Update #8 - Drumheller

Dear friends,
Howard had today (Friday) off of work and so we ventured out to the "Badlands" of Alberta (see first photo). Having little geological background, my mind was curious as to how it acquired such a name. In years gone by it had been a coal mining town, so maybe I presumed, it had developed a reputation for a rougher element.... you know... the big, the bad and the ugly. However, after googling it I discovered "badlands" actually refer to a type of arid terrain which have been extensively eroded by wind and water leaving canyons and other such geological forms. DAH!
Our primary objective in visiting the area was to see the Tyrrell Dinosaur Museum. Can't say I was hugely excited by the thought, but the boys certainly were. I mean, when in one's life do you get to climb up the tallest dinosaur in the world!?! (see second photo) and look at bones and fossils and what more can I say?!?!
Actually, I must say it was an amazing exhibit and I even learned something! Did you know there is a dinosaur called the Albertosaurus? Obviously it is found here in Alberta (see third photo) AND it is a smaller relative of the Tyrannosaurus. So there you go.
As we drove home, we passed canola field after wheat field after canola field after wheat field after canola field...It was pretty at first but we soon grew tired of the scenery. Laura popped up with, "It should be called the boringlands not the badlands!" which made us all giggle. At one stage, we pulled over and let the children have a close up look at the wheat (see fourth photo) . As adults we forget how fascinating it can be to discover something like a wheat plant. The kids were engrossed and Nathan exclaimed, "So that's why Weetbix is called wheat bix!". Ahhh, another life lesson and another wonderful day.
With love your venturing friends,
The Ebans.
P.S. Once again just to make you feel better, we never ventured out last weekend as Howard had a heavy cold. It's not all bliss here. :)