Welcome To Calgary

 

The plane touched down and off we went into the frozen expanse of Calgary's airport. It's larger now and the new terminal seems a bit less friendly than the original but whatever, it works, and some 30 minutes and a taxi later there I was in Inglewood, right off of downtown. Hippies? Use the backdoor, without exception.

a typical Calgarian kitchen scene

Entering appropriately through the front door, the fun began, beginning and ending, curiously, at the Swan pub. Nice. It was good to be back in the land of the ice and snow and I like this part of Calgary, with its shops and eateries and downtowny vibe on a UK meets US tip.

Colonel McLeod

The next day was all about strolling around town, which isn't hard because the city center's only 20 minutes walk away. March over the bridge from Inglewood to Fort Calgary, admiring the Bow river to your right, with its excellent fly fishing, salute the the statue of Colonel McLeod, then walk with purpose through East Village towards the hideous new city library and find yourself on Stephen Avenue.

Stephen Ave

All good, but gasp in dismay at the Hyatt's bar, why, you fools, did you remove the BISON HEAD from above the fireplace? Walk away in disgust from that place. Also wonder at hideously overpriced steak houses as you mourn the loss of the Arctyrx/Mountain Adventure shop. Huh, I guess COVD got you while sparing the unpleasant Patagonia store. 

Just look at this hideous concrete portrait of tyranny

So yes, the scamdemic claimed a few victims in this High Street and there you have it, but think of all the money others made; rejoice for your rulers. Speaking of which, on your return take time to walk through the brutalist concrete nightmare that is Calgary's Town Hall.

 

Is that a Bofors gun sitting idle?

Then, safely back in Inglewood, detour by Crown Surplus. What a neat little store, complete with artillery in the yard. And there you have it, what a lot of fun to be back in Calgary, I like it here.

More on this exciting adventure as it unfolds,

LSP

Happy New Year!

Here we are on the dawn of a whole new year and I can't complain about the closing days of the last. A pub lunch and darts at the Swan with the boys, an uplifting Solemn High Mass on Sunday, Ordinariate style, and I have to say it was good to see the old place so full of young families and children.

And what trip to Calgary and Inglewood would be complete without visiting Crown Surplus and the militaria shop? The Crown's changed things up a bit and now devotes most of its space to tactical gear, which is great if you're an operator or looking for neat backpacks, knives and tactical accessories for your Glock/Sig. I like the other side of the store more, genuine surplus at OK prices.

The militaria place is alright too, though not as good as it once was before it moved down the street 5 years ago. Still, if you're desperate for a Grenadier Guards tunic or a bust of Hitler it's your shop. I took a couple of pictures and got in trouble, they're afraid of memorabila thieves.

Walking Holly was fun too, she's a rescue dog from the rez, not sure which one, and we get on well. She's vastly excited to go on trips through the frozen wastes and alleyways of this part of Alberta's onetime cow town. And there it is for now, more reflections on the Great White North as they come to mind.

In the meanwhile,

Happy New Year!

LSP

Boots on the Ground - Occasional Series, or Something

From time to time I do a boot review but it's a rare thing because I don't buy boots very often. One pair of Ariat "Heritage" Stockman and a pair of Wolverine Wellingtons seems to work out just fine for the most part. Reasonably well made boots last a while, if you look after them. With that in mind I wanted to get the young 'un a sturdy pair of combat boots.

better than the rubbish I had to polish

He's in the cadet branch of the Calgary Highlanders and needs a pair of rugged boots for the field. They have to be waterproof, warm and "milspec." You'd think he'd be issued with them but no such luck. Fortunate, then, that I was able to buy a new pair of Canadian Army combat boots for $100 at Crown Surplus. They're goretex lined and sturdy as you like; far better than the fall apart rubbish I was issued with back in the mists of antiquity.

Combat boots aside, he did get issued with a pair of parade boots and I like to see the old ammo boot style continuing for drill. I gave a lesson in "bull".

heel's getting there

"Why," you ask, "should the army encourage its men to polish their boots till they shine like black glass? What possible benefit is that?" For several reasons. Firstly, the enemy will be blinded by the glare of your boots and run in panic. Secondly, in case of coms breakdown the shiny boot makes a handy reflective signals device, like a mirror. Thirdly, a shiny boot looks smart.

keep those regiments!

Well done Canada for keeping on more than a few of your old regiments, such as the Calgary Highlanders, as reserve units. This keeps the various regimental traditions alive and in time of war gives a nucleus for expansion. The cap badge lives, as it were. As I understand it the English just scrapped them all in favor of larger amalgamations. 

Go Army.

LSP