Day 42 Sun July 10th:Cranbrook BC to Calgary AB; Hwy 22, 400 kms

Map Link:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Cranbrook,+BC&daddr=Calgary,+AB&hl=en&sll=49.339441,-117.575684&sspn=4.116113,7.064209&geocode=FTZ38wIdnZQZ-SlDQKUGM99kUzGASu_aoxzXkg%3BFYjiCgMd-p8z-SnVP4SfA3BxUzE6tlK2sTttJg&mra=ls&z=8

Today is the end of the mountains for us.  It is sad in a way.  They have been such a fun part of our trip in spite of the rain that usually accompanied crossing them.  I have come to accept that has the price to pay for fantastic scenery & twisty roads.

We take hwy 22 up to the South end of Calgary.  The foothills are off in the distance on the left, clouds hiding the top of the Rockies in a blue haze.  Wow!  I could look at them for hours.  I remembered how much I enjoyed them 10 years ago when I took the Rocky Mountaineer trip.  I kept wondering how on earth my Dad could leave this part of Alberta.  However, it was long before the oil boom. Things were pretty dead in Alberta, so he had to go to Ontario to find work to support his family. What a shame.  I could have been a cowboy too!

Some of the biggest ranches in Canada line both sides of the windy highway. Suddenly something catches my eye. One of the ranches has baseball caps on the top of each fence post.  It really looks funny to see them atop of post after post.  For several minutes the baseball caps keep an eye on us as we pass.  I guess that is one way to identify your ranch from the rest of them.   The ranches did all look the same.    On the way, I saw a sign to Nanton my Dad's birthplace.  I really am in my Dad's back yard now.  It was a very pleasant trip; sun shining, curvy roads, warm weather and beautiful scenery.  More motorcycle Nirvana.  It's a tough job, but we can do it.

We check into the Super 8 @ 2 PM & do the baggage cart thing with our stuff.  Then Bruce MacPherson picks us up and we go to his place for a steak BBQ with his wife Jackie.   As we sit on the deck enjoying a beverage, I can't help but think "this is what summer is all about. Good weather and good times with friends." It is really nice to socialize and have a home cooked meal once again.

After supper with Bruce drops us off at the "C-Train" which takes us to the stampede.  The C-Train is an LRT train similar to the one in Scarborough.  It must have rubber tires.  We are whisked silently into Calgary. Quite a difference from the Go Train.

As we enter the show tent at 7:30 there is a small crowd of all ages. The tickets said show was to start at 7 PM, but nothing is happening.   Everyone is standing around drinking & talking. The stage is empty.  Loud music is playing over the crowd. Dam, I forgot my ear plugs!  Once our eyes become accustomed to the darkness, Peter & I are fall under the spell of a "Bud Light" girl & buy a regular can of beer for $7.50 each!

We head outside to side at a table & wait. Time passes slowly in spite of the people watching.  We learn that the show isn't really going to start until 11:00 PM it was the doors that opened at 7 PM.  Boy, you could get quite a drunk on waiting.   Now I know why my youngest son goes to the concerts at 10:30.   At 9:30 the two old farts call it a night & head back to the motel.  We decide we will take an extra day in Calgary to recharge our batteries and to see the rodeo.  If we do 700 kms/day we can be in Toronto in 5 days.