DOUGLAS COUNTY FAIR AND RODEO AUG. 9, 2009

Saturday found "Yogi" (aka Bill) on a float with others from Jellystone Park. Bill knew it was going to be hot so he and Bruce, another workamper, rigged up a generator and window air conditioner on the float. The air conditioner had two 2" hoses running up "Yogi's" legs to keep him cool.

On Sunday, Bill and I went to the Fair and Rodeo. It is a very small county fair (compared to our former Crawford County Fair in Pennsylvania) but a nice, clean fair. This is the 2009 Douglas County Rodeo Fair queen.

The PRCA rodeo was filled with action and excitement. Here, a world champion steer wrestler, "takes one down".

The rodeo clown, from California, had 10 rescue dogs that he's gathered from around the country. They were of various mixed breeds and put on a good show for our enjoyment.

Here's a barrel racer doing her thing.

A saddle bronc rider....

The bulls were the winners this week, with only 1 cowboy staying on for 8 seconds. I can't remember his name but he was from Omaha, Nebraska, and we saw him ride on Sunday.

SARAH'S LAST WEEKEND - JULY 31

Friday, July 31 found Yogi at the door again. He's such a pest! Just joking. Ceilidh (our dog) ran out barking, took one look at Yogi, and ran back in the RV. I couldn't coax her out again. That's Anisa, our new Recreation girl watching Yogi to see that he doesn't get into any trouble!

We were playing dominoes with our friends from "up the road", Cole and Joanie Reese. So Yogi had to get his picture with them.

Yogi finally made it to the "community campfire" that the park has every Friday and Saturday night.

There's Sarah. She's finally mastered making the campfire. Bill gave her a "golf club fire poker" he made since she liked his so well.

Bill, Dave Lee, Sarah, and Shawn Lee. Dave and son Shawn spend a month at the park while they worked at the Renaissance Fair in Larkspur. They were frequent visitors to the campfire and we all became friends during that time.

We've met some really neat people the last few months. I guess the hardest part of "workamping" is having to leave all the new friends we've made, but we've also made lifetime memories.....

SEVEN FALLS, COLORADO SPRINGS 8-03-09

Monday, Aug 3, found us on our way to Seven Falls located just west of Colorado Springs. As soon as you pass though the gates of Cheyenne Canyon, you know you've entered another world. The "Grandest Mile of Scenery" in Colorado winds along South Cheyenne Creek between steep pine-covered cliffs, towering 700 feet above your head.

At the end of this boxed canyon you find Seven Falls. This trip came highly recommended by a camper we met at the park, Dave Lee and he was right! It is truly beautiful. There actually are 7 distinct falls in the water's cascade down the mountain.

Being adventurous (or stupid) I decided it would be a good idea to climb the steps (224) to the top of the falls. It's a good thing there was a rest area about halfway up the stairs.

Once we reached the top of the falls, we followed another trail for 1/2 mile to the top of the mountain. Helen Hunt Jackson's memorial is on Inspiration Point. This was the area that inspired her to write "Ramona".

The view from Inspiration Point is truly awesome. You can see breathtaking views of Colorado Springs in the background and the Great Plains of eastern Colorado stretching towards Kansas beyond that.

Another awesome view of the mountains. The air is so clean and it is so quiet. I just love the solitude of it all.

More mountain scenery. We didn't stay as long as I'd have liked due to thunder in the distance. There were several signs along the way warning of dangerous lightning on the mountain which can come upon you very quickly.

This little fellow wasn't the least bit concerned of having his picture taken.

Another view of the upper part of the falls on our descent. Seven Falls is the only waterfalls in Colorado to make National Geographic's list of international waterfalls.

Again, "What a wonderful world".