Calgary Stampede

July 15th

The last days at Trailhead Ranch were really cool. On Wednesday, we went for a long ride in the national park. And I rode Monti 😃 He's only 3 years old and Anne was supposed to lead me all the time, but after 10 minutes she got tired of holding the rope and threw it at me. Great.... Monti didn't know right from left or how to brake or trot. But after 4 hours of riding through the forest, prairie, and bushes, he learned it all :) Haha, breaking horses the Canadian way. And he even did better than the other horses. Once we had to cross a river and 2 horses laid down in it, and another time there were so many branches and trees in the way that a horse stumbled and the rider fell off. I was glad I was riding Monti. We took a lot of pictures, but it may take years for Anne to send them to me.

And then I went to Calgary :D I stayed with Alan and Anna for 2 nights (couchsurfing). And it was super cool.... better than a 5-star hotel. I could use their bike and they gave me a lot of tips on what to do. On Thursday evening, we went for a walk with their two dogs, and from where their house is, you have a beautiful view of the Stampede Grounds and the city. On Saturday morning, I went to the Farmers Market and bought blueberries, apples, bread rolls, and jerky (dried meat) - my food for 4 days because the fast food stands at the Stampede are too expensive for me. And jerky is so convenient. You can just put it in your pocket and take a bite whenever you want. I need that at home too ;) And then I drove half an hour to a place where Alan said there would be free pancake breakfast. And when I finally found it after getting lost 10 times, the door was locked and no one was there. And I was really looking forward to the pancakes. But at least the bike path was beautiful. It went along the Bow River. And then I went to the Stampede and it's super cool. I've been there for 2 days now and it never gets boring. No matter where you go.... there's always something to see. Dog shows, the Budweiser Clydesdales, a motorcycle show, Muttin Bustin' (sheep rodeo with kids), the big Stampede chapel, Canadian Cowgirls, trampoline basketball, ranch rodeo (where they have to load cows onto a trailer), live music, pow wow by the Indians, and much more. And at 7.45 pm, the big evening show started. If you ever go to Canada, you have to go there! At the beginning, there were chuck wagon races and then a big show with lots of music, dancers, costumes, and performers. And the grand finale was a fireworks display that was the best thing I've ever seen (at least better than on New Year's Eve). Then I took a short nap, and the next morning I went back. Today, I was at the big rodeo from 1.15 pm to 4.30 pm and that was really cool too. Then, unfortunately, I had to leave because I had to go to my new accommodation. Now I've taken an Uber car twice (that's an app where you just enter where you want to go and someone with their car comes and takes you there). That works great and you meet new people who tell you many interesting things. Now I have one and a half days left in Calgary. I actually wanted to go to the Stampede again or explore the city. But now I'm thinking about just staying here, lying in the garden, and taking advantage of the internet. Because once I'm back at the ranch, I won't have time for that before I get home.

That's a bit difficult too because all the wildfires (that are in the news) are near Henry and Aileen's place and the road there is closed :( but maybe it will be open again by Tuesday. Well, I'll set off now, someone will pick me up for sure ;)