About That Trip of a Lifetime (July 8 - 13)

Dear Family and Friends,

Hello from Calgary, Alberta in Canada! I told you in last week's blog about our "trip of a lifetime." We are on a two month trip through Alberta, British Columbia (Provinces), The Yukon Territory and then Alaska. We left Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on Tuesday, July 9th. We are with a group of 23 RVers. We have a Wagon Master (Ben and Nancy) who have led many trips and a Tailgunner (Bill and Kathy) who follow behind to make sure no one is having a problem.

 Hooking up the car to the RV for the trip

The trip from Coeur d'Alene to Ft. Steele, British Columbia was around 140 miles. We went through customs at the border in record time. The agent asked us three questions, checked our passports and we were through to British Columbia.

Ft. Steele was our first stop on the trip. It sits at the beginning of the Canadian Rockies. In the picture below Roger poses with Bear at our RV stop.

Our Wagon Master briefs us at Ft. Steele. We go over the trip planner for the next day and discuss any sights that we may want to visit the next day.

Our trip to Calgary and the Stampede (very famous rodeo) was uneventful! Below are pics taken from  Calgary and the Stampede area. What is truly amazing is that this entire area was underwater two weeks ago from mountain stream runoff and four days of continual rain. The city and surrounding area pitched together and the Stampede began on time. Though the Stampede is a two week event, Thursday night was the rodeo for our group.

Roger at the Midway area

Motocross entertainment before the rodeo begins

Opening ceremony 

Six cowboys and girls fly in on trapezes

Oh Canada

Friday was a trip downtown to Stephen Avenue where lots of activities are held pertaining to the rodeo.

 Parades, Square Dancing and many Booths

Friday evening was our night to see the ChuckWagon races at the rodeo. Below are pics from that event.

 Four teams with two outriders race around barrels in the arena and then around the racetrack circling the arena.

A very exciting finish

We leave on Monday morning for Lake Louise, British Columbia. The internet may be spotty, but I will keep trying to blog each week. Thank you for checking in with us as we take this incredible trip.