August 18-20, 2017 Riverton, Wyoming

We are at the 1838 Rendezvous site for the eclipse in Riverton, Wyoming.

John has been helping set up the site for the eclipse event. He is marking the helicopter landing zone in case there is an emergency. I spent forever setting up my booth for the sale. John spent the rest of the day helping checking people in and getting them parked.

Sylvia and Jim in the popup camper arrived, they are also sharing Pam and Ralphs site with us. Some evening light in the foliage at the site.

People are starting to come and fill up the camp spots around the lake here.

 Spent the whole day at my booth and only sold a few things. People are still arriving. A photo of Pam's pine needle baskets in her booth. I met her two years ago at the art sale in Death Valley, she has been teaching me huge amounts about making pine needle baskets. Hers are amazing works of art. Ralph and Pam, Link- one of the other traders blowing a horn made from a bull's horn, Carol- one of the organizers of this event and John the head of security. He looks very fierce, I feel secure with him in charge.

This evening  they served bison spaghetti dinner. There were bison burgers for lunch. Many Strings and Company music -honky tonk western played in the evening. They were excellent. Our friends Martha and Jimjim from Carbondale arrived late Friday evening. John, Martha and Jimjim floated on the lake in their inflatable kayaks on the lake while I slaved in my hot booth all day. There was an Indian storyteller after the band, Riverton is in the middle of the Wind River Reservation. Then an astronomer told us about the eclipse and pointed out features in the night sky. 

These two young men are selling handmade leather goods, some made by their hands. They are part of a cute family with two more smaller children with red hair. They are all in  period dress. They come to the Rendezvous in July too every year. Slinger in his booth selling a variety of  handmade items and furs. Pam giving a pine needle basket demo, Carol  who is getting ready to give atlatl demonstrations. Atlatls are spear chuckers the native americans used before bows and arrows, Link is with her, he has large store of animal hides and rendezvous items. Rick is the organizer of this event, the nicest man ever. This event is raising money for the Rendezvous association.

The black powder gun demonstration.  This poor cow got loose in the rendezvous and tramped a couple of camps before security chased her off-scared to death.

There is a Candy Cannon every couple hours. The guys put black powder in it, then stuff wadding on top, then the candy. They light the fuse and boom, candy is shot into the air and the kids and it looks like a couple adults run to gather it. The music tonight was provided by Packin' the mail Music group. They said traditional country western, but it was more like bluegrass. Very good. We had another astronomer and Indian story teller after that.

John prepared a yummy pork roast and rice,  Frank, Doug and Martha made salad and we had dinner at Martha and Jimjim's camp. It is good to see them.

Sunset on the festivities last night.