La Fiesta de los Vaqueros - 87th Tucson Rodeo - Pro Rodeo

The Pro Rodeo started with a demonstration of speed and precision riding by the Quadrille De Mujeres, they really moved fast, this year was the 33rd year they opened the rodeo



Bareback Riding

Bronc Saddle Riding, as this one shot through the gate it really took off.

Steer Roping

Barrel Racing, it's a long way between those barrels, to make the figure 8 they really do ride fast and hard, points are lost for not making the figure, or knocking over a barrel.   It really is a race against the clock to make it back over the start line.

And my all time favourite, the bull riding, although much as I enjoy watching it, I don’t think this is ever going to be a career option!

Even though we started out so early first watching the parade and then the rodeo, we had a great day.

 
Have fun, we are!

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros - 87th Tucson Rodeo - Junior Rodeo

After getting some lunch we found our seats in the area,  the Junior Rodeo was first, they start really young and are simply amazing.

Mutton Bustin’

Goat tie down

Steer Roping, the juniors rope with either a parent or family friend, can’t you just hear the comments if one misses!

Barrel Racing, I think this girl was only 8 years old.

I wonder if in years to come we'll be watching any of these in Pro Rodeo?

Have fun, we are!

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros - 87th Tucson Rodeo Parade

Last Thursday at something cold and dark o’clock we hauled ourselves out of our nice  warm bed, into the truck and just as dawn was breaking headed off to park on the rodeo grounds before the roads were closed.

Our first stop was for steaming hot chocolate before taking our seats on the cold bleachers waiting for the start of the longest non-motorised parade in the world.

There was some entertainment before the parade, one of which was some excellent Mariachi sadly I can’t remember their name.

The start of the parade

Each of these flags have, at one time or another, flown over Arizona.

Just a few of the participants in the parade.

Mexican Charro

Chinese Dragons, as this was the first time a dragon had been in the parade  the parade marshalls had to ensure that the dragon didn't spook the horses.

Marching Bands

 Arizona Rangers

 Tucson Symphony

 Rodeo Queens

Mormon Battalion

The boots on this horse are facing backwards in memory of Louise Serpa, world famous photographer

The Sherriff’s Posse of El Paso

Of course after all those horses, the cleanup crew were needed before the road could be re-opened to traffic.

Was it worth the cold, dark early morning start?   Absolutely!
 

Have fun, we are!

Saguaro East National Park

It was sunny but chilly when we arrived at the trailhead for the Loma Verde Trail early, well earlyish, one morning.   There was only one space left in the parking area, but surprisingly the trail itself was fairly quiet.

The trail is one of those trails that you can make as long or as short as you like, we followed it in a loop for about 3.7 miles.

Along the way we came across some dead or dying saguaro’s, their spines twisted into weird and wonderful shapes.

I particularly liked this one with the cute little curl on top.

We passed the remains of the old Loma Verde copper mine, all that remains are mounds and depressions of what was once a 350ft deep mine shaft dug in 1901.   Though the mine yielded ore of 16% copper it soon closed.

Not exactly sure what this is but it ran across our path and then froze for a few minutes under a tree before disappearing down a hole

We crossed Monument Wash

Where there were some very pretty yellow poppies

The trailhead was a short walk away from there, after that we headed to the picnic area for lunch.

Have fun, we are!

More Travels

It was surprisingly cold when we arrived in Tucson just over a week ago in fact according to the hotel shuttle driver the day we arrived they’d had rain, hail, sleet, snow and a short thunderstorm!   Hmmmm, we thought we’d left that weather behind!

 

Our first couple of days were a little on the chilly side, but I’m pleased to say that the sunshine, blue skies, warm days and cool nights soon returned.

 

We’re in Tucson for a month then we’re heading off to New Mexico and Texas, I think.

Have fun, we are!

Bridgnorth, Shropshire

On a clear frosty day we decided to take a trip to Bridgnorth on the banks of the River Severn.

Bridgnorth is an ancient town dating back to at least 912 AD (and probably much earlier) when the first fortress or ‘burgh’ was built by Aethelflaed, (I have no idea how that is pronounced) daughter of King Arthur to guard against attacks by the Danes.   The town was granted its first Royal Charter in 1155 by Henry II.

During the English Civil War, the High Town area of the town was partially burned by Royalists and in 1647 after the fall of the town the castle and town walls were destroyed on the orders of Parliament.

Sadly, for us, we picked a Saturday for our trip, next time we’ll be sure and visit on a weekday as the town was absolutely packed, car parks, coffee shops and pubs were full to overflowing.

Bridgnorth town centre.

A road enters the town through this narrow arch I can’t imagine any buses manage to come that way though.

We thought we were hearing things when we heard the sounds of the pipes; just hope he was well wrapped up for the cold.

Beaman & Sons, butchers, in the town centre were established in 1890 and are still doing a roaring trade today, we bought some homemade sausages they were very nice

We finished our day in Bridgnorth by heading for the Railwaymans Arms at the terminus of the Severn Valley Railway on Bridgnorth Station, sadly, for us, even that was full, so we saved it for another day and came home.

Despite the town being so busy our day in Bridgnorth was great and we’ll be back in the summer, only not on a Saturday!

Have fun, we are!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wishing you a truly magical and amazing 2012

We were sent this link to Amazing Grace sung by the Four Tenors in the Coliseum, we enjoyed it and would like to share it with you.

http://www.clarrissegill.com/videoclips/amazing_grace.php

Have fun, we are!