Dinner and a Show, Western Style

When we stopped at a rest area in Colorado to run the Jeep and charge its battery, Henry and I grabbed some brochures for Colorado Springs.  Wouldn't you know it, he found a brochure for another Chuckwagon Dinner and singing Cowboy show.  Since we had no plans for tonight, we decided to go.  The campground had discount tickets, which was a bonus.

The Flying W Ranch has a teepee, pueblo, Native American kiva (house), and other old buildings forming an old western town.  There was a Native American dance demonstration and lasso classes.  We checked everything out until it was time to take our seats.

This show was an outdoor one.  We sat at picnic tables.  There were some storm clouds overhead, so Ruth was on alert for a possible thunderstorm. 

Ruth and Henry loved the barbecued beef dinner.  Jeff and I got steaks, and they were okay.  They were cooked well done, which made them tough.  We also got baked potatoes, homemade applesauce, baked beans, biscuits and spice cake.  This place allowed you to get seconds if you wished, so both Ruth and Henry went back for more barbecued beef. 

The musicians were very good.  They opened with the National Anthem, and then got to the western songs.  They did a funny version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" that instead talked about a possum.  Henry said he liked them alot, but liked the Bar G Wranglers better.  I'm torn - I think this venue was nice, being outside in the cool air, and I liked this group better.  Jeff thought the Bar G Wranglers played more songs we knew.

 They closed with Orange Blossom Special and did a great job.  Jeff is the one with a bad back now, having pulled something in it yesterday.  It was rough for him to sit on a bench for dinner and the show, so near the end he went to stand in the back.  As soon as they finished their last song, we hurried out to beat the crowds. 

As we headed down to I-25 to head back to the campground, it was pretty to see all the lights of Colorado Springs.  And back at the campsite, in between the clouds, there are tons of stars.