Thursday, 4 July
The Fort Museum
It was a beautiful day. Overnight, the temperature was in the mid-50s, and daytime highs were in the mid-70s. Before taking off to the next location, we met at The Fort Museum in Fort MacLeod when it opened at 9 am.
The Fort Museum of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) and First Nations Interpretive Centre in Fort Macleod features eight buildings and over 11,000 artifacts, including items related to the NWMP and First Nations history. The fort is a recreation of the original and contains exhibits exploring the NWMP’s origins and duties, including their role in establishing law and order in the Canadian West. The First Nation exhibits demonstrate the rich cultural heritage and history of the region’s Indigenous peoples.
The Musical Ride
One of the highlights of the For Museum is The Musical Ride, which is a historic and iconic performance that showcases the horsemanship and cavalry skills of the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP). The first recorded NWMP Musical Ride display occurred at Fort Macleod, Alberta, in 1876. It was initially a way for officers to practice their riding skills and provide entertainment.
The ride features young riders performing intricate cavalry drills and formations in traditional NWMP uniforms. These performances are set to music, creating a visually stunning and historically rich experience.
Fort McLeod to Nanton
We drove north on AB-2 toward Calgary. The terrain continued to have rolling plains and agricultural fields.
Bomber Command Museum
We stopped in Nanton, AB, to tour The Bomber Command Museum of Canada. Most of the caravan had already arrived so it took a few loops through town to find a parking spot.
The museum was established in 1986 as the Nanton Lancaster Society Museum to preserve and restore the Avro Lancaster FM1591. It has since grown to include a large collection of aircraft, many of which were used during World War II by the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
The museum features a variety of aircraft, engines, and other artifacts related to Bomber Command and the broader history of aviation1. One of the main attractions is the fully restored Avro Lancaster, one of only 17 remaining worldwide. We both enjoyed the large collection of aircraft nose art.
Mountain View Farm Campground
The Mountain View Farm Campground is a large 190-site campground located east of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway #1.
Friday, 5 July
Calgary Stampede Parade
Today, we were heading into Calgary to see the parade and the rodeo. The weather forecast was excellent, with daytime temperatures reaching mid-70s with slight winds.
We loaded a motorcoach a little after 7 a.m., and it took us about 30 minutes to drive 13 miles into Calgary. The bus driver successfully navigated the heavy traffic and dropped us off a block from the parade route and our reserved bleacher seats.
The Calgary Stampede Parade started at 9 a.m. When we arrived, the pre-parade was ongoing along the parade route. This pre-parade featured street performers, musicians, and other acts to excite and prepare the crowd for the main event. Some, but not all, of the acts were also in the main parade. I walked along the parade route to check out the city and the people. Several groups had parties behind their seats. Some groups brought festive items like cowbells or comfortable seating such as Adirondack chairs. It was a very festive atmosphere.
The main parade featured over 150 entries, including a mix of marching bands, floats, and horses, and around 4,000 participants. It highlighted the diversity in Canada and Calgary, with entries from almost every culture worldwide. It also had many entries for the Calgary Stampede, some social and non-profit organizations, and the military and police. Everyone in the parade encouraged the audience to yell “Yaa Hoo” so much that our throats hurt.
Afternoon Rodeo at Calgary Stampede Park
We were then bused to Calgary Stampede Park for the afternoon rodeo. We had to stand in line with a large mob trying to enter the park because entry was free between 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Once inside the park, we followed the mob through the fairgrounds until we reached GMC Stadium, where the afternoon rodeo was being held. Some of the mob continued down the park to the midway and the rides.
We had good seats overlooking the stadium, but it was such a large stadium that we needed binoculars to see it well. I bought us a couple of special-edition Stampede Budweiser to enjoy while we watched the show.
Some of the events we saw included:
First Nation Presentation
Various First Nation tribes presented their dancing styles.
Ladies Barrel Racing
This event requires control, attention to detail, and a close partnership between horse and rider. Competing against the clock, contestants circle three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern and race back across the scoreline. Time is measured with an electronic eye timer, and a hundredth of a second can determine who wins. A rider may touch a barrel, but a five-second penalty is added to her total time if she knocks one over.
Bareback
In the Bareback event, the rider holds on to the leather handhold of a rigging—a pad wrapped around the bucking horse’s girth—as he first extends his feet far forward. He then pulls his feet back toward the rigging in a spurring motion. The higher the spurs, the higher the score. The stress on the cowboy’s arm is intense as it absorbs most of the horse’s power, but he needs to hold on for at least 8 seconds.
Youth Bareback:
Adult Bareback:
Bull Riding
A thick braided bull rope, complete with a handhold, is wrapped around the bull and weighed down by a cowbell that allows the rope to fall when the ride ends. The rope is only kept tight by the bull rider’s grip. He must try to keep his arm from straightening and his hand from breaking loose before the end of the ride. The cowboy isn’t required to move his feet—staying on is hard enough—but if he does spur, he gets higher marks.
Saddle Bronc
The rhythm between a cowboy and his horse is key in Saddle Bronc. The rider moves his feet from the horse’s neck toward the back of the saddle in time with the bronc’s bucking action. The cowboy holds on to a braided rein connected to the horse’s halter, using it to help balance himself. If his hand placement is too low on the rein, he could be pulled over the front; too high, and he may be bucked off the back before his eight seconds are up.
Steer Wrestling
It’s cowboy vs the clock in this event, which requires coordination and strength. The steer wrestler waits on horseback behind a rope barrier. The steer is released when he nods and gets a 12-ft. head start. The cowboy chases the steer, then drops from his horse and grabs its horns to bring it to a halt. The steer must be on its feet before being rolled to the ground. The official time is taken once on its side with all legs extended. An extra horse, ridden by a hazer, is required to keep the steer running straight.
Tie-Down Roping
In Tie-Down Roping, the cowboy and his equine partner re-create one of ranching’s oldest tasks: roping and tying an animal. Speed, skill, and finesse are key in this event. The cowboy waits on horseback behind a rope barrier. When he nods, the calf is released and gets a 10-ft. head start. The cowboy must quickly rope the calf, dismount on the run to reach it, turn it on its side and tie three legs. Time is called when the cowboy throws his hands in the air, and the calf is immediately released.
Presentation of Horses
Horses that will be used in future competitions were paraded.
After the rodeo, the motorcoach brought us back to the campground.
Saturday, 6 July
Today, we headed back to Calgary. We left on a charter bus around 8:30 a.m. It was another beautiful day, with temperatures similar to the previous day: overnight lows in the 50s and highs in the mid-70s.
Fluor Rope Square and Olympic Plaza
Our motor coach dropped us off at Olympic Square, where the Fluor Rope Square event occurred. In the morning, clowns served bacon pancakes and bacon hot off the griddles from the back of the authentic Cowboys Rangeland Derby Chuckwagons. Another table was passing out ice cream.
Finally, there was an activity where you were hitched to a machine as if you were horses, and they measured how hard you pulled. I did this with another member of the caravan, and for our efforts, we got a “CS” stamp on our calves.
Olympic Square was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics as a venue for medal presentations. The Famous Five Monument featured five larger-than-life bronze statues of women instrumental in the fight for women’s rights in Canada. There was also some cute public art of ground squirrels.
Calgary Tower
We then took a 6-minute walk to the Calgary Tower down Centre St and the CORE shopping area, which had several fun attractions. During our walk, we also saw a small First Nation Parade.
When we arrived at the Calgary Tower, our caravan leader gave us tickets, and we rode an elevator to the top. The tower stands 626 feet tall and provides a 360-degree observation deck with stunning views of the city, the nearby Rocky Mountains, and the prairie landscape. One of the highlights is the glass floor section, which gives you a thrilling view straight down to the streets below.
Calgary Tower to Stampede Park
The rest of the caravan took the motorcoach back to the campground to return to the Calgary Stampede later that evening, but Lisa and I decided to stay downtown. We walked around the shopping area and then took a free subway trip to Stampede Park.
Calgary Stampede Midway
The caravan gave us our evening tickets, allowing us to return to Stampede Park. One of the first things we did was get a bag of mini-donuts, a fair specialty.
The event was like a state fair. We bought a couple of t-shirts, walked down the midway and the vendor building, saw a couple of musical performances, walked through the agriculture barn, talked with some soldiers, and enjoyed people-watching.
Elbow River Camp
The Elbow River Camp was a First Nation area established near the river to celebrate the heritage and traditions of the Treaty 7 First Nations. It fostered a sense of community and connection for First Nation Peoples and allowed visitors to engage with and learn from them. Activities included cultural demonstrations and hand games competitions. Over two dozen tipis were set up, and visitors could see displays of traditional artifacts. Informational signs were scattered about. Local artisans’ booths sold authentic jewelry, crafts, and traditional art.
Starship of Wonders
We caught a free stage show featuring various acrobatics and stunts with lots of fire.
Dinner at Stampede Clubhouse
We rejoined the caravan for a buffet at the Stampede Clubhouse. It was a very crowded event with very few servers (about 100:1). While some groups had a great view of the arena, we were stuck in a back room. We had to go through crowds to get to the buffet several rooms away. Overall, it was not something I would recommend.
World Championship Rodeo
The feature of the evening was the rodeo, followed by a Grandstand Show Spectacular. Some highlights of the rodeo included:
Opening Ceremonies
Some events included being introduced to a long list of dignitaries and hearing overly long prayers from First Nation religious leaders. Some horse riders posted the Canadian and Calgary Stampede flags and lit a “CS’ brand in the sand.
First Nation Dance Presentation
The First Nations performed various dances in their bright clothing. This previewed the First Nations Dance Competition held later in the Stampede. Competitors showcase eight dance styles, including Women’s Fancy, Men’s Fancy, Women’s Traditional, Men’s Traditional, Women’s Jingle, Men’s Buckskin, Men’s Chicken Dance, and Men’s Grass. Over $200,000 in prize money is awarded.
Chuckwagon Races
One of the highlights of the evening was the Chuckwagon races, also known as the Cowboys Rangeland Derby. Each team consists of a driver and four outriders. At the start of the race, the outriders “break camp” by tossing two tent poles and a barrel representing a camp stove into the back of their wagon. The wagons then complete a figure-eight pattern around two barrels before entering the main track. The wagons race around a half-mile track, and Outriders must stay within 150 feet of their wagon driver throughout the race. The goal is to complete the course quickly while avoiding penalties.
The wagons are designed to resemble the traditional chuckwagons used in the Old West but are specifically built for speed and maneuverability. They are approximately 10-12 feet long, 4-5 feet wide, and 7-8 feet tall.
The most exciting part of the race was the start.
Indian Relay Races
This is a competition among the First Nation where a rider must complete three laps with different horses while riding bareback. After completing a lap, the rider jumps off the first horse and quickly mounts the second horse, continuing the race. This process is repeated for the third horse.
The most exciting part of this race was when the drivers switched horses. Unfortunately, this switch occurred near the stadium wall closest to the audience, making it difficult to see.
Grandstand Show Spectacular
After the rodeo, a stage was pulled in front of the audience.
We were then treated to a terrific show featuring performances by award-winning country artists like the Hunter Brothers and song and dance from The Young Canadians of the Calgary Stampede. The show includes thrilling stunts by performers like Tammy Firefly, the Urias Globe of Death Daredevils, and Boston Dynamics dancing robots called Spot.
Drone Show
We were also treated to a drone light show. This was the first drone show we had seen, and it was spectacular.
Fireworks
The show culminates with a spectacular fireworks display, lighting up the night sky and providing a grand finale to the evening.
Sunday, 7 July
Today, we took a motorcoach tour to Heritage Park. The weather was untypically hot, with highs in the low 80s.
Heritage Park
The Heritage Park Historical Village has over 200 exhibits spread over 127 acres, including a recreated prairie town, a First Nations area, and one of the world’s largest collections of antique vehicles at the Gasoline Alley Museum.
We were welcomed by a staff member, given a time and location to meet for lunch, and then released to tour the park independently. Lisa and I immediately headed across the park to the paddlewheel, S.S. Moyie. This vessel is a downsized replica of an original transportation boat used during the settlement of Western Canada. Now, it provides a brief cruise around Glenmore Reservoir.
SS Moyie
When we finished the cruise, we took the train to The Settlement area of the park to join the group for lunch. We first had a drink at the restored Drew’s Saloon, an old Alberta saloon from the 1880s. Then we walked over to a building next door, Millarville Ranchers Hall, where we joined the group for an excellent buffet meal.
After lunch, we were split into two groups for guided tours. One group got to take a carriage ride through the park, while our group had to walk. Our guide was hard to hear and understand, so the tour quickly became boring. We were released after the guided tour to explore some more independently.
Though all the historic buildings and their associated history were interesting, one of the highlights was an old oil derrick. The docent explained the derrick and gave us a great background of the area’s history and the challenges early settlers had, especially with the weather.
Gasoline Alley was at the park’s entrance. The museum boasts one of the world’s largest public collections of antique vehicles, with cars dating from the early 1900s to the 1950s. It also features Canada’s largest collection of restored gas pumps and a variety of oil and gas-related artifacts.
