Dawson Creek Stampede!

Hi Blog!

We finished driving the Alaska Highway, but our adventures continue. When we checked into the Northern Lights RV Park in Dawson Creek, we learned we were just in time to attend the Dawson Creek Exhibition and Stampede! After a quick trip to the Visitor's Center to watch a PBS special on the building of the Alaska Highway, we stopped at the Fairgrounds to get more information on the Stampede. We've been to rodeo events before, but had never seen a chuck wagon race, so we planned to attend on Thursday, August 11, 2016.

When we arrived back in camp, we discovered our new next door neighbors Bella and Gretchen Mattison were Escapee-Boomer-RVillage-North to Alaska members just like us! We compared notes on our trip to Alaska and our plans to attend the Balloon Fiesta and Quartzsite. We also planned to have our own little mini-boomerang at the Stampede. But first, Gretchen wanted to clean all the Alcan dust from her rig. We certainly understand, having just spent a whole day cleaning our rig.

The Dawson Creek Exhibition Center is gigantic. It is bigger than most of the cities we visited in Alaska. We found it hard to figure out which events were going to be held in which arenas. We stopped at the information tent, but they were just volunteers and had no information. So, we wandered around for a bit. Dawson Creek is very proud of their pioneer beginnings. In the middle of the fair grounds is a statue garden. All the statues are dressed in period clothing. At first, we thought they were re-enactors.

We were just in time to see the end of the heavy horse competition. There were Belgian, Clydesdales and Shires competing for best of show. We were able to stand right up next to the ring. As the horses made their way around the oval, the ground shook. These well trained athletes know the drill. Just look at how all four horses lift the same leg at the same time. They really did put on a show.

All that cheering builds up a powerful thirst. No visit to a stampede would be complete without a stop at the beer garden. While we sipped our suds, we checked the schedule. Next up was the Ranch Rodeo. Not the bull riding and bronc bustin' rodeo, but old time rodeo events that more represent what actual cowpokes do for a living. There are teams of four riders who compete for points in sorting and roping, trailer loading, calf branding (with paint not hot irons) and cattle penning. Here the riders had to find a number 2 cow from the herd and rope it front and back and tip it over. The event is timed. The more cows you rope the more points you get.

It is not as easy as is sounds. The cows just won't stand still for this type of abuse. In fact, we found ourselves cheering more for the cows that got aways than for the riders.

As they set up the main area for the chuckwagon races, we explored the midway. They had all the usual rides like merry-go-round and ferris wheel. There were plenty of corn dogs, popcorn and cotton candy. There were also games of skill and chance. Kathy challenged Dave to a squirt gun race.

And the winner - Dave! The prize - Gonzo! Here Gonzo proudly takes a selfie with his rescuers. No more carnie circuit for Gonzo. He's a free hand puppet now. Well, not exactly free. It cost us $5.00 each to play the squirt gun game.

The evening show started with a parade of flags and singing of the National Anthem. After weeks and weeks in Canada, we almost know all the words to "O Canada!"

No one knows for sure when chuckwagon racing got started. The story goes that after a cattle round up, the cowboys would race the chuckwagons of the ranches involved in the round-up to the nearest town with a saloon. The last outfit to arrive would be expected to buy the first round of drinks. The first official chuckwagon race was held in 1923 at the Calgary Stampede.

The wagons have a team of four horses plus two outriders. The first outrider holds the team at the starting mark and the second outrider is behind the wagon near the camp stove. The race starts when the horn blares, and each team first has to get its stove loaded in the wagon. The wagon has to complete a figure 8 around a set of barrels before thundering down the race track. The outriders must finish the race, but can't beat their wagon across the finish line. You really need to see it to believe it.

If you like Ben Hur, then click the link and watch the video from the Dawson Creek Chuck Wagon Race.

And so the adventure continues!