Fort Worth, Tx

 Trying to stay on the bull for 8 secs.

Evening in Fort Worth


Friday May 20^th

We woke up to a crackling noise and flashing light which appeared to be coming from the air conditioner under the window.  Having had experience of dodgy electrics in Pakistan, David dashed over to turn it off but the noise and flashing didn’t stop. He opened the curtain to see lightning and heavy rain/hailstones hitting the window.  As the houses here don’t have gutters, there was no protection for the windows.

The locals were happy to see the rain, mostly because they didn’t have to water their gardens when they got home, but warned us of the perils of giant hailstones, sometimes as big as apples (they claim).  The manager of the hotel showed us photos of the damage done to his roof last year by hailstones and warned us that if we encounter them, we shouldn’t get out of the car but drive under a bridge if possible to avoid damage to the car.  Life is full of hazards! 

Stopped for a coffee at McD’s and got talking to the manager who lived in Fort Worth and told us to visit an area called the stockyards where they hold a Rodeo on Friday nights..  We did and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The riders had to stay on the bull for 8 seconds but very few of them managed it.  There was some excellent lasso-ing of cattle and rope tricks, but the bull riding was most exciting.

The Texans seem to have a very strong State identity and are very keen to be seen as cowboys and girls.  Also very friendly and chatty. We all stood up while a girl rode around the ring with ‘Old Glory’, the American flag, while the music of the Star Spangled Banner played ( Oh say can you see….).  Very patriotic.