Testimonials

Making new friends and creating lasting memories!A look at a few of the testimonials from our past guests helps solidify our status as a reliable company. Nagel Tours is proud to have an extremely high percentage of repeat clientele that have joined our Frequent Traveller Loyalty Program, which allows you to accumulate membership rewards that help you reduce the cost of future trips. Frequent travellers are the basis of our success, and we always look forward to seeing familiar faces!

A story from our Most Travelled Passenger – Vickie Murphy

Our most frequently travelled passenger, Vickie Murphy, recently went on her 56th tour with us to Victoria. She often writes poems about her travel experiences, but she shared this poem with us about a different kind of personal experience – titled “The Accident”.

A concert hall in Calgary was hosting one night of the Daniel O’Donnell show
Granddaughter Vikki emailed me asking if I would like to go
Very excitedly I replied I would love to see him and listen to him sing
Vikki said it would be her birthday gift to me our night out, a girly thing.

Vikki picked me up, we joked about how late I would be getting home that night
It might be a late night but to hear Daniel sing would be a delight
Vikki parked close to the hall and we started walking toward the venue
Little did I realize what happened next would totally disrupt my daily menu.

As we walked along I tripped on the uneven sidewalk and on my right side fell
Some concerned people helped me up but I knew all was not well
Couldn’t stand by myself a wheelchair was borrowed somewhere at the hall site
Made myself comfortable, and said “let’s go to the show”, Vikki didn’t put up a fight.

Had handicap seats Daniel and the stage were just over the rail
I clapped, sang with Daniel when I knew the words and didn’t wail
After the show Vikki pushed me to her car try as I might I couldn’t leave the chair
An ambulance was called arriving with minimum wait time, I was loaded with care.

First ambulance ride, what an experience.  Had trouble getting IV in my vein
So long as I didn’t make any undue moves felt little or no agonies of pain
Vitals were checked, made comfortable Josh and Brittany were really great
Josh attended me Brittany drove to Rockyview General Hospital to await my fate.

Checked into Emergency, assigned #6 spot, settled in for a long wait unseen
Eventually was whisked to x-ray, told I had broken my femur – sad scene
Admitted to hospital, and ER cubicle was assigned, lay on a stretcher there
Allowed no food or drink was on intravenous diet but had excellent patient care.

Moved to surgical bed early morning of third day waiting for repair to my hip
Had many roommates, a loony woman, a man in distress whose life did slip
Surgery was scheduled evening of third day wheeled to OR to meet surgical team
Had an epidural, felt nothing but aware of all going on, like in a dream.

Surgeon said “break was clean, surgery went well”, off to recovery I went
Returned to my room for overnight, next day to physio lab I was sent
Therapist taught me exercises and with aid of two-wheel walker I could walk
Was in hospital twelve days then discharged to home, what a traumatic shock.

First visitors after surgery were grandson Ben and his son Madden – welcome pair
Spent 93rd birthday in hospital, had a card on my tray no cake or fancy fare
Hospitals are different now, no bed pan get up and walk to wash up and pee
Sit up in a chair no lolling in bed, exercise, keep active, enjoy visitors, watch TV.

Went to daughter Shelley to do rehab, nurse came every day to poke my tummy
Blood thinner injections for 14 days, just something to make life more crummy
For a while I live in PJ’s and slippers, feet were so swollen I couldn’t wear shoes
Rehab went well, exercise, walk, drink liquids, practice stairs, keep away blues.

Vikki contacted Daniel O’Donnell’s fan club and told them my tale of woe
Result was overwhelming for me, Daniel phoned me from Dublin – way to go
A nurse came to remove the staples, someone counted there were twenty-eight
Balance wasn’t good she let me sit thus missed one that had to wait.

As rehab progressed after 6 weeks I was ready to go home what an incredible feat
Started physio in Airdrie, therapist was great taught me how to position my feet
Homecare comes weekly to help me shower, they wash my feet, back and hair
Occupational therapist ordered equipment to help me cope with life’s ongoing care.

What a joyful time when I first walked independent of walking aids whoop-de-doo
Getting more independent every day, walk 100 m every day exercise too
Still have problem reaching up and bending down but time will help this delay
Someday I will look back and reflect on the determination I did display.

Hi-lite of the ordeal was one-on-one phone conversation with Daniel, cherished memory always.

Composed by: Vickie Murphy, Airdrie, AB

tour group at mile zero of Alaska Highway

Alaska Midnight Sun – June 2, 2019

The Alaska Midnight Sun tour was the highlight of our holiday.  We were very happy with the tour as it exceeded our expectations.  Definitely learned so much and saw many interesting and varied sights.  We will certainly be in contact with Nagel Tours again.  We are looking at visiting Canada again in 2021 and hope to do a tour then.

Submitted by: Lynnette and Roidain Dean, Gabbadah, Australia

 

 

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Alaska Midnight Sun – June 20, 2011

Alaska Midnight Sun – June 20, 2011

Nina is our fearless leader
She’s the leader of this clan
Although she’s few in numbers
She’s the finest in the land
She’s planned this awesome holiday
And never missed a thing
She talks and reads and jokes with us
And even lets us sing.

Now dear Browne he drives this purple coach
And makes us leave on time
Up and down the road he goes, turning on a dime
He looks so handsome in his tie
And so the coach does too
Carrying bags of red and black and green and blue
Everybody wants to say:
“Good job Browne”
“Good job Nina”
It’s been a wonderful holiday and we all love you so
Thank you both for everything; home we must go.

This trip we all attest
That when we have Nina and Browne
We have the best!!

Thanks for the memories.

Composed by: Alex and Valerie Jarema and Ernie and Pat Gawaziuk, Neepawa, MB

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Arizona, Desert and Canyons – February 2010

Nagel Tours is a very good organization
The kind people at their administration
Sent us a catalogue with lots of information
We looked each other and without hesitation
We felt swelling up within us a great sensation
That we might actually go on a vacation
So with determination, we phoned in our registration
And with little negotiation, we received our confirmation
For this trip and started to make preparation
With great anticipation, Lacombe was the location
Where we got on the coach, which is our transportation
After we were all on board, Judy gives the declaration
That we have to abide by certain regulation
Working on a book we get the invitation to use our imagination
Getting to know each other is quite a fascination
With average age of 66 years – 10 months, travelling with us is now
A younger generation, together we make a good combination
With lots of consideration and cooperation
Our communication makes for good conversation
And is a demonstration of our motivation and expectation
Participation is the foundation and gives us real inspiration
We visit many places and get an explanation and clarification
At many a destination
Even being sick, after an examination getting medication
Helps to make this trip a total gratification
And I would like to make the following proclamation:
Judy, for you we have great adoration
And Dennis you have our admiration
Together you show a special dedication
And for all of you we have tremendous appreciation
Therefore we have this great celebration
Let us give Judy and Dennis a standing ovation

Composed by: Gerrit and Dorothy Meindersma, Lacombe, AB

Arizona, Desert and Canyons – February 2018

Tour departed from Edmonton, home of Russell Park
Named for Reverend Robert Russell, who left his mark
Tour guide greeted all and boarded us without fuss
Driver showed a video on safety features of the bus

Tour passed through or bypassed communities along the trail
Bowden has Bowden Institute, a minimum security jail
Louise McKinney lived in Claresholm, one of the “Famous Five”
To Granum, Alberta’s smallest incorporated town, tour did arrive

Tour stopped at Duty Free to buy snacks, smokes and drinks
Crossed into Montana, settled comfortably, hoping to catch forty winks
Montana is largest landlocked and fourth largest US state
Slightly larger than Japan, it joined the Union 8 Nov. 1889 – late?

First overnight was in Great Falls, home of CM Russel Museum
Travelled southward, along Interstate 15, longest Interstate in sum
Passed by Gates of the Mountains, discovered by Lewis and Clark Expedition
Magnificent 1,200 ft limestone walls line canyon, where Missouri River passes through Big Belt Mountains

Traversed Monida Pass into Idaho, nicknamed “Gem State”
Idaho produces 1/3 of USA’s potato crop – percentage to date
Idaho had first radio show in US, called ‘Party Line’ with live calls
Crossed the Great Divide, then Snake River Canyon, into Twin Falls

Second overnight stop was unincorporated city of Jackpot, Nevada
Had a break in Wells, smallest city in Elko County, gained an hour tada!
Arrived in Ely, Nevada, former First Lady Pat Nixon’s birthplace
Lunched at historic Nevada Hotel, Nevada’s first fire-proof place

Played chicken coop game on bus, roosters crowed and hens did cluck
Travelled across Nevada Great Basin, towards Las Vegas to try our luck
Took Highway #6, travelled through White River Narrows – no roar
Tour was in the Mojave Desert, smallest of North America’s four

In Las Vegas, our home for two nights, we had a driving tour of the Strip
Strip is called Las Vegas Boulevard, 27 miles in length was the trip
We enjoyed Freemont Street Experience amid glitter and sound
Watched featured animation on a canopy ninety feet above ground

Viewed Joshua trees, Yucca, Cholla, Davis Dam and Laughlin’s Casino Row (Surprise!)
Crossed Colorado River, entered Arizona; 48th state to join Union, sixth in size
Onward to Oatman, town with the burros, nestled in the Black Mountains
Saw some fantastic mountain formations, including ice cream cone formation

Drove on Route 66, saw Ocotillo and Palo Verde trees – Arizona’s state tree
Travelled to Lake Havasu City, saw London Bridge and English Village – all free
Bypassed Parker Dam, deepest dam in the world, 2/3 of depth below river bed
Left Mojave Desert, entered Sonoran Desert, hottest of the four, with soil of red

Visited Mission San Xavier Del Bac, called White Dove of the Desert – very ornate
Stayed three nights in Tucson, incorporated 1877, oldest incorporated city in Arizona State
On city tour of Tucson we saw military aircraft boneyard, Pima Air Museum and Dillinger home
We saw Saguaro cactus, Silk top yucca, Barrel cactus in bloom and other plants only desert known

Lunched at Old Tucson Studio, movie studio and theme park, saw a stunt show
Visited Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, saw humming bird nest with baby and birds flying low
Saw Prickly pear cactus, Cypress trees, rolling hills and mountain ranges – Main
Also saw Border Patrol/weather forecast balloon – Eye in the Sky – above the terrain

Travelled through Mule Tunnel, enroute to Bisbee, home of the queen Copper Mine
Historic and quaint Bisbee has State’s only Smithsonian Museum of Mining – saw no sign
Went to Tombstone – ‘Town Too Tough To Die’ – had lunch and looked around
Saw gunfight at Ok Corral, a video, and visited Boothill Graveyard – no sounds

At the Orange Patch in Apache Junction tour sampled orange juice in a glass
Had city tour of Phoenix with knowledgeable guide First Class
Phoenix is capital and largest city in Arizona – called Valley of the Sun
Next day was shopping and Barleen’s Opry Dinner and show – so much fun

Saw Montezuma Castle National Monument, well preserved cliff dwelling in the wall
Travelled through Oak Creek Canyon, lush gorges, colourful and craggy formations so tall
Saw bright red sedimentary rocks – Bell, Cathedral, Chimney, Steamboat, Snoopy and Castle
Courthouse Butte and Chapel of Holy Cross, arriving in town of Sedona, no hassle

Arizona has more mountain peaks than any other United States states
Overnighted in Tusayan Grand Canyon National Park, near the gate
Saw a DVD ‘The Grand Canyon’ at IMAX Theatre – very well done
Grand Canyon is world’s most spectacular example of force of erosion

Walked along Canyon rim at Mather Point, drove to Bright Angel Lodge – fantastic view
Last stop was Desert View Watchtower, man-made structure completed in 1932
First view of Painted Desert here, 120 mi. long x 60 mi. wide area of geological forms
Known for its varied colours, typical gray and red bands across the landforms

Left Desert View, drove beside the Canyon, giving us views of the formation
Travelled through Navajo Indian Reservation, largest reservation in the Nation
Lake Powell is a reservoir on Colorado River, second largest lake in the US
Tour overnighted at Lake Powell Resort, rooms with views of the lake, Native facility with finesse

At Glen Canyon Dam, tour saw video ‘Standing Tall’ about Dam’s birth
Saw Grand Staircase-Escalante National monument, multi-coloured cliffs and earth
Entered Zion National Park, saw Checkerboard Mesa, awesome with skiff of snow
Travelled through a tunnel, 1 mile long, 14 ft. high, no stopping, 15mph – slow

Zion includes mountains, canyons, rivers, monoliths, buttes, mesas, natural arches that all meet
Zion Canyon is main feature, gorge cut by Virgin River, walls tower 3,000 feet
Stone formations eroded from Navajo Sandstone resemble cathedrals and temples it’s said
Rock formations range in colour from light purple to pink, orange to dark red

Kolob Canyon is minor section of Zion National Park’s total mass
It contains finger-like red sandstone canyons at edge of Kolob Terrace
Travelled through Dixie National Forest, largest forest in Utah state
Elevation 9,861 ft. at Midway Summit, waited for ear pressure to abate

Saw bison herd, wild turkeys, Ponderosa Pine and Black Spruce trees, Pampas grass
Drove through Red Canyon with it’s unique red hoodoos, close to the bypass
Entered Bryce Canyon National Park containing Bryce Amphitheatre formation
Three miles wide x 12 miles long, 800ft. deep, has red, yellow, brown colour selection

Forms like arches, natural bridges, walls and windows could be seen among the spires
Very artistic colourful display, Nature’s gift to fill us with awe, as we admire
Iron Oxide gives red, yellow brown colour, manganese oxide lends lavender hue to the zone
Hoodoos in the Park are composed of soft sedimentary rock, capped by a harder stone

Overnighted at the BW Plus Ruby’s Inn – Aspen Lodge – in Bryce Canyon City
Returned through Red Canyon to highway 89, leaving Bryce behind – pity!
Tour was now in Butch Cassidy country, he was the Robin Hood of the West
Bypassed Big Rock Candy Mountain, saw some Belted Galloway cattle, at rest

Saw Mount Nebo 11,928 ft. – highest peak in Wasatch Range, rising above Nephi
Viewed glimpses of Great Salt Lake, largest lake in Western US, – 1700 sq. mi. – not dry
In Salt Lake City we had a short talk and tour of Mormon Temple Square
Drove by State Capitol, left for Ogden, birthplace of Donny Osmond, tour’s overnight lair

Travelled I-15 northward to Pocatello where tour made full circle from Arizona Sol
Forward to Dillon where tour took ‘Snowbird Route’ through Twin Bridges and Whitehall
Arrived in Helena, re-traced route to Holiday Inn, Great Falls, for last night on the road
Had Farewell Dinner, passenger entertainment, tour guide gift draw, left for our abode

Up early for long last day of the tour, it’s Home going today
Crossed border into Canada, returned kilometres of first day
First drop-off was in Lethbridge where tour left youngest one
Drop-offs along the way until Edmonton where tour had begun

This tour is one of the most scenic Nagel has to offer
Action-packed, wonderful holiday, worth the dip into your coffer

Composed by: Vickie Murphy from Airdrie, Alberta.

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