As part of the Chapter 44 Escapees Rally held in Millarville AB, we toured first The Saskatoon Farm, where they grow, cultivate and harvest Saskatoon berries, and then the Chinook Arch Meadery where honey is made into wine or mead. Seen here, are the stainlees tanks used to hold the mead or "honey wine" from which it is processed into tasty dinner wines. Mead is the oldest art of fermentation. The term “honeymoon” has been associated with drinking mead during the month long celebration following a wedding in pagan times. It is the bee’s tireless search for nectar from thousands of blossoms that creates the honey in each bottle of mead. 100% natural honey is diluted with pure water and spices or berry juice to add further dimension and complexity. Special yeast cultures are added to this medieval style of Mead. A fermentation and slow aging process in European oak barrels occurs for up to three years before bottling. Bill, Kendra and I thoroughly enjoyed this outing to learn about, view and sample the mead at Chinook, "from bee to bottle". Yes, we purchased a couple of bottles to take home.
Kendra had never experienced a rodeo, so off to High River we went. Many of the rodeo cowboys that compete here, also compete in the Calgary Stampede. Barrel racing, calf and steer roping, bull riding and the chuckwagon races thrill the crowds.
The "chucks" are an exciting climax to the rodeo. Four at a time start, make a figure eight then race the track with outriders in pursuit. I am hearing some of the same names in the finish at the Stampede, currently underway. The cowboys love the thrill, but this sure is a tough way to make a living, especially the bull riding!
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