May 17, 18, & 19, 2008

May 17, 18, 19, 2008

Victoria Day long weekend / Keremeos Rodeo

 

Saturday ; Today was sunny and hot, temperature in the 90's. The weather over the last few weeks has been poor, but yesterday it got sunny and hot, and is supposed to remain that way for the entire long weekend. Yesterday was the first hot day, after a cloudy, cool spring. So the snow up in the mountains has been melting very slowly, and the Similkameen River hasn't risen much. Until this morning ! Must have been a lot of snow melting up in the high elevations yesterday !

I caught a cold from our neighbour Dorothy about a week ago, and have been feeling poorly all week. I finally started to feel better yesterday ... and Joanne began to feel poorly, having caught the cold < sigh > !

Today we went to the first day of the annual May long weekend Keremeos Rodeo. YEE-HAW ! Last year was the first time we had seen a rodeo ... and to our surprise, we liked it ! On the way driving to the rodeo fairgrounds today, a Dodge dually passed us on the highway, and ... CRACK ... a rock flew up and smashed our windshield ! DARN ! ! ! ****ing duallies ! HA HA HA ! We arrived at the rodeo late, missing the first of the day's four events. We watched women's barrel racing, team calf roping, and bull riding. Got some great pictures ! None of the cowboys lasted on their bulls for the required 8 seconds. Score ; cowboys, zero ... bulls, eight !

In the spring, female marmots come up from the riverbank to build nests and give birth in the rock wall that runs along the rear of our lot. A female marmot who set up her nest in the rock wall immediately behind our trailer, before we arrived back here a few weeks ago, has been annoyed at our presence since our return. On Thursday, her four babies poked their little heads out of the rock wall for the first time. WOW ... very cute ! By Thursday evening, the boldest of the four had come completely out of the nest opening in the rock wall. Yesterday all four of them came out of the rock wall and climbed around on the rocks within a few feet of the opening into their nest. By today, they were clambering up and down the rock wall, venturing 20 feet or more from their nest opening. They're developing rapidly, and are interesting to watch. Mom is still unhappy with our presence. Bo shows a friendly interest in the babies, sitting at the end of his tie out cable attached to our picnic table, watching the baby marmots, wagging his tail furiously. He seems to mistake them for friendly little puppies or cute little kittens that he could sniff, lick, then cuddle to, like he does with Teddy. Stupid, little Alabama redneck terrier !

 

Sunday ; Today was sunny and hot again, but with a bit of clouds and a bit of wind, it was more pleasant than yesterday. The Similkameen River has risen an astounding amount in the last 48 hours of hot weather. It's higher and faster than at any time last spring, and has spilled over its banks at the edge of our park, flooding our "burn pile" area.

We went to Day 2 of the Keremeos Rodeo today. Well, the score is now ; Cowboys, zero ... bulls, fourteen. Six more contestants in the bull riding event today, and none lasted the required eight seconds. Joanne now wants to go to the B.C. Provincial Bull Riding Competition in Princeton in September, just so she can see a cowboy actually last eight seconds on the back of a bull. Today was a longer day at the rodeo than yesterday. We watched bareback riding ( no saddle ), calf roping, bronco riding ( with saddle ), steer wrestling, women's breakaway roping, steer riding ( not to be confused with bull riding ), kids' calf chase, women's barrel racing, kids' pig chase, team roping, and finally, bull riding. When the rodeo ended, we drove into town, along with most of the rest of the rodeo audience and participants, to the Rodeo Barbecue held in Memorial Park. I got to say ... cowboys know how to put on a great barbecue. Over steak, fresh vegetables, and baked potato we chatted with a couple who have just moved to Keremeos a month ago from Edmonton.

When we returned home, we went to visit with neighbours Dorothy, Brett, and Barb on Dorothy's patio. Brett's and Barb's little dog Sadie attacked Bo, grabbing his ear and shaking it. HA HA HA ... little puffball dog ! Bo ignored her for a few seconds, then snarled at her as Brett pulled Sadie away from Bo. HA HA HA ! Attaboy, Bo ... don't take no guff from a little puffball.

 

Monday / Victoria Day ; This morning as we were pulling out of Riverside RV Park Resort, there were two RCMP cruisers and a Highways Department truck on the highway about 200 feet west of our park gate. WOW ... the Similkameen River had risen so much overnight it had flooded over its banks and was running across the highway !

This morning we went into town to see the annual Victoria Day Parade in Keremeos. I like living in this area filled with wealthy eccentrics. HA HA HA ! The parade was comprised mainly of affluent old men in classic restored cars and antique tractors. And, of course, Lester. HA HA HA ! I think one of the most endearing things about Keremeos is Lester. Lester is a big old Indian who lives in town in a decrepit old trailer. He transports himself around town on his big old horse, followed faithfully by his big old dog. Lester on his horse with his dog following were included in today's parade, as well as the rodeo's opening ceremonies. Keremeos just wouldn't be Keremeos without Lester. HA HA HA !

After the parade we drove over to the fairgrounds to watch the lawnmower races. They were very interesting ... for the first four hours or so. HA HA HA ! The lawnmower races were somewhat poorly organized, and they progressed slowly. I had difficulty convincing Joanne to leave after four hours, before the races were finished. She's turning into a right little redneck living out here. HA HA HA ! Now I've got a redneck dog and wife. HA HA HA < SNORT > HA HA !

DSK