farewell to the prairies

The prairie winds rule in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Having grown up in California near the ocean, I find it difficult to relate to the prairies. The open land of the prairie - few trees, no elevations is rather frightening to me. It isn't the huge open sky that I find strange - in fact, that is one of major draws away from cities. It is the lack of contrast in the land - I'm more comfortable in the high desert, in the mountains or near the ocean. Of course there is contrast in prairie land - for example we saw groups of cows cooling off in the small ponds that are scattered about - it is just a different type of beauty in the land than I'm accustomed to.

Hence my delight to discover that Alberta has "bad lands" (mauvaise terres a traverser) - and a Dinosaur Provincial Park in Brooks, Alberta. I should say "the" Dinosaur park - this is the site of the great Canadian dinosaur rush of the famous dinosaur skeleton rush in the early 1900's. Best to do the walking tours early in the day - it gets hot. Be sure to take the "bus" tour - to protect the fossils and the formations and the plant life, humans are kept under control by allowing them to visit the park from the confines of a little bus driven by a well-informed park guide.

Heard in the parking lot where we shucked our riding costumes for civilian clothes to walk around and take the bus tour: (the speaker is a hot, tired mom responding to a whiny, cranky kid) "When you go to Dinosaur Provincial Park, you don't just sit on your ass...(you hike the trails)". The interpretive center is an excellent place for kids (and adults) - lots of interactive displays and things to touch (beaver pelt feels much nicer than pronghorn pelt).

The tour takes you to formations (hoo doos, spires, and partially excavated fossil remains) you won't see on the walking trails. When we finished the bus tour I was melt-down hot. Standing next to the bikes getting ready to suit up again, I poured a bottle of water on my head to cool down. Why is it that when men see me do this they smile and watch but non-rider women always look away?

We are staying in Brooks, Alberta tonight - it was a full day trip to visit the park. If the gods of travel continue to be kind to us, we will reach Victoria island, British Columbia in a few days. We are mindful of the BC forest fires and are hoping that the smoke won't force us south of the border earlier than we planned.