Day 1 – Ambushes
One of the things I’ve noticed from watching the rough cuts of Episodes 1 and 2 is that my ambushes come right on the tail of Phil’s introduction. And Phil’s voice is always at 11 (out of 10) on the energy scale. I felt the contrast with my laid back persona; it leaves me sounding a bit flat. So, to inject energy, I tape the ambush introductions while walking instead of standing. And instead of rehearsing lines, I just do them off the cuff as the whole crew descends on the unsuspecting challenger. It works great. No need for retakes, the real energy and tension of the moment speaks on tape.

And we get two magnificent ambushes. Neither Beverly or Michael have any clue we were on our way, no one had tipped them off.

I get Michael at his desk, and he stares blank faced at me for a few seconds before it starts to register. He later told me he thought a crazy man had broken into the building. Guess that is what my new haircut makes me look like!

Beverley was playing poker at 11am in her backgarden… and we rushed around from behind the garage. She was crying within minutes (a combo of joy and surprise I think), and gave me a big hug.

Day 2 – Horse Breaking, Calf Roping, and Camp Out
A huge day, for crew and challengers. Long. Physical. And very hot. Alberta is sinking under a heatwave. I must have drunk 10–15 litres of water.

The new cowboy boots make all our feet sore, and the rancher explains we should stand in the nearby creek for a few minutes to soften them up. It helps!

After saddling wildies (local name for wild feral horses), roping calves, and teaching Michael and Bev to ride, we cross the Red Deer river on horseback and then set camp on the banks, with a purple sky spreading to the west and a full yellow moon rising over the foothills. It is unspeakably beautiful – don’t need a camera, it is etched in my brain.

I pick a few springs of River Beauty (Broad Leafed Willow Herb), my favorite flower in the whole wide world. At this time of year the banks of Yukon rivers – where I have spent the last 14 summers as a guide – are littered with the purple blooms.

Day 3 – Cattle Roundup and Steer Riding
Another smoking hot day. Jason (the ranch manager) and I pull our horses aside and watch as Michael and Beverly round up and pen a herd of cattle, on horseback. With the Rocky Mountains rising in the background, and Bev hooting and hollering and trotting back and forth, it is a scene I will never forget.

The little steer the ranchers have chosen for the ride doesn’t look intimidating, but I can imagine it feels scary when you wrap you legs around it and feel its warmth and the beat of its heart.

Beverley goes first. Despite determination and effort, she pops off quickly, tumbles in the dust… and comes up smiles. Michael goes next. He is off almost as fast, but lands with a thump, and stays down. The blow hurt, and not wanting to take any chances, we take him to hospital for a thorough check up. Thank goodness it is nothing serious. I still feel ill though. I promise each and every challenger that I will go through the process with them, and use my judgment to keep them safe. I can’t shake the feeling that I have betrayed Michael’s trust.

To my relief he bounces back, and is 100% of the attitude that you have to take some knocks when pushing your boundaries. I think I grow from the experience, and his reaction to adversity.

Day 4 – Castor Rodeo
Another day of heat and dust and snorting horses. Beverley gets some training from a professional bull-fighter, and watching her in the little pen with a huge bull gives me shivers. Confidence is the key, and Beverley doesn’t blink, turning the big guy around with a wave of the arms.

Two years ago I returned from Mongolia burbling with stories of how extraordinary the local horsemen were. What blew me away most was watching the kids, riding bareback three at a time, clambering up and down the Mongolian steeds as if they were playground toys. Now in Castor I feel embarrassed that I didn’t realize we had the same skills right here at home, in our country. Kids gallop past us riding bareback, chasing escaped stock. The young ones wrestle ponies, gamely dragged through the dust and jumping up laugh.

‘Did it hurt?’ I ask.

‘What? Riding a pony? NO!’ they look at me in surprise.