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| Old Ruby... |
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| Celia and Dirt - the ocotilla are in bloom |
Notes: Nothing fancy...just a nice ride out N. Eagle in a direction we hadn't gone yet. It's weird - one tank has quite a bit of water in it still and another in the same area is bone dry. Long trotted and loped the majority of the way. Drifter has discovered his long trot...he extends out and picks up a pace like gait. Smooth...
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| It is starting to green up in the desert |
Notes: Loaded up and put in at N. Eagle Eye. We ventured East to the mountain range west of Mining World. I've ridden through the saddle to the back side of it in the past on Drifter. It is a rocky, cholla infested pass to put it mildly. It was Drifters first real ride outside. I remember thinking then: He's a keeper. I didn't feel the need to repeat it on Jack this day. We came to an old...very old...saguaro that some idiots hung the side chassis of an automobile in to shoot at. The cactus is a minimum of 175 years old. It is still alive despite having some of it's majestic arms blown in two. More times than not, I am ashamed to be part of the human race. This is one of those times. It is my hope that Karma intercedes by hanging the fuckers in place of the chassis and have at it. In the meantime...I'll find a friend willing to go with me and take it down.
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| there is no shortage of sick bastards in this world |
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| And so it begins |
Notes: Made a loop toward Burro canyon. We went out and back through the common access gate (private easement) so I didn't have to shoo off the Black Hellion (Drifter) as we left him at home. The 15 acres bordering my property is being fenced to sell. That's the bad news. The good news is Scott (the land owner) is having Fred do the fencing. Fred built my mare motel. He does such a good job it goes a ways to sooth the sting of being fenced in and the likelihood of more people moving in around me. Even if every piece sells and a house on each lot pops up...it's still a better piece of property than most others I've seen. I'm learning you can't get away from the onslaught of civilization...no matter how one might wish it. I can relate to the coyote:pushed farther and farther away from it's natural habitat. Although, the coyote seems to be able to adapt to urbanization when necessary....that is where we differ.
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| A hawks nest |
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Notes: Mark and Pattie asked that I take a group of their friends on a ride. It was quite a mix of horses and mules. I picked Browns canyon for the varied terrain and open spaces to spread out that many horses/mules - seems they get in less trouble if they aren't all bunched up. Everyone did very well. Sorbitt's Andalusian, Taco, was a little wound up in the beginning but calmed down considerably on the way back.
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| (l-r) Pattie on Nellie - Nancy on Roxie - Sorbitt on Taco |
We went straight into the canyon as the crow fly's to make it a shorter distance. The up and down did the animals good as they were feeling pretty fresh with the large group and the strong winds. I booted Jack up all the way around about halfway in. It felt like his feet never touched the ground. He moves out and feels so much better without shoes...it feels good to have my horse back: ears forward - head bobbing and just happy to be on the trail...or off the trail rather.
Keith rode a 3 or 4 year old little Molly he has in training. It was like watching somebody ride a mountain goat. That thing skittered straight up and down wherever Keith pointed her. Small, but mighty. Her name is Skinny Zipper...appropriate. We saw burro sign all over, 1 jackrabbit and a desert tortoise.
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| If your going to live in the desert, you better know where to find water |
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| Celia and Dirt scoping out a good way to get across. |
Notes: 3-12-2025: Dan and Robyn wanted to go on a ride before they headed north. We made a quick loop between storms.
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| Dan and Robyn |
3-16-2025: We hauled West on 60 and tried a different access point onto State Land. Once we got their, I realized I'd been there before so we rode off in a different direction. We rode close to what On-X says is White Mable Mine. We heard voices and ATV sounds so dove off the road and down off the ridge and made our way to the bottom. We followed the wash winding our way through brush and over rocky terrain. I noticed Drifter tucks his hind-quarters under him really well going down steep terrain.
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| Patty - Mark - Erick - Naomi |
Notes: Mark and Patty are down for the winter. I believe they stay in Congress. They asked if I'd take them and their friends, Erick and Naomi, for a ride in the desert. Two days prior, I'd given Jack and Drifter their 5 way+WNV. Both horses had a moderate reaction. Injection site (chest) swelled up - sore muscles...both dragging the left front leg on the injection side - lethargic and generally feeling like crap. Never had that happen before. Needless to say, they were out of commission for a few days. Once I determined they were not going to die on me and I didn't need to stand around staring at them all day...I took Mark up on his offer to ride his young mule, Lou Ellen. I've ridden one of their other mules, Leah, a couple years ago. It sure is a different feeling. I decided if I outlive both my horses and the time comes when I am no longer interested in speed...I will get a nice riding mule. Lou Ellen is a pure joy to ride.
Patty is unable to hike due to hip/knee issues so we rode up to the petraglyphs. It's a steep climb but everyone did great.
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| Lou Ellen |
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| Celia and Raven |
Notes: Celia and her son, Cole, traded horses for awhile. Cole has Dirt and sent Raven home with Celia to ride for awhile. It's been a busy month for Celia with Art of the Cowgirl. We took a quick break and a short ride out Tiger Wash at the "second," (and now only) windmill. Both windmills have been sold and are being removed. It is likely I'll be wandering around in the desert for lack of a landmark until I can figure something else to keep my bearings.
We saw four deer, a jackrabbit and one fox.
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| Elizabeth Siddal - by John Everett Millais and his work "Ophelia" |
I opened Microsoft Word with no particular goal in mind. I stared unblinking at the GUI interface: “Blank Document.” That is how my brain feels lately. One big blank document filled with nothing noteworthy. I think real writers would call this phenomenon “writers block.”
I’m not a real writer. Those guys get paid for their work. I just jot shit down when I feel like it and lately…I haven’t had the inclination to jot down a shopping list. I have Alexa for that; “Alexa…add motivation to brain list.” She answers in that patronizing AI tone: “Good morning, Laurie – hmmm…I’m having trouble fulfilling that request.”
Maybe I should have asked Siri, whose name was derived from the Norwegian: Sigrid…meaning victory and beautiful! Alexa was named after a library and the hard pronunciation of the consonant "x". Pretty girls:1…Bookish girls: zip. Every.Single.Time.
Inspiration, I assume, is different for every writer. Some are inspired by the beauty and wonders of nature. Perhaps spiritual experiences for others. Then there is the muse. According to Wikipedia, a muse is: a person who provides creative inspiration to a person of the arts. Hmm…maybe I need one of those.
How does one go about the task of acquiring the elusive creature known as the muse? Do you just order one up? Find one laying along the roadside? Once again adorned in my NERD hat: “Alexa…order me up one of them muses.” There it is again, the patronizing AI tone: “Hmmmm….I don’t know that.” Do I freaking stutter? Louder and with more authority: “ALEXA…GET ME A MUSE.” As if a more upbeat response is less worthless than her previous worthless responses, she replies: “Hey Laurie! Here is your NEWS from Fox 10 Local!” Bitch.
I have abandoned my search for a muse. Perhaps it takes one to be one? I’m certain I have never been a muse to anyone or anything…or have I? There was this period of time, many years ago…when I inadvertently set out to inspire the entire Malheur County Patrol Unit to write me so many speeding tickets, the judge was inspired to write me a letter informing me that if I got one more, I’d be going to defensive driving school. Well, hot damn…I am a muse.
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| Robyn and Bullseye |
Notes: Took Robyn on a ride out N. Eagle eye to see the petroglyphs.
It's a bit of a hike up to the petroglyphs from where we tied up. It's always a good feeling when your horse is still there when you get back.
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| Cindy - Riata - Marianne - Matt |
Rockwells are down setting up their new place in Salome. Another Idaho conversion to the winter wonderland that is Arizona. They wanted me to take them to see the Wickenburg Massacre site...so that is what I did.
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| Equipment failure repair |
Notes: Lou Ann stopped by for a couple of days on her way back from a cat grooming certification in Yuma. (Yeah...me either! ;)) They do indeed hold certifications for cat grooming. If/when she passes, she will be a Master Cat Groomer!
We spent one day on horseback. She rode Jack and I rode Drifter. I took her to the sheep ruins. The next day, we went Jeep'in.
Lou is my very first, and so far only, visitor to El Rancho Gitana Del Desierto. It was great seeing her.
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| Lou and Jack |
Notes: Dan wanted to get Bulls out and lope him. I hauled us to Tiger Wash and we did just that. I missed the turn on to my road on the way home so we drove in to Salome and had dinner. We sat with a couple of guys that ended up knowing just about everyone we know down here. I swear - Arizona is the friendliest place...maybe it's just the folks that winter down here. Who wouldn't be happy to be out of the cold and snow.
Notes: Celia was told of a spot toward the foothills we wanted to try and find. She doesn't think we found it - but it was a really cool area, regardless. We rode through Ruby Pass to the N. side of the Sleeping Giant and ate lunch next to a big rock formation. There is a lot of vegetation in this area including large Joshua trees. We tied up and hiked around for a bit. On the way back, we dropped down into a wash to check out what appears to be an old mine. It has a concrete trough thing and some old RR ties and wire fencing around. I supposed it could have been a watering tank. Hard telling. We plan on going back in my jeep to cover more ground and see if we can find the "cool spot" Mundo told her about.
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| Krista and Robyn |
Notes: Dan's family (mom and daughter) were up visiting for a few days. His daughter wanted to get in a quick ride before they headed back. I took them out the back gate for a quick ride on state land.
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| The Wise Woman looking over Ruby Pass |
Notes: Quick ride up N. Eagle. Celia ponied the filly, Smoothie. She did great.
The cool rock seen in the above photo looks like an apes head from this angle - but morphs into a shrunken head of an old wise woman from the face. Sometimes it looks like a shark rising out of the water to take a hunk out of an unsuspecting surfer....but since this is the desert and we later discovered this is "Ruby Pass" - I'm dubbing her: Ruby - The Wise Woman of the Desert
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| Celia towing Smoothie |
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| Dan - Robyn - Harold |
Notes: Took Dan and Robyn to check out the Wickenburg Massacre Site. Harold rode Jack so both my horses got some exercise. I didn't pack Jack's boots and part of it is a little rocky but he did great. You can keep to the sandy wash if you want. On the way back, Celia and I ran up the wash about a mile. That's as far as I've ran Drifter. He did good other than when he got tired, he tried to dash out of the wash and clothesline me on a low hanging branch. I was trying to video our run and wasn't paying a lot of attention where we were going. Fortunately, he did not succeed.
Celia and I had a shoot the next day. Drifter did really well but I could tell he was tired. I missed a balloon on the last stage taking me out of the money. It was a course with a hard right turn and I wasn't expecting Drifter to make the turn that well. Time to trust my horse!
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| Thirsty dogs |
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| Celia and Dirt towing Smooth |
Notes: Short ride up Tiger Wash so Celia could pony Smoothie. I believe it was the filly's first pony outside. She did great. Smooth is built like a brick shit-house. She's going to be a nice one.
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| (L-R) Harold/Jack - Me/Drifter - Radar - Christine/Mystique - Celia/Dirt |
Notes: It felt SO good to get out on some more technical trails. Friends from Idaho, (Christine and Lee) camped at Sophie's Flatt on their way to Apache Junction. Christine messaged and asked if I wanted to join them on a ride before they headed on to AJ. I'd never been to Sophie's Flatt.
I lent Jack to Celia's friend, Harold and I rode Drifter. I put both horses in their new Scoot Boots (fronts) and headed to Sophie's Flatt. I packed Jack's rear boots in case we needed them. Celia drove. Her trailer is big enough to accommodate without squashing them all together.
The trail took us into Box Canyon from the backside along the Hassayampa. I was surprised to see the Hassayampa still flowing with a little water. We've had zero rain for 6 months.
We ate our lunch in Box Canyon. I put Jack's rear boots on for the climb back out. His hooves fared well with the trip in. It won't be long and he should be able to handle bare-foot on the rear as well.
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| Jack and Drifter - Box Canyon |
I lost a boot on Drifter on the way back. We were between Harold and Celia and Christine and Lee - be-bopping by ourselves. Drifter hopped/climbed up one of the chutes we come down and his hoof slipped into a crevice...yanking off the boot. If he'd had been wearing shoes - it would have taken hoof along with the shoe. No damage to the boot. I didn't realize it came off until I caught up with Celia and Harold...discovered it was missing and walked back for it. Christine and Lee had found it and picked it up. At least I didn't have to walk all the way down and back some of those treacherous chutes to get it. I dubbed one particularly gnarly spot: "Hell's Chute."
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| Celia - Me - Harold in Box Canyon |
I grinned and giggled all the way back to the trailers happy with my horses AND sold on Scoot Boots.
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| South toward Aguila. You can see Eagle Eye in the background |
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| Found it! |
Notes: Went back to the area I left Jack's rein. FOUND IT! Part of the area is super rocky so I put Jack's boots on through the rocky parts. He went most of the way barefoot and did great. He moves so much better without shoes and for the first time in years doesn't have a look in his eye like he has a major headache. Can't wait for his Scoot Boots to get here. They are less bulky and won't take up all the room in my saddle bags.
We tied up at "the rock" and ate lunch before exploring around on foot. Steep country. We found a small cache of turquoise. That was pretty cool.
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| Felt like rain but never did |
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| Dan and Robyn |
Notes: First trail log of 2025. Where did 2024 go? Somebody said the days go by slow and the years go by fast. I find that BS - the days go by fast as well! I try to find a way to slow down time and all I can think to do is get a job I don't like. That will drag out the years.
Dan and Robyn are up for the winter from Idaho. We rode behind my place onto State Land. I saddled Jack for that ride. He's two weeks into being barefoot and is already moving better than he did with shoes.
Swapped horses and picked up Celia for a pre-shoot-day ride N. of Eagle Eye. We took a little different path and hit the jackpot of desert treasures. I found an old (probably 1950's heart shaped tin, a percaline bottle and a nice antler shed! Figures it would be the one day I didn't have my saddle bags. We stashed the tin to pick up on the way home - crammed the bottle in my phone pouch, stuffed my phone down my waistband and tied the antler to Drifters saddle.
The pre-shoot-day ride paid off as Drifter and I were 1 of 37 shooters out of 120 that shot clean to bring home a little extra cash. Pretty good start to the New Year.
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| Waiting at the bottom for me |
Notes: Friends of Fred and Cindy's were up from Texas. Cindy wanted to take them to the petroglyphs. Jack has been barefoot for a week and half and is moving around fine so I decided to give it a go. The terrain is super sandy in the flats and SUPER rocky once you get toward the mountain. I discovered Drifters original Easy Boot's fronts fit Jack's back feet. I packed those and thought I had both of Jack's Cavallo's for his fronts. I discovered I only had one. That sucked. I put it on his "weakest" front and went for it. He picked his way through the rocks. I got off and walked some of it. The others had made it to the top of the bluff where the carvings were. I tied Jack at the bottom and hiked up. His foot was holding up well so I thought it best to stop while we were ahead.
One of the mules got into the cholla and wouldn't let his rider anywhere near to remove any of it. Fred tried dallying up and rubbing it off in the greasewood but that didn't work. He eventually let him off the steep bluff and the gal rode him out. I removed Jack's boots once at the bottom and back to the trailer I rode. Jack's one bootless hoof made it out without so much as a nick. He moves so much better without shoes...almost too good as he was a bit on the muscle coming across that sand which made me happy! I left one of my split reins up where I tied Jack and didn't want to go through the rocks for it. I'll go back and get it another time. I'm sure it will still be here. Not too many people would ride up through there.
This concludes the last ride of 2024. Here's to another year in the saddle!
