Wes and Jan see the US Wanderings and Side Trips

Greeley Stampede Jun 25, 2007

We arrived in Greeley, CO Thursday afternoon and got all set up in our usual parking spot. It is called the GIS Guest Ranch. It is really a large parking lot with RV hookups all around the outside perimeter. It is very nice, especially for a parking lot. We park just across the street from the entrance to the park and so it is just a short walk (or bike ride) to our job. It is HOT here. Several records have been broken since we arrived - hottest days on record. On the weekends we open and start to work by 11am and on week days we start to work at 4pm. Our shift is usually 4pm - 1am. We get to serve all the evening visitors to the Stampede and then clean up and close up the concession booth. We serve mainly funnel cakes. We served 5000 last year! They are made from scratch as people order them, so they are fresh. We have quite a reputation for having the best funnel cakes and people come back year after year just for them.

Our friends, Bob and Laverl Watson, own this business and we work for them during the Stampede. We have had our own concession business in the past, but have sold it and now just work for other vendors. Good pay - no responsibilities - no hauling all the equipment around etc. And besides, with our good friends, it is more like a vacation.

We have some good vendors as neighbors and we have had a chance to visit with some other friends in the concession business that are at this event. On one side of us are the Berrie-Kabobs and Outback Steak House. On the other side is Honey Baked Ham, Marble Slab Ice Cream and a Cajun food booth. There are the usual BBQ, snow cones, kettle corn, hamburgers, etc. There is a very interesting German vendor here. Their booth is actually a little chalet and they have two big suspended grills where they cook all kinds of German sausages etc. Very good. (I know our friend, Helen would be visiting this booth often).

There have been some good crowds, but Sunday and Monday were really slow. There were no big name concerts or rodeos going on, so the crowd is slow. And it is so HOT that people are just staying in where it is cool. We are hoping for a cool down soon. I never thought I would be looking forward to temps in the 80's, but that would actually feel cool right now.

I really like where our concession booth is located because just across the street behind us is the Exhibition Hall where there is an outstanding western art show every year. This year is no different. Exceptional art work - paintings, sculptures, etc. I really enjoy that show.

Every day at 6pm, there is a parade of sorts around the Park. There is a small herd of Longhorns that parade by. It is fun to watch. At the beginning of the Stampede, they are a little wild and it takes several cowboys to keep them on the street and headed in the right direction. By the end of the Stampede, they could probably take themselves around the parade route. They learn the routine and seem pretty bored by then. If you want an exciting Longhorn parade, come out to see them during the first few days. They get lose and wander up on the grass, scattering spectators etc. and the cowboys have to round them up. Kind of exciting, but funny too.

We are looking forward to a fun filled, busy two weeks here in Greeley.