Spruce Meadows....

Tegan is back in the routine of school and so far enjoying being in Grade 2 with a new teacher. Fraser is nearly there although he is still finishing school at 11.45 am - 2 more weeks to go before he is in full time, but like Tegan he seems to be enjoying it - however it is strange seeing my little boy in big school.

Someone has turned the weather temperature down this week just in time for the ice to be back down in Ralston arena. Lunchtime skating is full on - with first timers eager to start learning or returners getting back on the ice with a little caution for some. I've managed 3 lunchtimes along with Fraser who still just wants to go fast. Skate school commences this week for the Devils both 1st years and 2nd years in the evenings - looking forward to it.
Sunday Andy and Sam very kindly gave myself, Tegan and Fraser a lift with them up to Spruce Meadows, Calgary. Spruce Meadows is an outdoor equestrian facility built by the Southern Family and opened in 1976. The show jumping complex is in the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains just south of the city and comprises 360 acres. The current president of Spruce Meadows is Linda Southern-Heathcott, a former olympian who competed in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games for the Canadian Olympic Team. The 'masters' tournament has taken place at Spruce Meadows from Wednesday through to Sunday which is 'British Day', this is the 35th year of championship sport at Spruce Meadows. The weather was perfect both for the riders and spectors as it was cool at times but dry.
Upon our arrival we had a wonder around, Spruce Meadows is a amazing place with all the grounds in immaculate condition, flowers displays everywhere and buildings designed beautifully, along with bronze statues dotted around the grounds. During our day we got to see the Celle Stallions, Calgary Round-up Band, Calgary Stetson Show Band, Household Cavalry, Royal Horse Artillery, the Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band, pony rides, Sam Steele's Scouts, Fort Calgary Wheel & Runners and lots of others. At 11am we found seats at the International Ring to watch the Parade of Nations followed by the Grand Prix Round 1 of the masters show jumping competition - the jumps are so very big. The prize money for the winners is large, the pot is up to $1,000,000 and the events are covered on Canadian tv. I managed to watch the first 15 riders then it was time for lunch after which the kids were getting restless so I left Andy and Sam and off we went for a further look around. Tegan and Fraser got to stroke many of the horses and loved seeing all the different breeds - Fraser was especially taken with a mule horse called Biscuit. We eventually met up with Andy and Sam just after 5pm had a quick
bite to eat before making the drive back to Ralston. Thanks to Andy driving I could relax and just be the gopher in the middle of 4 kids supplying them with all the snacks, wipes, drinks and rubbish collector.

Whitefish, Montana, USA...

Chris managed to get a long weekend and as it was Labor Day Weekend (3 -6 Sept) we decided to drive to Whitefish, Montana USA. Although it was a 7 hour drive with the Canadian roads being so open and unpopulated it wasn't a difficult drive just long. We arrived at the American/Canadian boarder immigration where we had to complete the necessary forms, have our fingerprints and photo taken and then allowed to go on our journey. As we entered the Glacier National Park we took Logan's Pass road which took us up and over the mountains. At this point I was driving and it was a very interesting drive weaving our way up and down the mountain with lots of twisting and turning around bends and finally coming all the way down the mountain again.

We had chosen to stay at the Kandhar Hotel located on Big Mountain just outside Whitefish. One of the reasons to make the journey down to Whitefish was to check out Big Mountain for skiing this Christmas. So we checked in and went for a wonder around the mountain village to see what it had to offer. That night we had supper in the lounge area with a large log fire burning and fantastic pizzas. I also had a massage with 'Johnny Ray' who comes to the hotel each night for an hour and sets up his chair in the lounge for 10 minute massages - fantastic. We then jumped into the hotel's hot tub.

Saturday morning we headed slightly up the mountain to go on the Alpine Slide. The weather was perfect for whizzing down a mountain on a slide, back up on a chair lift and down again this time changing partners on the slide. After which we jumped on the Big Mountain chairlift which took us all the way to the top of the mountain for the amazing views over Whitefish. Unfortunately we didn't see any beers however the mountain we a great playground for mountain bikers which Fraser thought were fascinating.

We then left the mountain and stopped off at the Boat Club for lunch - perfect for people watching and everyone out on the lake in their speedboats and jet skies - a different lifestyle. So after a great lunch we visited the beach located just round the corner from the Boat Club and took a dip in the lake - a little cold! After getting a few supplies from the shops we made our way back to the Kandhar hotel and crashed in our room.





Sunday someone turned the temperature down drastically and the heavens opened with rain, although we were later told that it had snowed at the top of the mountain. So after a wonder around the town of Whitefish we joined in the American hobby of going bowling. Then back to the hotel hot tub and a movie. We were taken with Whitefish as it enables you to ski in/out from most of the hotels and houses so it is under consideration for Christmas. Monday after breakfast we packed the car and started the drive home, due to the snowfall we could not go back via Logan's Pass so drove the longer route which was actually also the quicker route back to Ralston.

Fraser Starts School..

30 August 2010 - Fraser Starts School.

Monday was the beginning of school after 9 weeks summer holiday along with Fraser's first day of school.

So off we set for the short walk to Ralston School, both kids with their new backpacks and lunch boxes - Fraser was very excited with his army bag and skull & crossbones lunch box - very different from Tegan's pink lunch bag. Tegan met up with her friends and joined the line to enter the school. Fraser likewise joined his line and we were then called into school and his new classroom. This year the kindergarten class has been split into two classes meaning that there will only be 15 children in each class, along with 2 new teachers. So after hanging up his backpack and changing into his indoor shoes we had a look around his new classroom. Fraser took it all in his stride and after a hug he was happy for me to leave.

So far so good - one week down and he still seems happy - although he was only there for 4 days before he had the Friday and Monday off as Chris had a long weekend so we popped to Whitefish, Montana USA for Labor Day Weekend.

Fort Walsh...

5 August - The sun was shining so with a picnic packed off we set for a day trip to Fort Walsh which is located in Cypress Hills, unfortunately Chris was in the middle of Prairie Thunder exercise. I decided to take the Trans Can Highway 1 which took me out of Alberta and into Saskatchewan for a short while before we came back on ourselves into the Cypress Hills area. The journey seemed to take forever and at some points during the trip I wasn't quite sure where we were heading as after coming off the highway the roads started to twist and turn and go up steep hills (something we are not use to living on the prairie!). The scenery was beautiful, which was a welcome change from our tumbleweed and grass in Ralston, and as always lots of wildlife could be seen. Finally we came to Fort Walsh - in the middle of nowhere which straight away gave you thought as to how all the settlers all those years ago managed to trek across the prairies to arrive at such places and set up homesteads. We were pleasantly surprised to see other cars in the car park as we thought we might be the only visitors as the roads were dirt tracks and we hadn't passed anyone.

We had arrived just at the right time to go straight into a 12 minute film depicting what life had been like and the story of the 1873 Cypress Hills Massacre. Farwell's Trading Post was originally constructed to house Abel Farwell during the trading season of 1872-73. Across Battle Creek, in the same trading season, Moses Solomon and his men operated another trading post. A third group of people, the Nakoda or Assiniboine, moved into the general vicinity after a long hard winter. All three groups were involved in the Cypress Hills Massacre in June of 1873. The massacre happened all due to lawless days of the American whiskey trade at Farewell's trading post where the traders and Aboriginals had drunk too much whiskey and an accusation over a missing horse. After the event the Northwest Mounted Police came to in force law and order and built Fort Walsh. The main trade at the time was buffalo hide parchments.

After watching the film we then hopped onto a bus (typical American/Canadian yellow school bus) and set off for a tour round the hills looking at Farwell and Solomon's homesteads and where the massacre took place. We then drove to Fort Walsh and disembarked from the bus. We were greeted by 2 guides who were dressed in period Military Police costumes. Tegan and Fraser were invited with the other children to go off and get dressed up and have their own 'kids tour'. Fraser being a little shy wanted me to also go - so I think I was the biggest kid!! Mum and Dad went off with the remainder of the adults whilst Tegan and Fraser got to wear mini Red Military Police jackets and off we set for our tour. Our guide was brilliant and really played the part getting the kids to march and shout out orders. We looked at several buildings including the Sgt's mess, Offr's mess, commanders house, horse stables, gunnery, jail, courthouse. The children were told that we need to arrest 2 mums and a dad - so we offered up a Grandad - at this point I thought it was going to be a simple pull them aside. However the children had to march them to the courthouse where roleplay was carried out. The Capt was the prosecutor with the children as the jury and the 2 mums who had been caught drunk and hitting each other. My dad was being charged with supplying unlawful whiskey to traders - he was given a small card with things to say but he brilliantly improvised and the whole roleplay was hilarious.

After concluding our tour of the Fort we were driven back up to the information centre which had a small museum of artifacts to look at afterwhich we ate our lunch whilst looking at the fantastic scenery and enjoying the sunshine.

We decided not to drive home on the highway but took the cross country route through Cypress Hills and eventually coming out at Elkwater. The route took us through open pastures where the beef cattle roamed freely and often peered into our car, the road was a dirt track so I only drove at 35/40km but it was a lovely journey back. We stopped off at Elkwater for an ice cream before heading back to Ralston. We all agreed that we didn't know what to expect when we set off that morning but had had a fantastic day full of history.

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!

Grizzly Paw Pub ....

18 July - Sunday. A night in the Grizzly Paw Pub - Canmore.

It was decided that we all needed a night out in the local pub in Canmore which brews its own beer. My mum very kindly agreed to look after Tegan and Fraser - so the rest of us hit town - well Canmore. Chris, Les, John and Jan all ordered a tray of 9 samples beers each - what a great idea. Alli, Tonia, my Dad and I all stuck to normal drinks - well I think Alli had something a little strange.

After several hours Jan, John and my dad decided it was time to go home. So the rest of us carried on drinking at which point Les and Chris decided to sing to the pub in their finest voices. The Canadians who were still in the pub returned with their version of a song, Les and Chris were then on a mission to out sing them. However over hearing a couple of girls who were heard to say "don't worry they're English" sums up their singing. It was then time to leave.

Prior to going to the pub we had visited Lake Minnewanka situated in Banff for the afternoon.

Chuckwagon Races & Show...

17 July - Saturday.

Off we set for our final trip to the Calgary Stampede, this time we were off to see the chuck wagon races and the evening grandstand show which promises to be the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

After a couple of hours of us all wondering around the show grounds we all meet up to take our seats in the grandstand - there was eleven of us in total. Yet again the weather was great for us providing a really nice evening to watch the show.

The chuck wagon racing was great, fast and being the penultimate night the guys were up for big money prizes.







Once the chuck wagon races had finished a huge stage was hauled into place and within an hour it was up and ready for a great show. By this time it was 9pm so we were ready for all the entertainment and fireworks. The show included everything from singers, dancers, acrobatics, motor cycles, comedian, children, musicians and of course and amazing firework display. The motor cyclists were amazing and the stunts that they did were incredible. At one point in the show 3 trap doors opened in the stage floor and up came 2 sets of drums with the drummers and a huge single drum - however the drummers and their kit didn't stay on the stage, their platforms were raised up into the sky and drawn towards the crowd. This also happened to guys on the motorbikes and other illuminated animals with stunt people on top of them doing acrobatics. The show really was breathtaking and an amazing evening to be part of.

We eventually left the show ground just before midnight and got back to Canmore in the early hours after a thoroughly amazing evening, so glad that we had all gone.