Airport Runs & The End of July...

20/21/22 July we spent each day going to the airport to take friends back so that they could catch their relevant flights - all very sad. On the Thursday we dropped Jan & John off at the airport so that they could collect their hire car as they were continuing their Canadian adventure off driving to Vancouver. Chris, myself and the kids then spent the day at Heritage Park in Calgary.

Heritage Park is Canada's largest living history museum travelling back in time from the 1950s to 1860s. All the employees wore traditional costumes and many of the buildings were original which had been lifted and transported to the park from other areas within Canada. Fraser loved going on the steamtrain which travels around the park stopping at 3 stations where you can hop off or on. We all loved going on the carousel c1904, ferris wheel, dangler swings, whip (old form of waltzers) and the caterpillar ride. We also went to sea on the S.S. Moyie paddlewheeler - well a gentle paddle around the lake. The park was well set up as you could easily walk round and see everything and not too busy when we were there. After eating our picnic lunch we decided to visit the traditional ice cream parlour - yum. So after an enjoyable afternoon we headed back to Canmore.

Friday we revisited the town of Banff for lunch - Chris and my Dad were very happy as we ate in The Rose & Crown a pub that servers traditional beers - apparently very good beer. That evening Chris and Dad set off to play golf at Kananaski golf club. Unfortunately Chris and Les had tried to play the previous week, it was going to be their boys night out, but the weather wasn't good and they had to cancel. However to my dad's advantage Les kindly left his golf shoes so off they went Friday evening and had a fantastic time.

Kananaskis Country Golf Course is one of the premier golf destinations in the Canadian Rockies. The surrounding mountains tower 10,000 feet (3,000 metres) above sea level, the courses themselves are at almost 5,000 feet (1,500 metres).

24 July - We finally made our departure from Canmore back to Ralston. So after a last walk along the Bow River for Jinx we packed the cars and set off on our journey back to Ralston. My mum and dad had only seen the Rockies and Calgary at this point so found it very interesting watching the scenery change to the prairies.

26 July - Monday - 5 mums and 12 children set off for an afternoon at Echo Dale Park. Armed with picnics, sun umbrellas, towels, beach toys, chairs and a birthday cake we set up our pitch. It had been Sam T's birthday during July so we decided to celebrate. The kids were all sun creamed up and took to the water, it was a glorious day and the perfect place to be. So after much water play it was time for lunch - out came a huge range of food and cake along with candles - not sure what all the Canadians around us were thinking. Everyone had a fab day and it was definitely time for bed for worn out children.

28 July - Wednesday Medicine Hat Rodeo. Chris and I were invited, along with other British Military to attend the Presidents Lunch at the Rodeo and then to watch the events. So with children at home with Grandma and Grandad off we set. Again it was a glorious day just right for watching the rodeo. After a spot of lunch and a long list of speeches we were set free to take our seats in the stands and watch the rodeo events. It soon became apparent the difference in the abilities of the cowboys taking part in the Calgary Stampede to the Med Hat rodeo, however we still take our hats off to them all for their courage (or stupidity) to ride bucking horses and bulls.

31 July - Saturday Sapper Oktoberfest. Chris and a team of Royal Engineers had organised a Sapper party in order to thank the variety of people in Ralston and Suffield who help them throughout the year.

The party took place at Ralston's own Fort Whoop Up. A large proportion of those invited all dressed up in either the girls dirndl or boys lederhosen, everyone looked fantastic. Games had been set up around the area along with big pictures boards with scenes of German mountains and countryside, along with yodeling and alpine music. There was a bar set up to serve traditional German beer and wine. There was however one minor hic up - food had been ordered but unfortunately the catering company took it to the original Fort Whoop Up in Lethbridge which is 2 hours away in the wrong direction, so the food finally arrived at 11pm - a little late but no one seemed to mind at that stage of the evening - good beer munching food!