Day 4: Hockey nights and more (1/2)
MEDICINE HAT AB -- The heated garage did as advertised; this morning, the car read 10C (50F) when I turned it on. Of course, it plummeted to -24C (-11F) by the time I arrived in the dark at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building for the 8am tour.
However, I arrived about five minutes late, but no matter -- the tour guide wasn't there. So the desk agent arranged for a plainclothes security agent to fill in, and he did so ably. She did show by the time we reached the legislative chamber.
With the day's journey heading back across the time zone boundary, I had some time to burn. So first it was off to Wascana Centre, the 2,300-acre site of, among other sites, the Saskatchewan Science Centre and Royal Saskatchewan Museum. My membership at the Clay Center allowed me free access to the Science Centre, where I learned the word "extirpated". (Think of it as a localized, not global, extinction.)
I then moved on to the team shop of the defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders. The devotees of Rider Nation are similar to American college fans, who drive for hours to Regina for the home games. This past season, the Riders won the Grey Cup at home -- the third straight team to do it -- prompting the Legislative Building to be lit up in green for the time being.
After doing some more gift shopping, it was time for lunch. Normally, Chad and I don't hit brand-name restaurants on vacation -- but I found a loophole: a Canadian-only brand-name. So before departing Regina, lunch was at Montana's Cookhouse.
Heading west, I made one last educational stop in Moose Jaw -- where do they come up with these city names? -- at the transportation branch of the Western Development Museum. I was overwhelmed by the building, a giant hangar chock full of airplanes, locomotives, and other vehicular items.
The drive back to Alberta was challenging. For several long stretches, strong winds from the south were blowing snow across the highway. But this captain was able to maintain control of his ship all the way to Medicine Hat.
Things got interesting at check-in, as the front-desk clerk couldn't pull up the reservation, despite providing him with the confirmation number. He was apparently quite apologetic, as it appears I have the honeymoon suite -- complete with an archway and a whirlpool bathtub separate from the shower.
As for the hockey game, the home team is now 3/3 as the Tigers defeated the Kootenay Ice, 5-2. ("Kootenai" is the name of a native tribe, and the team is based in the southeastern corner of British Columbia.)
However, I arrived about five minutes late, but no matter -- the tour guide wasn't there. So the desk agent arranged for a plainclothes security agent to fill in, and he did so ably. She did show by the time we reached the legislative chamber.
With the day's journey heading back across the time zone boundary, I had some time to burn. So first it was off to Wascana Centre, the 2,300-acre site of, among other sites, the Saskatchewan Science Centre and Royal Saskatchewan Museum. My membership at the Clay Center allowed me free access to the Science Centre, where I learned the word "extirpated". (Think of it as a localized, not global, extinction.)
I then moved on to the team shop of the defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders. The devotees of Rider Nation are similar to American college fans, who drive for hours to Regina for the home games. This past season, the Riders won the Grey Cup at home -- the third straight team to do it -- prompting the Legislative Building to be lit up in green for the time being.
After doing some more gift shopping, it was time for lunch. Normally, Chad and I don't hit brand-name restaurants on vacation -- but I found a loophole: a Canadian-only brand-name. So before departing Regina, lunch was at Montana's Cookhouse.
Heading west, I made one last educational stop in Moose Jaw -- where do they come up with these city names? -- at the transportation branch of the Western Development Museum. I was overwhelmed by the building, a giant hangar chock full of airplanes, locomotives, and other vehicular items.
The drive back to Alberta was challenging. For several long stretches, strong winds from the south were blowing snow across the highway. But this captain was able to maintain control of his ship all the way to Medicine Hat.
Things got interesting at check-in, as the front-desk clerk couldn't pull up the reservation, despite providing him with the confirmation number. He was apparently quite apologetic, as it appears I have the honeymoon suite -- complete with an archway and a whirlpool bathtub separate from the shower.
As for the hockey game, the home team is now 3/3 as the Tigers defeated the Kootenay Ice, 5-2. ("Kootenai" is the name of a native tribe, and the team is based in the southeastern corner of British Columbia.)