Getting my bearings
I
woke up to my first morning in Arizona as excited as a kid on
Christmas morning. I planned to tinker around and get my bearings.
The first order of business was to take the dogs for a walk after
camp chores. Before Dave left for a roping, he filled me in on
several local hazards to watch out for. First off...Snakes. Watch for
snakes. There are 16 different varieties of rattlers in these parts
and each one more aggressive than the next. Stickers and White
Jumping Cactus. Everything that grows out here will either bite you,
poke you or both. If your dogs go with you, they will get stickers
and they are hard to remove – take pliers. Watch out especially for
White Jumping Cactus. They can get you from “THIS” far away! Holy
Shit. There are coyotes that will eat your dogs and bobcat the size
of a mountain lion. Got to watch out for those, too. Take your
pistol...you'll be fine. Holy Shit. I think Dave can be quite the
kidder, but I wasn't taking any chances. I was fine with rattlers,
all 16 types of them, I'm use to cougars and coyotes, not a problem.
But if see a cactus of any kind, white or not, jumping across the
desert after me I'm going back to Idaho!
The
dogs and I began our walk at the edge of miles and miles of public
land. Sandy washes still damp
After
our walk, I grabbed a bite to eat and saddled up. Jack and J seemed
ecstatic to be out and moving in the desert air. Jack especially
moved out with ears forward and head bobbing as his unshod feet flew
across the sandy desert floor. We stayed on the bottom where there
weren't any rocks to speak of until I get them shod in a few days. I
ponied J'Lo for a ways before letting her follow at liberty. Sort of.
Most of the time she stopped to eat until we got out of site and come
racing up like it was our fault we left her.
I
wondered what the horses would think of cactus when they came to it.
I figured it would spook them until they got used to it. Neither
horse batted an eye. If it had been a giant plastic structure they
would of both had a coronary.
We
rode for 6 or 7 miles. I didn't want to sore them up. I think we'd
still be out there if they were shod. Riding in the Arizona desert is
even more amazing than I anticipated. I can't explain it. Maybe you
have to be a desert rat like me. The only way I can put it is I feel
like I am home here.
After
our little trail ride, I swapped horses at the trailer and rode on
over to the Silver Bit to watch a team roping. I didn't get to see
Dave rope as he has already cleaned house before I got there. J-bird
and Jack were not entirely impressed with the whole team roping jive.
Funny how I can fire a .45 inches from their head and they aren't
phased but come unglued watching somebody else chase a cow down to
the end of an arena.
Dave
was going into town for supplies and asked if I'd like to go. We
wouldn't be long. I think he realized how I dreaded getting back into
a vehicle. I needed to pick up a few things and thought it would be
nice to check it out with someone familiar with the area first. He
didn't disappoint. I learned the history of Wickenburg from it's
1870's beginnings as a mining town to it's uncertain future as a town
struggling with political squabbling and discontent. A struggle
between the old cowboy beginnings and recent arrival of a more
liberal mindset. Apparently city folk don't like the smell of cow
shit and leather. Why the hell don't they STAY in the city if they
don't like the ways of country living? Go figure.
I
bought a couple bags of pellets for my horse trailer at Dave's
suggestion. On the day of my arrival he took one look at the inside
of my trailer and said I needed to learn me a few things about
traveling with horses. Pellets absorb the horse pee and odor. Sort of
like clumping cat litter! Sweet!
We
had lunch at a Mexican Restaurant....I can't remember the name of it
now...Anna's something? Anyway, it was the best Mexican food I've
eaten since my trip to the Riviera. I usually avoid it in the states.
It
gets cold fast here when the sun drops. I tucked the dogs and horses
in for the night. Modern technology is a great thing at times. I was
able to pay some bills and finish up other paperwork all remotely.
Before I retired, I said I was done with technology. All of t. I was
going to throw it all out including a cell phone. Now that I no
longer have to deal with it to earn a living, I find that I enjoy my
techno-gadgets again. I guess it's the difference between connecting
a cool new security camera or other smart device to an echo or having
to surf through some sick bastards porn history.
Tomorrow...I
shoot. There are a couple shoots I could go to this weekend but I
think will stay put and get in some practice. I haven't worked with
Jack on shooting for awhile. Besides that – I just don't have it in
me to load up those poor ponies and climb behind the wheel again.
Good
night from Arizona
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