Camping in a Cow Pasture or making new old friends

I’ve never been fond of the day after the conclusion of the Red Ants Pants Music Festival. It’s time to move on to our next somewhat planned campsite. I don’t have anything specific to do in White Sulphur Springs, but I’m never ready to leave. The festival, surrounded by vast landscapes, taps into the timeless spirit of the land. During a conversation with Dave, the guy we met sitting beside us in the cow pasture venue, speculated that the surrounding land had changed very little in the past century and perhaps even over the last several centuries. I derive immense pleasure from watching the clouds over the unfolding vista behind the main stage, appreciating the existence of communities like White Sulphur Springs, MT.

Just a few thousand potential friends enjoying the music in a cow pasture.

We first saw this couple here a few years ago when they were dating. The following year they were engaged and then again they were married. We have watched them dance enthusiastically every year. I do not know their names but we always enjoy seeing them.

Any time of day or at a drop of a hat dancing of all skill levels would break out. However, it seems the air around the beer tent induces the wildest dancing every year.

The side stage Beard and Moustache contest always draws a few characters.

A lot of cowboy hats turned out to enjoy Ned LeDoux.

A few more of the performers this year.

Tanya Tucker closed out the festival Sunday afternoon.

Marty Stuart was the highlight of Saturday night.

People watching, Montana style.

This couch makes an appearance every year in the vendor area.

As we drove away on Monday morning, I couldn’t help but wonder if I would ever pass through this way again. I fully intend to; we’ve already planned our spot for parking the rig next year, identified people we want to reconnect with, and figured out where to claim our small patch of seating area. We’ve also committed to arriving earlier to secure a better position in the line of campers waiting for the gate to Jackson Ranch to open. However, my perennial concern about time and the diminishing sands in the hourglass persists and creates a little doubt about the future.

Nevertheless, I plan to be there in 2024. In the meantime, I wanted to share a few photos from the 2023 edition with a few from prior years just for fun. Hope you enjoyed them.

Dennis

A few notes:

• If you plan to attend next year, there is a very well-run commercial campground in town. The Princess and I use the Conestoga Campground to pre-stage the festival and fill the freshwater tank. After the festival, we spent a night there to clean the dust out of the rig, do laundry, and empty the tanks, preparing for the next off-grid camping spot.
• The internet coverage on the festival grounds is “sort of” OK. If you need serious coverage, the public library in town is excellent. They are very nice people. Before the library opened, we were able to log in while sitting on a bench in the shade outside the front door.
• The Town Pump, a gas station on the east end of town, has an ATM. The local bank does not.
• Two places for breakfast that we enjoy are Wild Oats Baking and Haugan Express.  I make a point to pick up a fresh cinnamon roll and coffee from Haugan Express before getting in line for the gate opening. By the way, some people are in line before sunrise; they miss out on the cinnamon rolls.
• If you are a “first timer”, be sure to bring your lawn chairs. Where you set them at 2:00 Friday is where you will find them Sunday after the last performance. No one will bother them.
• The lineup for the 2024 festival will be released on April 6, 2024, to reserve your spot in the cow pasture you can buy tickets now.