Dinosaurs and Broncos

We have had a packed itinerary since driving out of Banff National Park and onto the prairie. With a bit of time to spare before checking into our lodgings in Calgary we decided on a short sharp excursion to Drumheller, about 100kms to the north east of Calgary.

Drumheller is one of the foremost sites for palaeontology in the World……looking for (and finding) dinosaurs. We aimed for their World class museum to get an idea of what had been found recently. Unfortunately so did half the state seeing as it was school holidays. Once inside we saw some seriously spectacular bones of critters that are no longer with us. The oldest known dinosaur isn’t as healthy as he once was but then he is 110 million years old. He was found when prospectors were looking for oil and gas not too many years ago. The museum was well set out and people moved through at a good rate, took us about 2 hours. I was surprised to read that of all the animals to have roamed Earth, 99% are now extinct. Cockroaches are hanging in there from centuries ago and so is the Tuatara but he didn’t get a mention.

Back in Calgary we greeted Meghan’s parents Murray and Lynn, who flew in from Regina, Saskatchewan to join us for the Stampede. 

Our first day saw us jostling with zillions of people, Sunday, school holidays and children’s day. Our main event was the Chuck Wagon racing. We paid a bit to have first class seats, undercover, fully glassed in with full time waitresses bringing beer, food and water. The chuck wagons were most entertaining where four teams, that’s 4 horses and a wagon, a driver and two out-riders, compete against 3 other teams in each race. They have a hell of a fiasco to get started with horses and men moving in all directions like a square dance then they head out for a flat to the boards quarter mile race around a track. Mostly they all got through without mishap, got their placing and then do it all over again for 10 days straight. There were about 36 teams in all and some big prize money at stake.

Attractions at the Stampede like many of our A&P shows including the rides and money reducing stalls and food. We weren’t tempted to ride the Big Dipper or the Zip Line, nor did we put any balls down a clown’s throat at the “everybody wins a prize” stall….. even though there were plenty to tempt us I did think they have upped their game since I was an excited 10-year old.

Most of the food couldn’t tempt us either. In fact thinking back on it most was deep fried apart from the BBQ meat section. However we were tempted by the “Deep Fried Coffee”. Seemed interesting, can’t be too bad. Lined up behind 10 other eager suckers. Deep fried coffee consisted of half a shoe box type arrangement with what looked like the remains of a recently castrated ram lamb. These little beauties were brown in colour, coffee colour perhaps, they appeared to have the consistency of a small chewy meringue but they were “deep fried” so now loaded with oil and smothered in chocolate sauce. I shovelled them down to get the experience however my stomach was not impressed and it was a close run thing to see where they were going to come out. I’m sure this food stall hasn’t got the heart surgeons stamp of approval and I’m quite sure that it was a once in a lifetime experience for me. My stomach went into recovery mode and a glass of beer later in the day ensured all systems were back to normal….phew, a lucky break!

Our second day saw crowds drop off a bit, but we were heading steadfastly for the rodeo. Cracker of a day and we are back in our fully enclosed seats ready for action. I did consider the saddle bronc ride but was turned away due to wearing spectacles. Dodged a bullet I think as some of the riders, who looked pretty serious about the whole thing hit the turf hard.

Later in the day I though a go at the bull riding might be my thing but turned away once again as I didn’t have long sleeves on my shirt. Had an impressive hat but no, not with short sleeves. I was fairly determined to represent New Zealand so asked about the sheep ride, thought I would be quids in there. No, they don’t have a sheep ride anymore. They have a 3 person team affair where each team, aged 8-12, decked out in uniforms and crash helmets is given a 20 foot rope tied to an agitated miniature pony. At the get go the pony seems to head out fast as he can while each team is trying to get one of their party onto it’s back. One little guy held the end of the rope and was dragged across the arena for a good 100metres…mouth full of dust and horse shit I’m sure. Of 8 teams only 2 got a rider up. I wasn’t allowed in that event either but it was the best rodeo I have ever been to. Totally professional and big money involved across all sections. Top riders I understand can make $300k per year. I figure that one young cowboy, who told me a few years ago, that it is the most exciting thing you can do with your pants on was WRONG. I wouldn’t do it for one day if they gave me $300k! What a fantastic day with great weather, a great crowd and special friends to attend with, thanks to you all.

Now we are headed back to Drumheller to look for dinosaurs….bones in the Hoodoos but it’s raining and no good for walking in slippery oil-filled soils for 2-3 days so we will head off somewhere, tomorrow. In the meantime a quick walk about town revealed a dinosaur on almost every corner, I had to help one out.