Crookston Circus

"Mommy, Mommy, they're unloading camels and donkeys and miniature horses."

I woke up this morning and blearily registered Jamie by my side telling me this.

"Uh, huh. Of course." Was about all I could muster. Deluded that I might roll back over and get just a few more minutes of sleep her siblings joined in naming random animals that they were seeing outside our motorhome window.

I racked my foggy sleep dazed brain to determine that we were parked in a city park, downtown Crookston, ND. Not a zoo.

Upon investigation, armed with a strong Mate soy latte (I drink them just so I can say the name) we discovered that it was all true and more.

The circus had come to Crookston, for one night and one night only and was raising the tent right next to our camping space.

Something the park ranger might have mentioned when we checked in last night, no?

No.

Of course we had to stay another night and spent an interesting day watching the tent rise, the animals being fed, the human cannon being rolled in, and the performers mill about the park.

Now, not to burst any bubbles; this wasn't exactly a Ringling Brothers operation. I'd call in an intimate experience.
The crowd was as entertaining as the performers for some of us.

The kids, I admit, were enthralled. It was actually a perfect venue for them as they could see all that was going on and enjoy.

Given our current obsessive passtime, we were all impressed with the young hooper who spun 110 hoops successfully!

It was also a first for all of us to see someone being shot out of a cannon. The youngest human cannonball they boasted, 16 now he started when he was 6. Bobby better not get any ideas....

We fell asleep listening to the performers and crew wind down after two shows. They were packed up and gone by the time we woke up the next morning. Bet we don't forget that one!