On With The Day

07/21/2026

Today, On With The Day is in Calgary, Alberta.

The Calgary Stampede is wrapping up today. This 10-day summer event is often called "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth." It features massive rodeos, chuckwagon races, and pancake breakfasts. From the little bit we saw, it was a tribute to the indigenous community. Ba****ck, barefoot native relays.

Ba****ck relay racing, also known as Indian Relay, is a high-adrenaline sport where Indigenous teams race horses around a track without saddles. Riders leap from full-sprint horses to fresh ones between laps, testing extreme horsemanship.

The Team: Each team has one rider, three horses, and "holders" at the track center.

The Setup: The rider sprints the first lap ba****ck.

The Change: The rider jumps off a moving horse into the center, lands on their feet, leaps onto a fresh ba****ck horse, and takes off again.

The Finish: The race is three laps long, with two rapid horse exchanges.

Downtown Calgary is vibrant, fun and filled with food, shopping and beautiful parks. Stephen Avenue is the place to be. Truly a must visit city.

The Peace Bridge is the gateway to Prince’s Island Park. The walking trails follow the river and street performers and ice cream are the favorites.

07/21/2026

On today’s journey with On With The Day we went to Cochrane. The fastest growing city in Alberta.

Cochrane started as a massive cattle ranch in the 1800s. Its historic downtown features wooden storefronts, authentic western gear, and the Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation, which preserves cowboy history.

Cochrane, Alberta, is a booming foothills town just 18 km west of Calgary. It is famous for its rich western heritage, sweeping mountain views, and locally owned shops. It also acts as a convenient, scenic gateway to the Canadian Rockies.

07/20/2026

07/20/2026

Our next stop was Mountain Aire Campground and Resort. Took a bit to get there but what an amazing adventure we would have. The last 25km of the drive was dirt road. Dry, dusty dirt road! The gift we got from this stop is a memory of a lifetime and completely amazing. New friends, private campsite, beautiful views and 100s of natives. Enjoy!

07/18/2026

We stayed at a wonderful Ranch just out of Saskatoon for a quick nights rest. Boondocking at its best.

07/18/2026

A trip isn’t just getting from one place to your destination, it’s creating a story that can be remembered and shared, it replenishes your energy and fulfills your needs. As I looked for accommodations along our path, I decided to nurture our inner souls. Being that Lorna and I have to wean ourselves away from the Bucket, stays at farms along the way sounded pretty good. Everyone nurtures themselves differently… for us, it’s farms, barns, grain bins, perfectly planted crops, bales of hay sitting freshly baled in the fields, animals, and grain elevators. Traveling from Minnesota through North Dakota, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta we were sure to fill our bucket. What we discovered is way more than we ever imagined.

Rolling fields of sunburst yellow for as far as the eye can see. Takes your breath away. One field after another. The beauty is undeniable. Comfort, peace and happiness delivered directly to the soul. Who knew canola could be so beautiful.

CAN OLA = Canada Oil

Canada is the world's largest exporter of canola. Roughly 99% of Canada's canola is grown on the prairies, with Saskatchewan being the absolute powerhouse, producing about 55% of the country's entire crop.

The vibrant, bright yellow fields seen across the prairies are the blooms of the canola plant, which grows to be 1 to 2 meters tall. The plants produce slender pods (about 5 cm long), and each pod holds 20 to 30 tiny black seeds.

Roughly 40,000 Canadian farmers grow the crop. In a typical year, Canadian fields produce around 20 million tonnes of canola. 23 million acres across Canada can be seen in full bloom over the next few weeks.

More than 90% of the canola grown in Canada is exported. The largest export market is the United States, followed by massive buyers like China, Japan, and Mexico.

07/16/2026

On With The Day. This year’s travels takes us on the road to gather a collection of laughs, experiences, and a lifetime of memories. Mom, now 96, is leading the way. Follow us from Minnesota through central and western Canada, down the Pacific coast to Northern California, Nevada, Utah and back home to Minnesota.