Another busy weekend

Bright and early Saturday morning, we loaded up the kids and ourselves and headed south to Calgary to take in the Stampede.

It was a long hot drive - we are having record temperatures here in Alberta this year.

After arriving safe and sound at the hotel, we headed to the c-train (subway) and off we went to take in the sights and sounds of the midway with the hopes of seeing the world famous rodeo and chuckwagon races.

The kids loved the grounds. Shayne and Bailey are now big enough to take in the big rides. And took full advantage. But man was it hot - 35+. YUCK...and very little shade to be found.

I headed off to the ticket booth to get the rodeo tickets only to find out they have been sold out for a week already. They had some general standing room only tickets left - but NO WAY would my back take that. So then it was asking about the chuckwagon races...only, again, to be told they were sold out as well. Well, that about ruined my whole day!!

I found everyone again and we went and found a bite to eat...bought more ride tickets, took in the agricultural exhibits and the trade show. WE stuck around the grounds until midnight so the kids could take in the fireworks show as it is one of the best in western canada only for it to fizzle too.

With all that not happening - you'd almost think it was still Friday the 13th. LOL

Sunday dawned just as hot as Saturday. With no tickets to be found even for the Sunday rodeo etc. we decided to head to the Calgary Zoo. But first it was breakfast. We ended up driving for miles and miles it seemed to find a restaurant that wasn't overly busy.

Then off to the Zoo. The Calgary Zoo, I think, is one of the nicest I have ever seen. It encompasses an entire island in the middle of the bow river along with probably 20 acres of city. The pens are massive - with lots of trees and grass for the animals. The elephants have just gotten a new pen which is beautiful. We were there for over 4 hours and still didn't take it all in...but then Doyle has this annoying habit of having to take in the "North America" section everytime to see the moose, buffalo, etc. - all of which we can see in their natural habitat on the drive home. LOL

After the Zoo we headed off to Bowness Park where the kids played in the river and the sprinkler park before we headed off for supper.

After supper, we dropped the kids off at the Greyhound bus (10 pm) as they were headed off to BC to my parents place until the August long weekend!!! YIPPEE - finally a quiet house - and maybe if I can get my butt in gear - a clean one.

then it was off home. Doyle drove the first couple hour and then I took over so Doyle could sleep. We arrived home around 2 am - doyle headed directly to bed as 5 am comes early (that is when he leaves for work).

I was also up early. The kids called letting us know they had arrived safely and then I was off in the truck pulling the trailer heading to Olds to pick up Semi and to see Dale work Hyde and Gunner. I will save those exciting tidbits for tomorrow.

Night all,

Carrie