Category: Travel posts

After another successful stop for Patricia Rodeo we still had some time to fill before taking possession of our new abode at Rancho Relaxo..!!!

Waterton Lakes National Park was close enough to be able to hop over to Milk River if we needed to, and another interesting spot of Alberta that we had not yet visited.

There were no spots available in the campground in the park for the dates I needed…..but I found a quite delightful stop 5km from the Park gate. Being that close to the Rockies, the views from our campsite were magnificent.

We were super keen for a hike to stretch our legs after all that sitting for the rodeo. Sofa Mountain was the appointed target for the day.

The trailhead is within the Park boundary, but off a side road before you enter the main gate……and about 15km from the US border. The trail was about 9.5km with a moderate but steady elevation gain. The weather was quite spectacular…..a little cooler than it had been for the Rodeo…thankfully..!!

We were delighted to be the only vehicle in the parking area. The trail was quite overgrown with raspberries.

We were acutely aware of the likely presence of bears with these sweet treats all over…….if there were any…they saw/heard us first and stayed out of sight……we have developed the habit of being quite noisy as we walk….surprising bears at afternoon snack-time is not in my plan..!!!

Despite the smokiness from the Washington/Idaho wildfires…..it was remarkably clear as we climbed.

It was a bit steeper than I had intended after the break from hikes…..but then…there’s only one way to get up a mountain…!!!

Much like Yamnuska, hiking on the edge of the Rockies gives you this amazing contrast between the vista across the prairies behind you and craggy, textured folded over rock layers of the Rocky Mountains.

After crossing the creek a couple of times we rose up to the level of the basin of Sofa Mountain……beautiful. There are little thickets of trees where the path winds through……loud singing required……..(only place for bears to hide around here…!!)

Once we made it up to the ridge, the basin opened up in front of us…..I guess that would be the ‘Sofa”.

As we reached the cliff, the waterfall ahead has very little water in it at this time of year, but as we approached we could see a couple of mountain goats standing on the ledges. Then a few more stood up, then a few more……

If they had not moved we would never have seen them…..but they gradually all stood up and moved down towards us……

We stopped to sit down and have a snack and some water as they moved on down……

They were completely non-plussed by us and stood to graze about 20 feet away from us. 13 adults and 5 babies……..(it was pretty cool…!!)

We decided to circle around them a little to be sure not to make them run…….and headed back down the path…..very satisfied with our first good walk in a while.

Walking back down is incredible looking out over the prairies…it was a little smoky, but more than enough visibility to be impressive.

….and a bit of loud singing through the thickets….!!!

This was a very lovely hike……and a very satisfying day out.

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Patricia Rodeo…well what can I say…the much anticipated event lived up to expectations yet again. This year we arrived with a much better camera…I hope you appreciate the results. ( Last year I downloaded some of the pictures from other photographers. This year they are all taken my personal blog photographer…Scott..😁)

There are going to be a lot of pictures in this post…and a lot of sequences….I hope it adequately conveys the event…!!

All of the pictures are clickable if you wish a clearer view…opening the first picture in a sequence will allow you to scroll through an entire sequence…and it is worth the time and effort…..(IMHO) .!!!!

It is a three day event over the Labour Day Weekend with all kinds of shenanigans going on from Bulls under the Bulbs on the Friday night to Cow Pie bingo on the Sunday. There is Chariot racing, Chuck Wagons, Bull Riding, Steer Riding and the craziest of all crazy,,,,the Wild Horse Race.

Friday.

The Friday evening kicks off with the Chariot and Chuck wagon races.

Next pic is the girl that won the chariots overall. Super picture don’t you think..!!

For your dose of cuteness, they run the Mini Chuck Wagons in between the Chariot and the Chuck Wagon events with kids as young as 3 years old driving mini horses.

Boy oh boy those little legs can run…!!!

Chuck Wagons.

We have no pictures of the Bulls on Friday night because despite the set up with the lights there was just not enough for decent pictures with what we have. The most impressive part of the bull riding are the rodeo clown, the bull fighters and the pick up guys. (bull fighters being part of the team that protect the riders, not Matadors..!!)

Saturday is the big day of events.

Kicking off with heat 1 of 4 of the Wild Horse race. ( the definition of crazy..!!)

Six teams, 6 chutes, six wild horses. Teams of three must catch their horse, saddle him, and put a rider on who then has to make it all the way around the track holding onto just the saddle. This year the Goodeagle team ( the guys in the turquoise shirts) made it round in the very first heat. Amazing.

Once they have lost the horse they are not allowed to catch him again.

…..and once they have that saddle on the only thing to hold onto is the saddle itself.

The Goodeagle team doing their thing……

The pick up guys were amazing. There were two regular guys and a young one in training this year…….it is quite the thing to watch them work.

Saddle Broncs.

And here is another great sequence of the pick-up guys.

Tie down roping.….

Steer riding.

This is the younger kids on smaller steers…….that look just as scary as the bulls to me..!!

Scott nabbed these great sequences of the bull fighters doing their thing.

There was one steer left in the chute…….so the rodeo clown guy volunteered to ride him. His face tells the whole story…!!!

Oh…and then there was mutton busting……last year, I don’t think any of the kids actually stayed on….this year there were quite a few……

I dont know if its a regular thing at rodeos……but here, they bring out the heavy horses to do the harrowing between events.

So all of that stuff was just Saturday morning…….the afternoon kicks off again with round 2 (of 4) of the wild horse race. more saddle broncs, steer riding and barrel racing.

Its hard to breathe while this event is on…there is just so much going on in the arena…….those guys sure know what they are doing…..!!!

Another nice sequence here as we get back to the saddle broncs.

Then some Barrel racing.

….and more steers…..

Then we are back to Chariots, mini Chucks and Chuck wagons to end the day. What a day…so much skill and so much fun.

It is incredible just how fast these races are and how tight these teams turn.

You might have noticed that most of our pictures of the Chariots and wagons focus on the O’Connor racing team. We met these guys last year….and its way easier to tell a story with a favourite team.

Sunday

Sunday kicks off with the heavy horses doing some precision work with the log pulling in the morning…..

Those big horses are amazingly dainty…….

Then the afternoon pace heats up a notch with heat 3 of the wild horse insanity.

Little Britches.

Little Britches is the Sunday fun……tiny little people on huge horses doing amazing things.

….and a little more mutton busting……

These little people have some serious grit…..

The keg race is like musical chairs on horses…..the following pictures shows the hilarity and good nature as one girl slid right off her horse onto the keg/bucket…it fell over and there she is still on the ground. She had to right it and sit back down on it before the other girl could get there….(she succeeded..!!)

In addition to the calf roping and pole bending for the little kids….

.there is the calf wrestling….teams of two have to rope and then wrestle a calf to the ground.

.there is the Wild Pony race…the junior version of the Wild Horse race…..the difference being that the kids just have to get onto the pony…not ride him anywhere. This next sequence is all the same kid….they make ’em tough out here…!!!!

…and a few more of those kids with the wild ponies……

As if you were not breathless enough after that….there is one more round of wild horses……

The night finishes with more chariots, mini chucks and Chuck wagon races…..

There were so many great shots this weekend…..we had an absolute blast. Can’t wait ’til next year…!!! 😁

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Settled back in our familiar camp spot at Spring Hill RV, just outside Cochrane (just north of Calgary). After all the excitement of tearing across the country and finding our next home base, now we are in a holding pattern waiting for the date..!! Some activity being required, and having just acquired a Kananaskis annual pass, Alltrails yielded a promising hike at Mount Yamnuska a mere 38 minutes drive from Spring Hill. Actually it is one valley over from Grotto Canyon where we were last year.

Its always a spectacular drive heading towards the mountains. There is no gradual change in the relief, Its gently undulating prairie, then mountain after mountain after mountain. ( Its just Wow every time..!!)

The beginning of the trail is, as many of them are, a groomed gravel path. The incline doesn’t hesitate to leap out and hit your legs right from the beginning.

I guess its the thing with climbing mountains …..the only way to get to the top is to climb….!!!….up….!!

The first part is through trees so at least there is some shade, once you climb the switchbacks, the view down in to the valley instantly cures the ache in your legs.

Nature also provides a few excuses to stop and catch a breath..

The switchbacks continue on up, and up. You have to keep stopping to look out in wonder at the landscape below (and to catch your breath..!!)

Nearing the top…it just gets steeper…..a bit of a scramble……and quite a bit cooler.

Ravens End was my end of path, but the path does go further for the sturdier of heart than me..!!

Its one of those spots that makes you wish you had brought your lunch and a picnic blanket.

The signage confirmed for me that I was stopping, my intrepid photographer had to go catch a few more pix…!!! I have marked up the next three pictures to point to the path in the first one, and the guy walking up the path (not me) in the second and third.

Once you go through the notch there are chains attached to the rock face to get around…….I am NOT going there…!!

The journey back down was challenging on the knees. It was a steadily steep path. As ever…you find out just how steep on the way back down.

But you also get to see some of the views that you might have been suffering too much to really see on the way up…..LOL….

There may have been as many stops on the way down tho……it was hard on the knees……

All in all it was a great day out.

(Please note…All of the pictures are clickable if you wish a clearer view. Underlined text is also clickable providing links for further information. )

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So, having landed back in Alberta after that looong drive Kananaskis Country called us back for a short hike on a hot day. Stretching out the legs was a blessed relief after all that sitting..!!

I think we were one valley over from the Ice Cave hike we did in the spring.

It was great to be outside…..and not driving endlessly..LOL….

We met some local residents. Those guys always make me a bit nervous…I know they are likely completely harmless…..but ya just never know…..!!! My photographer/editor always finds this highly amusing…!!!

We had a couple of muddy creeks to cross…….No…I did not fall in…!!! ( Editor. But if she did I was ready ! )

The hike itself offered some steep climbs towards the end….good thing it was a short one on our jelly legs from driving…!!

It was maybe a little on the warm side….but it was a beautiful day to be out…..and it truly is incredible countryside….with the occasional sneak peak of the mountains to the west.

We invested in the annual pass for Kananaskis/Bow River Alberta parks. ($90)…so I’m predicting a few more Alberta Parks in our future.

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There we were, sitting in Miramichi NB…. searching for a spot for winter. No dice. Nothing. Nada…The East coast does not do 4 season campgrounds. Which may, in itself be a comment on the winter weather….!!!

So we needed another plan…and the solution turned into something completely off script…….and a Cannonball Run of a drive away.

Starting point, Headquarters Campground, Bay of Fundy National Park

Taking off from Bay of Fundy… The unfolding plan was to take 3 days getting back to Paris…. But once we started, and we were making good time on the road…. It seemed like a better plan to cross Montreal on Sunday evening….

Then.. An even better plan to cross Toronto Sunday night…. So we just kept going… knowing we could rest up for a day in Paris…we pulled in 20 hours later at some ungodly hour……!!

First part of the journey completed…….the second took us across Ontario, Michigan and into Indiana, to just shy of Chicago…!!

Continuing west across Ontario…

….and then crossing in to the US over the Ambassador bridge.

The bridge was horrifying…!!! Construction had it down to two very narrow lanes…..and there is an enormous amount of truck traffic crossing that bridge. The makeshift border control at the other end was so narrow that they had to move the barriers to squeak us through. I think they felt bad after guiding us through cos they were exceptionally helpful processing our visas and putting us back on the road.

Our planned destination was the visitor centre at Indiana Dunes. ( Not Jones….Dunes….try that with a Scottish accent to an American border guard…!!!) Free overnight parking. ( bonus….I nabbed another National park token and badge…….but we will have to do a return trip to the park to actually see it..!!)

Taking off the next morning…all of a sudden it seemed possibly a little foolish to be crossing Chicago at 9 am……but it’s all major highway so how bad could it be…!!!!

After more scary driving with lots of fast moving big trucks….once we reached the edge of the city (it’s a big city..!!) Illinois has some pretty good rest stops…actually so far, travelling in the US, most states have pretty nice rest stops. The road took us across the corner of Wisconsin, and then on up into Minnesota.

Our destination for this leg was a KOA in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Not a bad park, handily located on the west side of the city. By this point we were getting to be pretty tired…!!!

But…onward…….to another KOA in Bismarck, North Dakota. (We drove through Fargo….but no time to stop..!!) A quick grocery stop and an 8 cent per gallon voucher from the campground (woo hoo..!!)

Along the road we spotted signs for Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. Annual pass in hand we pulled off the road and drove in through Medora, North Dakota. We ended up stopping for lunch at the Skyline view parking spot in the park. Another place we definitely have to go back to.

Onward , ever onward. Next stop…a campground titled simply ‘The Park’ in, of all places……Glasgow, Montana.

We simply HAD to unhook to go investigate the town a little…….and visit the local craft brewer….The Busted Knuckle…!!! Pretty good beer actually.

The town of Glasgow, MT (claims to fame being 1. in the middle of absolutely nowhere and 2. the home of the Glasgow Scotties..!!!) piqued our interest for a little bit of a look around..

One more leap across Montana to Shelby, a familiar spot at the Lewis and Clark RV park in Shelby. The long straight roads of Montana had intermittent clouds of first pink, and then yellow grasshoppers……..a new adornment for the front of the truck.

Finally the last little stretch back across the border into Alberta. Crossing back over at Sweetgrass/Coutts to complete the last 15 minutes of the epic drive to ….Milk River, a place with that Hallmark ♥ Movie of the week name.

The object of the journey.

Yes….We bought a house and acreage……..in Milk River, Alberta. This will be our new base of operations. But fear not, the voyages of discovery and hikes into the unknown will continue.

The whole trip……..

Three things were on the recommendation list for Bay of Fundy. 1. Eat seafood. 2. Hopewell Rocks and the tides 3. Cape Enrage lighthouse.

So we did walk into a downtown restaurant in Alma. The server told us she could seat us but it would be an hour to hour and a half before they could feed us due to short staffing……so we went home and had chilli instead…!!

The very first day we arrived, we drove up to Hopewell Rocks. For anyone that has not been there, the tides are an additional drama to the flowerpot rock formations here. We arrived just shortly before high tide. The park pass lasts two days so that you can return for both high and low tide.

The rocks eroding with the incessant tides is an impressive sight….and it’s a very busy spot.

Driving back to the campground, we took a side route to head over to Cape Enrage. The lighthouse being on the recommended list of things to see. The road takes you past Pebble Beach.…..another strangely beautiful phenomenon.

Scott found a guy fishing in the fog. I went back to the truck….it was cold…!!

On up the hill a bit further, to the lighthouse…….

If you find the little green light……you actually can …just…..make out the lighthouse….!!!

I have to add these two pictures from the other end of Pebble Beach. Scott….having the photography eye that he does, pulled over and leapt out of the truck when he saw this view…….and plummeted down the unseen drop off in the gravel at the side of the road almost breaking several limbs in the process…(Ouch..!!)

By the time we got back to Alma, the fog had lifted……it was an impressive thick sea fog. Reminded us of Edinburgh…!!!

So the next day trip to Hopewell Rocks was for low tide. At low tide you can walk the beach and eavesdrop a little on some of the guided tours.

The smart people had flip flops or welly boots on. We had thought to take shoes and socks off……but it is NOT a sandy beach…..mostly mud and sharp little rocks.

Its not a long walk along the beach…..in either direction. But it is a very busy touristy place.

It was pleasant afternoon out for sure….and worth seeing if you are in the area.

The next couple of pictures were taken as we were returning from the Third Vault Falls walk. As we came down the hill back in to Alma, the cloud sitting on Cape Enrage explained the thick fog we had been in….completely…!!!

All of the pictures in this post are clickable if you wish a clearer view. Also, underlined text is where I have added clickable links for further information.

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The campground at Headquarters in the Bay of Fundy NationalPark, Alma New Brunswick is a winner. Its a beautiful park, big wide pull through sites, lovely old shade trees. Immaculately clean washrooms and hot water in the showers. It’s also a fairly short walk down to the beach and/or in to town.

We picked a moderate hike fairly close to the campground to get our legs stretched out and to see what the park had to offer. Third Vault Falls promised pretty views and a moderately challenging hike.

A beautiful forest trail and the first km was gently uphill….

………….and then we started gently down, always a bit worrying early in a hike……cos you know you have to go back up at some point….!!!

Then less gently down. We met several people making their way back, looking quite exhausted……well …!!….we thought…it is a hot day..!!!

The descent gradually got steeper, and steeper……interspersed with some straight down staircases to get down some of the worst bits…!!

Then a clamber down some very, very steep stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, looking back up the gully there were little babbling streams through the green covered rocks……it was very pretty but not quite like the pictures from the trail review.

At the bottom of a couple of flights of even steeper yet stairs, the trail continued across the creek….something I had not seen before, the hiking man symbols were painted on the rocks and continued down the stream…..so we followed them…..down and down….

It was nice and cool in the gully with little streams dancing around….and so very pretty…..

Then, ahead there were some people paddling their feet in the stream whilst sitting on the rocks…..and you could just make out the sign that said…..end of trail…!!!

Once you get all the way to the sign ( that actually says ‘end of trail’ ) as you stand right in front of it and can finally see around the corner, looking up to the left this quite spectacular set of waterfalls and all becomes clear…..Its hard to tell from the pictures, but its about 60 feet high.

Then, after a rest and a look around…..its time to climb back up….!!!

…..it was one of the busiest walks we have done, we met lots of people along the way.

It was a very satisfying walk, and definitely among the prettiest we have done.

All of the pictures in this post are clickable for a clearer view. Underlined text is also clickable to links for further information.

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Still in Miramichi, and another day of hikes in Kouchibouguac National Park . After a foot blistering day on Kelly’s beach, we needed an easier, shorter walk to move our legs.

The trail of choice was Osprey trail, the photographer was highly amused by the French translation of this trail…and I fear Ospreys may forever have had their names translated to French in our household.

It was not a difficult trail…the trailhead started from the Fabien campground of Koubouchguac. (I had tried to get a campsite in the park when we crossed to the coast…but National Park campsites are hard to come by..!! ) Fabien is an unserviced campground, but the sites are lovely, and it backs onto the shore.

Peeking through the trees we could see these cool yurt things on stilts.

As we prepared to head out on the trail, there were a couple of hikers that set off as we were donning boots. Before we left, they returned and began liberal application of bug spray……….taking that cue…we followed suit. It was definitely a walk where slowing down and/or stopping was not really an option without becoming bug lunch. It was very pretty tho..!!

The outer part of the loop opened out to the shoreline.

It was not a challenging walk in terms of elevation. It was also a very well marked trail.

But absolutely no sign of any Ospreys, Osprey nests……or anywhere that looked like maybe Ospreys had been….!!!

There truly is something very soothing about breathing ocean air…….and its always a treat to be looking at beautiful views on a beautiful day.

….and as if to make up for the lack of Balbuzards……we found some funny little fun guys on the way back around….!!

As I said, a short pretty walk, punctuated by biting beasties……..

This one was a request……its how we usually do roast potatoes….back from the days when we used to have a house (LOL)

Start with potatoes..!!! Preferably nice new ones…there are some great local choices available right now….

If they are small you can just leave them whole, but otherwise cut them in half or quarter to get to about the size of small new potatoes..!!

Make sure they are completely dry…if you have cut them then pat them dry with a clean tea towel, or paper towel.

In a bowl add 4 to 5 tablespoons of oil (olive, avocado, coconut…whatever you prefer. Avocado oil or coconut oil will make your roast potatoes taste creamier)

Add fresh ground pepper and a tablespoon of salt

1 tablespoon of sugar…we used Maple sugar cos we just bought some at the Lion’s Head farmers market. (we don’t usually add sugar…but this stuff seemed special…..and it added a really nice “crunch” to the finished potatoes.)

….and a teaspoon of chili powder..( Chili 3000 from Penzeys spices )

Slice up some onions, these delicious little babies came from the organic vegetable guy at the farmers market

Add the onions and some garlic (see the preserving garlic post )

mix it all up….and transfer it to a foil lined baking dish or tray……or a cast iron skillet.

Oven or barbeque at 325 C…..for 45 minutes (25 minutes with foil covering and 20 minutes uncovered.

Hot crunchy and delicious….mind your fingers and have a cold drink on hand…..cos you are going to start eating these things before they are really cool enough…..how can anyone resist….!!!!

Recipe

• Two pints of new potatoes cut and dried
• Two small sweet onions
• Two to three teaspoons of garlic in olive oil
• 4 to 5 tablespoons avocado oil
• 1 tsp ground peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Maple sugar
• 1 teaspoon chili powder

This general method works with any kind of potatoes…if they are bigger or more mature….they just need more cuts to get them to size.

The garlic in oil is done like this which was a previous blog on preserving garlic.

You can use any type of cooking oil you like…or have to hand.

Maple sugar was added only because we had just purchased it at the farmers market….we would not normally add sugar as potatoes are sweet enough ( in my opinion..)

The chili is from Penzeys ( https://www.penzeys.com/ ) we love this store and their stuff is also available online.