Day 20 Drumheller Thursday 7th May 2015
Across the road from our room was ‘Ivys Awesome Kitchen and Bistro‘ this had to be tried and try it we did for brekky. Not quite awesome but it was friendly.
Now for a day amongst the Hoodoos. We had walking poles, sunhats, packed lunch, day packs. Off we go – ready for the wilds of the Hoodoo Trail.
Sunny day, blue sky, badlands – pleasant drive. A bit distressing to see industry built in amongst the ancient rocks along the road side.
Finally arrived to find a small patch of Hoodoos just a few hundred metres square on the road side. Surely not.
After a short walk around the Hoodoos and convinced there were more we drove on.
On reaching the Coal mine museum (also marked as the end of the trail) without seeing a single Hoodoo, I asked 2 helpful men sitting in the sun where the rest of the Hoodoos were, “No that’s it. Well there was one more up the road, known only to locals.”
While talking to the men about hiking in the area both agreed there was not much if you did not have local knowledge but lots if you did. They then recommended Horseshoe canyon.
So we completed the “Hoodoo trail” with a viewing of the one hidden hoodoo. Back to the Suspension Bridge at Rosedale and a fruitless search for the tiny church (it can hold 10,000 but only 6 at a time). Later discovered the church had been vandalised and had been removed for repair!
We took our walking poles, sunhats, packed lunch, and day packs and drove across town to Horseshoe canyon.
I leave rest of the story of to Chris – beginning with a stop outside Badland Choppers to re-orientate – and take photo of a shop selling Choppers, Harleys and Guns.
Out onto flat flat land again.
How could there possibly be a canyon out here. As we drove on and on and on we became convinced we were lost.
Suddenly the sign for Horseshoe Canyon popped up in the middle of the prairie. This seems to be the way out here – the best things are hidden below eye level.
The odd thing is that there are lots of hiking opportunities but very little information. Tracks don’t seem to be maintained are more just worn in by “hiking traffic”.
We made our way down into the canyon and as the only people around we felt like explorers. We were conscious of the warning that we had received that it was quite easy to be lost in there.So easy to happen – down on the canyon floor it was like walking in a maze.
Our feeling of “blazing a trail” was dispelled after lunch when three teenagers 
ambling through the canyon appeared. They were chatting about boyfriends and unfair parents! Obviously global issues!!
That’s me the black spot at the bottom of the canyon.
That night we headed for Wayne, a ‘ghost town’ of about 30 people and the home of the “Last Chance Saloon”.
Its other claim to fame is that you have to cross eleven bridges in six kms to get there.
Well what a hoot! We had been told to go for the experience rather than the food and that was an accurate assessment.
The saloon was populated with interesting bric a brac. The bar maid who should have been in stand-up. Examples:
Me: Can I have a glass please?
Her: That will be $5.00 deposit I don’t trust you.
Me:I would like the jalapeño poppers please(unusual I know).
Her: Apart from your waitress what dip would you like with that.
The night proceeded on like that with the manager giving us her card and asking for a postcard from home.
Drove home to Drumheller trying to count the bridges as we had coming in to Wayne again I got a lower number than eleven and both of us got different numbers anyway!
