August 1, 2001, Wednesday- perseverance paid off. We received a phone call from Jamie, responding to our email. Yesterday was a day of bad phone karma for her. The Temple's answering service didn't give me a mailbox option- which, if working correctly, would have given us her new phone number. The phone company now has both her new number and a rollover from the old number. And, it was a good thing that I wasn't trying to send her the email today.
Trips to Costco and a few big box stores got our inventories rebalanced in the coach, and after yesterdays running around, a relaxing patio lunch at a place called Moxie's hit the spot.
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The Red Worm bug that slowed the internet world down today prevented us from getting on line, but fortunately Jamie got our message last night, called, and we had the most lovely evening. She came out to the coach and was amazed on how everything fit together so well, and could appreciate what we were doing. Dinner at East Side Mario's gave us a chance to learn about her 2 year stint as the Reformed Rabbi of Calgary, including the challenge of being the first female rabbi in town. Her contract is finishing after the fall holidays, and she is planning an extensive trip to Peru and Patagonia afterwards. She looks great, sounds great, and continues to move forward with her life.
August 2, 2001, Thursday- I zipped a bunch of photos for Steve and tried to send them today over the net. With a slow connection and a way too large file (it should have been broken down to three or more separate files), I was 40 minutes into the send, about half way there, when we got blown off line. The pits….moving day.
Checked into the Daisy May Campground, the last full service space. No hookups discovered in the new town…..Fort Macleod, 100 miles south of Calgary. Crossed the street and made a t-time for tomorrow at a lovely looking 9 hole course. Weather permitting, we'll go around twice.
Next off to the, get this, the UNESCO World Heritage Site…."Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump" 10 miles to the west. At this 7 story interpretive center, built into the hillside, one learns about the life of the First Nation People for the last 6000 years. During this time period, the buffalo roamed wild across the short grass plains. Natives set rock piles, called cairns, several meters apart in a straight line, from a great distance along the plateau, right to the edge of the cliff. Another similar line was started a distance apart. The lines, called drive lanes, converged near the cliffs. On top of the cairns were placed bushes and branches and warriors stood behind the piles. Scouts were sent out to start the herd moving, stampeding between the "walls", hundreds would fall 20 plus meters to their death. The name of the place comes from a small boy whose head was "smashed-in" after the buffalo landed on top of him.
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In order to complete the successful hunt, 500 people were needed for the building, chasing and eventually, cleaning and cooking of the buffalo. Sometime decades passed and conditions were not right at any one location.
We thought that Wyoming was windy….well this place has it beat. The average wind velocity is 28 kilometers per hour. Only 14% of the time is the wind calm. Routinely winds of 150 kilometers spread across the plains. In the winter, if these are Chinook winds, they can raise the prairie temperatures by 15 to 20 degrees, Celsius- that's 68 degrees in a few hours.
The interpretive center also pointed out that buffalo have poor vision, but a keen sense of smell. Thus the braves, dressed in wolf or buffalo hides, had to use the sweat lodges to rid themselves of human smells, and douse themselves in native herbs and fragrances.
After 6000 years, it took only a few years for the Europeans to destroy the lifestyle. First, the natives got horses and guns, making the buffalo drives over the cliffs less important. Second, with the wholesale slaughter of the buffalo by the railroaders, the herds were destroyed, and the natives left without food or livelihood.
I couldn't believe that after pointing out the demise of a 6000 year lifestyle, the cafeteria served buffalo burgers. Now is that bad or what?
August 3, 2001, Friday- finally shorts weather. Out to the golf course across the lane. Beautiful condition. Green fairways. Firm greens. Only problem was it was slooooow play. With the temps close to 100, and a 10 minute or more wait on each hole, we blew off the last two.
Back to the coach for lunch, and then off to the North West Mounted Police /Fort Macloed museum/exhibit. This was the predecessor to the RCMP (the Royal Canadian Mounted Police), and this town (which was the fort), served to administer justice and stop the whisky smuggling from the states. Less then honorable people were mixing 1/3 alcohol, 1/3 water and, and 1/3 spices (such as tea for color, lye for a kick, tomatoes and other ingredients), and selling these to the natives. One cup of brew for a buffalo hide.
Besides the static displays, they have the Musical Ride during which 8 volunteer kids ride in various formations. They moved their horses like ballet dancers, and the speed that they attained was almost frightening. Imagine 4 horses charging to the same point, choreographed to miss by the width of a horse. Great training.
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Next, I found an internet café (to use the term loosely), and did some email work. Since Anglefire changed their web page firewall (sign-in page), I've not been able to work on our web page. Frustrating. With no phone numbers to call, you send emails, and some computer sends back trash…
August 4, 2001, Saturday- after an easy ride to Magrath, AB and the Covered Wagon Campground, we dropped the jacks and tuned in the dish. After lunch, and a much needed front and rear washing of Hobbes, we returned to the good old USA. But, first we had some real concerns. As we passed through the town of Cardston I noticed that our Jeep gas gauge, which was full two days ago and only had 70 miles on the tank, was reading only ¼ full. Why? Checked out the rear and front end of the car and couldn't see any fuel leaking. Drove back into town and filled up. Since it only took 4 gallons, obviously the gauge, sending unit or fuel float was reading incorrectly. Good news in that after the fill, and for the rest of the trip, everything was OK.
At the border crossing we stopped in to see the Canadian Customs folks and get the receipts stamped for our GST (Government Sales Tax) refunds. Next into the USA, mailed the refund request, and then headed to St. Mary's. Struck pay dirt when we found Moose Drool Beer in the supermarket. Two cases into the car, an ice cream sandwich down the hatch, and we're back into Canada.
August 5, 2001, Sunday- a mixed day….actually somewhat subdued. We started out with great enthusiasm the 50 miles to Waterton Lakes National Park in southwestern Alberta, actually the northern continuation of Glacier Park in the US. Quaint little village with the Prince of Wales Hotel dominating the landscape. We drove to a lake 10 miles north of town, Cameron Lake, and started our walk around the high country lake. It was too crowded. The hour hike high about the lake lacked enthusiasm. We drove back to town after our picnic lunch, and were surprised at we drove through the town of Cardston for some groceries. The Mormon Church has a huge temple in town, the largest that we've seen outside of Salt Lake City. The grocery store and convenience stores were both closed on Sunday, as well as some of the gas stations and all of the downtown stores. Blue laws? Arriving back into Magrath, where our coach is parked, we noticed again that most of the businesses were closed. We did notice one small ice cream type restaurant and one convenience store open. The church must rule.
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August 6, 2001, Monday- off for a 9 AM t-time at the Magrath Golf Course. We were paired with members Adrian and Wicky, who were a delight to play 18 holes with. This lovely pair, in Canada for 50 years, were originally born in Holland. After the war, their families, coincidently, in 1951, migrated to Canada. From them we learned, not only the golf course, but the difficulties of the local farmers. The local water source comes from the St. Mary's Reservoir. Three years ago the reservoir was drained so that they could work in the transformers. Since then, the last two winters were basically without snow. End result, the local farmers don't have any water available for their normal crops, such as corn. Instead they have planted dry land crops, such as wheat and other grasses. It will be a lean year, again, for local farmers.
The golf course was in perfect shape, with lots of rolling hills. I amazed myself with some of my shots. Many drives and putts were beyond my normal skill levels. However, my course management skills got into the way, and when I got into trouble, I seemed to be trapped into too many stokes above par.
As we finished, the temps were in the upper 90's. We received a phone call from Phil, reporting on his first few days as the ship doctor aboard the Holland American Line. He was flown into Anchorage, and the next day bussed to Seward, arriving at 4 PM on departure day. As he boarded the ship, he was ushered into the infirmary with people waiting. Finally finishing in the early evening, he grabbed a bite and retired to his stateroom. At 9 PM he receives a call that a woman was having a stroke. After redressing into his official threads, he arrived on the scene with a woman looking like she was near the end of the trail. Blood pressure was over 250. A-fib of the heart. They are two hours out of port and this woman needs an ICU. Phil tells the nurse we need to get this woman to an ICU. Nurse says….I'll call the captain for you. Now Phil is telling the Captain that we have to turn the ship around. Nice first contact with the bridge. Next thing you know, over the PA comes the announcement that they were returning and the next day's itinerary would be significantly changed. At 1PM they again left Seward. Nice first few hours in a new job.
August 7, 2001, Tuesday- the campground that we left, Covered Wagon, had lots of TLC given by it's owners. From an antique metal jail, to hundreds of farming implements and artifacts, one could spend days learning the history of each piece and a bygone era.
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A hundred plus miles down the road we stopped at Medicine Hat, on the eastern edge of Alberta, and wound up in a little RV park that's part of the Cottonwood Coulee Golf Course. Tomorrow we play this par 66 course where every blade of grass looks perfect. With temps in the very upper 90's, they must use a ton of water to keep it looking so green.
August 8, 2001, Wednesday- what a difference a day makes. Last night when I checked today's forecast it called for 72 and showers. Impossible to believe after 98 yesterday, yet we awoke to light showers and temps in the low 60's. This morning's golf was windy, cool, and for a few holes we had slight sprinkles. The course was in terrific shape and provided the necessary challenges to keep us on our toes.
August 9, 2001, Thursday- traveling day…about 250 miles from Medicine Hat, Alberta to Regina, Saskatchewan. Names always raise the question as to where they come from. Medicine Hat comes from the native medicine man that lost his hat. We passed through MooseGaw and found that the original name was Moosehaw…..Indian for "warm breeze", but converted by the white man.
We've now finished a good portion of the TransCanada Highway #1, and true to the forecasts, most of Alberta and all of Saskatchewan are, at most slightly rolling hills, but usually flat places. Alongside the length of the highway, are power transmission lines, and below ground, buried pipelines. All in all, this is the trunk line for utilities and transportation for the province. In all of the travels along the transCanada, lack of long range planning has been evident. From Calgary to Regina, and every town in between, this highway goes through the downtown areas with stop lights and stop signs. Very slow going.
As Regina appeared in the distance, it had a clean and modern downtown rising out of the wheat fields of the great planes.
August 10, 2001, Friday- a day of running around. Toured downtown Regina, the capital building, city parks, a few malls, Costco for snacks, Walmart, etc. Got the materials to fly the wind sock that Karen and Phil got me for my birthday. Some PVC pipe and lots of Velcro give us the needed parts to fly when we want and to store all the pieces when we travel.
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Spent a while on the phone today with Debi regarding the condo buying search. Not moving forward at the pace to make anyone happy. We booked a flight for Susan to return to Denver to help Debi for 10 days, and looked at the map for driving back to Denver from Regina. It's a straight shot over some back roads before hitting I-25, for some 600+ miles. Gave her the option of the help, but she begged off. So, back to our original plans…tomorrow to Winnipeg, 300 miles to the east.
August 11, 2001, Saturday- with an hour's time change and 366 miles to travel, we were rolling at 8 AM / 9AM Central time. We finished Saskatchewan and a good portion of Manitoba. Significant vacant land and lots of fields of grain- wheat and alfalfa, sunflowers (for oil), canola flowers (again for oil), and grazing cattle and horses.
Arrived in Traveller's Resort along the loop road, #100. The Trans Canada highway is 20 miles of stop lights through the downtown area. Good news after two weeks of tearing my hair out with the web page, I finally got in. Two weeks ago Anglefire changed its log-in format, and we couldn't get past, so to speak, the first page. Emails to the webmaster were not productive. We entered into endless loops. Finally today I was able to get into the web-shell, and got July finished.
This evening we went to the Club Regent Casino and were pleasantly surprised as to the ambiance, quality and layout of the facility. Part of the décor included a fish tank that covered both walls and the ceiling of the passageway between two gaming areas. Something special to view sharks, eels and fish from beneath.
Poor Debi. After a full day of checking out all of the real estate on the list, only saw junk at outrageous prices, well beyond the limits that she set. It looks like it's back to rentals until the right property opens up.
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