DRUMHELLER

Our group at the B&B in Drumheller
(kids blue shirts from Kristiansund volleyball)

 Friday morning, July 18 was our time to say good-bye to Hidden Valley campground where the Erickson family had enjoyed Monday to Friday together at our fifth reunion.  We dragged it out as long as we could and by the deadline of noon, campers one by one made their way out.  Some just moved to another campsite in the park, others made their way back home.

Helga and Dan came to get their camper, leaving their Pilate for Todd, Kristy and Nora.  Todd's took Lindsay and Abbey with them and Dawson, Eric and Carter went with me.  We made a quick stop in Brooks, then were on our way to Drumheller for three days.  We got there at supper time so went right to Boston Pizza.

Ready for a good feed!

Nora's favourite food!

Then we headed for our home for the next three days, a bed and breakfast place in the city. I shared a room with Abbey and Lindsay. I had the single bed and they shared a double. Their only complaint came after the first night when Grandma snored!  

Grandma's bed came with two teddy bears!

On Saturday morning we were treated to juice, coffee, pancakes, sausages and fresh fruit for a great breakfast at Maureen and George's B & B.

Carter and Eric enjoying breakfast

Then we were off to the Dinosaur Museum.  We were so glad we had come in the morning as when we left in the afternoon there were long lineups of people waiting to get in.  None of that when we arrived!

Ready to explore the museum

One of the many dinosaurs on display

We went exploring in groups with a plan to meet at the cafeteria at noon.  Everyone was ready to venture on after a good lunch.  Then we were off to visit Reptile World.  It is privately owned with quite a variety of reptiles from tiny toads to large alligators.  The grandkids were all looking forward to holding a snake! I'm still waiting for their pictures of that experience.  Will update later.  

We then went driving and stopped to walk across the 117 metre long suspension pedestrian bridge a few miles east of town at Rosedale. It was built in 1931 for coal workers of the Star Mine.  The kids were soon off hiking the nearby hills on the other side.  On our way back, we met a wedding party on the bridge, likely choosing that historic site for some special pictures.

We continued on to the Atlas Coal Mine Historic Site but decided to wait until the next day to explore that site.  Then we went back to our B&B to relax a bit before having something to eat at Evan's Restaurant.  The kids' plan for the evening was to climb in the world's largest T.rex dinosaur and then go for a swim.  The dinosaur weighs in at a hefty 66,000 kilograms of mostly steel and is more than 26 metres tall. It is approximately four times larger than the real thing.

Todd and the five kids had just left when I got a text from Laurel saying there were tornado warnings out for Drumheller area!  She wondered it our B & B had a basement.  I assured her there was a basement, but didn't tell her that the kids were not in the house!  There were some nasty looking clouds so I was sure the swim would not be happening.  The wind was picking up, but Todd and his crew arrived back safely just before the heavy rain and strong winds along with some small hail began to pound on the roof.  No windows were broken but many large tree limbs fell as the wind and heavy rain and hail did its damage.  One large tree fell not far from my Escape!  Yards were littered with fallen leaves, branches and limbs from trees.

Ruby narrowly escaped being hit by a falling tree!

After breakfast on Sunday, Todd, Kristy and the five older kids went to explore the mine.  Nora and I stayed at the B and B and had a relaxing morning.  She enjoyed playing with two young guests whose family was moving from Cold Lake to Trenton, ON.  Here's a picture of Nora and her new friends standing by the bird bath in the front yard.

When the mine tour was over, we all went to a restaurant made famous on a TV program - "Bernie and the Boys Bistro."  They are known for their gourmet burgers and we'll remember them for those huge patties.  I couldn't finish a single and the doubles and triples were too much for Dawson and Todd!

Soon it was time for the highlight of our Drumheller visit - the Passion Play.  It was not a place for not quite two year olds so Kristy and Nora drove to visit with Jolene and Gib on their farm near Hussar.  The drama was to start at three but a rain delay moved it to four.  After the downpour, that we watched from a large tent provided for such occasions, we found our seats under beautiful blue skies and warm sunshine for the rest of the afternoon.  No picture taking, talking or rustling of candy wrappers or feet on the gravel under the benches was to be done during the performance and the crowd certainly complied.  It was a totally captive audience that watched as "The Greatest Story Ever Told" was reenacted before our eyes.  This natural setting in the Badlands of Alberta could have been the hills in the holy land where Jesus spent his last three years on this earth.

The story moved along so smoothly, actors moving into place barely noticed while action was taking place in another area of this natural setting. There was no trouble hearing the actors thanks to an excellent sound system and hidden microphones.  There was a brief intermission allowing people to purchase snacks or souvenirs, or have a bathroom break.  After the  three hour performance was over, the actors gathered at the front of the set to talk to members of the audience.  The kids were able  to speak to the one who played the part of Jesus so here's a picture of them, along with Todd.  

The narrator really impressed us too so here they are with him and a horse that also had a part.  For more information, you can go to the website - canadianpassionplay.com  It is put on for three weekends in July with performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Our family had seen the play in Spearfish, SD many years ago but it was even more special to see it done in this wonderful setting in Alberta, now with five of my grandchildren.  This year it was on the list of top 100 events in North America as listed by the American Bus Association.  If you have never seen it, make plans to take it in next year!

We enjoyed another night in Drumheller and packed up after breakfast the next morning. We stopped to say Hi to Jolene on the way back to Brooks.  Kristy's mom had a delicious lunch ready for us - yummy hotdish and salad with a choice of pie for dessert - banana creme or chocolate!  Thanks for your great hospitality Helga and Dan!

Then came the hard part - saying good-bye to Todd, Kristy and Nora who would be flying back to Norway the next Friday.  A few tears were shed and Psalm 121 was read before I headed Ruby down the road with Carter, Lindsay and Abbey .  An Escape only has room for four passengers so Dawson and Eric took the bus from Medicine Hat.  Unaccompanied minors are only allowed to ride for five hours so Todd drove them to the Hat as riding from Brooks to Moose Jaw was over the limit.  

The four of us arrived in Moose Jaw around 6:45.  Shauna met us there and was off to Saskatoon by 7:00 as they had tickets for Blake Shelton the next evening.  Clare and Jodi met Abbey at Laurel and Greg's.  Greg made the trip to Moose Jaw to pick up Dawson and Eric at 9:30.  I stayed overnight and headed back to Torquay the next morning after breakfast.

I was so thankful that all went well on our trip.  No one got sick (or  so homesick that a phone call home didn't cure it), we had no accidents and didn't lose any wallets, credit cards or other important items.  "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow".  It was a wonderful experience to share with Todd, Kristy, Nora and five other grandchildren.  Thanks to Todd and Kristy for doing all the planning and booking and treating us to tickets to this wonderful portrayal of the last years in the life of Jesus.  It's a gift that leaves us with memories that will last a lifetime.

I will update when I get more pictures.  Todd, Kristy and Nora are now back in Kristiansund, and will be driving to their new home in Førde on Thursday or Friday.