🎵 Roll on highway, roll on along

And roll on eighteen-wheeler, roll on🎵

Alabama

Dazzling, sparkling wheels turning washed and waxed to perfection. Vivid and bold shades of reds, blacks and silvers, glittering in the evening sunlight. All three left their western home, in northern Loveland, rolling south to downtown Loveland with precious cargo on board. 

🎵Roll on highway, roll on along

And roll on eighteen-wheeler, roll on  🎵

Alabama 

Gentle Giants – Majestic, Powerful and Beautiful…..

Groomed to perfection – bathed, brushed, braided and combed. They are pampered and spoiled and rightly so. It was a first for Loveland, it was exciting, it was a fun way to spend a Thursday evening.

Nancy, a friend visiting from the Lone Star State, and I heard about this event and decided we wanted to be a part of the fun. I longed to see them trotting down Fourth Street – the heart of downtown Loveland. However, we were a tad late arriving or they were a tad ahead of schedule. As we were trotting up Lincoln Street heading to Fourth Street they made the turn prancing in all their glory straight toward us.

What a magnificent sight, gold adornments flashing almost blinding in the sun. Eight majestic, powerful, beautiful, draft horses lovingly referred to as Gentle Giants entertaining the large crowds.

The Clydesdales…..

Matching, in their beautiful black collars and gold harnesses – mirror images of each other, bay in color with white markings on face and legs. Their muscled legs lifting in rhythm causing the feathering, on their lower legs, to flair up and out, symbolizing grace and power.

Can you imagine, eight Clydesdales, each weighting between 1,800 to 2,000 pounds and standing proudly  72 inches high, pulling their striking red wagon filled with Budweiser Beer.

Clop, Clop, Clop, the thunderous sound of their feet hitting pavement…..

In his green and white uniform, sitting tall and proud a top the traditional beer wagon, he expertly and commandingly drives his team. I will just call him – “The Driver” . 

At his side and also sitting tall and proud, wearing his own taylor made gold collar is the other four-legged symbol of the Budweiser team – the handsome black and white (gentle) Dalmatian. His tail wagging to express the crowds heartfelt affection. As he sits and watches I call him – “The Sentinel”. {I later learned, when I got a big hug, his name is Chip}

As the team continued north on Lincoln we trotted along side, wanting to observe these Gentle Giants up close. They pulled to a halt several blocks away, along side the huge, red eighteen-wheelers that would take them back home. 

Crowds gathered, young and old, standing in awe with cameras in hand. The Clydesdales thrilled the crowds, I know, because everyone was wearing a smile. 

 We talked to the caretakers of these beauties, again pride showing as they answered questions and spoke lovingly about their charges. One such young man, Will is his name, told us he has worked with draft horses since the age of five. We could tell he loved these horses!

The time passed quickly, they soon started unhitching the team – removing the gorgeous, black collars and gold harnesses, removing the leather leads and finally loading these amazing animals into their home on wheels.

Not wanting to leave just yet we watched until the two strongest and tallest, those just in front of the wagon, were loaded. All eight were wiped down, watered and feed. People continued to watch, peeking through the big doors as the horses rubbed their necks (spots needed scratching), throwing their heads up and down eager to be rolling and biting the poor horse stalled in front of them on the butt, I guess just for fun.

 Next came the red wagon – Chip was allowed down, had to jump onto the shoulders of his caretaker, to the applause of the crowd. The wagon was then loaded into one of the sparkling eighteen-wheelers.

As the sun was setting over the mountains, its last rays of light striking the vibrant colors of the eighteen-wheelers they and their precious cargo pulled back out onto Lincoln, leaving downtown Loveland heading north – back to the barn.

It was with deep emotion, mixed with pride, as we watched the three eighteen-wheelers rolling on along. Will, his duty now as driver, saw us watching and tooted his big, loud horn and with a final wave they rolled on out of site. 

We realized this event was special and that we had been graced with the presence of these symbols of strength and beauty.

 Their gentle spirit touched our hearts leaving a delightful memory to treasure…..

🎵 Roll on highway, roll on along

And roll on eighteen-wheeler, roll on 🎵

Alabama

May you roll this way again……..