BC Road Trip Post #10 Sunday, July 06, 2014

BC Road Trip Post #10  Sunday, July 06 2014

Activities:

Stampede Breakfast:
Up and away to Calgary for a free Stampede Breakfast.  Brenda was online to search for a location for a free Stampede Breakfast, and there were so many options, that the city map of Calgary was covered with them.  She decided on a church in town, Kornerstone Community Church.  They closed off the street outside their church, placed tables and chairs, set up a live band with country style music, and started cooking pancakes and sausages.  People just showed up, got food and sat around talking and enjoying the sunshine and fine music.  We ate with Tamara, Steve and Brenda, and some other Calgarians.  It was very laid back and fun.

Bragg Creek Townsite:
Steve and Brenda pointed out places in town that were flooded this time last year.  They described how Marcus was home and stranded there for three days because the flooded Elbow was too dangerous to cross.  The river flooded during the work day, so Steve and Brenda were stranded on the other side of the river, so they could not go home for those days, and were taken in by friends.  Marcus had only the little scooter to travel with, and was able to help many local neighbours and friends.  When I asked Steve who did all the clean - up, he said local people just showed up and said, 'what needs to be done?' and they did it.  He described one older couple who filled up their van with Tims coffee and food, stopping at work sites and giving out free refreshments.  When their van was empty, they went back, filled up and continued to visit people who were volunteering.  They told other stories


Hike:
After that, we drove back to Steve and Brenda's place, ate snacks outside on their back deck and caught up with Kaitlyn and Tamara, Steve and Brenda.  Steve showed us some of their plans for landscaping their back and front yards, and his amazing garden; complete with potatoes and strawberries.  He also pointed out where the local deer like to cross the corner of their property.  He feeds them scraps and kitchen veggie peelings; and they particularly like pineapple cores.  We hiked up the huge hill on the back of their property to the top of Two Pines Hill over looking the Bragg Creek Townsite.  Steve and Brenda showed us where last year's flooding Elbow River roared through town, destroying homes, businesses and covering roads with piles of gravel and debris.  We also saw many rolling foothills and the distant Rocky Mountains.  The top of the hill had the wild Alberta roses blooming.  It was very rugged and beautiful.

Dinner:  bbq beer - butt chicken on Steve's grill with some nice salads.  It was delicious.

Weather:
hot and sunny, with a small cool wind.  + 26C.  A few clouds, but no rain.  Very cool at night - +10 or 12.

Wildlife:

* mosquitoes in the shade
* stories of Marcus and his friend seeing a Pine Marten on the trail
* stories of Marcus working on the trail, only to notice a large cougar very nearby, just watching him
* deer at the property edge in the shadows of the evening.
* Arnica flowers - prized for their pain relief
* large vultures or hawks wheeling through the up - drafts


Thank you Steve and Brenda, for your warm western Alberta hospitality.