Cowgirl for a day ...

On Friday, it was the annual Calgary Stampede President's Cattle Drive which has been held on my boss' ranch for many years.  C and I were lucky enough to be invited along on the cold and wet ride that was the 2011 cattle drive.  Dressed in many layers and with countless cups of hot chocolate with Baileys along the way, we stayed warm and moved the cows from their summer home to their winter home.  Having the opportunity to be part of a cattle drive is a unique and special Albertan experience and once I finish working with the family, I am going to greatly miss the opportunity to participate in such events.

 

Getting ready to ride in the rain

 

Heading out to round up the cattle

 

Herding the cows towards the road

And up through the bushes

Along the long, wet road

First break of the day - hot chocolate and Baileys anyone?

Typical North American icon (yellow school bus) mingles with the typical Albertan icon (cattle and horses)

Wrong way!

Beautiful fall colours, what a shame it was too cloudy to see the Rockies

The end is in sight (and so is the rain)

Arriving in their winter home