I have, in my possession, a photo of a hand waving from a black limousine as it flashes past me at 50 kilometres an hour on a Calgary street lined with throngs of people.
It is a picture of Prince William's hand, I am assured on good authority. It is perhaps the closest anyone got to capturing an image of the Royal couple as their car sped by the crowds who lined 9th Avenue SW on Friday morning.
Many had been there for hours in hopes of getting the best views – not just for the opening parade of the Calgary Stampede, but for the dramatic prelude, a reverse tour along the parade route by the popular pair.
The reality was anti-climactic. "They might have ridden in a convertible," one woman complained. "Well, at least they rolled down their windows," said another, charitably.
In what has been a remarkably open, accessible Canadian tour by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the parade drive had the feeling of a let-down.
After all, the presence of the royals was one reason why four female friends had travelled from Stony Plain, near Edmonton, and from Rocky Mountain House, about 200 kilometres northwest of Calgary, and were on the bus with their kids heading downtown at 6:30 a.m.
It also helps explain why Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, the big national law firm, hosted 600 people for its parade breakfast and for bleacher accommodation along the parade route. FMC's breakfast is always popular and the original plan was to have 500 guests. But as demand swelled, another hundred seats were found – and a large contingent had to be turned away.
But the disappointment of such fleeting contact with Will and Kate quickly dissolved into real affection for the couple – and the splendour and fun of the Stampede Parade. It is one of Canada's signature events – a moment in time when you absolutely know what region and country you're in.
There were cowboys on horses, beauty queens on horses, Mounties marching, and a prize-winning float designed by Ismaili Muslims.
Besides the warm feelings shown toward William and Catherine – who, in their defence, had to get to their own viewing spot for the big parade – some of the biggest cheers were for Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, who actually looked comfortable on his placid brown horse.
It is a fact of life in this town that if you want to be a winning politician, the key isn't kissing babies – it's being able to ride a horse and look like you love it.