Thursday I got one of the campers
ready for a road trip, checking the fluids and tires pressure and filling the
fuel tank. Also gave the generator a test run. I wasn’t sure if I should fill
the water tank as the weather in Texas can be very unpredictable in March going
from the mid-eighty’s to freezing over night.
The weather had been nice the last
couple weeks. The azaleas and redbuds are blooming but Friday morning as we
loaded our stuff into the camper it started to hail. That’s great, just what I
needed! Well, we’re already loaded and we’re going, hail or no hail. It was just
after daybreak as the Gatorman and I headed west. The hail was coming down
slowly and the roads although wet didn’t have any ice. Before we reached Kennard
it started to snow, snow hard. Big fat snow flakes! Giant snow flakes! I had to
roll down the window to knock the caked snow off the wipers as we drove. There
was a half inch of snow on the ground by the time we reached Crockett. We
decided to stop for pancakes at the Crockett McDonald‘s.
The snow was letting up some by the
time we were back on the road and before we reached Old Dime Box the sun was
trying to make an opening. Unfortunately, 30 to 50 mph cross winds were now
trying to blow me completely off Hwy 21.
I called Jim Z. (Curator) to let him
know when to expect us and to find out what gate I should try and get in. They
had the fairgrounds locked down tight…no campers or carnival trucks could get
onto the lot until that evening after closing. We pulled into the livestock
parking and headed for the BCS (Big Circus Sideshow). I talked our way through
the back gate as the attendant tried to explain that I couldn’t park my camper
in the livestock parking lot.
Hernan Cortez and Lori, Jim’s girl
friend, arrived yesterday. David Pitts and Henry, his vent figure, were going to
get in Saturday and the 999 Eyes crew was arriving Sunday. Looks like a full
house at the BCS.
Hernan was anxious to get on the
bally and start working. It was difficult
eating fire and doing blasts in the
high winds but both Josh and Hernan did same fine blasts for the gawkers before
the wind really kicked up.
Saturday Mr. Pitts and Henry arrived. Following
introductions, Henry and David went to work on the bally. The sun came out and
the wind was light by Saturday afternoon. A happy crowd of cowboys, cowgirls and
little buckaroos made their way unto the rodeo grounds.
Mr. Pitts:
See Misty the Mermaid!
Henry: Man
she’s hot!
Pitts: Henry,
cut that out. This is a family show.
Pitts: See
Sonny the incredible six legged steer!
Henry: Is he
alive?
Pitts: Yes,
he’s alive.
Pitts: See
Laverne the five legged sheep!
Henry: Is she
alive?
Pitts: Of
course she’s alive!
Pitts: See
Daisy Mae the amazing two-nosed cow!
Henry: Is she
alive?
Pitts: Alive,
Alive, Alive. Their all Alive on the inside Henry!
Henry: Can I
go in now? I want to go now! Go in now! Go in now!
Later in the day
Lori decided the light was right to take some photos of Mr.
Pitts and Henry. I hung around to see if I could be of any
help. After shooting some excellent shots of David and
Henry, she took a few shots of Hernan with his magic rings
behind the bannerline. Watching Lori, I was able to pick up
some new remote lighting tricks.
While we were
shooting photos out back, Hernan worked the paying patrons
inside the BCS with his Two Card Monte. Their wallets all a
few bucks lighter by the time they found the exit.
The BCS doesn’t
have many rules but we all learned ONE it does have. Lori
let everyone know, in no uncert ain
terms, that the blue towel was hers and everyone had better
keep their hands of it! Hey, it wasn’t me. I have my
own towel and it’s red. (Not one to be pointing a finger,
but did anyone notice how quiet Henry was during the
Blue-Towel-Inquisition!?!)
I shot a few
photos of my new Monkey Speedway Car and loaded it into the
camper along with the Speedway sign that Jim had hauled from
Florida. Jim gave me a couple elephant books from his
collection,
“I Love Rogues, The life of an Elephant
Tramp” by Slim Lewis and
“Fun by the Ton”
by Edward Allen. Two great old-time books.
Gatorman kept
himself busying working the ticket box. Crabtree
Amusements have gone to tokens this year instead of tickets.
They were still building more token dispensers while I was
there. Everything…games, rides, food and shows are on
tokens. Carnival employees can only buy food with coupons
bought at the office. That way the tokens are worthless to
the carnival help, giving the office a tight grip on the
money. Only the office handles cash! (Damn, I like to have
first count!)
After only two
days, it was time to head home. We have a spot beginning the
end of this month and have to get a couple shows ready to
go. That evening we said goodbye to everyone as we would be
pulling out early the following morning.
The trip home
was sunny and uneventful. As we drove along, Gatorman and I
replayed all the events of our latest road trip.
Wish you were
there, Rick West
Photograph
courtesy of Rick West ©2008 All rights reserved
David Pitts and
Henry Bally Big Circus Sideshow
Lori Ballard,
Jim Z, Hernan Cortez and David Pitts
Monkey Race Car
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