San Tan Flat and Snowbird Guilt - it's a thing
Am I the only one who feels guilty
when having a really good time? I don't know if I feel I don't
deserve it or whether I'm expecting the other foot to drop. Whichever
– I'm going to enjoy the experience while it lasts.
No sooner had my breakfast of bacon and
eggs finished on the camp stove when Cindy text if I was interested
in going out for breakfast before they headed back. I had 30 minutes.
I scarfed down two strips of bacon and an egg. I figured I could get
a bowl of fruit and a cup of tea. Rob picked us all up and we were
off to i Hop.
I bade farewell to the Crandalls. I
would see them Sunday or Monday after my shoot – if I don't get
lost on the way back. Cindy gave me final instructions on how to
reach Aquila from Queen Creek via the new 202 loop. “Stay on
202...no matter what your GPS says...stay on 202 and head West to
I10. Or was it I15? Looks like I will be doing a little Google Mapping
before my trip back.
I spent the morning driving around
Queen Creek. There isn't much in the way of gas stations to
accommodate a big rig – so I filled up at the closest Sinclair
while unhooked. There was a slight sketchy feel about it. The help
was friendly and the bathrooms clean...for the most part. I can't put
my finger on it. I got my diesel and wasted no time moving on to my
next stop: Tractor Supply
I replenished my propane tanks and
picked up a bag of horse pellets. I like to keep them on hand just in
case somethings happens and I run out of hay. Call me paranoid. I
didn't really need propane. I mostly wanted the tanks checked. I keep
smelling rotten egg smell around the tanks on the outside. I don't
smell anything on the inside – but the LP sensor has been going
off. I filled a spray bottle with soapy water and sprayed down
everything from the tank valves to the line going into the trailer. I
don't see any leaks. The guy filling my tanks couldn't find a leak
either. He said the smell can be normal and the tanks themselves
seemed fine. I guess if I don't get blown back to Idaho its all good.
I got the opportunity to meet my
neighbor here at Horseshoe Equestrian Center. Lynn is also traveling
alone. Lynn came in from Colorado and is fairly new to the sport. I
helped her stop a water issue she was having with her living
quarters. The LQ is fairly new to her and had not been de-winterized.
We got it taken care of in short order.
Earlier, Lynn met a local gal by the
name of Kathleen. Kathleen lives across the Queen Creek wash from the
Horseshoe park. They invited me to ride with them. We initially
planned to ride in the numerous arena's here at the park. When
Kathleen mentioned she could show us the Queen Creek and Sonoqui
(pronounced So-no-key) wash trails....Lynn and I lit up.
I have noticed that most of the trail
riding in the winter months around here either start or is contained
to the washes. In the winter, the washes are dry. They run through
this entire country – including right through all of the towns. You
might think you are boarding in the middle of town without access to
trails...but they are there. If you can hit a wash – you can
usually ride for miles...often meeting up with public land extending
into the hills.
I'm thinking Jack might have been the
better horse for this particular trail. J'Lo gawked at everything
from weird sounding birds to riding under the under-pass. On the up
side- she's never walked as fast as she did coming and going.
On the way back, we met Rob Boucher
leading his paints on the trail beneath us. In “Life according to
J'Lo” - paints eat sorrel mares. Kathleen's young dun/roan, Jaden,
fed nicely off J'Lo and the rodeo commenced. Lynn's big appaloosa
gelding, DJ, was the only horse to maintained his composure. Jaden's
actions really can't be held against him. He's just a coming 4 year
old and naturally is going to look to an older mare for moral
support. Unfortunately in this case, the mare happened to be a bit of
a drama queen.
It's crazy how different two horses
pastured together can be. Like kids raised in the same house –
totally different personalities. What bothers one doesn't phase the
other. J is as calm as can be in the arena but can be what I call
“watchey' on the outside. Jack is totally opposite. Nothing phases
him on the trail – but can be a nervous mess in an arena. Like
people I suppose, it's what they grow up around. Jack was practically
born on the trail. J on the other hand, has spent most of her time in
the arena. Part of my goal this trip is to take all of us (including
myself) out of our comfort zones. I rode Jack in the arena yesterday
and J-bird on the trail today. Other than whinnying back and forth
when they are within earshot of each other, I could not be happier
with them. If there is anybody reading this that knows how to stop
buddy horses from calling back and forth to each other – speak up!
Both horses will walk away from each other when out and about –
it's just when one is waiting back in a stall/camp within ear shot.
Drives me nuts.
Kathleen asked if we'd been to San Tan
Flat. When neither of us said we had, she insisted on topping off our
tour at one of the coolest restaurant/bar establishments in the area.
It's sort of a hybrid between Old West meets The Politically
Incorrect. It has a large outside section with several bars and an
outside area for dancing all decorated in a tasteful old west theme.
Signs with quotes leaving no doubt as to the establishments political
lean splatter the inside and out.
I am amazed at how friendly the people
are here. It's not just the Arizonans. It's most everybody you meet.
Perhaps it's a Snowbird thing? I'm guessing that is a big factor.
These people have worked their butts off for the majority of their
lives. Scrimping, saving and doing the best they can to one day be
independent of the need to be tethered to an office. The day has
finally come and while we may harbor some guilt for living the good
life – we can't help but feel elated for how blessed we truly are.
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