This picture above was taken in ND at Theodore Roosevelt National
Park. I was on vacation with my wife a few
years before this particular trip and I saw this game in a local
bar called "The Iron Horse" in Medora, ND. As we walked past The
Iron Horse, I noticed the shape of a Williams game on the porch. After entering
the bar and going straight to the porch I noticed it was a Joust game. It
wasn't working and was turned towards the
wall with the power cord hanging over its back. I didn't think
much of it at the time, just wondering what will become of the poor Joust
and we went on our way.
We returned about 3 years later and happened to
drive by the bar. I told my wife I had to check on something.
Sure enough the poor Joust was still
in its sad shape that I had seen it 3 years earlier with the
power cord still hanging over the back. I asked for the owner to see if
he was interested in selling it.
He wasn't there and was told to look for him in the morning.
My wife and I went on our way to the campground. I didn't
tell my wife anything about what I had in the works. That next
morning I got up early and told her I wanted to go on
an early morning bike ride. As I got back to the bar, I talked
to the owner and asked him if he was interested in selling the Joust game.
He hesitated a bit, I'm sure he was more surprised, as he had
this confused look on his face. I offered him $50.
He hesitated for a few seconds and said "sure, I've been
meaning to get it fixed but just haven't gotten around to it". I thought
to myself after sitting
there for 3 years and who knew how long before that I'm sure
it wasn't going anywhere fast.
Before I could get my money out he already had a hand dolly and
had wheeled it out to my truck. He probably thought to himself this is my
lucky day, lets get it out of here before he
changes his mind. I don't know who was happier, him or me? As
I got back to the campground, my wife was still sleeping, I took the
game out of the truck and set it up by our campsite. After some
time had passed and I started breakfast, she got out of the tent.
At first she didn't even noticed the game. Then looking a little
confused she said, "What is that doing here??" She know she was
in for a good story.
