Medicine Hat. July 15, 2013

Upon leaving the motel we were off to play tourist once again. Checked out the giant sculpture of "Mac the Moose" and the "Snowbird" on the pedestal, both near the town tourism office. If that doesn't say you are in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; I don't know what does!

The "Snowbirds" are officially known as the RCAF's 431 Demonstration  Squadron and is Canada's only active flying aerobatics team. They use the CT-114 Tudor aircraft shown here. Admit it....Wouldn't it be fantastic to fly one of these?

The wind greeted us with the worst cross winds experienced to date between Moose Jaw and Swift Current on the Trans Canada as we rode with determination to miss the threatening weather that was just to the north of us.......dark and looking at times like a funnel cloud. Definitely raining there, but no twisters reported when we checked later.

Gayle - I'm developing the neck muscles of a Formula 1 driver in these winds. At times I had to push against my helmet with the palm of my hand to give my neck a rest. I could also feel my helmet lifting off the top of my head. Bike felt very steady though.

We dismounted at Tim's in Swift Current for a break and sandwich. The remainder of the day's ride into Dunmore, AB (a little east of Medicine Hat) saw clearing skies and decreasing wind speeds. I asked Gayle whether the "side winds" were the worse and she said she felt it was buffeting her from every direction, not just sideways! There were actually rolling hills in this short section to help with the monotonous table top terrain that is "the prairies". Boy am I now looking forward to the Rockies and BC.

Wait.....we have just arrived at Jamie's place for an over night visit and to see what all the grand parent's hoopla has been all about! Mykala (sp) is Jamie and partner Chris Erwin's daughter.

(Gayle's brother Bob and wife Lynn's second grand child)

While Chris's two daughters (Brook-8 and Hayley-6) put up Jamie's hair, and kept us all entertained with questions of how old we were and how long we have been married, Gayle and I each took turns holding the sixteen day old miracle Mykala.

Easy to see why being a grandparent can puff up your chest. Your heart must enlarge when you hold such wonderful little creatures. (At least it feels that way!)

When Chris arrived after work, I got to see what Bob had mentioned to me in Saskatoon the surprise that he had in his garage. A 2002 Austin Martin DB7 Vantage sports car!!! Can you imagine taking this out whenever you wanted a little fun.

Oh ya, back to the other baby and Jamie...

So good to see her happy and caring for her new found love.

Chris took over the kitchen and had supper on the table in no time flat. We certainly have felt catered to by so many great cooks of late. Thanks so much for our first corn on the cob of the year, steak, salad and lemonade. Chris & Jamie you are welcome at our place any time and we will return the warm reception we felt in your home. We dragged our heals the next morning before heading out to Calgary, so that we could once again have snuggles with Mykala.