First Annual? Wild West Fest

It’s a lovely little place…



Scenic Calico

that actually used to be a silver mining town…



The Real Deal

complete with the obligatory steam train.



Calico Train

Drake was there, attempting to keep the peace in this lawless Western burg.

There’s a New Lawman in Town

It’s a good thing, because this mysterious traveler looks suspicious.

Mysterious Traveler

And the League of S.T.E.A.M. was there, up to their usual no good tricks.

LoS Tea Party

It was cool…cool like jazz, not like a popsicle. Which I probably would have stuffed under my black cowboy hat to keep myself cool.

Sparky Del Pecos Del Calico

I felt like I was exploring Sparky’s western roots. I imagine that Elizabeth Llewellyn’s assaying office in San Francisco looked a bit like this.

Llewellyn’s Assaying Office

We actually went for ice cream twice! Wait, is that an air conditioner?

Air Conditioner?

Sadly no, but there was a rocket launcher…I think.

Rocket Launcher?

Of course, I have to close with a Steam Powered Giraffe moment. When they performed Automatonic Electronic Harmonics, there was actually a sunset for the Spine to gaze into nostalgically.

Sunset…for Real!

By the time we got to our hotel in Barstow, it seemed like an oasis. I seriously considered taking a shower with my clothes on. Pretty please could the steampunks have an earlier spot on the schedule next year? It was an amazing place where there was so much more to see and do.

Oasis

Entry characterizations: Convention, Authored by Morse