Tuesday, November 10, 2009
RURAL LIFE
You don't have to go far beyond the city limits to get into the countryside here, and what's more when you get into the countryside, you very often have to go a long way before you get back to a town, or even a paved road come to that.
We went out to Mayerthorpe the other weekend and stayed in a log cabin on a farm. Here's the view from the front porch:
We went out for a few walks, here's me standing on a beaver dam with one of the dogs from the farm:
While the Albertan countryside doesn't have the manicured beauty of the English countryside, it's still nice to look at. The rural lifestyle here is exemplified by the cowboy, who still exerts a powerful influence on the popular culture here. Consequently, rural pursuits like hunting or the rodeo aren't the minority sports that they are in the UK and their adherents aren't persecuted in the popular press.
For the next couple of weeks, Edmonton is hosting Farmfair International, which is not for vegetarians. I went today and shot this video of a competitor in a horse competition which might be called 'Annoy the Calf', there's a scoring system too apparently. Spaniards reading this will be disappointed to find out that at the end of each round the calf isn't ceremonially killed with a long sword, but instead gets untangled and then annoyed by a different cowboy.
We went out to Mayerthorpe the other weekend and stayed in a log cabin on a farm. Here's the view from the front porch:
We went out for a few walks, here's me standing on a beaver dam with one of the dogs from the farm:
While the Albertan countryside doesn't have the manicured beauty of the English countryside, it's still nice to look at. The rural lifestyle here is exemplified by the cowboy, who still exerts a powerful influence on the popular culture here. Consequently, rural pursuits like hunting or the rodeo aren't the minority sports that they are in the UK and their adherents aren't persecuted in the popular press.
For the next couple of weeks, Edmonton is hosting Farmfair International, which is not for vegetarians. I went today and shot this video of a competitor in a horse competition which might be called 'Annoy the Calf', there's a scoring system too apparently. Spaniards reading this will be disappointed to find out that at the end of each round the calf isn't ceremonially killed with a long sword, but instead gets untangled and then annoyed by a different cowboy.
Comments:
Do you have a cowboy hat/stetson yet or don't the canadians wear them except at rodeos?
# posted by 
: 11:59 AM, November 10, 2009
: 11:59 AM, November 10, 2009
Living a mile from a motorway, albeit in a small village, I'm v jealous. Looks amazing - better still in sumemr I imagine?
# posted by : 1:35 PM, November 10, 2009
: 1:35 PM, November 10, 2009
Wonderful country Alberta. Where the horizons are so broad, and the air so clear a man can sit on his porch and watch his dog run away for three whole days.
Like Vancouver Island myself, as the odd mountain or five across water tends to add interest to the view. Hunting's not bad in the North West either.
Like Vancouver Island myself, as the odd mountain or five across water tends to add interest to the view. Hunting's not bad in the North West either.
Ahhh... Dave,
great to hear your musings on life from Canada! Here's hoping you will keep a regular blog entry from Canada going. Thanks again,
Regards,
Firey
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great to hear your musings on life from Canada! Here's hoping you will keep a regular blog entry from Canada going. Thanks again,
Regards,
Firey
# posted by : 4:17 AM, November 16, 2009
: 4:17 AM, November 16, 2009
