Ninety minutes at The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth

Friday afternoon, I had a little time to buzz down to the Calgary Stampede, basically an hour and a half to poke around the midway, barns and exhibition halls. It ain't the same with without the rodeo, chucks and fireworks but . . . . it's all the time I had.

A few images . . . .

The Midway was jammed but attendance is down a bit this year with gas prices keeping some Americans away. Still, more than 1 million will pass through the turnstiles . . . .

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Below, a cowboy has it all figured out on a breezy midway ride, one hand around the pretty girl and one hand to keep his hat on straight. . . .

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Below, thrills a minute . . . .

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Below, A metalhead tries to understand the spectacle in front of him, a one man entertainment centre, including percussion over his head. I swear I've got pictures of this same guy, then a hippy, plying his trade in the streets of Vancouver and then Victoria in the early 1980's.

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Below, a cotton candy tour of the stables . . . .

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Below, Flattening out the wool on a sheared sheep is apparently the way to winning a prize, as these two lasses work hard to get their animal ready for the show ring.

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Below, a daredevil encounter with a Llama . . .

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Below, Genuine buffalo burgers . . . . . hot off the prairie. Probably one of the more palatable dishes at the Stampede, where you can also get deep-fried coca cola, deep-fried Oreo Cookies and deep-fried anything. Although not the deep-fried pickles we found in San Antonio a few years ago.

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Below, Some kilt-wearing cowboys line up for some early day two-stepping fun inside the Nashville North tent, where it all ends late in the evening at the Stampede.

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Below, a cool carnie reels 'em in . . . . STEP right up!!!

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Below, All manner of slice and dice do-dads could be bought in the Exhibition halls . . . . .

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. . . . and of course, what would the self-styled Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth be without the afternoon rodeo and evening chuckwagon races, stage shows, two-stepping at Nashville North and fireworks!! But, I wasn't around for it. Longview Stampede next weekend though . . . . then the Strathmore Rodeo after that.

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

Wow Rick, after seeing your wonderful photos and reading your descriptions, I feel as if I was there! Thank you for sharing with us.

Great pics Rick.wife enjoyed them.she hasn't been to the stampede since she moved to Ontario.

:laughing: kilt wearing cowboys .....only at the Calgary Stampede. :D

What is deep fried coca cola? :confused:

Great shots Rick......hmmmm :lightbulb: could be used as promo pics for the Stampede for next year :thumbs up

Rather interesting the kilted cowboys :laughing:

:lovestruck: kilts.... my brain is still hung up on that one!!! isnt much better in the world of men than kilts and cowboy boots. :cloud9::cloud9:

-ash

Interestingly, the day I was there set a new second Friday attendance record with 145,192 visitors passing through the turnstiles.

Last day of Stampede today . . . . . and everyone in the city goes back to wearing suits on Monday.

If you're not from here, it might be hard to imagine but in a city of one million, a white collar city of corporate head offices, zero - and I mean zero - people wear business clothes to the office through Stampede.

Jeans for a week and a day.

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

:laughing: kilt wearing cowboys .....only at the Calgary Stampede. :D

What is deep fried coca cola? :confused:

A recipe for Deep-Fried Coca Cola

http://www.chiff.com/recipe/pages/10477.htm

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

:laughing::laughing: cowboys with quilts, never thought I would see that. Great pics, Rick. I lived in Edmonton for 6 years and never made it to the stampede.