Canadian Wild West, Part II

Half way through my post Calgary Stampede post, I realized that it was too long to make into a single post. If you did make it through the entire post, I commend you! It was long, even for me. Today, I finish up...

On day 4, we have the main attraction of the Stampede, the rodeo. This is an incredible show of athleticism of both man and beast. It's also amazing to see the cowboys jump on a bull or horse and just aim to sit on it for 8 seconds. The longest 8 seconds ever! I did pick up a few tricks about what to watch for when they're bucking those broncos or bulls! Not that I hope to ever have to use it... but first, lunch:

Jalapeno mini donut poutine (you read that right!)

ADW is a (Chicago style) hot dog connoisseur!

The rodeo takes place in the Grandstand--the same place as the chuckwagon races. They just corner a smaller section of it and it becomes a closed off arena of sorts. It is in the sun though, so we start out afternoon under the hot sun but are lucky that the sun is moving a shadow over us. The rodeo is amazing to watch. Our seats weren't too bad as we were on the second level. We watched the saddle bronc, bareback, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. There was a kids event of riding the wild pony. I tell you, you'll die because it's so freggin' cute.

ADW even sat next to a real cowboy who was there to watch his grandson compete in the novice levels. He competed in his younger days for some roping type events and I think ADW had a really enjoyable time chatting with him. The rodeo clowns... those guys are hilarious. The commentator clown was just killing the audience with his sense of humour and antics. He was highly entertaining while twerking (yes, that's right) and dancing up a storm between competitors.

I could not say I was the least bit disappointed with the rodeo. It was exactly as I expected it to be! Unfortunately, I didn't bring my zoom lens so I didn't get any photos but you'd get the same impression when I went to the rodeo at the Royal in 2013.

------

To finish our trip, we made our way to Spruce Meadows. T was actually there (from the stable!) and she told ADW that earlier in the week, she was watch some serious eventing. I love Spruce Meadows because there's no admissions to get on the grounds and the grounds are just amazing. Every lawn and garden is manicured to perfection. The amazing thing I noticed too was that the arenas were not sand rings.. but grass rings! I can't even imagine the amount of maintenance that is required to groom the grass arena after a show. But, everything looks absolutely perfect. We watched some show jumping and visited the gift/tack shop during our leisure stroll around the grounds.

Welcome to Spruce Meadows!

Amazing grounds where even the non-equestrian can even appreciate

Sailing over the jump effortlessly

Always amazing to see the sheer power of the horses pushing
 themselves and their rider over the jumps

Needless to say, this vacation was exactly what I needed before I get back into the swing of pulling my life back together. I definitely returned well rested and with a clearer head. 

The Canadian Wild West

Welcome to the Canadian version of the Wild West: Calgary Stampede!

It's one of those events that you gotta add on your "do see/do" list just because it's so freggin' iconic; it's like Oktoberfest or the running of the bulls. Amb and I left Toronto on the 6th and with no plans for when we arrived, checked into our hotel, ate a late lunch and then headed into the city to check out the festivities. We are greeted by a lively, busy and festive feel populated with folk donning western apparel. Arriving in our very normal and very casual travel outfits, we made our way to Riley & McCormick to see if we could find something to help us mix into the crowd.

Getting cowboy'd up! YEEHAW!!

I suggest checking out R&M because their selection is SO extensive and there's something "fun" about it (they have a life-sized fibreglass horse out front that says, "I'm too old to be ridden!"). But seriously, they have a wall of boots and a wall of hats in different colours and materials. The price range is wide too, so don't be shy if your budget is modest and go nuts if it isn't!

That is a lot of boots... and I still only found one pair that I liked

Amb is excited to pick a hat for that lovely melon of hers!

At this point, +ADW is watching the rodeo and will watch the chuckwagon races in the evening because he's here for business (really, that's what he's here for!). We're left to our own devices and walk 8th Avenue SW because a portion of it is pedestrian fitted. We play a game of "spot the real cowboy" and make bets about which one of the cowboys we see strutting down the street is an authentic western cowboy versus the office folk and tourists who like us, are just playing cowboy.

As evening approaches, we are hungry and a little bored (it doesn't seem like many cowboys frequent the downtown) and make way to a place called the 'Palomino Smokehouse'. With our luck, a very inebriated young lady snuggles up to Amb while we're getting our IDs checked and the bouncer asks, "... is she with... you two?" To which we quickly quip, "no, no she's not!" Once she's shoed away, Amb nervously looks at the bar and then me and meekly asks, "are we still going in?". Oblivious to her apprehension, I boldly declare that we must because this place looks so authentic and ADW would so go. Plus, the bouncer has a friendly face while being physically intimidating so I feel comfortable. We spend the evening drinking (a little), snacking (a lot) and listening to live music by a local folk band named Sealegs who played with the Godfather of Yellowknife first and then went on set. They were highly entertaining and played a bunch of songs that Amb knew.

------

Moove on over to day 2 of our trip and we're getting ready for the evening chuckwagon races. We have lunch at the Calgary Tower to get up high and an impression of the city landscape. We have a little fun in the gift shop...

Amb getting fresh with Randy the RCMP Grizzly

ADW is always getting us into trouble...

ADW has found the hat that fits!

After lunch, we head to the Stampede grounds...

Hold onto yer hats!

Amb and I are prepared since we checked the guidebook prior, and circled the exhibits and events that interest us so we proceed to drag ADW around for our amusement...

The Ag building is full of fun exhibits for the whole family

This one's for Ariel!

Miniature donkeys like Jethro

Blacksmith demos. Point out the blacksmiths!

Miniature pony scratching him bum

Western cutting competitions

Piglet heap!

Driving demonstration

Nobody comes to Stampede without trying the food on the grounds:

Hot beef sundae

Pizza foot-long

ADW briefs us on what he's learned about the races as we're waiting and we are totally blown away:

chuckwagon racing is an equestrian rodeo sport in which drivers in a chuckwagon led by a team of Thoroughbred horses race around a track. It is a team event, led by a driver who commands a team of horses pulling the chuckwagon, and is supported by two or four outriders, each racing individual thoroughbred horses that follow the chuckwagon. Each race typically involves three or four teams, and begins with the outriders "breaking camp", by tossing two tent poles (with four outriders only) and a barrel representing a camp stove into the back of their wagon before mounting their horses and following the wagons as they complete a figure eight around two barrels before circling a race track. The first wagon to cross the finish line typically wins, although various time penalties are handed out for infractions such as a barrel being knocked over, a tent pole or stove not loaded, wagon interference or an outrider crossing the finish line too far behind his wagon driver. (Wikipedia)

There are 9 heats and the starts are madness. Try getting 16 thoroughbreds to make that figure 8 loop and then run around the track at top speed. There were a few mishaps and each race is not long. The surprise of the evening is the "evening show" that follows. Without expecting anything, we were totally blown away by the Canadiana routine that was put together. A stageful of dancers and singers all in costume and singing about... Canada! The show was fast paced and accessible for all audience members while being educational (I love getting schooled!). It also ended with a family being made Canadian citizens and a humongous pyrotechnics display. Go big or go home was certainly the point tonight.

-----

Day 3 was a quiet affair away from Calgary while Amb went to visit family, ADW and I drove out to Banff for a trail ride into the Rockies.

I love how small the Rockies make me feel, every time.

ADW loves those paints/pintos

I'm on a cuddly horse named Guinness

Taking this photo was precarious!

Mountain on one side, drop on the other!

Who's that handsome rugged face? ;)

Spray River

After the trail ride, we make our way to Lake Louise. I didn't quite do everything I wanted to last time so this was my chance at completing my "list"... we saw Lake Moraine (did you know that this is the lake on the previous Canadian $20 dollar bill?) and Lake Louise in the summer (last time it was frozen and covered in ice and snow).

Stay tuned for the second and final part of this adventure!

Canada Day Post (re-cap)

This post comes late but I didn't have much to post about until today...

+ADW is in Calgary for Canada Day so I made my way out to the stable to for the Georgetown Canada Day Parade. Like the Christmas parade, this was good fun where I got to hang out with people I seem to naturally have an easy time meshing with (did I ever mention I'm usually socially averse?).

A few photos...

Molson rump

Waldo is the resident mini

I get the impression he likes this more than he should...?

I'm working hard at... something.

Lex with Frank pulled by Amadeus. We all know who's calling the shots

Our fearless leader for the day!

Molson and Artisaurus (Art)

It was a perfect day. No rain (despite the forecasts) and the horses were great considering the number of flapping flags, screaming children on bikes and scooters and the sounds (someone set off a firework or something at some point and nobody freaked out). Big success and amazing performance by everyone!!

Time to Shake Things Up

I wanted to get this news out sooner but with fluctuating events in my personal life, I am a bit delayed. I also have been feeling like I've been living in a fog. In the past, when met with a snarky comment, I was capable of quickly throwing something equally (often, more :P) witty and cunning. But slowly, I have less and less to say and felt less and less motivated to do much of anything (on all fronts). I've mentioned I've been struggling with my work life for a little while now and without going into detail, I have quit.

That's right folks, I'm voluntarily unemployed.

It's the best time for me to re-focus and evaluate where I want to be. I won't be unemployed long though... the thought of being unemployed makes me incredibly uncomfortable even though there is honestly nothing I'd want more, than to win the lotto,stop working and do whatever I felt like. Depending on my other half is not winning the lotto, in my opinion.

This turn of events arrives at a very fitting time because I'll be starting my work departure with a break in Calgary: I am going to Calgary Stampede. Hooyeah!!

A rider flies the stampede flag before a rodeo.
Check out the full post of the 2013 event, following the floods

We didn't originally plan for things to work out this way and my conversation about stampede happened several weeks previously. That said though, Stampede is an exciting event I have been thinking about in the past so when I got the call... I was particularly receptive: a call from +ADW a few months ago... "What do you think about Calgary Stampede? ... k cool. I'm going for work. ... okok calm down. I am trying to ask if you want to come too". Which the conversation ended with me squealing in delight.

The events we have planned, include a rodeo, chuck wagon race, cowboy for a day in Banff and lots of over indulgence at the food trucks/stands. It's probably exactly what I need, to get refreshed and ready for the next chapter of my life.

Guiddy-up!!

Royal Visit to the Horse Show

Things never get boring my way, apparently. To continue with my interesting week, I head to the Royal for the evening horse show with +ADW and the rest of the stable for some well deserved time to relax and enjoy myself. And what an evening it was!!! This was the first time I had been to the evening show and it was so much fun. I had no idea that it was an entire evening of horsey related events starting at 6:45pm. The first set of showing was the jumper classes. As we walked into the arena, the jumps came into view and I could see that they were probably as tall as I was. Yikes! I can barely get over the jumps I've been doing lately that these are really intimidating.

There were two classes of jumpers and in the second class, we got to see Captain Canada jump with Star Power. It was such an amazing few minutes because I can totally see why Ian is an Olympic star--his consistent flow and the clean jumps were incredible to watch.

This is the best I could do with my cell phone :(

Then they had the lady single road horse division which was just a driving session with a bunch of ladies driving their horseys which was neat to watch because I couldn't quite figure out how the drivers were steering their horses or changing gaits.

Driving

Next was the wagon and heavy draft horse driving which was amazing to watch because I <3 Clydesdales a lot (there were other heavy draft horses too).

Clydesdales!

Finally, we got to the Shetland Pony racing which was a bunch of 8-10 year old kids who get on the spunky Shetland and then go racing around while going over little cavaletti type jumps. Let me tell you, it was the highlight of my night! But sadly, there was a big crash and 2 rider-pony combos were unseated and there was definitely concern among the spectators. Nobody was horribly injured (to my knowledge) but it sure was scary when they went down.

Kids racing around on ponies!

It was the evening for us... there was an indoor eventing session next but we had to head home to medicate the fur-babies so off we went but boy was I disappointed because those eventing jumps are some wild jumps with steps and unknown drops! Perhaps another time I'll get the opportunity to check out the eventing because it's supposed to be even more interesting than the jumper class!

Happy Canada Day!

That's me and Ariel at the back ;)

Courtesy of one of the great boarders at Gosling Stables! This shot comes from the other day we went on the hack and were eaten alive--couldn't tell, huh? ;)

My Winter Riding Wardrobe on a Budget

I've been meaning to compose this post for a couple weeks now... especially with the last very cold spell. Since last winter wasn't as cold and snowy as this one, I didn't pay much attention to winter-specific clothing other than a down vest; I got that from MEC at clearance because I squeezed into the size 14 kid's version! Goooo me!! Anyways, I don't show and probably won't do it for a little while so my focus this chilly and snowy winter has been on schooling clothes that can double as outdoor active clothes. I know that this is already a relatively costly endeavour compared to some of the other activities I've done/do so I try to work with what I've got and consider alternatives for my riding wardrobe.

It's good that I'm active outside of horseback riding and I've amassed plenty of active clothing. I paddled and steered a dragon boat team for several seasons in my previous years but have since stopped, but I do continue to kayak in the summers for leisure. I also cycle in the warmer months and have a substantial arrangement of cycling clothes for someone who cycles once... maybe twice a week. Primarily, I am an avid yogini for many years and find enjoyment in this activity. However, these are all warm weather activities and don't accommodate for cooler weather. So, I have been riding with the same clothes I ride with during the summer; with one amendment: many more layers.

This year, I've been thinking about the "gaps" in my winter riding wardrobe without breaking the bank. I already have many t-shirts and a few long sleeve shirts that I usually pull over my tshirt; this past few months, I've gotten a moisture-wicking active shirt from MEC as well as a very warm and soft fleece pull over top I picked up at Le Baron, all during the Boxing Day week sales. We'll talk gloves another time because I've realized that having the appropriate gloves are key.

While we tack-up in the main stable, the horses are often in the adjacent fields and some of the tack is in the other smaller stable. I find myself trekking into the snow driftswhere there are few trees to keep the snow from blowing around and turning into snow dunes. To mitigate this, I put on my paddock boots and half chaps then make my way out rather successfully. No snow in my boots and I'm dry by the time I start lesson.

The only thing that has gotten to me though, is being cold. I layer my top and slip on wool socks, but my bottom and legs (particularly my thighs) are perpetually chilly. I tried to get long johns on underneath but clearly I've had too much fun over Christmas and things aren't fitting the way they could and so I'm considering winter chaps. Wiarton Willie says that we're getting another 6 weeks of winter so these will likely come in useful. Stay tuned for my post about how it's like, riding with them :)

Wearing My Flood Pants

It's been an interesting two days. We had a black swan event with the crazy downpour on Monday evening and my area still doesn't have power. The food in the fridge is likely on the verge of being a bio-hazard and I complete this post through my blackberry.

To keep things upbeat, positive and somehow fitting to the theme of being under water (though Torontonians generally had a walk in the park compared with their Calgarian counterparts): I present my first on-screen debut as an audience member of the Marilyn Denis Show: http://www.marilyn.ca/Video and search for the July 8th episode (doing this on my Blackberry has serious limitations)

Have fun and stay dry!

Worldly Tastes Close to Home

This weekend we were lucky enough to dine on delicious Korean kalbi beef ribs, try Afghani style spiced fish, and re-connect with the tastes of Peru. The best part? All of this was within comfortable driving distance in our diverse city of Toronto.

To recap...

On Saturday night, we visited our local Korea town. Its a short little strip between the Bathurst and Christie subway stations that has an abundance of authentic Korean establishments. Here you can find restaurants that specialize in soondubu (Korean tofu stew), proper Korean barbeque (and not the unauthentic all-you-can eat style), Korean bar food (I must try the friend chicken!), little dessert houses (bite-sized redbean walnut cakes are our favourite), and even a supermarket specializing in Korean groceries! We often frequent this area when we have a hankering for some spicy Korean food.

Then on Sunday for lunch, we visited a flea market in the suburbs of Mississauga. Here we found a little food court that offered us a wide variety of flavours from around the world. In no particular order...there was*deep breath*... Chinese, Hakka Chinese, Indian, Carribean, Latin American, Fillipino, Middle Eastern cuisines and a bubble tea stand thrown in for good measure!

I ordered the pan seared fish from the Afghani counter since I had never had anything from Afghani cuisine, while Deb ordered some fried corn tortilla chicken wraps from the Latin American counter. The fish was nicely spiced with a nice hot sauce and flavourful chick peas on the side. The rice that came on the Latin America was spiced with Aji chili which was a flavour we had become very familiar with during our Peru trip. And topping all of this off was a nice refreshing...Inca Kola! Very satisfying...

I have always been told that Toronto is a very culturally diverse city, but I never really took time to think about it. While we sat in this little food court surrounded by the tastes and smells from around the world, I began to have a better appreciation of what our city has to offer. We may not have the best transportation system, the most famous arts and culture scene, or even the tallest building in the world anymore, but I can't think of another city in the world where I could sit in a small little food court with that many tastes from around the world.

ADW signing out!

**Intermission**

I hope you're not upset. I'm inserting a brief intermission to post about my weekend. We'll come back to Machu Picchu and the remainder of Peru in a few.

Soooo what's so exciting that I decided to interrupt my awesome Peruvian train of though? While Amber spent her weekend itching for answers, I was in Dwight, ON.

Nope, there's not a single pixel that has been post processed--that's the real deal. Of all the vacations I take, I look forward to and enjoy this one the most.

The past two years, we've stayed at Oxtongue Lake Cottages in 4-people cottages. This location is great because it's steps away from the park's west entrance and you're right off hwy 60. And, if you've got pets, this place is pet friendly.

This year, we mixed things up and stayed at Bondi Village. Though Bondi is a bit further from the park's entrance, the resort includes a farm area! How excited was I when I saw someone giving English riding lessons ~100m away!!! They also keep chickens here and in the summer, have fresh vegetables. This is my idea of getting away!

I went with members of my dragon boat team and we enjoyed hiking and just being still with nature. I saw a porcupine and deer and admit, being a city slicker makes all these critters neat. Han and I got really excited when we got to retrieve eggs for Nancy--while she was probably a-ok with us doing the work. Look at Han: what a chick magnet.

On Saturday, some of us head out to complete 2 short trails and get fresh air.

I have to take it easy this year because last year, following this trip, I got so sick that I was pretty certain I wouldn't make it. To this day, nobody's been able to tell me exactly what happened since the docs all said it wasn't viral or bacterial; seems like my "body just had a reaction". To what? Nobody knows... *dun dun dun*

When you stand there looking at the forest, it appears to be a cohesive piece of art... firey reds, oranges and yellows all painting a landscape of Ontario. But, when you're walking through the forest, it strikes you that each individual leaf contributes to the picture that you see--kind of like a living Monet.

Littered through the trails, there is a blanket thick with autumn leaves.

The most invigorating experience of the weekend was not hiking or even arriving at the lookout point on the Track and Tower trail. It was the peace I felt while standing on the edge of the dock in the dark with nothing but the stars and (full) moon shining on me basking in the silence of nature.