Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum

The Museum is right by the parade grounds and on the site of the original Tucson Airport.   The remains of the runways run underneath museum buildings, one of which is an old hanger.

There are many different types of carriages in the museum, almost all of which at some time or another have been used in the Tucson Rodeo Parade.

Many of the carriages are also movie stars in their own right the one below was, I believe, used by Maureen O’Hara.

This buckboard was used by John Wayne and was also in the TV series High Chaparral.

Santa left his sleigh behind

The tack room was stuffed full harnesses, bridles and whatever else you need to hitch up horses and wagons.

Somewhere in the museum there is also the ‘surrey with the fringe on top’ used in the film Oklahoma, but for some reason I didn’t take a photograph of it.

As the museum has no climate control it closes in early April because it is simply too hot.   It’s a very interesting place and we really enjoyed our visit.

Have fun, we are!

Cactus Forest Trail - Saguaro East National Park

Last Saturday, yes, once again I am a little behind with the blog, we hiked the Cactus Forest Trail through the centre of Saguaro East National Park.   The section we hiked runs from one end of the loop drive to the other and is about 2½ miles each way.

After about a mile we came across the remains of lime kilns built in around 1880, the lime produced was used for mortar and whitewash.   In 1920 local ranchers forced the kilns to close as they were causing the destruction of important cattle forage.

A sign warned that the kilns have been colonised by bees so watch out!

The trail continued through cholla, prickly pear, saguaro, leguchilla, mequite, creosote and palo verde, we eventually climbed up to the opposite end of the loop drive, where after a snack we turned around and headed back.

When we reached the lime kilns on the way back, we took the ¼ mile spur trail to lime falls.   Much to our surprise there was even a little water in them.

It was very pretty, but I wouldn’t want to be there during a monsoon!

I think this is some sort of penstemon, but whatever it was I managed to catch a lovely butterfly on it.

We had a great hike then came back and relaxed in the sun for a while.

Have fun, we are!

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!