Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada

Don and I arrived in Grande Prairie, Alberta Canada to visit friends George & Jeanette Forrest on May 27th.

George and Jeanette introduced us to this cowboy one evening. Sadly Ido not remember his name but I remember this Canadian gentleman telling of droving a covered wagon with a team of two horses from Newfoundland all the way across Canada. For the most part he traveled by himself and took three years to make the crossing. WoW!

The Forrest's also introduced us to Chuckwagon racing. They support Friends of Sinclair Racing, driver: Hughie Sinclair. Below is his chuckwagon. Remember the black shirt & white horse.

Each heat comprises four teams. Hughie is in the 3rd seat (out of 4) to figure eight around two barrels before taking off down the track along with the other three teams. Then the horn blows these thoroughbreds all start together to make the figure 8 then take off racing around the track.


Notice below Hugie is 1st

Rounding the first bend with Hugie out ahead.

Half way around Hugie is ahead by 2 lengths

3rd turn finds our team out front but away from the inside fence so others are moving up fast.

Oh, my gosh! Where is that black shirt and white horse? Could it be he really did end in 3rd place?

We went to the Chuckwagon races three nights in a row. This is the beginning of the season and many of these teams will compete in the Stampede in Calgary. The racing gets in your blood and I felt like I was continually at the Kentucky Derby. Each night got better and better. The races are called "chuckwagon" because of the shape of the wagon and fashioned after the true chuckwagon races of the "cowboy cooks" racing from camp to camp.

We finally headed north to Dawson Creek on June 1st after a great few days with George and Jeanette. Thanks friends for the fun!

Well, TTFN, Karen and Don