At last we have wifi so I can endeavour to write something of our last few days. After the epicness of the stampede we woke up late, had breakfast and checked out. Sadly did not make use of the pool but I cannot recommend the Sheraton Hotel in Calgary highly enough. Excellent service and comfort. Cousin 2 drove us to the much anticipated collection of RV (camper van!). Needless to say things did not go smoothly for the Meg family trip as my credit card was declined three times. They have to take credit card so mercifully Cousin 2 stepped in with plastic help and paid, thank you saviour!!!

very cursory show around the van by bored youngman, already not impressed. German family ahead of us set off and stopped with flat tyre already. Hmmm (emoji). I asked him 3 times if he would put the cap back on the sewage outlet {black water} but somehow he kept talking and not doing it. Gasoline {petrol} only one quarter full which means we have to do battle with that straight away. There is a ”double bed” above the driver and single bed where the table is. Everyone a bit quiet now. We disgorged All our belongings into cupboards and microwave and left suitcases with them at our own risk. Responsible adult drove around the car park to get used to it and said goodbye to cuz then left. First stop gas station. How lovely we thought, a man will fill it for you, put card into machine and man clicked off after $40, he said it would take no more, help says I, the guage cannot be working inside if it is full. Yippee. Then we drive to The Hitchin Post, run by a family who are friends of Cousin one. The best milk shakes ever and so welcome. If you are that way you definitely should stop there. Then the large co-op for a massive shop of food and drink etc. Guess what, credit card worked! Loaded it all in massive moving bags and left them in the aisle of the van. First stop was Fort McLeod, a mere 90 minutes from Calgary as we had not wanted first drive to be a mission.

Found the really delightful camp site Rivers Edge – if I knew how to tag I would do so! Robyn flew out on her quad bike and showed us our place right by the river. Electric and water hook up (essential). A picnic table and fire pit. We paid for a load of firewood and kindling. A Canadian robin with a yellow tum was sitting on our very own post when we arrived – hello mum! The children explored the lovely fast flowing river and skimmed stones in the dying sun. I was so grateful to cousin 3 who had provided among other things, raw veg and salad so we just got the fresh tuna steaks and charcoaled them, oops. Maybe that was to do with the bottle of prosecco consumed – cheers, we made it!

photos to follow..

Wowee! so today was Calgary Stampede day! So recommend it to anyone and as it is on for ten days try to space out your visits. Alarm set for 6.30 so child 2 could do some work first, breakfast and taxi ride to Cousin Three! We met at a strategic point so I could practice driving, very trustin soul!! Very useful lesson and child 3 was happy as he got to go to a 7-11 apparently a lifelong ambition! after a delicious picnic in her delightful garden we went to Stampede. Confidently produced voucher for tickets to be met with blank faces. An hour later we were given the tickets but not because they found our correct booking. we raced into the grandstand and watched the rodeo. Spectacular riding and beautiful horses, they are much more aware of animal cruelty nowadays. The skill and speed are amazing. There was one nasty moment where a rider was thrown from a bull and didnt get up for ages. Eventually limped off but it was a close call. It was very hot day so after rodeo we walked into Midway and looked at stalls selling mac n cheese ice cream, pickle burger, scorpion pizza, cotton candy burrito, squeezy cheese on chips with gravy!! eeeeooo! We found a lovely big hall with air con and lots of stalls selling lots of things. We didnt manage a go on the rides but it was v expensive with very long queues . Met with cousin 3 who gave us a v generous prsent for our trip then met cousin 2 et al. Went to evening show in the grandstand thanks to cousin 2’s generosity to see chuck wagon races. Very thrilling and speedy and no injuries, then first people did tandem racing where 4 riders fly round the track then come back to their own team leap off horse and on to another one fly round again and repeat! So exciting and clever. There were entertainments in between and French fries and coke all round. Then a stage bought in for dancers, a great country and western singer called Chuck Brody, very good looking and good too with great band. Then an amazing dude with a lassoo who made it dance about and then set it on fire and danced some more, very clever. A rather strident female singer who was accompanied by jets of water in a rather confusing costume and a truck covered in rhinestones. More dancers and awesome drone lights in the sky with spectacular fireworks. Train home with number one son leading the way like a good un so we got away from the rush. Hotel and bed now. Zzzzzz.

So a good night was had by all and I insisted on everyone eating as much as they could for breakfast which is freeee! Then we were picked up by cousin two and set off to park in downtown Calgary. after a really long walk into town, don’t even think about parking when the Stampede is on! – we found a great little smoothie shop. Brain freeze all around but much refreshed we walked to the Calgary tower which used to be the tallest building in Calgary but is now dwarfed by the big boys. It is definitely worth taking the elevator up to the top. The 360 views are amazing with teeny tiny little people and toy trains and cars. Some of us were brave/crazy enough to stand on the glass platform and look down. When you come out on to the pavement your legs feel funny because it is moving just a bit all the time!

Hat buying and the odd tee shirt later we got a cab back to car and drove back to hotel. Poor child number two has shed loads of work to do for school so we have to take advantage of wifi and give her a couple of hours. Luckily there is a pool in the hotel too.

off we went by train into Calgary again. Such a clever park n ride system with quick, easy trains rather like overground tube. Went into cousin’s son’s bar for much anticipated meet up with food and booze. Only to be told under 18’s not allowed in!! eek! Very disappointing but they are much stricter here even if you are eating food. Somehow someone relented and we were allowed to tuck into a corner. A great evening with a lively live band, delicious ribs n chicken and a helluva cocktail. Absolutely no idea what it was called or what was in it but they were good. So good to catch up with cousin’s son who is very cool dude and so friendly and nice, some epic tattoos too. Train back so number 2 can continue to work. grrr! what is this life if full of deadlines, kids have no time to stop and make memories?!

Good news the hotel has a washing machine so we can smell less fragrant for our next stage of the trip. However tomorrow we are off to see the stampede which should be epic and part of the main reason for coming when we did. Night night.

So here we are again. Thank you to anyone who read my first post. sorry the photos wete sideways, I have no idea how to turn them round but I know a good osteopath for your neck! We had an amazing time on the ranch with our generous gorgeous cousins. We will never forget the Quad biking through the fields and H actually saw a Moose!!! A rare sighting which will never be forgotten. Feeding lambs with bottles, communing with the horse, meeting guests who read latin for fun, the best marguerites, driving a bob cat, dogs on the bed, delicious food and those views. Thank you K and R soooooo much. so today after a spot of paddle boarding we caught our third flight to Calgary. Disaster when we arrived to discover my case had been destroyed by baggage handlers! Absolutely ruined so had to fill out forms and was given a temporary case by airline with extra stuff in plastic bags. A lovely orange case which had been a present to R from godmother F! Anyway we were met by cousin Ruth who drove us away and calmed the mother down admirably. However on the way there was the worst rain and hail and lightning storm so much that all traffic stopped on the highway as it was too dangerous to drive! Finally got into our destination and all went out to dinner with other lovely cousins. Such a friendly waiter who asked if R was over 18 to drink alcohol so I said it was her birthday so we all got free blinis and a birthday cake slice of tiramasu for pudding!! It was great and we all felt loads better! Bed and movies and blogging and chill. Wonky photos to follow.

More photos