July 2007 .............
Calgary Stampede: The first stampede was in 1912, and the chuck wagon races began in 1923. In 1968 it became a ten day event and in 2006 it was changed to an invite-only event, open to the top competitors in the NFR, Canadian FR, and the Professional Bull Riders Association. Award money that year was raised to 1.6 million.
The stampede grounds encompass 193 acres on the river, and includes a midway, a huge covered stadium, the Saddle Dome building, and many other buildings. Dean and I attended the parade, two rodeo performances, and one evening the chuck wagon races and night show, plus spending many hours exploring the grounds. The chuck wagon races are very dangerous - the night after we were there a bad accident happened killing three horses and seriously injuring a driver. They have appointed a review committee to study safety for the races.
The Stampede is a wonderful memory, and something we enjoyed and would encourage everyone to attend.
February 2002 .............
Lake Louise: Chateau Lake Louise - In Banff National Park with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, only a two hour drive from Calgary, this majestic hotel is surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery we have ever seen. It began in 1890 as a one story log cabin, and through two early fires and four architects, this small cabin would evolve to be what it is today. It is built of Sandstone that was popular in Alberta in the 19th century. We had lunch there, a buffet that was wonderful, and the dining room overlooks the lake. I think the buffet was around $35, which was included in our tour and the rooms start at about $245. The lake, formed by melting glaciers, is the beautiful turquoise color we saw all over the area. This is a don't miss place to add to your travel plans.
Emerald Lake: In the Yoho National Park, twenty five miles West of Lake Louise, near Field BC. The lake is a beautiful site in the Canadian Rockies. It is emerald colored due to the run-off water from the glaciers in the area. As glacial ice melts, the run-off dissolves small particles of powered rock, commonly called rock flour. Rock flour makes the lake water quite murky but extremely beautiful. In the 1800's when the railroad built a posh hotel on the shores of the lake, the garbage was dumped into the lake. For years scuba divers have scoured the lake searching for bottles, old serving dishes and three brass bath tubs. The story goes that when the hotel was shut down all the non-reclaimable furnishings, including three bath tubs, made of brass, were taken out on the lake during the winter months where they sank into the lake as the ice melted. No one knows if the story is true, but scuba divers still search.
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