Calgary and the Stampede

Over the past three weeks we have driven primarily on back country roads where we never saw another car, and often not a house for hours on end.  We have enjoyed the quiet solitude of the rolling hills and fields of wildflowers as far as the eye could see.

All this peacefulness did not prepare us for the “stampede” of both humanity and horses that descended upon this Canadian city during the 10 days of what is called “ The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”.  The Calgary Stampede, held annually for the past 102 years. 

Home to the 1988 Winter Olympics,  Calgary has greatly benefited from the boom of both oil and gas. 

We saw many of these oil wells
 in the fields driving from Montana into Alberta

 Huge homes packed in small lots sandwiched together, skyscrapers and newly constructed highways twist and turn with so many exits a visitor or their trusty (?) GPS doesn't know if you are coming or going.

 I hate to say it, but we found many local residents, while on the road and in parking lots, VERY rude!  They all were speeding, cutting you off, and stealing your parking space with the agility of a race car driver. Give us a break, will you?  Can’t you see we are from a far-away place?

July 3^rd, 2014 Day 34

Booking months in advance, got us one, if not the only site with a little
side yard, and its very own electrical post! We enjoyed the corner location
that invited many folks to stop and chat!

We arrived at Calgary West Campground and were pleasantly surprised.  The reviews for all Calgary campgrounds were terrible so we were prepared for the worst. We really didn't have a problem with it.  I think we may have ruined a couple of pairs of pants in the laundromat, and there was a rock concert being held next door at the old Olympic grounds, but other than that, not bad at all.
   

We had a nice corner site with a bit of elbow room, and didn't have to share the electric box with another, which was a definite plus. ( first one there would get 30 amp, the next only 20 amp which would not run much ). Making reservations months in advance often has its perks. 

 We set up camp then decided to take a trip to Costco, find a Bell Atlantic store so we could have internet service, the Apple store, and a regular grocery store. 

In this town, you even need coffee with a "cowboy" theme!

I buy this in the States all the time for a little over $15.00!
( It's quite a nice wine, by the way )

At the price of beer and wine, perhaps "Happy Water" is the
next best thing. Lithium has been used since the 1940's in drugs for the treatment of
severe depression and bipolar disorder.  Will this water from the springs of British Colombia really
make you happy?  Or just make you THINK you are happy?

I must also say, fellow US Citizens - don’t complain about food and alcohol prices!  Why is cheese so expensive here?  Alcohol here is at least double, often triple the price.  $42.00 for a case of Corona?  We buy it at Sam’s Club for much less than half!

 I have read that the cost of living in Calgary is the highest in the country, with the median price of a single family home a mere $516,000!  As a result of the floods last year and the job boom, apartment vacancies are nil, with their average rent near $1500 per month.  Many people are struggling here to make ends meet. I don't doubt that!

Friday, July 4^th, 2014

After scoping out the train station, we decided the night before we would not tangle with the drivers of Calgary so we got up and out by 6:45 AM to catch the shuttle bus from the campground to the downtown in order to see the parade!  "You HAVE to see the parade! " I had heard!  It was a  2 1/3 mile, 3 hour procession of over 600 horses, Floats, performers and bands! 

First Nation's People are a very important part of the Calgary Stampede

Lots of c!owboys, of course

We had purchased tickets months ago, but were not able to choose where on the parade route we might be.  Let’s just say that it was a brisk mile and a half before we came upon our seats. Sitting on the 9th row didn't allow you to feel you were at a parade at all, and the angle to take photos was very disappointing.

  Other folks from the campground did not buy tickets for seating and found fabulous places to set up right next to the judges so enjoyed all the “best” performances of each group.  For Free!  By the time the marchers got to us, they were hot and tired. 

A great use for a holster. Looks like it is nearly empty.

A "poop" sweeper made to look like a Bull!  How clever and cute!
These were a very important part of the parade when 600 horses are involved!

All in all, we were pretty disappointed.  I was, anyway.  Norm didn’t expect much, and didn’t really want to go, so he was not surprised. 

We also decided to go back to the campground and relax and take a nap then return to the Stampede at 6PM for the Evening Chuckwagon races, and the TransAtlanta Show.

                                        Being from the East, Norm and I had never heard of Chuckwagon racing, so in order for you to understand what this sport is, let me quote Wikipedia: 

Chuckwagon racers coming into the finish line
at the Calgary Stampede

 "Chuckwagon racing is a team event, led by a driver who commands a team of horses pulling the chuckwagon, and is supported by two or four outriders, each racing individual thoroughbred horses that follow the chuckwagon. Each race typically involves three or four teams, and begins with the outriders "breaking camp", by tossing two tent poles (with four outriders only) and a barrel representing a camp stove into the back of their wagon before mounting their horses and following the wagons as they complete a figure eight around two barrels before circling a race track. The first wagon to cross the finish line typically wins, although various time penalties are handed out for infractions such as a barrel being knocked over, a tent pole or stove not loaded, wagon interference or an outrider crossing the finish line too far behind his wagon driver.^”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC5RnMdzSYk   Watch this quick video on chuckwagon racing.

Here at the Stampede they are racing 10 heats each of the 10 nights.  The winning team will take home $150,000 I believe.  I understand it gets really exciting that last night, with total prize money exceeding a million dollars.

Unfortunately, with a lot of sports involving animals, there is a dark side.  When I learned that the reason for a 1 hour delay ( which was explained as “technical difficulties” to the public ) was actually due to an animal welfare group protesting, I just had to investigate. I was really surprised and disappointed to learn of the past horrors here in Calgary where the world’s most prestigious Chuckwagon races are held.

From 1986 to 2013, 50 horses and 5 people, have died due to accidents -  many from heart attacks! One rider was injured, and another horse died just this week of an aneurysm! Other than the fact that I was quite surprised to see thoroughbreds used to pull wagons, I did not sense they were in grave danger.  We probably wouldn't have gone, had we known. 

 

Such talent at the Grandstand Evening Show!

Thankfully no man nor beast was injured during the races, and the entertainment provided by The Young Canadians with their singing, dancing, and comedy acts were marvelous!  We didn’t get back until after 1AM, which was way past out bedtimes, but we had a great time!

The finale at the Grandstand Show complete with fireworks!

At the showgrounds, there were a ton of eating options. Boy am I glad we had dinner before we left!  Here are a few of the culinary delights! 

Deep fried Pickle Pizza.  Another option was fried scorpions!

Here's a good one - take a bacon cheese burger and deep
fry it in a tasty donut! 

A juicy Burger stacked with fries, 
drenched in gravy and cheese curds, topped 
with a Kaiser bun. What's a cheese curd?

Bacon wrapped corn?  How do you eat that thing?

July 5th, 2014  Day 36

Since we didn’t get to bed until after 2AM, ( it doesn’t get dark until nearly midnight ) on this day we didn’t do much.  Fresh produce was purchased and laundry done.  We didn’t want to tangle with the Calgary traffic, so we took a day off.  The drive to Jasper tomorrow will be a long one.