Friday 10 Sept - A runaway horse

We left early so we could get a table inside to watch the show from. Rosemary had to get a latte from Starbucks on the way, there is no Second cup in Okotoks.

But somehow we went west on an east road and crossed a bridge only wide enough for one car at a time.

We did get to see the mountains and we did get to see some very pretty country so it was not a terrible thing.

When we did get to the Spruce because you know we did, we tried to park in our parking lot but it was closed .

They told us we had to park in #2 parking lot, so then

we had to figure out where we were and where we wanted to be and how to get from where we were to there.

We did though because we are very clever.

but not until we had to avoid a bus as we went into the bus drop off to turn around.

We even found a table in a very good spot right by the All Canada Ring. We settled in for the morning. The sun was warm on our backs and felt sooooo good.

We took turns guarding the table never leaving it or our chairs unattended. But we did run into one rather rude lady who came

and tried to take one of our chairs as at that time we did not have anything on it.

You could tell it was at our table but she just came right up and tried to take it. Dennie informed her in a nice way that the chair was taken. and the lady?

said well there's no one sitting in it.

She was again informed that even though there was no one sitting in it, it was indeed already spoken for. The lady?

then said 'well there's nothing on the chair holding it', at which Dennie said 'well there is now'

as she picked up something from the table and plunked it onto the seat. how Rude.

Most people ask if the chair is being used before picking it up and trying to walk off with it.

Barb and Brenda came back shortly after the Rude Lady left.

Barb with a hat and Brenda with a drink. the jumping continued and then we had a real runaway horse.

The rider came off and the horse took off across the ring jumping the exit gate trying to go back to the warm up ring.

Luckily no one got hurt. It certainly was a tense moment or two. Anyway the jumping was great and the weather was

marvelous.

they came and told us we had to abandon our table so we moved our chairs up onto the grass to finish watching the show.

Then we had the group next to us who pulled their chairs so far ahead of everyone else in the line that we had to lean way forward to be able to see half the ring so Dennie finally

asked them to move back.

After the show we went into the garden room and had lunch and then went shopping before going to the international ring.

Rosemary bought sandals, Dennie bought postcards, T Shirts for the kids and hats for shauna and Brent, Brenda looked for a bling brow band for her daughter Kim's horse Mystery. Barb was on a hunt for a sweater.

A ride around the park on the wagon with Spider and Hawk and Justin was fun. There are a lot of different areas in Spruce Meadows and tons of sculptures and statues.

Supper in the white tent as it was starting to get cool again.

cheese buns and hummus and crackers.

No french fries. Dennie found a photo opportunity and Rosemary and Dennie got their photo's taken.

The Sele Stallions put on a great show and the Six Bar jump off was really exciting. 6 feet 4 inches cleared.

The fireworks after the Six Bar were wonderful.

We didn't get home until 11 pm as we were stuck in the parking lot not moving even an inch for about 30 minutes. It was very dark out there and we were very concerned that we would miss the rock, but we did see it just fine.

Thursday 9 Sept - More Horses

left around 9 and found SpruceMeadows with not too much trouble. Parked in a new location right behind the international ring. It was cool but not too bad.

We picked up the daily sheets. We have started to

keep track of the times and faults of each horse for interest sake.

We found the Alberta ring at the far end of the the complex and watched the battle of the breeds.

They were doing driving of

carriages of all sizes. That was when we ran into the lady from the Mule association who knows Will's brother and found out about spotted assess.

They were showing Hanoverians at the next ring and there were some mares with thier foals they were so cute.

We wandered and shopped and ate lunch.

Then we shopped some more. Rosemary got a wonderful pair of sandals and I got earrings made in Ireland.

We had a great time that afternoon.

It rained a little and when the break time came

there were people brought out on to the field in little groups all wearing little blue booties

on their shoes.

We wondered how does one get to go out onto the field in little blue booties. we would find out later that they would have been the sponsors guests and people who had paid a lot of money to see the show.

Rosemary and I decided that walking down in the ring was on our bucket list.

Watched the horses from the nearly empty stands. The Sele Stallions came on and they were lovely, From germany 8 of them doing dressage to music.

As we were leaving the stands we saw a van with a gentleman holding a golden eagle.

The eagle "Spirit" had been found on the road as few years ago. He had been shot in the eye with a BBgun and was blind in both eyes. he was gorgeous.

stopped into the little gazebo for a bit and then shopped some more. We did get a ride on the wagon with Spider, Hawk and Justin and the sun came out.

Getting out of the parking lot was easy but we missed our turnoff as it did not say Okotoks and almost wound up going to Saskatchewan.

It cleared up in the evening and was very nice.

Diner at Mike's which was good. we all split a 1/2 liter of wine which was perfect. we are such party'ers. Found Jo's place with no problem thanks to the rock.

Jo got home late and we did not watch a movie that night.

Ed and Elsie are here to go to Spruce Meadows too. They parked thier camper at Jo's for the weekend rather than at Spruce meadows. Better security. Jo has a burrow.

You can see the milky way so clear at night it is wonderful. The city does have its drawbacks sometimes.

Spruce Meadows Here We Come. Wednesday 8th Sept

Brenda came a picked me up at 8 am right on time butI had to run back into the apartment as I almost forgot my tickets.We went and picked up Barb next and Rosemary last on our way out. We didn't even need to bring a trailer for extra clothes or anything. The weather was overcast and calling for rain but we were hoping for better weather.

It has been a while for some of us since we have been down Calgary way. Brenda had just been there and back the day before.There were many exciting things to occupy us on the way down.

We saw signs of lakes and beaches, places we had either gone to as children or taken our children to as parents.

We saw things on the road. one truck was full of rusty mufflers. The drive was not so bad. not too busy and it didn't rain that much between Edmonton and Red Deer.

At Red Deer we had a pit stop in the windmill cafe for Donuts. they were so good. A nice break there, filled up the tank and after some musical chairs we were on the go again.

there was a bit more rain between Red Deer and

Calgary.

Rosemary did her unbeading in the car and Dennie warned her about bumps.

Rosemary also named all the rivers. They were of course all either the north saskatchewan the south saskatchewan or the south south saskatchewan.

We followed Jo's directions and turned west on 22x which took us past Spruce meadows which when we saw it was very exciting even though we had decided to find Jo's first and then go to the show.

We proceeded through Turner Valley and Black Diamond which are actually only about 1 Km apart form each other. The rain had slowed down considerably although it was still very overcast.

It is very pretty country. Farm fields and cattle fields, and gently rolling hills.

We saw the big rock the 'Okotoks Erratica', the largest erratica in the world! and

Erratica is a rock that has been carried and dropped by

a glacier in the prairies and this one was certainly just dropped in the middle of the prairie.

Jo's directions said that there would be a smaller rock on the corner of her road and she was just about a 1.2 mile from the corner.

and there we were, we made it with no problem what so ever. Jo was as happy to see us as we were to see her.

After off loading the shredded wheat and choosing our bedrooms and settling in Jo showed us her horses

Ruby, Iris and Sierra and the Burro Eeyore. So cute!

Then we headed back to Spruce Meadows to see the horses.

Dennie went with Jo and she pointed out things like the Observatory and the wild Mustangs that were rescued from Sufffield.

the River is the sheep River just like Rosemary said.

as we pulled closer to spruce meadows the excitement built.

It was like going to Disney Land.

That same sense of anticipation and happiness at being there. Spruce Meadows is a beautiful place with statues and fountains and pretty shops.

We asked a young lady on a Gypsy Cob where the International Ring was and she very graciously told us exactly where it was.

Right on the other side of this large market.

We were brave and went through the International bazar without hardly stopping at all and were in no time at all sitting down and watching the horses.

Jo didn't have tickets but the lady said as there was really no one there due to the rain Jo could join us, no problem.

The jumping was GREAT! The rain held off and the weather was just grey and cool.

The International ring is low on the east side of a slope and so is pretty much out of the wind and further protected by all the seating around it.

I was looking around and seeing all of the things that I had seen on TV for years.

So many times I am sure we were all holding our breath willing the horses over the jumps that seemed to fall with only a breath of wind on them. Great Britain won.

We found a place that sold fish and chips. the fish was good the chips not so much.

the pomp and circumstance of the presentation ceremony was lovely.

We all went browsing although a few of us did pick up a couple of things. From the Great Britain shop. Dennie got earrings made in Ireland and some cheese. yummy.

Rosemary got candy for her friends and family.

they wandered over through the international bazar and then over to the Equi market. they will all be there for the time that we are all down here which is good as at 6.00 they closed the places down and kicked us all out.

In a very nice way of course. we all found each other again and decided to get a few groceries first before going to eat.

The sun started to come out.

We went into Okotoks to pick up some groceries for our stay.

We passed lamas and windmills and cows and hawks. lots of hawks just sitting on the lights waiting.

Also Calgary. Calgary comes all the way out to Spruce meadows now.

at the grocery store discussed where to have dinner.

By the time we came out of the Sobeys the sun was out and the sky was blue. Lets hope it stays like that for awhile.

Jo told us about this great little reastarant 'Rylie's Cattle Barn'.

Burgers for Brenda and Barb, salad for Jo and Dennie and a steak soup for Rosemary. The food was very good and the company was better.

after a wee trip before we went home and relaxed.

We watched 'Kinky Boots' The coyotes were out in full force which of cousre got the neigbourhood dogs going.

A baby owl who had not learned to who yet competed with the coyotes for attention.

The night was still clear and we were all hoping for good weather tomorrow.

Jo and Dennie brought in Eyorre and Iris for the night. to the barn not the house.

Sleep came easy.