Lethbridge, Alberta

We arrived in Lethbridge in the afternoon of Thursday, August 18, and since it was early we set up and then went to the Japanese Garden at Henderson Park.   It was a beautiful, restful place, with a tea house that was constructed in Japan without screws or nails, and then was dismantled and sent to Lethbridge where it was again set up.   Outside the tea house was a rock meditation area and on the otherside a very nice area with a small pagoda overlooking a small pond.   It took about 45 minutes to complete the walk through the garden.  

On Friday we went to the Gault museum and spent about three hours, then explored the outdoor trail and went for lunch.   After lunch we went to Fort Whoop Up, named Whoop Up because fur traders and Indians would come in to trade and the Americans who ran the fort would sell them liquor.   The other residents of the town could hear them "whooping it up", hence the name.   It was because of traders such as these that the North West Mounted Police was formed and sent in to bring law and order to the area.

Since this was our last night in Canada, we went to dinner at a local restaurant recommended by one of the guides at the fort -- the Streat Side Cafe.   No, I didn't spell "streat" incorrectly, that's how it was spelled on the sign.  

The thing that impressed me so much about Canada was the outdoors activities of people of all ages and health.   There were bicycle/walking paths throughout the country -- even in little Daysland!   The most fascinating part of it all was that there were PEOPLE USING THEM!!!!!    We could step out of any campground and within a block or two find a trail.   Really neat.  

We drove back across the border on Saturday, August 20 at 10:00 a.m. at Sweet Grass,  MT.   Glad to be "home", but so very glad we went!