June 26th , 2009.

Paula and I had a wonderfully restful sleep for our first night in southern Alberta, considering the two hour time difference. We managed to sleep in until about 7:30-8:00 am. Alberta time. WOW that’s 9:30-10:00 Ontario time! We had a nice relaxing breakfast while listening to various birds in the front yard birch tree. I think there was a couple of birds hiding in the “cowboy boot birdhouses!” (LOL) After breakfast, we headed to Paula’s cousins, Corinne and Terry’s farm for the day in Hayes, Alberta.

Fresh farm eggs from the Unruh farm - these were breakfast the next morning!

Along the way, our tour guide, Aunt Shirley, took us past some old Bryant family homesteads, although many are not as they were then, with newer homes and no sign of what was once there when Paula’s family owned them.

We heard stories about “Lease Riders” and “Ditch Riders”, and saw where Paula’s Uncle Elwood was a “Ditch Rider”.

There we had some terrific conversation over morning coffee with Corinne and some of the neighbours, who, we understand from Corinne, are regular drop ins. In fact, we had morning coffee with them…and lunch…and dinner at 9:30pm! After morning coffee, we got the grand tour of the farm, which included the chickens, ducks, geese, pheasants, rabbits, pigs, horses, goats and cows. Did I miss any animals? Oh yes, donkeys, llamas & doves. And did I mention the goats? HUNDREDS of goats…that all come when called! EEK!

After grabbing a quick bite to eat, we headed to “the forks” with Corinne and one of neighbours, Ron, who was needed for directions. The forks is where the Bow River and the Old Man River meet and join to become the South Saskatchewan River. It was absolutely beautiful countryside and somewhat reminded us of the Grand Canyon, albeit on a much smaller scale.

While there, Corrine “guarded” the truck (read: scared of snakes, so stayed with the truck), while Ron, Paula and I explored the river bank, ancient Indian tepee rings, and flowering cacti – we looked in vain for an old arrow head without success. We did however, see a whitetail dear on the river bank, however, the brush was too thick to get a photo.

Our back roads country tour next took us past a deer farm, where dozens and dozens of white tail deer grazed in fields like cattle behind 12’ fences.

Corinne remembered that when Paula was out 23 years ago, she liked her fellabella horse, so she called a friend of hers, Bev, who has miniature horses and a fellabella. We spent about a half an hour with 6 mini’s and 2 colts – who were incredibly cute.

After the grand tour, we went back to the farm in Hayes for a BBQ dinner, where we were joined by Paula’s cousin, Dalyce, who had been judging sheep all day for her 4H group.

After a very long day, we made our way back to Paula’s Aunt and Uncles house and her cousin Ellen had arrived from Calgary for the weekend. We visited briefly but were very tired so turned in for the night.

- Darryl

Today’s tally

Half dozen wild ring neck pheasants
2 white tailed deer
3 or so hawks