Angola Prison Rodeo in Louisiana.. Anyone going??

[C. Harlan]

Just curious. . I will be out there this weekend, and was wondering if anyone from the boards will be out there. . We will be staying in Natchez, MS Saturday night. . I believe the Rodeo is in St. Francis LA... It would be cool to meet some more TDR folks out there!!



-Chris-

 

[Digger-Bear]

I just moved out of Baton Rouge, but used to go every year.



You will love it! Get there very early, the place fills up fast and there is always a traffic jam. Bring water and snacks but keep your Glock at home, they collect them at the first gate. The prisoner crafts are fun to look at and they will haggle. The men are kept in a pen behind their wares. Don’t believe anything they tell you about what the leather goods are made of, its all cow… If you want a good deal, let the wife wear something, er, titillating, the boys there don’t get to see a lady too often and do enjoy the view. I have an acquaintance who is there doing double life BTW, called JW, sucker still owes me 100. 00!



In any event, you are in for a treat, my favorite event is when they try to snatch the dollar off the head of the bull- saw a guy get plowed up in the air 30 feet. Yeowee!

 

[C. Harlan]

Awesome! I cant wait!!! We will be working there, passing out samples of Copenhagen and SKOAL, so hopefully I will get some free time to browse around!



BTW, do they search your coolers?? I would like to bring my "Coffin" and put some beer in there as I usually do, but I do not want to have to pour it out at the gate. . chime back in and let me know! Thanks!!!



-Chris-

 

[Digger-Bear]

I have never been searched on the way in but am told they spot check. I did have to check my firearms at the gate my first time there. I didn’t think about guns and inmates not being a good mix – duh! They will likely search your person upon entry to the event, no mace, asthma inhalers, pocket knives, anything that could, in the most abstract reasoning, be considered a weapon. You will get turned around, my wife picked a fight with one of the guards about the inhaler. We both almost got run out… The guards are pretty pissy and I have been searched regularly on the way out. They refer to us as "freemen”. For them, we are an interruption to the operation of a high security prison, which is full of some pretty bad people. I never tried to bring a beer so I don’t know how they would react. My guess is, if caught, they would run you out. Last time I was there they were building a golf course for the warden and his friends. If the museum is open, it is interesting (at least for me) to see ole sparky…



Oh yea, wear your old boots, if the dirt doesn’t get them, the mud will. I have seen some pretty expensive ostrich ones get ruined (not mine!).

 

[C. Harlan]

Well, I went!! It was really an experience, and anyone who has not been, needs to experience it at least once in their lives. We departed the office in Spring (N. Houston), and left for Natchez, MS. Along the way, we traveled through the storm-ravaged areas of Texas and Louisiana. I will say that the TV and Pictures do not do justice to show you the amount of damage. As we traveled through Woodville and Jasper, TX, I noticed the scale of power that a hurricane really has... Primary power lines down everywhere, poles and large trees snapped in half, just alot to take in. . I am glad our company truck has a Transfer Flow 50 gallon tank, because alot of places along the way were without power, and the places with power were without fuel. When we got through Alexandria LA, we pulled into a gas station at the last second to get out and stretch. . While we were walking around, a little beagle type pup came walking up to us. . So we picked up an extra passenger, and appropriately named her Alexandria. . When we got to Natchez, we had to go to the Wal-Mart and wash the dog like 4 or 5 times over... nice dog, not so nice smell!



When we got to the prison, we got flyers, telling us what could not be brought on the prison grounds. . I had to dig through my big ice chest and pull all my beers out, put them in plastic bags, and check them at the front. . Kind of funny, they asked me what was in the bags, I told them cold beer. . They proceeded to tell me they would not be cold when they got reclaimed later in the day. . Blah! I told them that my beer is from Texas, and that they stick together and keep each other cool... Sure enough, when the girl went to give me my beer back, she was laughing, because the beer was still cold! So we worked the show, it was cool, very interesting group of guys to say the least. . When we left, and finally got back into Texas, We came into the town of Newton, and Low and behold-- What do I see??? CPS Energy trucks!! I work for them, and that was a good sight to see as soon as you cross the state line back into your native state. I finally got home, and I will be ready and rearin' to do it again, every weekend this month! I will have more stories for y'all when I go next weekend too!



-Chris-

 

[C. Harlan]

BTW, the dog is safe and happy with one of the girls who works with us, back in San Marcos TX. . Forgot to add that. .

 

[Digger-Bear]

Glad you had a good time, sounds like the guards attitude has improved since I was there. Next to Mardi Gras, it was one of the wildest events I experienced while I lived there. They go full bore. The inmates explained to me, even a trip to the hospital is a break from boredom.



Oh yeah, if you run into a guy that calls himself JW behind the cage – tell him he still owes me a C note!