Rodeo Fun

March 18, Saturday,  CST

We took it easy this morning, but we were going to a rodeo today.  There was one happening at the Garrett Coliseum, and we thought it would be really fun to go.

There was a “Western Festival” going on from 10a to 12p, so we headed off to that.  There was roping, ring toss, stick horse racing, and you could take a picture of your child on a saddle.

The rodeo didn’t start until 2p, so we left and went to Dreamland BBQ for lunch (as it had been recommended by several people).  We ordered a sampling of a few things and it was fantastic.  Ribs, chicken, pulled pork, hickory smoked sausage, and fried okra.

We left and went back to the rodeo.  It was by far one of the most fun things we’ve done on this trip so far.  There was bronco riding, barrel racing, bull riding, calf roping, etc.  They opened with a prayer.  A very matter of fact, open, unashamed prayer.  And then the National Anthem.

We left when the rodeo was done and went back to the camper.  As we were walking out, our truck didn’t look so out of place in this parking lot.

Leftovers for dinner, and then off to bed.

March 19, Sunday, CST

A made waffles for breakfast this morning, which was a nice treat.  We had decided that we would go to the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church.  This was the church where Martin Luther King, Jr had pastored for 6 years, from 1954 to 1960, and organized the Montgomery Bus Boycotts from his office there.

The church was just steps away from the state capitol building.  I can’t believe it was a coincidence that Reverend King chose to pastor a church that was so close to the capitol building.

We got to the church a little early, but everyone was so friendly and welcoming.  It really embodied Southern hospitality.  We met one woman named Hattie who said that she joined the church when Reverend King was the pastor there.  I wish I had invited her to lunch after church.  It was quite the experience to be in that same church.

We left church and headed back to the camper.  We had lunch and then C went to the grocery store, and I got up on the roof to work.  I replaced two seals on the top of two of the slide outs, and then I installed a vent cover over the kitchen roof vent.

Once I finished that (and C had long been back from shopping), I came down, put my tools away, and played soccer with the girls for a while.

C made burgers for dinner, and we ate outside.  Then, K and A rode their bikes around the campground while we got M ready for bed.  Then the girls came in and they went to bed as well.

C and I spent the rest of the evening watching “Mississippi Burning”.  We wanted to see if it would be worth having the girls watch it.  It’s a pretty intense movie, and we’re still debating whether or not to have them watch it.  But it might start to give them a reference for all the civil rights history that they have seen.