off age to go on the hunt and went to the bottom of the cliff and when they found him after the buffalo had been driven off his head was smashed in from the buffalo falling on him. We also saw some Indian dancing while we where there. Also went to the Nanton Lancaster Air Museum which is in the area where a lot of the pilots in WW1 where trained. It had a lot of information on the Great Escape that was really interesting. We saw the Big Rock as well on the way back which apparently travelled from Jasper when part of one of the glaciers melted.

Drumheller

Mandy and I went on a two-day bus tour last week. On our first day we when to Drumheller which is south of Calgary. Drumheller is where they have found lots of dinosaur skeletons. It is also where the badlands are. The badlands are an areas that is full of canyons it is where horse thieves used to hide with the stolen horses until the coast was clear. We also when to the Royal Tyrrell Museum (see i`m being educated as well) which is all about dinosaurs, some of it was quite interesting. We also saw the hoodoos which are rock formations that are more solid at the top than the bottom. I also went to church (well not really) it was a small service as the church only holds 6 people! We caught the Bleriot cable ferry that took us across a river that was properly as wide as the Garnock! Why not just build a bridge I don`t know! Finally we when to the Last Chance Saloon for a drink before heading home, it is the cheapest drink i have had in Canada!

Chuckwagons & Grandstand Show

When back to the stampede grounds for the chuck wagons and grandstand show. We went around the rest of the grounds that we hadn't seen and when we went to the rodeo. Saw the BMX rodeo they where doing some amazing stuff. Saw the agricultural tent where they had some live cows, pigs and bison which was strange to see and smelled. Weird seeing how they breed animals in order to kill them. We also saw the Indian Village and got to go into some real teepee's. There was also a Indian dance contest on that we watched for a bit. Almost forgot that we went to the super dogs show! Only went to kill some time and get a seat before going to the Chuck wagon racing but it was actually really good we nearly missed the start of the chuck wagons. The chuck wagon racing was really hard to get into as wasn't sure what was happening. It is hard to get into a race when you don't know who you are cheering on and don't have a bet on, there is no betting! Also wasn't sure what the outriders where for, we really should have taken a calgarian with us! I preferred the rodeo. The grandstand show was so over the top. They had a pre-show while they set up the stage, then the show was on for an hour and a half. Some of the show was good other bits not so good. They had motorbikes jumping over the stage and some really good fireworks.

Rodeo and Stampede Grounds

After the parade we went to the stampede grounds to go to the rodeo. The Rodeo was really good, we just got standing tickets and where the closest you could get to what was happening. We saw the bare-back horse hiding, bull riding, tie down roping, calf wrestling and barrel racing. It was really good we thought it would only be on for about an hour but it lasted nearly 3. Bull riding is really not the safest thing to do, one guy ended up with a gash on his head as he was hitting his head off the bull and wouldn't use his free hand to protect himself as would be disqualified, while another guy was knocked out out before he fell off the bull. At the end there was kids in teams that had to control then ride a wild pony. It was mad who lets there kids do that!

The grounds are huge we didn't see have of the stuff that was there as we had day passes for the rides, i must be getting old as couldn't go on more that 3 spiny rides in a row. Went on the worst ghost train I have even been on. It was a good day but too tiring as it is really hot here just now. Got burn i know it is a shock! Going to go back to see the chuck wagon racing and the Grandstand show on Friday night which is suppose to be good.

More Parade Photos

Stampede Parade

So stampede has hit Calgary, apparently people wait all year for stampede to come around. They certainly like there western gear. We are now allowed to wear black jeans and cowboy hats to work. For the parade it started at 9.30am in order to get a spot to watch the parade we had to leave at 7.30am and even then we where struggling for a spot. We found a wall to sit on which was good as we then could stand on it when the parade started. The parade was good but about 30 mins too long as it lasted over 90 mins. They really like there marching bands here! They also had 3 bagpipe bands and none of them had a Scottish flag. There was some weird floats in it, they like to have a message on them! However with the mounties,navy, army there we where set. The best part was the tanks one of them was doing turns on in the street, it was amazing to see what they could do in such a small area and not take anyone out!

Warp Tour

Went to Warp tour this week with my roommate Mandy, it is a punk rock festival that travels that over North America. Punk music appears to be really big over here, most of the bands i had never heard of, which won't be a shock to most of you as you know my musical knowledge is pretty basic. The only band in the line up that i knew was the automatic, which no one here had heard of! Saw the automatic play they where really good, it was weird though as they had a really small crowd as no one in Canada has really heard of them, it seem to be the Brits that where watching. They played Monster and I was thinking of all you hockey girls and of course singing our words to the chorus! They also did the cover of Gold digger which was really good to see live. Mandy has a Video of it so will need to get a copy. The festival was pretty good liked some of the other bands that played not all though. It was too hot, was 34 and there was hardly any shade and very little grass to sit on as it was at a speedway ground. We did manage to find a spot in the shade on the grass or i don't think we would have made it through to the evening. If the Aussie says it is too hot i know that i am in trouble!!