Happy July 4th everyone! Hope you and your family are celebrating with joy wherever you are at. We are in a little town called Cody, Wyoming (population 8,000) situated about 50 miles east of Yellowstone Park. Throughout the years Cody has been known for two things — Buffalo Bill Cody and the Cody Stampede (one of professional rodeo’s most popular events). More on that later.

Like many of you, we attended a parade this morning. It’s hot this time of year in Wyoming (90+ sun-drenched degrees). Although, people who have been to Yellowstone within the last day or so talk about significant amounts of snow still remaining in the mountains. In fact, they were still skiing here two weeks ago (no kidding)! Anyway, Cody sits at about 5,100’ above sea level in the foothills of the Shoshone Mountains — which makes it a trail running mecca. For those of you who run, you’d enjoy the challenge of running trails here. Actually, it’s much like running in Michigan except for the altitude, rattlesnakes, incessant, baking sun, dry heat, dust, howling wind and private property restrictions that if you trespass will likely bring you into a confrontation with an angry rancher who carries large caliber firearms. Other than that, I felt right at home as a climbed half way up to the summit of the foothills behind our motel (appropriately named “Big Bear Motel”). Thankfully I didn’t have to use my trusty Bear Pepper Spray! Now I ask you — suppose you did happen upon a large, ferocious 600 pound Grizzly in the Shoshone Foothills who intended to do you mortal harm. Do you suppose that ‘pepper spray’ would save you from the ravaging bear?? Not a chance...probably would just make him more mad. However, I’ll carry the spray anyway because if  I do encounter that bear I figure I’ll discharge the canister into MY OWN EYES which at least will make it so that I can’t see myself being mauled. Plus, maybe the pain in my eyes will ease the pain of the bear eating me! Good defense strategy don’t you think??!!

Capped off the day with a nice time at the Cody Stampede Rodeo. In addition to all of the usual stuff you can see on ESPN (who, by the way, are taping tomorrow’s Bull Riding event) like Bull Riding, Bareback Horse Riding, Barrell Racing, Steer Wrestling, Calf Roping, etc., the rodeo featured a couple of interesting events. The most fun to watch was the stagecoach pulled by a team of six Percheron Draft Horses (6’4” tall at the shoulders and each weighing 2,200 pounds). The cowboy who drove that team of horses did staggering things with those beasts! Wish you could watch the video here, but the file is too large to download.

I also tried to include a cool video of this horse “jumping” into the back of a moving Dodge truck. Had to strip it out because the video plug-in is not working. Show it to you when I get home.