Mareeba Rodeo Showground Thursday 10th July - Wednesday 16th July

Ute and Van, no power here!

As promised all the photographs from our time at Mareeba Rodeo!!

We arrived on Thursday afternoon and were directed to a large field/paddock with many other Grey Nomads who were already set up. The way we were placed meant that we had 4 immediate neighbours and whilst setting up we all got to know each others names... Robin and Sue (Tassie) Ian and Maureen (Melbourne), Angus and Heather (Melbourne), Keith and Anne (Gosford NSW). 
Richard organised the free coach for the Friday evening to take us all to the local Leagues club for our evening meal. Meals in these establishments are so good and great value for money. We were then transported to the Parade which was the opening of the Rodeo weekend then the coach would transport all of us back to the Rodeo ground. 
The parade was quite something for a small inland town everyone had pulled the boat out and decorated their floats to a very high standard (a little like the Santa Parade in Howick except it was at night time) the streets were lined with hundreds of children trying the catch the free lollies that the participants on the floats were throwing out. Helen caught quite a lot and handed her goodies to a set of twins who were stood next to us! Once back on the coach we had lots of laughs, Richard was on good form!!
We were woken up at 7a.m. on Saturday morning by some unknown person (but we believe it was Ian) we were high up on the stands in the beautiful sunshine at 7:45 a.m.. Bulls were being ridden, Steers were being roped all before 9 a.m. We eventually had our breakfast at 11:10 a.m. and as the day wore on we became more exhausted at walking from the van to the stands. We didn't see our neighbours until we had a little drink for Happy Hour around 5p.m.
Sunday we did virtually the same up and down to watch the finalists of the Bull riding and Steer roping, Wood chopping, Children riding and roping small steers.... We were all Rodeod out by the time the Rodeo finished at 5p.m. Such and amazing experience and recommend you go and see a Rodeo.

Photographs below!!

Maureen waiting for the Parade



Pipers begin the parade















Early Saturday morning all the stalls ready for the crowds



















View from the top of the stands

 

Wood Chopping ready to go

This cowboy couldn't slow his horse down!

Quick thinking, and the gate opened for him

Cowboys!!

Saturday night show

Our little crowd at happy hour

 

 

Bull riding

A naughty bull

Same naughty bull

On Monday morning the Rodeo and fairground people had left an we were transferred to a powered spot. Ian and Maureen wanted us to be next to them but, we were not up early enough to get ourselves hitched up....so we were put on a different row to them. Another few evening together was just lovely until we all parted and went our separate ways.
 

Our powered spot