Calgary Stampede

It is a short 1.25 hour flight to Calgary. We stay in the Ramada in downtown Calgary which is very convenient for the Stampede. The train station is just one block away. You purchase tickets on the platform and it is just C$3.60 each.

When we arrive at the Stampede ground the crowds are horrendous. We have tickets for the grandstand but there is no way to access it without running the gauntlet of the entire site. The food on offer is gross and very American. Foot long hotdogs, hotdogs fried in batter on a stick. Good grief!! We try to orientate ourselves but it is really difficult to find our way around. It is also exceedingly hot. We did not bring hats and decide to buy stetsons to look the part. I pose in front of some exceptionally large farm equipment.

We have tickets for seats in the Grandstand for the evening show but Paul’s friend Dan knows the stewards and can get us on the rails. We have a certain amount of trouble meeting up – some definite crossed wires and language barriers. It was a stressful 45 minutes but eventually we find him and – good man – he has bought us beers. Standing on the rails with the TV crews and stewards is a wonderful and privileged experience. The opening ceremony commences with lots of pomp and ceremony. We have to press ourselves against the barrier so the marching band can squeeze by.

We watch the chuck wagon racing, which is not what I expected. It is so powerful and energy packed. The drivers are incredibly skilful and strong. Those thoroughbreds take some controlling. The teams of horses are restrained by a man who is also trying to hold his own steed back.

When the clanger sounds the teams circle a barrel, the outrider mounts his horses and they storm off down the track. It doesn’t always go to plan. We see one team out of control which causes another horse to rear up. It could quickly have gone badly wrong but order was restored eventually.

After the main event the children come on stage for their chuck wagon race….on toy horses.

There are lady acrobats on horse back…

…native people racing in bareback relays – fast, frenetic and exceedingly perilous….

…on-going entertainment…

…and a finale of music and fireworks.

There is also a great opportunity for people watching and soaking up the atmosphere. I am pleasantly surprised that the photos are OK despite the waning light.

It is another beautiful day in Calgary. It is Sunday and downtown is nice and quiet.

We have tickets for the rodeo at 13.30 and feel a little more prepared for the showground encounter. Yesterday we could not find the Monster Energy Display which is at 12.00 but we know where it is now. We find a space on a grassy knoll and watch the motorbike daredevil display. The stunts are quite astonishing and for once I have the camera correctly setup, the light is great and I can select a very fast shutter speed.

We make our way to the grandstand. We are a long way up and it makes me appreciate just how privileged we were last night to be so close to the action. The rodeo commences with a loud bang, a cowboy whirling his lasso, flames and fireworks.

The skills on show are impressive and varied. No matter how hard the horses bucked the riders rarely fell. They were marked on both ability to remain mounted and also on technique and how much in control they were. Some people flailed wildly whilst others always seemed to keep their legs in contact with the horse. The steer lassoing was incredible. The cowboys are so quick. Best time from chasing , dismounting and tying up the steer – 3.5 seconds. You read it right just 3.5 seconds!!

During the afternoon the heat built and so did the humidity. Huge black clouds develop and when we exit at 17.00 we are convinced we will get soaked. Large raindrops start to fall just as we arrive at the hotel. It has been an excellent day, but exhausting. We collapse into the hotel bar – The Fox on the 6th. It is happy hour. We maximise on drinks and food, then sleep very soundly indeed.