Day 14 Calgary

During Stampede, everyone's a cowboy!

OH MY GOSH!! Our full day at the Calgary Stampede! To anyone following this blog who has never been, go to the Calgary Stampede. No one should really have to go through life and not experience some of what we saw today! As if we would ever need them, sign are located throughout the grounds touting it as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

On our trip through downtown to get to the grounds, we noticed that this entire city celebrates Stampede. Described as the “Calgary season” by Nancy’s Aunt Sue, evidence was everywhere. From the various free pancake breakfast run by volunteers, in parking lots all over the city, to the office tower windows painted with lively characters; this town celebrates. The Bow River encircles the Stampede grounds. My favourite window art was just up river from the event, in the Market Bar they reminded all who passed, “Always drink and eat, upstream from the herd…”!! The western spirit is alive and kickin’ in every corner of Calgary. Even those who didn’t want to ruin a hairdo with a Stetson (and trust me the “hat head” is terrible) donned a fascinator – a mini, plush, black or white cowboy hat perched jauntily.

We arrived at the grounds by mid-morning. Our first chore was to secure rodeo tickets. Informed by the locals that the rodeo is the roots of Stampede, and armed with Stampede bucks from Sue and John (western hospitality!) we were happily able to get great seats for the show that began at 1:30. This gave us time to explore some more, and as we were now “experienced Stampeders” we were able navigate our way around to catch a glimpse of some of what we’d missed last time. One of the many lemonade stands provided a cool, tart treat (with the whole lemon added to the cup for extra pucker and visual appeal) and another friendly chat with even the kids who work the concession stands, engaging you in lively conversation and not letting you leave until they were assured you were having a great time and there was nothing more they could do for you – talk about western hospitality!

Bareback event.

They give quite a ride.

Bull riding is just crazy!

Little cowpokes being dragged around the corral on their faces.

The rodeo was so much fun. I didn’t realize that the Stampede will celebrate 100 years in 2012. Begun in 1912 by Calgary cattle barons to showcase what the west had to offer, they clearly were on to a good thing!

The rodeo was indeed a wild ride! The bucking horses made my neck hurt just watching! Can’t help but wonder if there are not chiropractic offices full of rodeo cowboys in them thar hills? The bull riding was the most nerve wracking – those animals look big, mean and not any too pleased to be part of the show. And clearly you don’t make a bull do much that he doesn’t want to do. One particular ride saw a very agitated bull in the chute. It took a great deal of time to convince all hands that the gate could be opened, the bull was quite clearly not happy. When the rider gave the nod that indicates the start of the ride, the gate opened and the bull just stood there, refusing to move! The crowd was amused, the hands confused and the rider frustrated but the bull was stubborn and had decided that this ride was not going to happen – clearly live entertainment!

The women’s event, barrel racing was incredibly fast! The same young gal won for the third day in a row establishing her as the biggest single purse winner of this year’s Stampede so far. I was shocked at the amount of money to be won here. The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth also boasts the largest purse on earth! There are millions of dollars to be won – and they are welcome to it. Rodeo riding, not for the faint of heart!

The most fun of the afternoon was the kids wild pony event. Three young kids hold a rope as a wild pony is let out of the chute. The idea is they hold the rope until one of them is able to hop, bare-back on the pony and ride him! Hilarious!! This, perhaps predictably, resulted in a couple of little cowpokes, even more stubborn than their wild ponies, being dragged around the corral on their faces! The weather, the entertainment, the treats (nutty sticks – cashews, held together with caramel, wrapped around nougat – yum!) all cooperated to create a splendid afternoon.

We met “the family” for dinner at the Stampede buffet where we gorged on the best roast beef I’ve ever eaten. Once again apparently “no bill” – western hospitality!!! And then it was off to the Stampede Grandstand Show.

I expected the chuck wagon races, I expected fireworks, and in between I expected some kind of “variety show”. Heavens above was I in for a surprise! Let me say again, if you’ve never been, COME TO THE CALGARY STAMPEDE – the entire trip may have been worth the Grandstand Show!

It began with guests being called to the stage. The guests included RCMP officers in red serge, Indian (yes, they do call them Indians here) chiefs in full ceremonial headdress, representatives of the Canadian navy, army and air force, the Stampede Queen and cowboys. A young lady stepped forward and invited the crowd to stand and join her in singing O Canada. Now while I’m not generally much of a crier, the National Anthem is one way to start the waterworks – crazy, I know. What can I say? This rendition was particularly moving. It might have been the unified voice of the crowd, the array of guests standing side-by-side in harmony, or even Nancy and Jeffrey holding Cecilia in front of us that started the tears, but by the time the Chinook helicopter thrummed its beat overhead trailing a huge Canadian flag through the skies, I was a goner! Refusing to ever pass up an opportunity to sing O Canada, I blubbered my way through to what I knew was bound to be a highlight evening!

O Canada

Chinook helicopter trailing the flag.

Following the thrill of the chuck wagon heats, as the full moon rose over the Stampede grounds, the rodeo track was transformed. A huge stage was pulled in by tractor and platforms flipped and twisted. Overhead wires delivered additional performance venues as the stage came alive with colour and sound. The Volte is a very small circle that’s used to train horses. Their Stampede Volte Grandstand Show was a circle where creative energy exploded from hundreds of performers. With 2 Acts and 11 scenes, the show features singers, dancers, a comedian, aerialists and acrobats, a 38 foot tall marionette rising out of the stage holding a transparent sphere which contained a trapeze artist … all of this happened not only on the stage but also above the crowd as time-after-time the performance would move overhead! I thought the highlight of the show was when the Young Canadians performed – 170 strong while the sky exploded is a cascade of fireworks. Amazing!

Our longest day by far, we arrived back at the campground long after midnight exhausted yet exhilarated. Again, a day worth the whole vacation … and we haven’t even reached the mountains yet!

P.S. Thank you to David for the pictures today. Up till now they were all mine. Today I just couldn't focus on the camera (no pun intended!) because it was all so exciting to watch!