Calgary July 2 to 7, 2008

Thursday, July 3, 2008

I went to Calgary to visit Nic during Stampede. The last 2 times I went to Stampede it was in the 2nd week so this time it was during the first week. We met up with 2 of Nic's friends from the Island, one who lives in Calgary and one who lives in Nanaimo and was out for Stampede too. We went to Sneak-a-Peak on Thursday, July 3. Stampede was only opened from 5pm onwards so it was $7 instead of $13 for admission. We lined up for the Roundup Centre shortly before 6:00 (it didn't open until 6:00). Once we got inside Nic and A were the first in line to get their annual henna tatoos. Being the first night of opening they were a bit disorganized at the henna booth and didn't even have their float ready yet so had to do a few things first. Nic eventually got her tatoo on her ankle and A on her lower back. In the meantime S and her niece M lined up for a Calgary Stampede backpack filled with goodies for $15. A wanted one. Nic ended up getting the other style at the end of the night, more like a courier bag. I liked the colours of the kid's backpack with a chuckwagon on it but of course it was too small! Nic and I bought some hairclips at the African Butterfly booth. I got a large and small one and Nic got a large one.

We ate at the concession in the Roundup Centre. The first concession we went to had a cashier who didn't know what she was doing. Also the machines broke down that make the BBQ Beef on a bun and the microwave had malfunctions so we got a refund and went to a different concession stand further down. Apparently BBQ Beef on a Bun is something unique and a "must-have" at Stampede so that's what the 3 other adults had. I think M had a hotdog. I had a garden burger. We went to watch the Superdogs "bling it on". There were quite a few disco balls hanging from the air. It was a good show. Herb co-emceed it. I thought he had retired. Chase did most of the announcing and Herb just did some of the smaller tasks. After the show I went to pet the dogs and asked Herb: "I thought you retired???!! That's what you said at the PNE." He said that he did the PNE for 29 years and now he is doing the CNE instead. Ahhhh, so he only retired from the PNE not the Superdogs! Cool, as he is soooo good at what he does.

The segways demo was new this year at Stampede. A segway is a 2-wheeled self-balancing electric device that looks like a pogo stick with big wheels. I saw someone on one once downtown but didn't know what they were called. I thought it would be neat to try so we lined up for it. I was quite shaky on it.

I'm glad that I sprayed with Off as A, S and poor little M were eaten alive.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Nic and I made it out of the house shortly after 7:30 am to leave for the parade. After being on vacation for 2 weeks this was the earliest I had gotten up. I only had 3 hours sleep as I woke up at 6am as my back and neck were hurting. We had good bleacher seats that Nic had reserved online. We were in the back row in the corner which was great as I didn't block anyone when I kept standing up to take photos. I really enjoyed the parade. I've never seen sooooo many horses! Instead of people-powered pooper scoopers there were big trucks with sweeping and jet-spray machines at the bottom of them. They came in groups of 3 to wet and smoosh the horse crap. It was neat to watch people walking towards the poop to see if they would step in it. There were a lot of marching bands too. I was impressed with the guy riding a bull.

We lucked out with the weather during the parade as it wasn't that hot. Also the forecast for morning thunderstorms hadn't materialized which was good. We were sitting under a tree so would've been somewhat protected from the elements anyways. After the parade Nic and I went for brekkie a few blocks away. My cousin S and her daughter E were on the other side of the parade route so were too far away to meet up. We would meet up with them for dinner instead. After brekkie Nic and I went back to her place and took a nap.

We went to S's house and while we were there there was thunder and lightning. We waited for the downpour to subside and then went for dinner at a Mexican restaurant just a few blocks away. We walked there. After dinner we went back to S's place and she went and got a chocolate mousse cake (yummy). Nic and I played with E for awhile and then had a good visit with S.

Nic and I were going to go bowling afterwards but when we got to the bowling alley it was 10:40 and it closed at 11. We called it a night.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Nic, A and I went shopping while S mowed the lawn at her house. Nic wanted to get a new belt to go with skirt she was wearing Saturday night.

The four of us went to Crossroads as one of Nic's friends had bought tickets for dinner, cover and 2 drinks. A lot of Nic's friends were there. A lot of the songs were 2-step ones but there were some regular ones too.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

We got up in time to make it to the 5:00 Team Cattle Penning show at Stampede. It was in the Saddledome where the Calgary Flames play hockey. There were 3 riders and horses per team. There was a herd of cows with numbers on their backs. Each team had to get 3 of the cows with the same numbers on their backs into the pen. Since cows are instinctively herd animals they all clustered together and didn't want to be separated. So once the riders got the cows separated they had to make sure not more than 1 wrong # was past the line or they would be disqualified. It was interesting to watch the cows try so hard to get back to the herd.

We had a buffet dinner in the Saddledome. Not a bad price $16.95. I couldn't bring myself to eat the bbq roast beef as it was soooo pink but the other 3 raved about it. I had chicken instead.

Then we went to the world stock dog championship show which was also in the Saddledome. The trainer and their dog (border collie) were at one end of the rink and then 3 sheep appeared at the other end of the rink. The dog was let go and the trainer could command the dog via whistle or voice commands. The object was to get the sheep to do a figure 8 around 2 barrels, go through a narrow corridor along the wall and then into the pen. The owner had to stay in one spot while the dog ran around. It was cool seeing the sheep because it almost seemed like the 3 of them were attached at the shoulder as they moved in unison. There were some defiant sheep who stomped their feet. A few times a dog nipped a sheep so that meant automatic disqualification. The dogs were so patient, slinking down and staring down the sheep while trying to herd them. Very well trained. I really enjoyed watching this and could've stayed there for hours!

We went to watch Hedley perform a concert outdoors. There had been a big thunderstorm so most of the fans were drenched and many of them close to the stage were body-surfing. Luckily it had stopped raining by the time we got there. Nic wanted to see the concert. Both S and I didn't know who they were. Apparently they are from Canadian Idol.

We went back to the Roundup Centre after the concert to look at more booths. Nic, A and S each bought some hairclips at the African Butterfly booth. Perhaps I will get another small clip if they are at the PNE this year. A and S got oxy detergent balls. Apparently each ball lasts up to 100 loads of laundry and it's supposed to be better for the environment.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Ate lunch at Nic's place before heading out to the airport. There weren't any bands or cowboys/cowgirls there as there was when I arrived. Nic stayed with me until I went into the secured area. What a nice friend! There were a few differences I noticed between the Calgary and Vancouver airports. When I checked in at Vancouver's the boarding pass and baggage tag were automated just with the confirmation code. I hadn't flown with Air Canada for years so putting on my own baggage tag was new for me. There was only one place to drop your bag and the woman didn't even help me when I was struggling to get it on the belt. In Calgary only the boarding pass part was automated. I had to go to a different booth where a worker printed out the baggage tag and stuck it on. In Vancouver I had to take my shoes off and they asked me to open my empty water bottle to see if there was anything in it. In Calgary I didn't have to take my shoes off (although the guy in front of me in cowboy boots had to) and they didn't ask me to show them my empty water bottle. In Vancouver my watch and bracelet beeped walking through the machine but not in Calgary...things that make you go hmm...

My flight was delayed almost an hour in Calgary due to a sudden downpour and thunder and lightning. A woman came up to me as she thought I was someone she had seen in her travels to Morocco and Mexico on previous trips. I guess we all have a twin out there somewhere.

I enjoyed watching another episode of CSI - NY on the plane. I was impressed with the selection of movies and tv categories there were to watch. Especially after taking the cheapo no-frills airline a few months ago that had absolutely no amenities.

Thanks C for picking me up at the airport!

Another successful trip and visit to Calgary! Yee ha, Yahoo (parade marshalls and people in the parade tried to get us to say that quite a lot)!