Yeehaw!

Final day...wow - it's been a truly amazing trip and we're sad to know that this morning is our last morning here. We fly out just after midnight tonight.

Corinne and Dalyce arrived last night around 10 and we stayed up to chat for a bit before turning in for the night. We were the lucky recipients of the bed for the night while Ellen, Corinne and Dalyce made do with a pull out couch and an air mattress. It was a snug fit with 5 bodies in a 1 bedroom apartment, but we all managed just fine!

By the time Darryl and I got up this morning, Corinne and Dalyce were gone to Dalyce's volleyball camp and Ellen was gone to work. We got dressed and got our camera gear in order and headed out in search of a Starbucks to get the day off to a good start.

Things weren't really getting under way at the Stampede until 11am, so our plan was originally to go to the zoo for the morning and then to the Stampede, but the weather really wasn't co-operating and the prospect of walking around the zoo in a downpour didn't sound that appealing, so we decided instead to head to the Stampede and check it out early.

A cloudy welcome to Calgary Stampede Park.

Planning our day...

With a lack of people at the early hour, I was able to take the multiple exposures

needed to make this HDR photo of the Cotton Candy vendor.

We arrived at Stampede park around 9am, got an excellent parking spot and with our pre-purchased tickets, breezed right into the park - the deserted park. There were hardly any people there, but that was fine, it gave us a chance to check out the venues. We watched the junior showmanship competition for a while, then the stock dog competition in the Saddledome. We had hoped to see the miniature horse show, but missed it. We still had a little time to kill before the rodeo started so we went through the marketplace where there were some interesting vendors of various western - and not so western - wares...cowboy boots, shamWOW's, cowboy hats, massage chairs, belt buckles the size of dinner plates, air brush nail art...it was an eclectic blend of traditional and "As Seen on TV" wares. We did finally buy some souvenirs - we each bought a rain poncho, a t-shirt and a pin.

Around 1, we headed to the grandstand to find our seats for the rodeo. We'd no sooner found our seats, which were thankfully somewhat sheltered by the upper level of seats, then the Heavens opened up and the rain came pouring down...and the show went on! The rodeo ring quickly turned into a soupy, muddy mess and save for a couple of minor slips, there were no mishaps.

We had come prepared for any weather and had rain sleeves for the cameras so we were able to shoot away in spite of the rain although our photos leave a lot to be desired because we were quite far away and it was so dark with the rain.

This was the view from our grandstand seats of the rodeo ring - it's a testament to the photos
below that were shot with our 500mm lenses.

The rodeo overall was excellent. There were a few times that I was bothered by what I was watching. The calf roping was difficult to watch at times - watching the calves being yanked off their feet - violently in most cases. I'm not sure it's something I would go see again, but I'm glad that I finally went. After being out there so many times and never being there in the summer and having the opportunity to go.

These aren't the best photos, but I just wanted to show how wet it was - the rain teemed down
for almost an hour. The rodeo ring was reduced to soup very quickly.

Uh oh...

Above, the barrel racers still burned up the course - even they were covered in mud by the time they were done.

This was a cute event - wild pony races. The teams were teams were groups
of kids, I think no older than 12. Each had the lead of a wild pony that was
released from a chute. The object was for one of the kids to get on the pony and ride it.
The one able to stay on the pony the longest was the winner. In the last photo,
you see how most of the teams ended up...dragged through the mud!

At 5, we bid the Stampede, and the rain, farewell and, after a minor inconvenient delay in downtown Calgary rush hour traffic, headed back to Ellen's apartment to pick up our luggage and say our goodbye's there.

It was Corinne's birthday also Monday and she, Dalyce and Ellen were heading out for dinner, so we were fortunate to catch them all at the apartment before they went out. We thanked everyone for their hospitality and wished Corinne a happy birthday and left to go meet Lynda Sweet for dinner at the "Reef and Beef" restaurant. I met Lynda online through my elkhound email group (moosedog) and she invited us to go out for dinner when we came west.

We had no trouble finding her when we arrived at the restaurant as she brought Bear with her. It's not hard to spot an elkhound - they stand out anywhere!

We had an excellent meal and really enjoyed meeting Lynda. Actually, I think it was the first time the whole trip we ate beef...prime rib...and it was excellent. After dinner, Lynda invited us back to her house, so we took her up on the offer and spent an hour there before it was finally time to make our way to the airport.

Security was a breeze this time as we now knew what they expected for liquids in carry-on, so we were passed right through - no "random" searches this time, either, thank goodness!

The lounge was comfortable and the wait not too long. We had booked the exit row so were able to board the plane first...only to discover that the exit row seats don't recline. Poor Darryl - he had a broken seat that wouldn't recline on the flight out and now we were on a red-eye flight intending to sleep at the way home and it was about as uncomfortable as it could possibly be. We both tried to sleep but it was only little bits at a time here and there before we got too uncomfortable and had to shift around. By the time we landed at Toronto at 6am local time, we were both all cramped up and very tired, but glad to be home. Our luggage came off the plane quickly and after a short wait for the Park N' Fly bus, we were at the truck and headed home around 7am.

We pulled into the driveway at home just before 8m and my mom was no only already up, but had her car packed ready to go home! The house was still standing, the cats looked unfrazzled and the dogs were overjoyed to see us. We couldn't have done this trip without my mom staying out our house the whole time we were gone to look after the animals and house, so a HUGE thanks goes out to her!!!

I'll add more photos as I have time to process them, I don't know how many I shot yet, but I'm guessing 8000...but for now it's time to have a Simon snuggle and a snooze...