Coloured Rails & Polar Bears

2022 Travels to Scotland via Canada & London

The Travellers, Ray & Kath, are travelling again to Scotland to spend Christmas with family.  Our last Christmas with son Andrew, together with wife Gemma and their children, Amy 6 years, and James 4 years was in 2018.

As usual we try and incorporate some new and past stopovers.  

CALGARY, Alberta, Canada

First stop was Calgary instead of Vancouver, arriving the evening of 23 November 2022, with a visit to Spruce Meadows Christmas market, Banff and Cochrane.

The riding halls are all devoted to this Christmas market festooned with colour inside and out. 

Other buildings, used at shows for trade displays are also devoted to the market.

Yes, there was some snow on the ground but cleared off roads and walkways.    

 

The sign below was on the stand as shown. Feel proud Amy!

WEST FROM CALGARY

   Leaving Calgary across the undulating landscape westward towards the Rocky Mountains.

Where there is farmed land.

Where beef cattle are wintered.

Crops have been harvested.

Small silos for seeds.

The evening sky.

 Banff is the high tourist spot of Alberta, so we called in again for a quick look and lunch.     It is located on the western fringe of the Rockies close to the trans-Canada Highway.  It has the mountains; it has the tourists and some years ago we saw Elk in the streets. 

  

Here are the tourists.  They add some interest to the view having lunch. Note the man in the red jacket and his dog.

  Below they need a rest after the exertion crossing the busy street while his human companion gives gentle comment.

    We had been sitting in a very nice restaurant, in the window above the seat.

LAKE LOUISE

Roads on arriving were found to be compacted snow.  Our boot grips were very useful.

There was no vehicle access close to the Hotel, seen below, at the time.

After this quick look we departed.

COCHRANE

Next day we took the Banff Old Coach Road to Cochrane, a small town that we had passed by on other occasions.

We found it to be much larger than we expected.  It appeared to have grown from a small village in the valley.

      The picture above, in the shop below, certainly did not reflect the conditions.

About to leave Cochrane and its quaint shops.

BRAGG CREEK

is on the eastern edge of the Rockies not far from Banff.

To be welcomed by the local wildlife who...

...checks everything is in order, in the relatively new shopping complex, before customers arrive.

We then drive up the Bragg Creek valley a short way looking for the shop below.

Where some years ago we had a petrol fill from the pump to the right of the shop, but it does not look quite the same.  The cause being a big flood which caused havoc in the village due to the creek shown bursting its banks. Strengthening of flood banks is still being carried out.  This shop was about all the commercial activity before the flooding.

However, the lady owner is back in business serving customers. The ceiling timbers are original, but the lower part has all been renewed.

It is then back to Calgary before flying out next day to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Next Blog Nova 
Scotia

 

Wiltshire - Lacock & Badminton Horse Trials

Historic Lacock 1st week of May 2018

See  http://colouredrailsuk.blogspot.com/  post of 31 July 2011 for reference to Lacock.

Lacock located approximately 20km east of Bath is substantially owned by the National Trust which gives protection to the whole village. It is however a lived in working village with shops and accommodation.

We stayed at this hotel that had been maintained with minimal structural change.  Floors are not level.

The Stables cafe adjacent to the hotel car park.

The Tithe Barn built in the 14th century after the Lacock Abbey, of which it was closely associated. While it has had many uses over the years is still much as originally built and is situated across the street from the hotel.

The variable construction along opposite the Tithe barn. This corner house was the hotel cook's home.

Badminton Horse Trials about half an hour north from Lacock

Badminton Horse Trials held on the Badminton Estate 1st - 6th  May 2018.

Dogs of every sort come with their trade stall owners and...

...with spectators.  How many dogs can you see in this view.

The Beaufort hounds also exercise in the Estate park.

Neither is farming forgotten with this crop of Rape seed in a field adjacent to pasture used for car parking during the event.

A picturesque setting for an equestrian event. Quoting the late David Somerset, 11th Duke of Beaufort; that "as he was lucky enough to live in such a wonderful place he was delighted that others could share it".

Mothers and children...

...one of whom would like to see more.

 Police women were well mounted to better observe the goings on.

 Young, older and middle aged.

Badminton is a serious horse event, 4* rated Horse Trial, the highest level.
But these are young jockeys getting a briefing for...

...Shetland Pony Grand National Steeplechase.  Providing some light entertainment, but serious stuff for the junior riders, on Saturday.

Now the serious riders competing in the Dressage phase of the Horse Trials on the Thursday and Friday.

 Saturday brought out the crowds for the Cross Country phase.

Also the summer clothing in the warm conditions.

Officials were in traditional dress, including the pedestrian crossing keepers.

Cross country under way before a big crowd.

But why an open top sports car on the cross country?

 Very well constructed obstacles.

Other riders took a very direct route that appeared difficult but they managed very well, a combination of good riding and very honest horses.

The often quoted Badminton lake had an obstacle at each end but traveling along the bank between the two.

Here the first one, number 8 at the far end of the lake.

 Jonelle Price on Classic Moet going into the lake at fence 9A.

Mitsubishi Motors, lead sponsors, have a L200 Ute either side of fence 10 after leaving the lake. Here being taken by Jonelle Price, the eventual winner.

There is still the third phase, showjumping, yet for some spectators it has been a long week.

Jonelle Price on Classic Moet jumps clear in the final phase to win her second consecutive 4* three day event.

Meanwhile her mother, Lesley Richards, is elated by the win.

Friend, Kath Ward-Smith, here supporting New Zealand competitors.

Andrew Nicholson leading Nereo on a farewell parade.  The horse having completed five times and also won Badminton in 2017.

Nereo's owner, Libby Sellars, delighted with the tribute to her horse that  she has supported Andrew with for many years.

The Beaufort hounds parade prior to the presentation to the successful competitors after six days of fine weather.