Helen's Home World: Alberta Bound

Monday, August 17, 2015

Alberta Bound

On Thursday, 6 August I flew out to Calgary, Alberta for my niece's wedding. Beckett and Keltic had to stay home with Adrian, their littlest peep cousin.

The wedding was on Saturday so that gave me time on Friday to drive to Vulcan, Alberta to visit a friend. Vulcan, if you don't know, has a replica of the Enterprise and hosts a Star Trek convention every year.

Enterprise

Star Trek and me!

The friend I went to visit, I hadn't seen since high school but it was like we had never been apart. It was so great to see her again.

My sisters and brothers-in-law drove the other way to Banff which is in the mountains but my drive took me further into the prairies. In the prairies, there are views that seem to go on forever. You can also spot a few of the old grain elevators. They used to be in every small town but now there are very few left.

View for miles and miles!

Grain Elevators

Saturday with the wedding in the afternoon, we headed to the mall in the morning to the see the big Bass Pro Shop, and I do mean big, so big you can hang a plane from the ceiling. The mall, called CrossIron Mill, is huge; we only did half before stopping in the food court to have a bite to eat before heading back to the hotel to change.

Bass Pros Shop - Outdoor World

The wedding and reception were just beautiful. It was such a nice day.

The bride and groom with my sister, the mother of the bride.

Sisters with the bride

Wedding decor

Sunday, my sisters and brothers-in-law all got together for brunch before everyone started heading back home. As I was staying another week, I didn't have to rush off but since everyone else had their own plans I went out to Spruce Meadows. Spruce Meadows is a premier show jumping venue, I have watched horse shows from there on TV for many many years and have always wanted to go. In 2010, the AAC held their agility national championships there but I had no dog to compete with that year.

Monday, after checking out of the hotel, my sister and I went to the Calgary Zoo. It was rather hot so many of the animals were taking siestas in the shade. Only the crazy people were out in the hot sun.

The zoo also has an animatronic dinosaur park. The dinosaurs probably need less to eat than the real animals. We said that they should put the gopher and meerkat exhibits in there, maybe even a reptile exhibit, now that would be cool.

Hiding from dinosaurs

On Tuesday, my sister and I headed off on an overnight trip to Drumheller and the badlands of Alberta. It's really funny how you drive across this wide open prairie and then just off the highway there are these huge expanses of canyon that are nearly invisible from the road.

Horseshoe canyon

People hiking the canyon floor.

If you make the first picture larger you can see the people hiking. It's a long way down and would be a steep climb back up that's for sure. This canyon is only about 500 m off the highway and you don't even see it until you drive into the parking lot. You can take a helicopter tour of the canyon, that would be the way to go.

When we got to Drumheller we went out to see the World's largest dinosaur, the Hoodoos and the Atlas Coal Mine.

Drumheller, Alberta

Hoodoos

Atlas Coal Mine (got my finger over the lens but it looks vintage)

You can climb up the big dinosaur if you like, it's only 106 steps up and then back down. Again we didn't do it, I can't imagine how hot it would be in there. We did walk around the HooDoos some. The HooDoos are formed because the layer of rock above the sandstone is harder and makes a cap and protects the sand stone column underneath from erosion. The black layers in the hills are from plants and often indicates coal. Coal was a huge industry in the area until the early 50's, now most of the mines are abandoned. The Atlas Coal Mine is a national historic site. We took a little train ride and walked around but didn't do the tunnel or tipple tour.

The next day, we went to the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Drumheller is considered to be one of the best places in the world to find dinosaur bone beds and fossils.

After seeing the museum we did the badlands interpretive trail and then went a few kilometers further to see Horsethief Canyon before heading back to Calgary. Horsethief Canyon is much bigger than Horseshoe Canyon and they warn you that once down in the coulees that you might get lost as every direction looks the same.

Horsethief Canyon

It's hard to get the scale from the pictures but while at Horseshoe you could see that you could go around the canyon, Horsethief seems to go on forever. We wondered what the settlers thought when they got there with their wagons.

Back in Calgary, the next day we went downtown for a few hours as it was another hot day. Turned out that they broke a temperature record for that day in August.

On my last day before heading home, we went to Heritage Park. It's a living history museum that has different eras represented from the 1800's to early 1900's.

Some of the buildings are actually shops like a candy store or ice cream parlour but most depict the life and times of the era. Many of the buildings were moved and restored on site. Not all the buildings are original, some are replicas. We took the steam train for a ride around the park, you can get on and off at four stations. We also took the paddle wheeler for a ride around the reservoir. They have day camps and even week long camps for kids. NOT sure I'd want to wear a dress all week.

So now I'm home again but am heading off on some more adventures, this time Beckett and Keltic do get to come with me. See you again soon!

4 comments:

AnonymousAugust 17, 2015 at 9:05 PM
It sounds like a great trip Helen. You got to be at your niece's wedding, met an old friend, and got to see many interesting places!
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Lassiter Chase and BenjaminAugust 18, 2015 at 6:35 AM
Pawsome post! Beautiful wedding! Pawsome animatronic dinosaurs. And loved the bench design with the cows painted on it. It looked like a really fun trip!
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DianaAugust 21, 2015 at 9:38 PM
Wow, it all looks very cool.
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SaraAugust 23, 2015 at 1:53 PM
I've never been to Alberta, but I think I may have to go. Those canyons are really cool!
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Agility Blessing

May the tunnels not have too much suction,
May the course be fun and fast.
May your dog not stop to say "hello" to the photographers they pass!
May the table not be too slippery,
May the chute house no scary beasts,
May all the yellow parts be touched with one little toe, at least
May the wind be always at your back,
May no bars fall on the ground,
May the A-frame have no stop sign on the top,
May the judge's whistle never sound.
May your dog obey all correct commands,
And ignore the ones that are wrong.
May your heart be light, your feet be sure, and the bond with your dog grow strong.
At the finish line, may great joy abound, regardless of your score,
You have your dog, your dog has you, and who could ask for more?

Written by: PJ Hughes

What is a Title!

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores. A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor that dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard, and though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in the world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, permanently recorded.

Written by Sandy Mowery, Wisconsin

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.

I saw a wondrous image then of a place that’s trouble-free,

Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new

I wanted to run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, and tell you I’m alright

That this place is truly wonderful,

Then a bright Glow pierced the night.

Twas the Glow of many candles shining bright, strong and bold

I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.

So, whenever you need to find me, we’re never far apart,

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's so hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,

And you'll run on, around the bend.

Gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,

Life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

But they be they, and they aren't you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,

The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

Take with you this...I loved you best.

-Jim Willis

The Price We Pay

There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals.

It is a cycle unlike any other.

To those who have never lived through it's turnings and walked it's rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with the full knowledge it will be broken seems incomprehensible.

Only we know how small price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given.

Suzanne Clother