On the Road Again...Van Horn Texas

Here is the campground we are staying in for only 1 night at Van Horn Texas...a small town with a population of just over 2000.  It was a major frontier railway town in the old days.  We are not really touring, just stopping for the night.  We are trying to take advantage of the low winds and no dust storms at the moment.  We drove 8 hours today from Tucson to here in great weather.  It seems like we have barely gotten into Texas even after the long drive!  It was a fairly desolate landscape...more desert but no saguaros and eventually the Sierra Blanca Mountains.  Desert mountains that is.  

Driving through El Paso was interesting.  It is the largest border city in the States and just across the Rio Grande you can see the contrast of Juarez Mexico.  Juarez has quite a reputation these days...and it's not good.  We are very much in the land of border patrols!  We went through a huge check point several miles outside of El Paso.

Tomorrow will be very barren according to the map. Both tanks are filled ready for it since there are few towns.  We will get close to San Antonio tomorrow however.  

This little campground is quite nice!  We had a lovely dinner and a local wine at the cafe right on the premises.  Pretty good for a KOA.  Lots of big rigs have pulled in for the night.  Not surprising since there are not many places along this route.   

Spring is in the air!

Cholla...desert plants still evident.

Wooden Saguaros

Blossoms! 

Goodbye Arizona!

It's hard to believe this season in Arizona is over.  Tomorrow we hit the road for Florida.  We shouldn't get lost...we drive on I -10 all the way!  We will drive through New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and finally Florida.  We are booked into Sanlan in Lakeland March 9th.  On the way we will stop and do some touring depending on the weather.  Since the weather can be unstable in the deep south in March we will look for opportunities to drive safely.  

Last year when we first arrived in this area we were amazed at the landscape and found it somewhat barren.  It didn't take long however to appreciate the variety and beauty of the desert/mountains.  The desert is much more lush than it first appears and the mountains with their changing light and vegetation are as mesmerizing as an ocean (or Great Lake Huron!) 

Although we have enjoyed Western Culture very much as we toured many venues,  our most memorable occasions were with people we met here as well as visits from friends and family.  We have made new friends that will always hold a special place in our hearts.  Sharing this place with family has made it even more special.  One thing I know for sure...we intend to come back whether it is next winter or the one after.  Looking forward to catching up with people in Florida and then Jekyll Island Georgia.   

De Anza Trails RV Park

Giant Saguaro

Road Runner

Windy Point Mt. Lemmon

This incredible resort park is hard to beat! 

Sonoron Desert View from the Museum

Fairy Duster...just one of many pretty desert flowers

Lush desert

elusive javalinas

South Western art

Lesser Sandhill Cranes...a surprise! 

Mount Lemmon...spectacular views.

Cactus Wren 

Looking down on Tucson

Opulent San Xavier Mission...one of the oldest in the South West

Loved having Janice and Chris here from Pittsburgh.  We enjoyed pizza at the cookie cabin atop Mount Lemmon.

Angie and Toya spent a few days with us before Christmas.   A little chilly but loved having them!

Sandy and Richard enjoying the rodeo! 

Tom and Bernie!  Great friends from Oregon.  We will meet again! 

Tom and Floy also from Oregon.  Those Oregonians are lots of fun! 

A new sheriff in town!  Really!  They bought a park model.  

Nick and Jackie showed us the ropes last year! 

This year we continued to enjoy their company.  Will miss you but can see you at home! 

Thanks Brooks for helping us settle back in.  Take care Poncho! 

Pat and Derryl have become great golfing and dining buddies!!  

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros - Tucson Rodeo

"Nobody rides just to hang on."

We spent a wild and wonderful afternoon at the 87th Annual Tucson Rodeo.  It was very entertaining to put it mildly!  The day was hot and I wore my big brimmed straw hat but soon realized that I was out of place.  I bought a "cowgirl" hat and felt much better. 

We had excellent seats in the centre of the stadium and after touring many fascinating western themed vendor booths we settled in to watch the show.  The junior rodeo was first and it was amazing to see young boys and girls from age 5 and up showing off their skills. "Muttin' Bustin'" is something to see!  Imagine five year olds hanging on for dear life to a sheep running full speed. Young girls charged on horses that seemed much too big for them, to a tethered goat and flung it down to tie up 3 legs in a race with the clock.  

Once the junior competition was over the adults began competing.  Parent and child teams and then men chased and roped steers at incredible speeds.  Women raced around barrels and men rode bucking broncos and bulls. The music between venues was rousing and the clowns were actually skilled athletes who diverted danger from the competitors. The head clown was a comedian/gymnast/ dancer from Saskatchewan.  Yes, we have crazy cowboys in western Canada too.  Several competitors were from our homeland.  

Seeing this young 7 year old girl race at full tilt on her huge horse was incredible.  She rode with gusto, her small legs barely hanging on and jumped off, grabbed the goat and tied it up.  

These are the gates where the broncos and bulls were contained before bucking wildly with cowboys flying around like rag dolls.  

Hang on for 8 seconds at least!

How many cowboys does it take to contain this wild beast?  It was a team effort for sure!

The stills don't do it justice.  

The cowboys in the background were saviours...they rode alongside the crazy bucking bronco or bull  after 8 seconds had passed and helped the riders get away safely.  Then they chased the bronco or bull  down, removed the buck strap and herded them away. Don't even ask why the horses and bulls buck crazily!  You don't want to know.  But they don't seem any worse for wear after the ordeal.  

Medics on hand at all times! This is not for wimps. 

Skilled horsewoman in the barrel race. 

The last event was bull riding.  I think these cowboys have a death wish.  The bulls buck madly and the cowboys hang on and gyrate crazily.  Very few could stay on for 8 seconds.

This poor fellow hit the ground and then the bull picked him up somehow and flung him!  The clown from Saskatchewan hid in the barrel and entertained the crowd while the grounds were cleared and competitors were prepared for their turn.  There was constant music and entertainment.  

These cowboys were always in the background, ready to help and herd.  They were as skilled as the competitors.  Impressive! 

Cameras were technically not allowed during the events so my pictures are not the best.  I have never been to a rodeo and enjoyed the festive atmosphere and all the venues.  It was fun to see  people in their western finery...children and adults alike.  You could sense the pride people have in this western culture and I felt like I was in the thick of it.  What a  great way to say goodbye to Tucson since we will be leaving this week for a long trek to Florida.