Since Stacy and I had Friday the 3rd off we had decided to travel up into Canada for the holiday this year. It was only the 2nd time we'd ever not been home on a 4th of July. First time was way back in 1994 when Stacy, Laura, Sean and myself were all at the Gold Wing Road Riders Association 'convention' called "Wing Ding". That year it was in Albuquerque New Mexico.
We'd decided to take our trailer and go visit a town near Cranbrook, Canada called Fort Steele, about 90 miles or two hours away. On a previous trip a few years ago we had gone right by it and had talked of going back just to visit the town.
With many original, some recreated and some relocated old buildings, Fort Steele recreates the original town as it was as a North West Mounted Police fort and town in the 1890's. The people that work there are in period attire and even the kids, and there were quite a few that work there with their parents, are all quite versed in the dress, customs and language from that time period.
If you'd like to read about the place yourself check out the website at www.fortsteele.bc.ca
I'll post some of the photos I took tomorrow since I forgot to bring the SD card with me today. The past few days have been quite warm and humid, and yes that means in Canada too. Afternoons were a little over 90 with clouds and thunderstorms. So it was toasty! Thank goodness our trailer has the normal U.S. amenities like air conditioning! We stayed at the Fort Steele RV park/ Gas station across and up the street a little ways from the Fort. Not a bad place, almost 200 spaces with trees and grass, it was pretty nice. I felt sorry for the pop up tenters and the Canadian RV'ers that didn't have a/c. It had to be miserable for those folks. There was just us and some people from Colorado there for the weekend. Everyone else was from all points in Canada. I remember some of our motorcycle adventures on hot humid days. Just wanted to keep going just to stay cool!
We walked several miles over the two days we spent at the Fort. Quite a lot to see there. Many shops that recreate smaller industry of the era, many had handmade on the spot and era correct products and items available for purchase. Stacy tried her hand at gold panning with a gold panner that has a shop there. "Nugget Norm" told us of how in the area of Wild Horse Pass nearby, there are still active claims and panning that goes on. He brings down dirt from his claim and for a fee, he'll teach the tricks of the job. He'll show you just how to pan for free, if you want a chance at getting some gold of your own that's the fee part. Stacy did pretty well with a good sized nugget and some smaller pieces. We joked about how she probably has enough to get a gold filling if she wanted to.
I asked one of the "reinactors" how the period clothes are in the heat of the summer as they've always looked to me like you'd pass out from the heat in them. I've read a lot of the clothes and cavalry uniforms of the 1800's, and can't imagine how wearing a suit with all involved with it for the guys or the high collar long sleeved dresses with hats for the ladies could ever be comfortably cool, but I was told that although warm, if done right with natural materials like cotton, it isn't too bad. I don't think I'll ever check that claim out though as Stacy and I were both dressed in shorts with real Hawaiian shirts, thanks Sandy for those!! Really made the difference in the afternoon heat and humidity.
You can take a horse drawn wagon around the place, and they also have a coal powered steam train that takes a 4 kilometer figure 8 shaped course stopping at the top of an overlook of the town. We rode the train twice. Once on the open but covered converted flat car and once in the old passenger car. More comfortable by far over the flat car with seats but also hotter due to not as good ventilation.
For those of you reading this that aren't family that might think this would be a place to see for yourself, we really recommend you buy the "Steele of a deal" two day pass for $25.00 (Canadian) for each adult. Although it's only $5.00 per person a day to get in, to really have an interesting experience with the rides and activities that all cost extra, the cost will add up to over that $25.00 cost quickly! Every day at 3:30 they have a live play for the summer seasons. A new play each summer, the play this summer is called "C.J. Fox" and was pretty funny. To see the play itself is $15.00 a person, the train ride, $10.00 per day, the horse drawn wagon $10.00.
Fort Steele reminded me of places we'd been to that recreate the past like Calico back near Barstow, California. Except much less crowded and much more authentic versus Calico's 'Hollywood' version of the old west.
Guess that's it for this update. Some photos to follow! Tad
We'd decided to take our trailer and go visit a town near Cranbrook, Canada called Fort Steele, about 90 miles or two hours away. On a previous trip a few years ago we had gone right by it and had talked of going back just to visit the town.
With many original, some recreated and some relocated old buildings, Fort Steele recreates the original town as it was as a North West Mounted Police fort and town in the 1890's. The people that work there are in period attire and even the kids, and there were quite a few that work there with their parents, are all quite versed in the dress, customs and language from that time period.
If you'd like to read about the place yourself check out the website at www.fortsteele.bc.ca
I'll post some of the photos I took tomorrow since I forgot to bring the SD card with me today. The past few days have been quite warm and humid, and yes that means in Canada too. Afternoons were a little over 90 with clouds and thunderstorms. So it was toasty! Thank goodness our trailer has the normal U.S. amenities like air conditioning! We stayed at the Fort Steele RV park/ Gas station across and up the street a little ways from the Fort. Not a bad place, almost 200 spaces with trees and grass, it was pretty nice. I felt sorry for the pop up tenters and the Canadian RV'ers that didn't have a/c. It had to be miserable for those folks. There was just us and some people from Colorado there for the weekend. Everyone else was from all points in Canada. I remember some of our motorcycle adventures on hot humid days. Just wanted to keep going just to stay cool!
We walked several miles over the two days we spent at the Fort. Quite a lot to see there. Many shops that recreate smaller industry of the era, many had handmade on the spot and era correct products and items available for purchase. Stacy tried her hand at gold panning with a gold panner that has a shop there. "Nugget Norm" told us of how in the area of Wild Horse Pass nearby, there are still active claims and panning that goes on. He brings down dirt from his claim and for a fee, he'll teach the tricks of the job. He'll show you just how to pan for free, if you want a chance at getting some gold of your own that's the fee part. Stacy did pretty well with a good sized nugget and some smaller pieces. We joked about how she probably has enough to get a gold filling if she wanted to.
I asked one of the "reinactors" how the period clothes are in the heat of the summer as they've always looked to me like you'd pass out from the heat in them. I've read a lot of the clothes and cavalry uniforms of the 1800's, and can't imagine how wearing a suit with all involved with it for the guys or the high collar long sleeved dresses with hats for the ladies could ever be comfortably cool, but I was told that although warm, if done right with natural materials like cotton, it isn't too bad. I don't think I'll ever check that claim out though as Stacy and I were both dressed in shorts with real Hawaiian shirts, thanks Sandy for those!! Really made the difference in the afternoon heat and humidity.
You can take a horse drawn wagon around the place, and they also have a coal powered steam train that takes a 4 kilometer figure 8 shaped course stopping at the top of an overlook of the town. We rode the train twice. Once on the open but covered converted flat car and once in the old passenger car. More comfortable by far over the flat car with seats but also hotter due to not as good ventilation.
For those of you reading this that aren't family that might think this would be a place to see for yourself, we really recommend you buy the "Steele of a deal" two day pass for $25.00 (Canadian) for each adult. Although it's only $5.00 per person a day to get in, to really have an interesting experience with the rides and activities that all cost extra, the cost will add up to over that $25.00 cost quickly! Every day at 3:30 they have a live play for the summer seasons. A new play each summer, the play this summer is called "C.J. Fox" and was pretty funny. To see the play itself is $15.00 a person, the train ride, $10.00 per day, the horse drawn wagon $10.00.
Fort Steele reminded me of places we'd been to that recreate the past like Calico back near Barstow, California. Except much less crowded and much more authentic versus Calico's 'Hollywood' version of the old west.
Guess that's it for this update. Some photos to follow! Tad
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