We all decided that someone in Kim, Colorado had some political clout because that tiny community received over one million dollars in stimulus money to build a new rodeo arena and grounds. They had it partly built and it will be a beautiful asset for their area.
Anyone who wants to see the Rocky Mountains will be taking their own side trips into those beautiful areas of this state. We aren't that far from Royal Gorge, Cripple Creek, Pueblo, Colorado Springs etc. But, the ride will be staying in the flatlands along State Road 71. The grasslands have a beauty all their own and if we had the time to study all the different types of grasses we would find out that there are many more species than we realize.
The people in LaJunta, (pronounced LaHunta) planned a weekend full of events for us to participate in. They have a very active Chamber of Commerce, which is to be commended for their active membership. As always, once you get to know people in the towns where we stay they are very nice and always willing to help with anything we need.
LaJunta is the crossroads for the Santa Fe trail and has a National Historic Site called Bent's Old Fort, which is a reconstructed private trading post from the 1830's when the Santa Fe trail was a busy thoroughfare. Private hunters and Indians traded buffalo hides at the trading post, which then were sent all over the country. It was a fascinating place to visit, which everyone agreed shouldn't be missed.
The fort was reconstructed from the ground up from detailed drawings made by a visitor to the fort in the 1830s who was fascinated by it's design. Someone had found his notes in later years and they were able to reconstruct the fort in 1975 for the bicentennial in 1976.
The neighboring town of Swink also welcomed us with open arms as participants in their parade and street fair.
Jim and I had gone early to LaJunta to look into repairs on the pickup truck. While we were at the rodeo grounds one evening a group of kids were riding in the arena and parents and grandparents were watching. So we started talking to them. The kids were part of a synchronized riding group who would be performing at rodeos during the rodeo season. They were doing pretty well for their second practice.
We met some nice people there including the owner of the Frontier Diner in Cheraw who invited all of us to eat at her place whenever we were able to come over to their little town. They made homemade ice cream, which was definitely our favorite. Thanks Evelyn and her daughter Doris!
Yesterday we stayed at the Lewis Ranch where they raise exclusively Longhorn steers. They praised that breed for their intelligence, lean meat, friendliness, among other things. In fact, they served a great meal of grilled Longhorn burgers.
The Lewis's invited a couple to meet our group, Gary and Kay Cole, from west of Pueblo near Royal Gorge who also raise Longhorn's. This couple ride their Longhorn's. They teach them to drive buggys and wagons as well as jump through hoops of fire. Often they are asked to open rodeos with their Longhorns. They ride them in parades and basically take them anywhere other people take their horses. They claim that Longhorns are more intelligent and more docile than horses but just have skin that is looser so when you mount your horse you have to get on more quickly so your saddle doesn't slide off. They use the same saddles as you would use with a horse. Just a much longer girth.
The Lewis' Ranch had a natural spring that put out 360 gallons a minute. They had two large ponds that they had stocked with catfish and perch. Their geese and ducks also enjoys the ponds teaching the newborn goslings to swim. But the banks were so steep that the babies had to be rescued from drowning with a net.
Did you know that guinea hens would keep down the rattlesnake population?
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