On the Road - Day 37

I (Vance) had a wonderful shower this morning. No quarters or dollars required to keep the water flowing. I could even set my own temperature! It was clean and had a handy shelf just outside the shower curtain. But, best of all, in the next shower over, there was a father with his five year old son. His son apparently had not taken a shower before with his dad and, I learned later, was a city kid for whom this whole shower idea was a strange one. Listening to this dad's caring and support for his son reminded me of the best of my own childhood. When asked, after the shower by an adult friend of the father, what he thought of his experience, the son said, "I loved it!" Since the father remained in the restroom area to shave, I was able to thank him, and tell him he had reminded me of the best of my own youth, and to tell him I thought he was being "one hell of a father."

Headed out to Signal Hill Library, one of Calgary's nine branches, to use their fast Wi-Fi connection. Arrived early and chatted with a couple of retired anesthesiologists from Hong Kong - we have so much in common with others. Vance uploaded our blog and attached photos in no time. Meanwhile, Pat browsed, talked with librarians and picked up brochures to share with the San Mateo Public Library staff.

Found our way to Heritage Park Historical Village, Canada's largest living history museum. The path from the parking lot was marked with dates such that we were walking back in time. The exhibits cover from the 1860s to 1950s. We brunched at the train station on quiche and "hot pot," made with chicken and curry. Staff wore period garb - blouses with mutton sleeves.

Next we went into the Gasoline Alley Museum, created by Ron Carey - extremely well done. A mechanic dressed in vintage clothing explained the automobiles and practices of the early days. We both turned the crank of a Model T Ford. And of course I took photos of Mobil Oil's "Flying Red Horse," a symbol Vance remembers from his childhood since his father was a Mobil Oil distributor in Santa Cruz.



Great collection in pristine condition, fully restored trucks and touring cars of all kinds. Also saw gas pumps and signs for many fuel oil companies, both familiar and not.















We thoroughly enjoyed interactions with several of the townspeople: bartender, woman at city hall, schoolteacher, postmistress, and a hospital nurse who explained that we were fortunate to be here on the day all the patients had been discharged. The antique medical equipment makes me grateful for modern medicine! The Mountie was apprehending a thief named "Elbow."










We watched the printer produce a newspaper and two girls (also in period clothes) folded them by hand. I paid 25 cents for my copy. At the Hudson Bay Co. fort, we learned that beaver pelts were the gold standard of the fur trade industry. Each character was well informed about the times they lived in. There was a passenger train around the park, and a steam paddlewheeler.









Vance and I even spent some time in jail!



Drove South on Rt. 2, a nice smooth 3-lane highway, with our destination being Fort Macleod. Crossed the Bow River which marks Calgary's southern border. For over an hour all we saw were the pale green rolling plains, fields of yellow mustard and various types of hay grasses, a few cows and horses - ranch land.

Half way to Fort Macleod, to the east (our left) and ahead, all we could see was perfectly flat land. To the west (our right) there was the short pale blue hint of foothills in the distance. I took photos of ranch houses some ways from the highway. A pick-up truck, movin' fast, was kickin' up dust. Three quarters of the way along, we saw interesting spray irrigation apparatus in action and dark green crops. As we approached Fort Macleod the growing foothills to the west were backed by silhouettes of the Rockies which grew taller as we moved south.

Took a walk before turning in, and discovered "The Oldman River". The mosquitoes found Vance ...

Seen along the way: Traffic lights are horizontal: red, yellow, green, left to right -- Very poor or non-existent street signage -- Optimist Athletic Park .


Ended at Daisy May Campground, 249 Lyndon Road, Fort Macleod, Alberta
Odometer 61,213.0 (124.7) Total: 3086.5