Cheyenne - Frontier Days

18^th July 

Cheyenne Frontier Days is the largest outdoor rodeo; referred to as the “Daddy of ‘em All”.  Thousands of people and animals come to the city for this International event which is held over the   It didn’t start until the following day but already there was a lot more traffic when we went into town for supplies.

next 10 days.

19^th July Fort D A Russell Day

The Warren Air Force Base hosted this event with Living History displays and performances.  We watched a demonstration by Security Dogs. There was also the opportunity to try our hatchet throwing skills – Paul did well and hit the playing card on the target.

Paul throwing the hatchet

 We saw people dressed in uniforms and period costumes from the different eras.

Alison hatchet throwing

In the evening we were joined by Bill and Grace at the Bit-O-Wyo Ranch for a BBQ and western band entertainment.  We had some cowboy poetry too, and Alison was brought up on stage whilst the singers sang a song. 

20^th July Parade Day

We were up early and into town as Bev had to be on the Cowgirls of the West Float for the Big Parade around the city.  We watched horses and wagons and bands and cars pass along the streets for an hour and a half.

In the afternoon we went to the rodeo which started just after noon with a loud BANG!

21^st July Rodeo

We went along to the rodeo again and watched Bronco and Bull Riding, Barrel Racing, Steer Roping/Wrestling and the Wild Horse Riding.  It all looked pretty rough and tough on both human and animal participants and definitely for the fearless!

Ride 'em cowgirl!

Alison, however, plucked up the courage to have a go on the mechanical bull (in between shopping sessions with Bev).

22^nd July Cowgirls Brunch

Bev took Alison along to the Cowgirls of the West Annual Brunch whilst Paul chilled out at home.  This was a significant event with 550 people attending including the State Senator and several Rodeo Queens from other states.  There was a Fashion Show and a Silent Auction was held to raise funds for the organisation.

23^rd July Parade Day

Bev & Alison

This time Alison was dressed up as one of the Cowgirls of the West and rode the Float waving and shouting “Yee Ha!” at the crowd – Great Fun!

We also put the car into the garage as the brakes were ‘not quite right’.  After replacing both front brake callipers, one front tie rod and a full service, we departed the garage in the afternoon $1200 poorer……!!  We had been thinking of replacing the car but now we’ll keep it a bit longer to get our money’s worth.

24^th July Back at the Ranch

We had a quiet day ‘back at the ranch’ and caught up with a few things.  We joined Bev and friends for a meal at the Bunkhouse after they came back from their day’s ride up in the hills.

25^th July Ladies in Pink

Bev and Alison went to the rodeo again.  This day everyone was encouraged to wear pink – including the cowboys –(Paul staid at home-he didn't look good in a pink tutu) in acknowledgement of breast cancer.  Bev and Alison also enjoyed lunch in the VIP tent with the other ladies.

We did some shopping in the Indian Village and watched some traditional Indian dancing.  We watched some more of the rodeo including the ‘Dinner Bell Derby’.  This entailed Mares being taken down to one end of the arena and then the foals being let loose to race down to them to see which could get there first for their lunch.

26^th July Pancake Breakfast

Cement mixer used for pancake mix

We were up early again, and into town just after 8am for the Free Pancake Breakfast.  This is provided on 3 mornings during the CFD event and they feed thousands of people.  The queue stretched for what seemed like forever. Any number from between 7000 to 12000 people are served 3 or 4 pancakes (or in Paul’s case 5) + syrup + ham + coffee, for free.  It was an amazing bit of organisation. Look closely at the photo, can you see the cement mixer? that's what they use to mix the pancake batter.

We sat in the sun eating our breakfast whilst a band entertained us with some western music.

Afterwards we went onto the Behind the Chutes Tour where we were taken around the back of the rodeo arena.  Over the 10 days of the rodeo 1500 cowboys compete for up to $1M of prize monies.  Entry fees are in the region of $300-500 per event.  Bulls and horses ‘perform’ for approximately 8 seconds per day on two consecutive days, which requires a lot of fresh stock coming in every couple of days.

27^th July Tractor Boy

Paul got to try out Dave’s ‘boy toys’ and earned himself a new nickname – Tractor Boy. 

Tractor Boy at work

Using the tractor he did some weed cutting in the horses’ field.  In the afternoon he then took the tractor out onto the dirt road leading to the ranch and did some road smoothing. 

In the evening we all went out for a Mexican meal.

28^th July Sunday

This was to be a quiet day doing domestic chores etc.  The weather had turned cold and was overcast all day (just like back home in UK).  Just after lunch it rained which was unfortunate for the rodeo as this was the last day of competitions.  Events held during the week lead up to the final Championships with the top prize money.  Winners also get awarded embossed leather saddles.  I had thought these competitions were for the young and fool-hardy but I learnt that the runner-up in the Steer Wrestling was 62 years old (and he only missed out by 1 second).  Apparently up to 250,000 rodeo tickets were sold for this 10 day event.

29/30^th  July Home on the Ranch

We spent the last two days on the ranch helping with maintenance tasks such as weeding and grass cutting.  Having been travelling for a year these sorts of tasks are a novelty which we can enjoy knowing that we don’t have to keep doing them as we will be moving on again.

On Tuesday afternoon we took the horses out for a ride with Bev.

31st July Wednesday morning on the move again.