Tucson Rodeo Parade

It’s become clear that the season in Tucson is changing as there has been a big increase in the number of outdoor events that one can take part in.   There are Pow-wows in the future, the gem show just ended after a 20-day run, which we didn’t attend, and festivals of all kinds are starting to be announced in the local media. My activity calendar could become pretty busy!

Obviously, I haven’t been doing any blog posts.  Basically, because I felt that I hadn’t done anything worth putting on the blog!  Or, maybe I’ve just been lazy in that regard. Well, I finally did something that I felt was blog-worthy.

This week was the Tucson Rodeo and Rodeo Parade.  I chose to go early on Thursday morning and watch the ‘set-up’, the getting ready, saddling horses, loading wagons and lining up for the parade.  The Tucson Rodeo parade has been going on for 94 years, and is the longest running non-motorized parade in the US. Because it’s a non-motorized parade, it can also be a long watching parade, several hour’s worth! I opted for the early morning, 90 minutes pre-parade wandering, and left before the parade started.

I found a couple of cowboys who were willing to pose for me.  As I walked away, the one that sort of looks like Sam Elliott, mumbled that 'people always want to take his photograph, especially when he goes to the town of Tombstone!  He did look pretty good in his boots, jeans and carhart jacket!  Just saying'!

I wasn’t sure what to expect, and had no expectations.  It was cold and dry, but the forecast was for rain by 9:00.  When attending an event such as this, with no real ‘goal’ in mind, I often just wander and let my eye sort of seek out items. Quite often I find I’m shooting a collection of sorts.  

On this day, it seemed my eyes were going for the details, especially the boots and spurs, and the wagon masters.

 This horse and rider just floated down the street, as if the horse knew how pretty she was!

Enjoy my collection of spurs, and the couple of wagon masters/cowboys.