Beer, Burgers, and Horse Thieves

If you missed last month’s blog, we investigated the hoodoos. Scroll down a bit for that exploring adventure. 

Hubby likes westerns and war movies. So, given the fact our bellies were having a good discussion with us, we turned and headed across a dirt road with gorgeous, some rickety, one-lane bridges toward the town where you could surely find John Wayne and ‘The Last Chance Saloon’. 

We arrived at the restaurant where time has chosen to stand still, with style. It’s a perfect location for a movie shoot. A couple walked out as we approached the door.  

They raved about the food. So, in we went. Canadian hospitality at it’s best, we were greeted with smiles as we entered. The walls are covered in history and memorabilia. We couldn’t help but stop and gaze around.    

We headed to the patio out back to enjoy the perfect Canadian summer.

My travelling companions were served beer in mason jars. We ordered moose burgers and took some fun pictures while we waited for our meal. 

     

The burgers, fries, and onion rings arrived and we licked our fingers clean. I wobbled out, my stomach bursting, filled to capacity. 

If I were to go back, I’d spend a night at the adjoining hotel. Looking at the pictures online, The Rosedeer Hotel is quaint and the prices are reasonable. 

We drove back that same road and then turned toward the North Dinosaur Trails on route to the 'Horse Thief’ canyon.    

  

What a name. Of course there’s a story behind that.  According to the legend, horses and cattle were smuggled in the canyon on route to Montana. Supposedly the animals were hidden in ravines created by the ice age floods within the canyon. The canyon turned out to be a reputed way station for the smugglers. 

Fact or fiction? Who knows, but this land would offer a wonderful location for a game of hide and seek.

Wow. Simply wow. Words do not do this area justice. The dark ribbon of coal that curves around the eroded canyon. Spectacular. Having arrived late June, in a dry spell, we would have hiked down the sandstone if we’d had more time.  We didn’t so we stood and simply gazed in awe.