10 July: Calgary
It had been raining during the night and we arose to cold and wet. However by the time we had consumed our last Rocky Mountaineer breakfast and were ready to sally forth the rain had stopped. During the day no rain but a distinct chill in the air and lowering clouds building exacerbated by the building smoke haze . It is now 9.00pm and the most extraordinary sound has caused me to look out our airbnb windows. RAIN. TORRENTIAL!!!!! Thunder, lightning , the whole works . Just as I'm standing here watching , the raging torrents are rising. Oh my, am I so glad we are not sitting with all those thousands of people who have travelled all those thousands of miles to the Stampede. Here we are happily tucked into our cute little airbnb safely out of harm's way.
We are also extremely happy that we are not trying to do the Rocky Mountaineer trip now because it isn't a happening thing . The railway had to close yesterday because of the fires so passengers are being bussed. Sounds ok but they're being bussed through the smoke of course .  MISERABLE!!!!
Today we checked out of our Fairmont Palliser Hotel right next door to the Calgary Tower and used up our voucher to go up it. Splendid overview of this city of 1.5 mil people which is in recession now caused by the drop in oil prices. It is the oil capital of Alberta and is endlessly flat. Think the Hauraki Plains on steroids. Perfect cattle country. The Stampede started in 1888 with a few cowboys competing against each other for a bit of entertainment .  Now it is this huge 10 day international event attracting the best horsemen and professional cowboys. On the whole the locals are a foot taller than Peter. Glorious specimens of masculinity .  Yes, of course a few are overweight, but by and large they are to die for as they swagger along in their ornamental attire.
This afternoon we happened upon a private 4 hour Tour of Calgary which was excellent. Just one stop was to see the site of the Winter Olympics of 1988 . Remember the movie 'Cool Runnings'? Well, this is where it was based. The story is based on fact but embellished to achieve blockbuster success.
Still the thunder rolls and the torrents flow. The Stampede has had to stop for the evening as the lightning has fused the floodlights and the tracks are well under water.