Let’s rodeo

I knew that I should have washed it in Woolite.

This trusty scooter has been at my disposal, since Thursday evening, as a courtesy vehicle while my bike is in for regular service here in Calgary AB.  We will be continuing our relationship, while the service company tries to untangle a throttle body synchronization issue that the bike did NOT have when I dropped it off.  My hope is that these Calgarian gremlins are routed by tomorrow mid-morning, so that I can continue late, but still on schedule.

If you are not a fan of rodeo, you might want to leave now and check back in tomorrow.

I do like me some rodeo and if you are like-minded, read on.  This certainly wasn’t my first rodeo, but it was my first Calgary Stampede.  Think cowboy/cowgirl Olympics, Super Bowl or Indy 500.  The contestants don’t just show up and enter.  They must be invited.  Only the cream-of-the-crop receive that invitation and the same is true for the hand-picked livestock.  This is the pinnacle of rodeo talent, both human and stock.  Individual prize money runs at the $100k level for each champion.  It’s well-earned as I have never seen so many 8 second saddle bronc, bareback or bull rides coupled with scores in the 80s, nor multiple barrel racing times in the 17 second range.  The Rangeland Derby (chuckwagons drawn by 4-horse teams) held most evenings, runs at 35 mph and drift through the turns.  Closing out the daytime session today was a little competition for the kids, as shown at the end of the video attached below.

Here is the video:

Here are the still photos: