Butterfield Overland Stage Days & A small Coffee Rant.

  
            Before the short history lesson and real blog post I must vent a little here.  In my first blog series I have "mini rants."    Were I get on my soap box and complain a little bit, before someone pushes me off.   Please feel free to view and or comment on them all at :  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com         

My Facebook status this fine morning:

      **"OMG I am deff. not in Washington anymore. In this picture I am at the first Starbucks in Seattle. Today I am in Tucson, and spent 35 minutes trying to find a coffee shop I could actually plug my lap top in at. Than I asked the barista... for a Venti drip coffee---and he didn't know what that was. Really? After it was explained that it was a regular coffee, you drip---- he whispered to his co-workers, that I might as well drink colored water. Now that it's made, it kind of tastes like toilet water, not Starbucks coffee at all. I LOVE AZ, but their is much to be said about drinkin' coffee from the comforts of home, until I can open my own coffee shop of course. I'll make bank!! "**

      If you do not know me personally or have never read the above blog series, I enjoy a great cup of Joe.   MANY a blog has been written while at a coffee shop.   And the caffeine almost allows me to keep up with our three kiddos!   Coffee comes up in lots of blogs for sure.   Maybe I just have been around Washington to long --were coffee is celebrated, but having to make five stops to find a suitable, not packed coffee shop is to much.   The first three were inside grocery stores, and had no plug ins for my computer or no Wi-Fi.   The next, was downtown, packed, and surrounded by dreaded parking meters.   The one I am in now, is beyond packed.   And having the worker have no clue what I was ordering was great but far from amusing.   Like I said a well placed coffee shop in Benson, AZ were there is NO good coffee complete with a stage and lots of after hour events, would make bank.   If anyone in reader land would like to discuss a business plan or more importantly financial backing, something I am greatly lacking.   OK   now on to the actual blog post.    The coffee is starting to soak into all my veins, so I am much calmer now.    Thank you for letting me vent.  



The great parade highlighted and kicked off Saturday mornings activities. 

We enjoyed seats right across from the announcers, in the shade even!

Above was the main DJ for the day. 

The police department started off the parade, with the theme song from "Cops" blasting through the speakers. 

Another reminder to never drive drunk. 

When you see this rig pull up to your house, the party is over. 

Arizona Justice

They did some great re-enactments after the pony express rode away. 

The hospitals great float. 

For a small town it is a VERY efficient and welcoming hospital for sure. 

A small pause for the importance of always having water with you while in Arizona!

It was very cool outside when we left for the parade, and we found a great view point in the shade, but the heat soon kicked in.   And the kids and my water bottles were soon empty. 

                                The last "float" of the day    opened the roads back up.  

      The Butterfield Overland Stage Days is now a two day event focusing on the rodeo.  The rodeo is held at the great Arena Bar and features full events including kids events.  It is mainly to celebrate the two short years that the Pony Express went through Benson and beyond from 1858-1859.   It was a short time period, except maybe for the riders, but a huge turning point in the areas history.     Now the riders ride again, delivering special mail, for purchase to Dragoon Arizona.  

A highlight of the parade and town for sure!

One could buy special mail and postage sent along on this trip at the make shift post office by the great town museum.

The riders of new, lining up.

First riders to lead off to Dragoon, receive there locked mail bags.

Sadly two medical emergency's slowed the fun. 

But both people were cared for with expert care.  

     It was all pretty neat, until the point were I realized our daughter had no clue what the pony express was.  In her defence, we have lived in Washington for years now, and that is probably not something they emphasize in there learning structures.  Although it might be arguable how little learning actually took place in those schools, or any school at this time.  The school here, just got named the number one school in the state---which is awesome, but how little do they really need to achieve to earn that ranking?   All of that is the subject of another blog for sure.   Luckily everything about the pony express was explained before the ride.  Including the swearing in for the riders, that was actually used by the original riders.   It was amazingly ruff for the riders and even more amazing, to me was that some official riders were reported to be as young as 12.   Some females even were part of the rough and tough crew of old.  And this whole event was started by a group of gals who took everything by the reins several years back, allowing for a great celebration.  

     



      Arizona Justice than did several great performances for all to enjoy.   About the rough and tumble old west and it's own form of street justice.  Of course the museum area was full of vendors and the museum was open and full of question answers.   I have talked about the museum before, and it is a great way to spend a few hours on any  given afternoon. 


        

Cheers!!

That evening was enhanced by a very good fireworks show staged at the Lions Club city park.

About 40 minutes worth of light show.  Perhaps enhanced by the lack of any fireworks on the 4th of July.  

Sunday brought day two of the rodeo.

Any guesses were or what we Explore next? 
The answer can be found in my very next post. 

Here are a couple of picture hints

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If you live in or near wonderful Benson PLEASE check out our new project

 We have 300+ books at our house and wish to start a take a book, leave a book project.

LOTS of amazing titles--changing daily.

We even have a list--were you can request certain books. 

Help us make this something great for all of our neighbors! 

Check it out personally by dropping by our book cases on the car port of 759 Mcneil street

just behind the lower Circle K

 OR   check out the list of our books  right now

at:

April's give and take

It really is a huge list     help us help it grow  

April's give and take!!

Thank you

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MY blog rundown
Some of my better pictures end up here: http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/
My newest page all about Arizona and what it has to offer everyone! http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/
My longest running blog series. Full of random rambling, Exploring, jokes, rants, and of course coffee love! http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com/

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Please also do not forget to check out MY Facebook page!

Perfect for commenting directly to me.

Most of my thoughts, jokes, and pictures end up on this page before they become a blog

Please check it out and click on "like"

Exploring with Wyoming Jack/Bobble Head

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Contact Steven at the above Facebook link or

at pontos62or@yahoo.com   for more information ;)

A Little Further Down The Road Exploring

     A little further down the road.   As always, HAPPY TRAILS!!    This was one of our great adventures in Seattle.  My most popular post by far in both of my other blog  pages.  My wife and my honeymoon Exploring.  http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/     Also check out my first blog series at www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com      Next Exploring post is  back from the great state of Arizona!   Thank you for being a reader, and please pass on the links if you enjoy what you see. 


Seattle Mini Honey Moon

     **Writers note:  A few weekends back my wife and I got a retreat in Seattle.  I always enjoy the town.  We had a great time and splurged a little, because we had just gotten married.  In case you have not gotten that memo!   Anyways, this picture filled blog includes pictures her and I took.  Obviously the pictures I am in, she took.   April takes great pictures, and  I credit her for that.  

      April hit town a little later in the afternoon, as she was on Greyhound bus.  I have knocked the service before, but if you book early enough, you can ride from Bellingham to Seattle for only $10.00!   With current gas prices this is a deal and a half!   I arrived in town earlier and had some time to roam around near downtown of the great city and try to take some great pictures.  I got some pictures, not sure about great.   Having no vehicle, I enjoy how easily you can get to many star attractions quickly by foot. 

                I always enjoy an old building.   This is fire station #2 downtown. 
Parks and water fountains can be found all over the city.  Here is a few shots of the Space Needle from across town.   We did not have time to explore around there this trip.  But you can easily spend hours enjoying that part of town.  And than take a bus or the tram back to your motel if you find you have walked around a little to much.  Or are soaked from the never to distant rain. 

                                                          Umbrella statue is very fitting.
 Later in the day, we actually enjoyed full on sunshine.  A rare but very welcome sight on any March day!

                Space Needle at night admits an almost spooky another worldly glow.

Walk through fountain also downtown.

I got soaked taking this picture, but think it was well worth it? 

We ended up staying in a motel way out by the airport.  But soon learned that

Seattle is amazingly easy to get around.  We payed a little more to have a motel with a pool and hot tub.  Both very enjoyable after walking all over the city.  

 The motel also offered an extremely nice morning breakfast.   So many places offer cereal and some toast and call it continental.  Here we enjoyed a huge meal with make your own waffles even!

Some sunset shots from behind our motel.

   I was in town about ten minuets and had already passed eight Starbucks. 

    Coffee joints seem to multiply as you walk around the city.  And I found it entertaining to call out each time I spotted another Starbucks.  You can sit in one, at a four way corner and see three more S Bucks it seems.  Soon the only place to open new stores will be inside the restrooms of current stores.   How awkward would that conversation with the bathroom attendant/barriesta be?  Obviously in the Great North West there are better coffee joints abound to stop at, in fact I am enjoying on at this moment.  But Star Bucks has so many locations, I find myself in one to much of the time it seems.  

                Speaking of that the very first Star Bucks ever is in Seattle.
And yes they even let fanatics like myself in.   If you can survive the line, you can get a good cup of joe and some nice pictures at the same time.   This will be the only coffee shop you go to that needs a greeter, line director at the door.   I had wished my E Bay purchase had not gotten lost in the mail, as it seems.  Because the S Bucks cap on my head, would make me either look like a worker or a true fanatic.  My wife played the part of the crazed tourist, and took shots of me inside, overly happy.  Than she took some coffee to go.

                                                                       Ordering time
                                 "Uh...   I want Coffee!"   I said to the fine barestis.

    "MMMmmmmmm coffee!"    This also shares were I was in the last mystery location picture.  If you are one of the few that actually reads my blogs. 

   Across from coffee you can enter the Public Market.   With vendors of every type you can spend lots of time roaming and warming up.

Vendors of every type show case there wares.  And of course you can find some of the freshest seafood around.   Watch out for flying fish, as your purchase is flung out of the ice, and packaged for you. 

Some new friends we made at the market:

                      I think big foot has morning wood.  Shhhh!  Don't tell.

  Outside the market and down a long alley  you can witness the gum wall!   This goes on for at least 20 feet.  And is pieces and pieces of used gum.  Also take some time to enjoy the graffiti.   This is a shot my wife took, of one of the koolest pictures down there. 

                                     It says "Thats how we roll"  just under this picture. 

  We soon learned that you could take the Sounder tram for $5.00 all day.  This stops at all of the big attractions across the city.  And when we got sore feet, we would ride for awhile.  Each stop has some great art work nearby.

      The city bus also can get you around town fast.   The very first one we rode was an "accordion" bus were two pieces are stuck together, to make it longer and go around corners better.  Sitting in the accordion was not as much fun as I would have thought.  And kind of made me sick from the motion.   We also learned that sitting the way the tram was traveling, kept you from getting sick, and made it far easier to take pictures and determine were your next stop was. 

                  China Town

  Perhaps one of the strangest art at any of the tram stops.   Even after reading the information near this one, I am still not sure about the meaning.  I think it is just to deep for me! But apparently this boot is very well educated. 

                                    And perhaps the most fitting art we saw.  
                                     Maybe because it never rains in Washington!

 After several more coffee's we were headed to the water front.  But in the way was about two city blocks worth of stairs.   A even greater joy when heading back up to our bus that night.   Most of the town seems to be up hill, somehow.  
    Much time can also be spent down here.  Enjoying the shops and sights.  It was very sunny by the time we mastard all of the steps.  So people were out in full force. 

 We had a few hours to kill and ended up in a small arcade on one of the piers.   Were we of course won some very snazzy prizes with all out tickets.   I got a bracelet that we later found out was a very rare blue gold.   *It was actually blue plastic.

And than it was time for one of the best parts of our trip.   We had booked Mystery dinner cruise.  Several amazing hours floating around the bay.  Enjoying the company, sights, food, beverages, and of course trying to solve the mystery before anyone else dies. 

I have to admit this was beyond kool.  I soon learned I do not have sea legs at all.

But a beverage or three, seems to help with this.  The dessert was amazing.  Although the buffet style Salmon left a lot to be desired. 

This mystery focused on the sad and sudden murder of Uncle Sean.  And an increasingly happy bunch of dinners rose there glasses in a toast every time his name was mentioned.  Actors roamed the crowd asking questions and engaging everyone. Several people from the crowd were named as key suspects.  But the killer or killers, could be anyone on the boat.  Suspects were "set up" ahead of time, by there friends on the cruise.   You could also roam the boat the entire time. 

Several of the actors.   The detective has the microphone.

At one point, they needed audience members to dance up front.  My wife knows that when I dance, someone calls an ambulance.  Because they think I am having a seizure.  Knowing this, she was really trying to get me on stage.   This backfired quickly, when an actor decided she should be the one on stage. 

And the plot thickens...

  In the end---We all could guess who the killers were and explain our thoughts on why they did it.  I won a prize of mini key chain handcuffs for the most disturbing plot line.   And not one but three suspects were placed in full sized hand cuffs.  

As I said, this was beyond kool.  And well worth the price.  If you would like to see more pictures or learn about how to take a similar cruise, contact me any time. 

Notice the blue gold on my arm I mentioned before in this blog.

The entire trip was a joy.   And some much needed R & R! I would also like to thank Royal Agrosy Cruise line and Events On The Edge for an amazing cruise night.   We also had time to scout out some great places to take the kiddos during a family trip.  I hope you enjoyed the pictures.   And as always....

Happy Trails!!