Testimonials

Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore and Medora Musical – June 30 2018

Merlyn and I enjoyed our wonderful tour and trip. Many thanks to guide Elsie and driver Ray. They were excellent. As for the tour, the scenery is breathtaking and we saw more North American wildlife in two days than we have seen elsewhere in a year! Mount Rushmore, the four U.S. President’s faces, and the approach way, etc., were brilliant and unique. As for the Medora Music Show and the outdoor location + BBQ + the lovely weather all added to this being an A-1 tour. Many thanks to the Nagel Tours staff and others responsible for ensuring our enjoyment, fun and safety.

Submitted by: Derek McCorquindale, Cochrane AB and Merlyn Alexon, Calgary AB

Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, and Medora Musical – July 2017

Nagel has a NEW tour going to Yellowstone Park and Medora
We packed our bags with sunscreen, bug repellant and a fedora
Tour picked up passengers along the way, meetin’ and greetin’
Hunger pangs were quelled in High River, where lunch was eaten

Claresholm’s museum is Calgary’s Old sandstone CPR Station
Onward, a happy bunch, travelling toward day one destination
Holiday Inn, Great Falls, where there was a welcome reception
Wine and cheese, punch, then dinner and the long day was done

Tour left Great Falls via the very scenic Highway eighty-nine
Mountains, outcroppings, drop offs, rolling hills, stand of pine
Passed towns – Monarch, no butterflies. Ringling, no circus, just land
Lunch was in Livingston at Feed Lot 49 at the Pop Stand

Entered Yellowstone at Gardiner, through Roosevelt Arch
Viewed Bunsen Peak. Gibbons Falls, herd of bison on a march
At Mammoth Hot Springs we hiked down the Upper Terraces
Norris Geyser Basin was an exciting place, fumaroles in masses

West Yellowstone is equal distance from Equator and North Pole
Viewed Steamboat Geyser on way there, the days final goal
Next day back to Yellowstone to view the mud and paint pot(s)
Walked Geyser Trail, behind Old Faithful to see geysers – it was HOT!

Watched Old Faithful erupt, saw Yellowstone Lake – no Trumpeter Swans
Saw Dragon’s Mouth Pool, Mud Volcano, elk, bison, deer, but no fawns
Viewed Yellowstone Falls, higher than Niagara – twice as high or more
Saw Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and visited Canyon Village store

Billings was the lunch stop next day, largest city in Montana State
Saw land of Custer’s Last Stand and an antique car parade – ornate
Entered Wyoming, first state to grant women right to vote
Arrived in Deadwood, tour’s home for two nights – City of note

Mineral Palace had a slot tournament for us, gave us a rubber duck
Watched street entertainment, rode the trolley around – only a buck
Visited Crazy Horse Memorial, saw a video and the ornate gate
Lunch was at Mt. Rushmore, group pix was taken after much debate

Left Deadwood, entered N. Dakota, in Sioux Dakota means friend
Travelled through the Badlands – a new sight around each bend
Rolling hills, deep valleys, rock formations, hoodoos and grass roots
Buttes on buttes, buttes topped with vegetation, many coloured buttes

In Medora we enjoyed a pitchfork fondue dinner – extra for the rum
Then off to Medora Musical – one word describes it all – AWESOME!
Moving along we had lunch once again with the Captain in Weyburn
Weyburn has a statue of Tommy Douglas, look quickly before the turn

Swift Current was last overnight, to Living Sky Casino some made a call
Here the tour made its first drop off of many friends, farewell to all
Tour travelled through the Cypress Hills, fresh from the rain
On the tour we experienced sunny weather in the main

The tour was short, interesting and fun
Congratulations Nagel, job well done!

Composed by: Vickie Murphy from Airdrie, AB.

~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 93^rd 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

~Frequent Traveller – Congratulations Vickie Murphy on your 50th Tour!

We at Nagel Tours are very honoured to have many repeat travellers, all members of our Nagel Travel Club. We have different levels of accomplishment, with differing benefits attached to each.

In this photo, we are pleased to award Vickie Murphy on the occasion of her 50th tour with Nagel – she is now part of our Grand Diamond Plus level! Vickie has travelled with us since 1998, often repeating her favourite tours. “50 isn’t the end”, Vickie says, “I have planned as far as tour 55″.

~Frequent Traveller – Vickie Murphy

Reflections of a Frequent Traveller
Now here am I to tell you a tale!
Nagel Tours rates high on the scale!
Everything is arranged from the moment of booking.
They do the driving; you do the looking.

Ride an aerial tram, a train, a cable car
Our ride was comfortable, the best we’ve experienced by far.
The drivers are courteous,always have a “Hello”,
Storing your luggage in the bins below.

Keep the coach clean, use trash bags, wipe your feet!
Give everyone a different view, rotate your seat.
Tour guides are friendly, they give you your keys
Always, always smiling, they know their ABC’s.

Travel bags are given out when you board
Ladies! Shop, shop, will them with your horde.
Birthdays, Anniversaries shared – add up to many a year.
Onboard movies, lights to read by. Sorry! NO Beer.

Visiting, stories, puzzles, Bingo! Help time slip away
Greet old friends from a previous tour – make their day.
Water, for a fee, is available courtesy of driver/tour guide
The comfort station, at the back, gives you a rough ride.

You do not need a partner, you can always go single,
You are welcomed when dining, we all mingle.
Rooms were clean, with full bath, and a comfy bed,
Continental breakfasts, picnic lunches, help keep us fed.

Wake up call at six, bags out by half-past, departure at eight,
Shower in haste, comb your hair, hurry, hurry, cannot be late.
There are many miles to travel and new sights to see,
Like 17 mile drive, or the Santa Barbara Fig Tree.

Some sights are free and for others you must pay,
Pier 39, Cabot Trail, Gateway Arch, Cruises of the Bay.
California Rose Parade, Queen Mary ship, San Diego Zoo,
Freemont Street, Cape Spear, Graceland are a few.

Butchart Gardens offer fountains, flowers and High Tea,
View Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre in Sydney-by-the-Sea.
Chemainus is quaint and has murals on the walls,
Old Florence has antiques, Monteray Aquarium many halls.

Coombs Country Market has goats grazing on the roof,
Visit Signpost Forest in Watson Lake – leave a sign as proof.
Cathedral Grove has 800 year old Douglas Fir trees,
Algodones Mexico is a place you can bargain with ease.

San Simeon has Hearst Castle with the Neptune Pool,
Yuma Territorial Prison State Park is pretty cool.
Solvang is a Danish town with many windmills,
Virginia City is a Wild West place – no frills.

There was a variety of entertainment from which to choose,
Wild West shows, Diamond Tooth Gerties where you can lose.
Daniel O’Donnell, Halcyon Hot Springs, Street car 23,
Victoria IMAX theatre, Palm Springs Follies, Grand Ole Opry.

Camera buffs have ample opportunities to shoot
Sea otters, rocks, jelly fish – fellow passengers to boot.
Scenery was picturesque – Oregon Coast has the Sea Lions Cave,
Where you can watch the pups frolic and misbehave.

Weather conditions – rain, snow, fog or sun,
Does not prevent you from making some fun.
Your time together comes quickly to an end,
Hugs good-bye, photo to remember a friend.

As a result of the very careful plans you made,
A treasury of memories your holiday has paid.
The last night was the Dinner of Farewell,
Friendship, laughter, wine to toast – ring the bell!

Composed by: Vickie Murphy, Airdrie, AB
Vickie has travelled extensively on 50 Nagel Tours in the past 21 years.