Rodeo: the Town Is Crazy

Don't usually venture into town during rodeo week. Plenty going on. Loads of tourons. Crowds. Hoopla. Crowds. However, I had an errand of mercy to attend to at one of the banks. So I took in the local color yesterday.

Some folks in appropriate costumes. More or less.

Of course, the grand finale of the rodeo lands on the 4th of July; this year, the city is absolutely awash in flags, bunting and other red, white and blue, such as the quilt I saw at the bank (below).

Accompanying the rodeo, an arts, crafts & stuff show on the Square; running time, 5 days. The stuff included everything from soup (mix) to nuts-- and, if you weren't dressed appropriately, you could even buy a buckskin jacket.

While I had coffee at a sidewalk table, the horse carriers
went parading by. Not the plain everyday carriers that you see out in the countryside, but elaborate wagons with quarters for crew plus several horses. Definitely rodeo pros.

Did I mention that the day was H.O.T? That it was hotter today and tomorrow should top today? So I fess up -- I got a ride downtown, I didn't walk there. No way. There was the one hopeful sign: the contrails are becoming fatter and they last longer. Maybe our 4% humidity days are numbered. We might even have a storm or two this weekend. First the rodeo and the fireworks, then the rainy season. If we're lucky.

Note: Gadget took pictures of the rodeo parade; the Courier offers several videos of the parade, the rodeo, the boot race and more. Also: she of little brain and JuliaR have each posted their eight fascinating facts, for a total of 16 fascinating facts so far.