Rodeo was different back in the 70's. We had no communication when we were out on the road unless you count a pay phone. Do I need to explain what a pay phone was? We couldn't go on GOOGLE maps to have someone talk us through directions. We would ask some other cowboy and they would give you the ole "turn left at the broken fence" type of directions.
In the 70's, there were enough rodeos in California for a cowboy, with decent talent at riding rough stock (bulls, saddle broncs, bareback horses) to make a pretty good living. For example, entry fees in the bull riding were about $35 dollars. If you won, it could pay as much as $500. Minimum wage was about $1.65 as I recall. You would be lucky to make $150 in a week at a minimum wage job..
The weather is good in California year-round unlike many other big "rodeo states", There were more than 90 rodeos a year to enter. You could jump in a car and make it to multiple rodeos in a weekend if you were riding rough stock. After all, you didn't need to haul a horse in a trailer. You just needed your gear bag with your rope, rigging or saddle. Most of the time you could save that expensive 35 cent a gallon gas if you shared a ride.
Well, back in the 70's, people went to the beer stand after the rodeo and you didn't have to show ID if you looked like you were out of grammar school. The beer stands weren't separated by a fence and you didn't need a wrist band to get served. All you needed was a buck. On one particular weekend, my husband Coleman and his buddy Rick, only 19 at the time,were competing in Merced in the central California valley. They both had good luck that day, so they decided to head to the beer stand. They were up in Orrick at 1PM the next day. Orrick is about 400 miles north of Merced up highway 101, which they figured, gave them plenty of time to relax. It was only about a 6 hour drive. July in Merced is always pretty darn hot, You can understand that contributed to needing quite a few cold beers.
They got in the station wagon they borrowed from Rick's mom at about 1:30 am to start the drive. Rick said he would drive the first shift and Coleman lay down to sleep in the back seat. Coleman woke to sunshine in his face and the sound of traffic racing past. He sat up feeling quite groggy, looked ahead, then looked back over his shoulder. The sign read, Merced 10 miles,
He yelled, "Rick you idiot, wake up. We're still in Merced"
They turned on the radio to figure out what time it was since neither had a watch, of course. The DJ said it's 6:30. They looked at each other and Rick punched the gas. They would have to "go like hell" to get there in time. Rick got two tickets before they reached Sacramento. He was so mad he picked up a hitch hiker. No that doesn't make sense to me either, but that's what he did.
Coleman decided it might be a good idea if he drove. So they switched. Switching during a rodeo trip does not involve pulling over. That would cost time. They switched places while still speeding down the highway. He and I have done the same thing, but I have trouble picturing two guys trading the same way we did. There must be several methods in which this can be accomplished. About that time the hitchhiker had had enough. He asked if they would slow down enough for him to jump out. Coleman sped up even more.
The three of them rolled into the rodeo grounds just in time to see Coleman's saddle bronc horse, with his head held high, trotting out of the chute. After your name is called three times they "turn you out" In the rodeo world there's no do-overs.
They were both up in the bull riding but neither rode. This was "Rodeo Karma".
