Battle River in Ponoka
Stepping Through Alberta: Our Heart and Sole Road Trip
Darcia Pullin Article and Photos
When the Heart and Sole Wellness Walks announcement appeared in the ARTAfacts newsletter, my husband Ken and I reviewed the participating cities, determined distances, and mapped out a road trip to four of the destinations: Ponoka, Stettler, Calgary, and Red Deer.
Little did we know that our travels would lead to a foodie experience, new sights to explore, friendly conversations, and discovering new paths we might not have found on our own.
Ponoka— WCRTA( Wolf Creek Retired Teachers’ Association)
The first walk began at the Ponoka Drop-In Centre, where we were warmly greeted as the only Calgarians joining the walk. We crossed live train tracks leading to a calm wetland on the right and the Battle River to the left. Ken and I followed the left path, which mimicked the river, and we listened to the redwing blackbirds sing— a sound forgotten in the rush of our city.
On returning, we stopped on the bridge to look for fish and admire the lily pads. WCRTA members invited us to stay for a catered lunch, which we gladly accepted. We enjoyed good company and were pleasantly surprised to connect with an old friend from the 1990s.
We set off to explore the town by first visiting the Ponoka Miniature Church, which only holds six people, with standing room for a squished pair. Next, we had to see the World’ s Largest Bucking Saddle Bronc and Rider, a thirty-two foot monument in
AUTUMN 2025 | 17