111 - Western Canada Road Trip - Day 8 & 9 (Tillebrook - Calgary - Drumheller - 348 km ) - All Drumheller Broke Loose

After logging some impressive stats over the past 8 days,

It was time to bid farewell to our behemoth, 

for something with a little more pep,

albeit, a LOT less storage space...

It's definitely cozy!

The locals were very interested, as dozens of them were standing at the side of the road trying to check out our new ride.

(Prairie Dogs)

Cute little guys!

However, Tazzie's attempts to get a photo, were thwarted by our upgrade to Ludicrous Speed.

From Calgary we veered back east, where lush green fields 

abruptly gave way to the arid badlands.

 

We sought to quench our thirst (for knowledge) at the Royal Tyrell Museum.

(Note: Taz absent after abruptly skittering off to retrieve his coveted museum map just as our turn came up)

Phew, found it!

While mummy dove into laundry, the kids and I spent a little time terrorizing the hotel pool with our aggressive water-sliding.

After a week in an RV, the final three days of which we spent eating leftover Tumbler's Pizza, we were ready to change it up a little.

Brittster did a little research and told us about a Japanese place within walking distance.

So, the kids and I pulled out some fancy duds.

#twinning

 For me, that meant a T-Shirt with a couple buttons, and an upgrade to leather Birkenstocks.

Although, clearly we were only half-listening. We heard "Japanese Restaurant", but missed "in a strip mall, I'm not sure if they even have seating..."

But by then, we were committed. 

I think the staff felt a little bad for us, 'cause rather than calling us up to collect our food, they brought it out to our table all haute cuisine-like...on plastic cafeteria trays.

Hey. We fancy!

The following morning Taz flexed his photographic muscle at the Star Mine Magical Floating Bench,

"Hey guys, check this out!"

and Suspension Bridge.

"Very cool, bud!"

The elevation was a little less treacherous this time.

We arrived at the Willow Creek Hoodoos,

(tall, thin spires of relatively soft rock topped by harder, less easily eroded stone that protects each column from the elements)

and as usual, despite our typical attire of flip-flops and Crocs, decided it would be a good idea to make the trek to the summit.

It started out quite smoothly,

until Britt, gripped by fear, was forced to cling perilously to the side of the mountain, 

while the rest of us forged on.

Taz's resolve fared only slightly better, and he opted to retreat into a Zen state to calm his nerves.

It was no surprise who was first to clear the summit,

but, I wasn't far behind, 

while Britt waited patiently below, 

and Taz retreated to the food truck on the other side of the parking lot...

 Someone was happy to see us on the way down.

Safe and sound!

Time to saddle up and mosey on back to Calgary for Stampede...Ya-HOO!