A Toure of Spring

This is like a gentle brush on the shoulder, this is like rubbing a bear. Here are pics from spring tour:

Of course, playing cards is always a good way to pass time on a long bus ride. Frequent games were: Big Boss, Little Boss; Hearts; and yes, even Poker with chips.


Our first performance was at the Willow Cree school on a native reserve, and was one of the best. I was along when our group did an excellent show here 5 years ago, but our reception this time topped even that! We were greeted by a traditional native drum song, and after our performance we all participated in a native Round Dance - the circle was as big as the gym! We got lunch there after the show, and Ashley, the girl in the picture who was also an aspiring journalist, had all the guys enthralled. For an interesting time, notice Cody's expression in the background.


Between the show at Willow Cree and the Penitentiary in Prince Albert, we stopped at the classic museum where we climbed the incredible flights of stairs to the tower for a great view. After that we were shown Louis Riel's last letter, which is held by the tour guide with the white gloves. We arranged this fitting shot around the haunting statue of the museum's founder (taxidermy?). Once again take note of the face.


This slick pic was taken in West Edmonton Mall - sorry for the jump in time, I don't have pics of our performances in between - where we stayed for an afternoon and night. Here we went mini golfing, to the water park, shopping, throwing the flying disc, and...


... drinking bubble tea from a vendor in Chinatown. Here I also tried to catch the carp in the pool with my bare hands, and guided a beleagured group of youth through the wild sights of a Chinese marketplace.


Ah, yes. In the basement of the Abbeydale EMC a hole was made in the wall during our made up game called something like "Monkey on the Tracks" (I can't remember), which was like Monkey in the Middle, except (you guessed it), the players on the outside had to stay on a track (made of tape). There would be 2+ people on the track trying to pass the ball. At no time could they step out of the track or be in the same line of track as someone else. There were free zones that allowed for safe passing, but one could not throw from a free zone, and could be tagged out if he was even holding the ball on a free zone. Other players (1 less than on the outside) were in the middle of the square ring of tracks trying to intercept the ball. If one of the players on the track made a mistake, the players in the middle had to catch them before they touched two opposite walls. Unfortunately, this wall was touched a little hard. I put the pterodactyl in the hole to ease some of the tension.


Some of the sponsors (me in the middle) posing for a pic beside the Bow River Falls in Banff. We took off a day to go hiking and shopping in the mountains (as well as check out the posh Banff Springs Hotel), and it was a highlight of the trip. The trail we were on was apparently closed, which translated to: "have fun on the icy paths and don't fall into the river!". Well, we headed home after this. More about the tour later when I get some fresh pictures.