DBC Prairie to Pines Tour - Lethbridge, Alberta 2007

NCDBS organization

2007 Meets
Danville 4th
Lazy River
Gatsby Tallac

2006 Meets
Gatsby Tallac

2005 Meets
Danville 4th

2004 Meets
Gatsby Galt

LETHBRIDGE ANNUAL Dodge Brothers MEET

The 21st annual Dodge Brothers Club meet in Lethbridge, Alberta Canada was concluded Sunday July 22, 2007. The Prairie to Pines Tour certainly lived up to its name. Tours went North, South, East and finally West. The destinations were of high quality and educational - besides being just fun to see and enjoyable. At every venue the club members were welcomed and embraced. For a feel of the meet, if you were there, you would certainly remember the drive down to and then up to the meet headquarters at Lethbridge University. Whoop Up drive follows the contour of the Old Man River coulee - a term used to describe a very large, wide and deep ravine. The University is located on the West embankment of this ravine while the main portion of the city is located on the eastern portion. The climb towards University Avenue from the main city reminded everyone in the 4-cylinder cars why the Dodge Brothers geared second gear so low. You needed all the pullilng power you could muster to slowly climb up a very, very long steep incline. Aside from this situation, which every car negotiated without too much problems, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada is a very interesting place. The U.S. dollar versus the Canadian dollar was almost equivalent - the populace takes either Canadian or U.S. dollars. The interesting situation was with gasoline where the metric system is in place so that you fill up in liters. The cost per liter hovered around $1.115 mostly, or an equivalent to $4.30 per gallon. The countryside is devoted to grains and alfalfa, whereas this changes as you travel northwards through the Rocky Mountains to Calgary and then to the oil fields of Edmonton. But we were in Lethbridge where it was fairly warm all week (about 30 degrees C or 90+ F) and it doesn't become dark until about 10:30 o'clock. Since most of the attendee's stayed in student housing, we were a little bit toasty since there was no air conditioning in these units. The University worries mostly about heating in the winter and spring semester - with very few students attending the summer sessions. Overall, there were about 115 people in attendance and about 35 cars. The tours ranged from less than 10 miles round trip up to 102 miles round trip driving. The longest was about 90 miles one way and it was suggested that modern iron be used to attend this destination. A few of the preliminary pictures of the meet are shown below. There are many more to come! [Countryside between Lethbridge and Cardston.]

This is typical of the landscape in and around Lethbridge. There is a lot of alfala and wheat being grown in this area.

This is a quick look at a few of the Dodge Brothers gathered on the porch of Townhouse Units 108 and 110. It was a hot a muggy day as all participants were attired for the weather. The Dodge Sisters were inside out of the heat, although none of the units were airconditioned. Afterall, this is Canada and when students are enrolled, it is mostly in the fall, winter and spring time - the University is worried about heating and not cooling.

Here are a few of the Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters vehicles which were towed some 1,300 miles one way to the Annual DB Club Meet in Lethbridge, Canada.

Although miniscule, this photo does show the line up of the automobiles who made the 41 mile one way trip from the University to the Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump site. The Site's management was so impressed with the cars, that the entire group was requested to drive up the hill to the center of the performance area and make a slow pass before all of the guests and employees of the interpretive site.

This is one table at the excellent BBQ lunch provided by Earl's restaurant. The food was wonderful and quanities were more than people could eat.

Here is the car of Bill Gess one of the hosts at Lethbridge. We at the NCDBS Group claim Bill as one of our own - although he contends that he still lives in Calgary.

Amil Gehrke, Donn Marinovich and Tom Gong examine the interesting sites at Fort Whoop Up during the early bird tour. Especially grand was the cannon firing.

An enactment of the use of cannon for the defense of Fort Whoop Up!

Charles Nickol and Donn Marinovich imbibing at Fort McCleod. They were having a great time explaining to the barkeep how the sun and heat had chased them into a cool refreshing place.

The Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters banners were flown during the Show and Shine affair just prior to the meet ending banquet.

Just some of the ladies with Bill Gess, who were attired in era appropriate clothing for the meet ending banquet. The ladies from left to right are: Sherrin Grout, Elaine Gong and Sharon Gehrke.

This picture shows the general crowd just prior to serving at the banquet. People are really enjoying themselves.

This is a group photo of the NCDBS Group in era appropriate costume dressed for the finale banquet.

The NCDBS Group and Bill Gess in our attire for golf. From the left - Amil Gehrke, Bill Gess, Thomas Gong, Donn Marinovich and Roger Gong. Bobby Jones would be proud.

- LETHBRIDGE ANNUAL Dodge Brothers MEET -

- hosted by Bill Gess & others -