Rodeo season is a huge annual event each March in Texas. For 2020, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was in its 2nd week when it was cancelled due to individuals attending the rodeo testing positive for COVID-19.

My family was always regulars at the Rodeo each year. The children love the animals and the carnival events. The matinee and night live music entertainment shows are mainly for the adults.

But the main attraction is the Rodeo parade that travels through several areas until it reaches downtown Houston, TX. And on a Friday before the Rodeo kickoff weekend begins the next day, thousands of people line the designated route to watch the trail riders who have traveled hundreds of miles from all parts of Texas to participate. It's fun to watch the different trail riding groups with their decorated covered wagons.

One such group is the Southwest Trail Riders. These trail riders are one of several official groups that travel along designated routes until they reach the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. They then participate in the Rodeo Parade each year.

This is where they are headed in Houston:

^{Image from Tour Texas}

We have several friends who are actually trail riders that make the long journey. They stop to rest at several locations before continuing. One of those locations was Needville, Texas. It's about 35 miles from us. Several years ago, we met the Southwest Trail Riders in Needville and spent a two days with them. It was a fantastic getaway for us.

The three travel photographs I choose for today are from:

My Trip to Needville, TX

This picture is from our first day we arrived. I visited several of the wagons that were part of the group. This one group is located near us, and below is a photo of their wagon for the Rodeo parade. The owner of this wagon is known as Texas Dudes from Missouri City, TX.

In my next picture, I was encouraged to stand closer to the two horses. That was not going to happen. That was at close as I was going to get. I could see them just fine where I stood.

The parents tend to their horses. The men fed and groomed them. I noticed the ladies taking their horses for walks Meanwhile, the children took a much needed rest from the long travel inside their trailers or RVs. There are two playgrounds in the park.

The weather was overcast the entire time we were there.

That night we were invited to a good old fashioned dance hall event. After the trail riders took care their animals, they took a break , then dressed up and gathered at the hall. Since this was our first time visiting with them, we didn't know what to expect.

It was night of music, dancing and conversation. We had the best time, and was only 35 miles from home.

Hope you enjoyed reliving my day with me.

Just because we currently can't go out of our homes doesn't mean we can't enjoy life still. Why not relive those beautiful moments we spent with family, friends, hiking, camping, road trips, and whatever we did to live life to the fullest.

I know we all remember; and @psos is allowing us to relive those memories with three travel photographs of previous ventures. Let's remember the good times today.