Tomorrow we will pull out of our camping spot at Kenosee. How I will miss 107 (apart from the sharpness of the elevation and stones). Yesterday I went for my first ever solo kayak—ninety glorious minutes of having placid Little Kenosee all to myself. I opened my Libby app and listened to Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly while the loons floated past and gave me the side-eye. I am so glad that my friend Val got me started on this watery journey. I kayaked with my nephew’s wife River last week, and the conversation as we paddled along the shore was scintillating.  

Another highlight of our time at Kenosee was the Moose Mountain Pro Rodeo on July 22^nd, hosted by the town of Kennedy, SK (population 218). I’ve heard about the rodeo for a number of years from my nephew-in-law Clayton, but I had no idea what a spectacular event it is. And you know what? I grew up in Calgary, attending the Stampede nearly every year and the Cochrane Rodeo more than once. I’ve been to the Agribition rodeo—which wraps up in two action-packed hours. I have to say—my expectations for Kennedy were not especially high.

July 22nd began with a parade that made two circuits of Kennedy’s Main Street. Lots of horses and lots of shiny oilfield equipment. This is a happening place, I thought.

Then we headed to the fairgrounds for a demolition derby and Power Wheels competition. In the latter, the ten-and-under participants tried to break each other’s balloons. Very cute. 

We were in the rodeo stands by 4:00 pm, and the main event wouldn’t start till 5:00 pm. I wondered what we would do for the next hour.

A stunt pilot performed aerial acrobatics from 4:15-4:30 pm. For the next half hour (which flew by), we watched Big Stone (a stock contractor out of Cessford, Alberta) prepping the bulls and horses in the pens. A big sorrel horse with a number 6 on his left hip was super bossy to his pen mates. I decided I’d keep an eye out for him. 

At 5:00, snappily dressed cowgirls and cowboys galloped into the arena on beautiful horses, flags and banners waving, for the opening ceremonies. We were then treated to three and a half hours of bull riding, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, saddle bronc, bareback bronc, barrel racing, steer wrestling, and team roping. As a whole, the Big Stone stock was NASTY. No cowboy stayed on a bull for four seconds, much less eight. The announcer, background music, and big screen replays were very professional. And I do believe the cowboy on #6 won the day in bareback. That bronc was all business.

Immediately following intermission, young riders participated in mutton busting and the much-anticipated wild pony race. So entertaining! Those Shetlands were just as stubborn and cagey as their long-legged peers. We did not stay for the dance/cabaret, but we are circling this weekend on our 2024 calendar. If you like rodeo, the Kennedy event is an ideal blend of big-time competition and small-town flavour.

(Btw, while I was writing this blog, I turned to Randy and asked, “Where do you think bull riding came from anyway?” I was thinking along the lines of . . . most events involve a skill cowhands would utilize in their work life, or how were Brahma bulls incorporated because . . . Randy’s answer? Alcohol.)

Finally, I have been doing a great deal of writing during this five-week stint at 107. I penned the Souris Valley Theatre’s Act III play: Singing Celebrity Chefs—which the campers are presently rehearsing. I wrote the first draft of Night at the Lamp, which my Lampman Community Theatre group will perform December 7-9. Once again, this production is guaranteed to be a blast! 

More importantly, I have been hard at work on #gabriellerouge, Book Two in my #windsofchangeseries. I am about 80% through my second draft, and it is shaping up nicely. Plot points and motivations are falling into place. (For example: why not just break his collar bone?) Twists and turns are being carefully constructed. Characters are stepping off the page and speaking for themselves—which makes the process so much more enjoyable. My goal is to be done this second draft by the end of August. But there’s still lots to do to have it up and ready by November 15^th. 

That’s it for now. More book reviews will be coming in my next blog post. In the meantime, stay cool, and be sure to share a comment or question.