Rodeo Clowns
We left Breckenridge this morning in the sunshine and made our way along one of the most beautiful stretches of road we’d ever seen! The freeway takes you right through the mountains, so close you can almost touch the pine trees that form a thick blanket across the steep faces, almost at a right angle to the road. Driving amidst these enormous mountains made us feel so tiny as we wound our way along the Interstate towards our next destination: Vail.
We arrived in Vail about 5 hours before our check in time but had planned to leave our bags in the car and have a look around town. Arriving at the hotel, we thought we’d let them know we were there and see if there might be a slightly earlier check in available. It paid to ask! Our room was actually ready, which was fantastic, especially for Sam who was feeling really weary after a few late nights. He tucked himself in and cosied up for a catch–up nap (laughing in his sleep!). I went on my own little walking tour.
Just as we’d all had preconceived ideas about Miami, I had my own preconceived ideas about what Vail would be like. I imagined it like a playground for the rich and famous, sprinkled with celebrities, designer shops, 5-star restaurants and big wooden mansions at the foot of the ski hills. As I walked into Vail Village, my suspicions were pretty much confirmed. Apart from not spotting any celebrities, I did see all of the above! All the towns we’ve been to in Colorado so far have had their own distinct characteristics. They’re so close in proximity but really different to each other. Fairplay had a laid back, country feel with lots of hiking and history, Breckenridge had its cute little main street buildings and gorgeous streetscapes, with lots of emphasis on adventure sports and skiing and Vail has a very upmarket air about it, with perfectly manicured gardens and a European feel to it.
Walking along the cobblestone streets into Vale Village, I saw immaculate A-frame houses with lots of Brady Bunch stonework and architecture, perfect lawns, window boxes full of summer flowers and beautiful big symmetrical pine trees in the front yards, their needles bending under the weight of all their golden pine cones. I passed the ice rink, the library and the fire station – all as neat as a pin. Even the hospital looked like a chalet! There were street sculptures, bike hire shops and an abundance of designer boutiques with ‘one off’ stock at jaw-dropping prices. There were restaurants everywhere but not a general store or hamburger joint in sight. The cafes were home to businessmen in trendy shirts and suits sipping lattes on their decks under Verve Cliquot umbrellas. I saw elderly people using stocks for walking sticks and everyone was dressed to the nines, not a hair out of coiffured place. It was such a cute little place!
Our hotel is in a fantastic spot, right between Vail Village and Lionshead Village – both only a few minutes’ walk down a winding walking track that goes past a fast-flowing creek, lined with pine trees. It’s so pretty! Walking through Lionshead Village you’d swear you were in some quaint little European Alpine village. There’s a town square with a big tavern and a generous amount of outdoor seating with wheelbarrows full of flowers and Swiss looking buildings surrounding the square. It is gorgeous! We loved it! Ross and the kids Skyped us as we were walking in and we were grateful to the tavern for providing the free wi-fi so we could show them around the village too.
Tonight Sam and I ventured into cowboy territory and visited our very first Rodeo! (he and I are arguing whether it’s a ‘row-dee-o’ or a ‘row- day –o’. Who knows?) After a quiet drink at the Westin Riverfront Hotel (right on Beaver Creek with stunning mountain views) and live music from a real-life cowboy (he likes his music both ways: country and western) we made our way to the arena.
Now I’ve mentioned that I’ve been bearing the brunt of all of the driving since Ross left and so far it hasn’t been too bad – apart from the obligatory windscreen wiper salute each time I try to use the blinker. Before we came to America someone told me there were no roundabouts in the US. After trying to negotiate far too many one and two lane varieties tonight, I now know emphatically that this is not the case. They are SO confusing! If it’s not weird enough that we have to enter to the right, the lanes aren’t marked and there must be about 25 exits – really badly signed and some of them ONE WAY! There are confusing little pictures on the road as well. The trip to the rodeo was littered with these wretched “traffic circles” and I think Sam lost a few years off his life, enduring the ordeal from the passenger seat and trying to navigate a way for us through the roundabout minefield!
Stepping into the Beaver Creek Rodeo was like stepping into another world! It was such a great experience! The Beaver Creek gang had all sorts of fun activities to start with. There was mechanical bull riding, face painting, pony rides (Unfortunately I missed the height cut off by the smallest of margins!) and rows of tents serving everything from tacos to cupcakes. Without a cowboy hat and cowboy boots we were totally in the minority and everyone, young and old alike, was decked out from head to toe in western attire, including chaps in all different designs, some even sparkly!
The rodeo opened with a nod of gratitude to the original land-owners – the American Indian tribe that called Beaver Creek home. Proceedings continued with a heartfelt version of the Star Spangled Banner, the crowd on its feet with patriotic hands on hearts. The cowboys all held their hats over their hearts and sang along. Continuing the theme and accompanied by a rousing speech about celebrating freedom, the “Stars and Stripes” were flown high by two skilled cowgirls as they circled the ring (about thirty times). Everyone was asked to stand and pay their respects to the Stars and Stripes since “she” had been there from the beginning, present at every battle, representing old glory and freedom – the land of the free and the home of the brave. It was hilarious! The flag-bearing cowgirls were “Rodeo Royalty”. The Beaver Creek Queen, Maddy Field had been riding since the tender age of two and her fellow cowgirl was the Beaver Creek Princess. Both were clad in glittery shirts and beauty queen sashes!
For the next couple of hours we were thoroughly entertained! We saw Broncos being ridden with saddles on and saddles off and ferocious-looking bulls bucking and doing their best to tip their tenacious riders off into the dirt. Cowboy hats were flying! These bulls were not having a good day! By the time they busted out of the gates they were irate! Just what do they do to them to make them so mad?! There was actually an incredible amount of skill out there and these cowboys and cowgirls were brave indeed!
The kids were invited out to the arena for “mutton-bustin’” where they had to bust out of the gates riding on the sheep’s back, clinging on for dear life while the sheep proceeded to make a dash and do her best to shake the little hanger-on. It was downright dangerous with many tears being shed after a cranky mutton had trodden all over a far-flung child. They were given hockey masks but that didn’t offer much protection when they were being trampled! There was also a “calf scramble” where the ankle-biters were once again invited to the arena, this time endeavouring to remove a ribbon from the calf’s tail. It was chaos out there!
The crowd was entertained by the rodeo clown who did seem to use his position as an excuse to talk to all the pretty ladies and take selfies with every blonde girl at the rodeo. All the action took place to a power-packed soundtrack, starting with some Acca-Dacca and moving into some Eye Of the Tiger and the theme from Rocky. John Bon Jovi was belting out “I’m wanted…dead or alive!” It was great! Every time one of the sponsors needed a plug, one of the royals would gallop around the ring, flying a flag emblazoned with the company logo. The commentator ended the night by exhorting us to follow our dreams if ever we had dreamed of being a cowboy! Moving stuff.
We had a delicious dinner at an authentic Mexican restaurant in Beaver Creek but the whopping big stuffed bull’s heads, complete with horns, that were staring at us from all over the walls made it hard to choose the beef taco over the chicken!
