Do I Have Farmer In My Blood

 May 4

Safely parked at the Mikkelsen Farm

I had a great sleep at Banff.  Surprisingly, it was very quiet.  We had deer  outside the trailer and naturally Morgan noticed them.  I had decided to have a leisurely morning because check out time was 11:00.  That would give me and Morgan enough time to walk to town, about a 2 km walk.  

Morgan keeping an eye on the barn cats and cows.

We headed out at 09:00 and got to the walking path on the road.  A glorified sidewalk really.  Something was not right with Morgan.  She was walking with fear.  I did not know if it was the wild animal scents or if it was the traffic.  We got about half way and I decided it was time to just observe the traffic and head back to the trailer.  She was much happier heading back.  I may never know exactly what was bothering her but my belief is that it is no good forcing her to continue in a fearful way.  Neither of us was enjoying  it.  

I secured all that needed to be secured, did my double walk around the 

100-plus-year-old barn

trailer and knowing that all was well, we pulled out.  Destination - Langdon, Alberta to Wayne (aka Waynbo) and Wendy’s farm on the Glenmore Trail.

Round hay bales.

Side note - Wayne and Wendy are friends from my boarding days.  We nicknamed Wayne to Waynbo while visiting the abandoned village of Mamalilikulla on Village Island near the Broughton Archipelago.  There were six of us and Waynbo went first to  clear the trail.  He reminded us of Rambo in the bush :)

One thing I have not told you folks is that I like spreadsheets.  Last year while 

Morgan next to fresh cow patties.

travelling to and from the Arctic Circle, I kept a spreadsheet.  I know how much I spent and on what.  I know my average price per litre for gas, and I know my average litres for 100 kms.  This trip is no different.  

Travelling through the Rockies was the biggest day for fuel consumption, 22.9l/100kms. Today heading to Langdon was by are the least fuel consumption 18.0l/100kms.  It was all down hill from Banff :)

Old barn window.

I could not get over the amount of housing projects going on in West Calgary.  Pretty soon Calgary is going to border Banff.  It will be solid houses from the Foothills to Calgary.  And the traffic, did I mention the traffic.  It was solid from the projects to Langdon.  I was very thankful I had my GPS and the roads are well signed.  

I arrived at the Mikkelsen Farm about 12:45, a few minutes ahead of schedule but hey.  Wayne met me outside and we walked Morgan to the fields to let her stretch her legs and have a piddle.  She met a couple cows.  Again, I find the best thing for her is to give her some time to observe the creatures.  

We got the trailer set behind the garage and in front of the barn.  It gave 

View of the back of the farm.

Morgan a perfect view to keep an eye on the barn cats’ coming and going and the big black beef cows.  She has learned not go bark but inform me that something is afoot with a low, slow growl that is borderline purr.  

While I was at Fogmoor Farm,my laptop packed it in.  I felt is was the battery but…..

Walking the 640 acres.

I contacted Wendy to see if she had a computer guru and she did.  I sent her the information to my 12-year-old Mac Book Pro and she shared it with the computer guy.  When I arrived, Wayne immediately called apple support to see what we could do.  They said that the laptop was obsolete and MAYBE the nearest London Drugs could find a battery and it may take days.  In the meantime, Wendy got a message from her guy saying that he had a battery for it.  Who knew?  The little village of Langdon.  Wayne drove me down to leave the computer for a couple hours.  We later got a call saying

Horseshoe Canyon on the way to Drumheller

  the battery (even though it was the correct part #) didn’t fit and that he tracked down another battery in the city of Calgary.  He was confident I would have my laptop back the next day.  He was correct.  $135 for a new battery sure beats having to purchase a new laptop for editing photos.  I cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for Wayne and Wendy and what they did for me.  

Just a little info about Horseshoe Canyon

 Morgan loved watching the barn cats and cows in the field.  She got caught on the table peering out the window.  I was also very thankful when Morgan chose not to roll in the fresh cow poop.  She would smell it, sneeze, and walk away to check the next pile.  

I am getting a crash course in farming - cows, hay, irrigation, and more.  For this Vancouver Island gal, a daughter of a logger turned fisher, I find it very interesting.  Lots of questions for sure.  

Nothing like good old Ice Age ice cream.

There are fields for growing hay and alpha and there are grazing fields.  I 

have learned about harrowing.  In a nutshell it is an attachment on a tractor that scrambles the piles of cow dung through the field.  

There are about 75 cows and currently 63 calfs with 10 more calfs to be born.  It would be wonderful to be there for a birth.  

After a delicious dinner, Wayne and I settled in to play some guitar.  It was good fun even though we play different kinds of music.  Thank goodness for Cowboy chords.  We called it a night about 21:00.  We were all pooped.  

May 5

Drumheller Church tiny church

The plan today was to go to Drumheller and leave about noon.  Before heading out I took Morgan for a much deserved walk.  She keeps her eye on the cows and if we get uncomfortably close for her she barks at them.  Then it is time to put some distance between her and the big black beasts.  

We left at noon for Drumheller.  We were escorted by Wayne and Wendy’s three-year-old grand daughter, Rowan.  Oh my goodness. She is a cutie and provided us with some entertainment.  

It is very strange driving directly north-south or east-west and no mountains.  The sky is BIG and the wind was building but warm.  

I have heard many people talk of being to Drumheller so I am thankful that I 

Digging for dino bones, perhaps?

can now put a visual to what people are talking about.  It was so cute to see all the little dinos around town.  Because I had Morgan I could not do the museum and sadly the walk around the museum was closed for construction.  That gave us a good excuse to seek out some ice cream before heading back to Langdon.  Little Rowan had to get home, eat and head out to T-ball.  I on the other hand, had to pick up my laptop with a new battery.  

T-Rex in Drumheller.

I have been doing some preliminary planning for the next leg of my journey - Langdon to either Maple Creek or Swift Current.  My biggest concern is the wind.  I have heard stories about the cross winds and the head winds.  More planning needs to be done.  I am using a couple of apps.  One Wayne introduced me to called AllStays and another one that was recommended for wind called Windy.  I actually used this one on the boat.  Who knew I would be using in while planning a trip across the prairie provinces.  

After dinner, Wayne and Wendy brought me to their Pickle Ball night.  

Big teeth for a big bite.

Although I have heard of pickle ball, I had never seen it played until now.  It is fun sitting here, writing and watching everyone’s faces turn red and glisten with perspiration.  Hahaha.