Road trip, Part 1

A couple of weeks ago Part Time (yes, he's still around; am I a sucker for punishment?) and I took one of our usual summer road trips which I'll divide into 2 parts, the first part deserves it's own post.  We had done a bit of planning this time instead of our usual get in the truck and say which way are we going today?  (which leads to some great sights, but with no destination in mind how do you know if you're off course and when you've arrived?)  I had decided that I wanted to go south and west and with a quick look at the map I said "the Bar U".  We had driven by the entrance a couple of times before and had never stopped in at this national historic site.  What a shame.  So many terrific things to see in this great province that we live in and to have not been there before.
We pulled off the highway onto the access road, hung a right onto the property and what's the very first thing that we saw?

 The story goes that Mr. George Lane was on the way home from visiting his wife in Calgary who had just delivered a child when he happened on a pack of wolves feasting on a cow.  Being the cattleman that he was, he rode at them with his revolver drawn and firing when they decided to attack HIM and have a meal of horse flesh and human. (more likely just defending their dinner)  The late, great Charlie Russell heard the story and painted it.  The painting hung in the Lane house for years and in the '70s someone saw the painting, heard the story and commissioned this larger than life sculpture.  Absolutely beautiful.

  A couple of different angles for your viewing pleasure.

After ogling this baby for about 5 minutes we went into the building where you pay (no free rides with Parks Canada), read about the ranch, watch a short video and head out the back.  You can either walk down to the outbuildings or wait for a courtesy shuttle.  We opted to wait for the shuttle.

 This pair of lads came up the hill.

The one one the left seemed to be the most steady of the pair; the other one seemed to be a little 'chargy'.  He wanted to go, not plod along.









There were some other people that had come in behind us so we waited and chatted with the driver for a bit. At one time the Bar U had 1000 Percherons on the ranch.  At that time, everything was done by hand or with horsepower.  With a couple thousand cattle on close to 160,000 acres to put up hay for and feed in the winter, they were a much needed commodity.   The Bar U Percherons were very prolific in the show ring as well, winning at the Calgary Stampede on numerous occasions, and in other locations across North America.  I learned that when horses still pulled fire wagons it was mandated that because of their leg structure and sturdiness, Percherons were THE breed.  Others would break down on the pavement of choice in that time; cobblestones.

The stud horse barn.

The harness repair shop.

 The harness repair shop again.

The tractor repair shop.

 A chuckwagon set up at a replica of a trail camp.  Note the Bar U brand on the side.

                                                                                                                                                                   

Another shot of the tractor repair shop.

An old threshing machine.  (I'm sure Dad will correct me if I'm wrong)

The cookhouse and outhouse.

A tent set up at the chuckwagon site.

The typical chuckwagon set up.

The lads on a short rest stop.

This used to be the root cellar.  The roof caved in recently.

The interior of the cook/bunk house.  Can you imagine the tight quarters when there were twenty bunks up here instead of the 7 that were on display?  (and the racket?)

Some glass batteries that were used for power.

An old generator.

This gal was working in the cook/bunk house baking cookies over a wood stove.  Man, was it hot in there.  She also maintained the rather large garden out back.

The legendary John Ware also spent some time at the Bar U.

    'Few personalities stand out in the ranching industry of Canada like that of John Ware.  An African-American born into slavery in the Carolinas, John rose to fame in the Canadian west.  A true pioneer, John established his reputation in frontier society with deeds rather that words.  His skills in the saddle and straight forward honesty earned him the respect of fellow cattlemen.  Because of his courage and enormous strength, the First Nations people called him "Matoxy Sex Apee Quin" (bad black white man) and wondered if he had a connection to the spirit world.

     'In the spring of 1882, Fred Stimson met veteran cattle drover Tom Lynch in Helena, Montana.  Cattle prices were high in Montana so they traveled west to Lost River, Idaho.  When business was concluded, Fred Stimson headed back to High River, leaving Tom Lynch to put together a trail outfit to bring the herd some seven hundred miles to their new rage.  At Lost River, Lynch hired two hands just up from Texas, Bill Moodie and John Ware.

     'At the beginning of the ride, Ware was given the lowly job of night herding on a decrepit old horse with a shoddy rig to match.  He fulfilled his duties for several days before asking if he might have "a little better saddle and a little worse horse."  John's request was granted and not only did he ride the bronc, he also gained a new measure of respect and admiration from those he rode with.

     'Over the next two years, Ware worked for the Bar U Ranch and eventually moved to a spot along the Red Deer river, just north of the village of Duchess.  In September of 1905, John was killed when his horse tripped and fell on him.  Since his death, a wealth of legends have been woven, making him a Paul Bunyan of the Canadian west.'**

I think that this stop was worth the $20 admission and the highlight of my day.

** From the Parks Canada Visitor Guide
To learn more about the Bar U please visit