Trail Log: 3-29-2025

It is starting to green up in the desert

 

• Trail: N. Eagle Eye
• Miles: 5.75
• Riders: Self
• Horses: Jack
• Dogs: Groot

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. 

there is no shortage of sick bastards in this world

Trail Log: 3-26-2025

And so it begins

 

 

• Trail: State Land -   My property
• Miles: 5.5
• Riders: Self
• Horses: Jack
• Dogs: Groot

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. 

A hawks nest

Trail Log: 3-18-2025

 

• Trail: Tiger Wash - Browns Canyon
• Miles: 11 
• Riders: Self - Mark - Pattie - Erick - Naomi - Keith - Sorbitt - Nancy
• Horses/Mules: Jack - Alli/Lou Ellen - Nellie - Hollywood - Chuck - Skinny Zipper - Taco - Roxie
• Dogs: Groot - Cisco

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. 

(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.

If your going to live in the desert, you better know where to find water

 

Trail Log: 3-12-2025 and 3-16-2025

Celia and Dirt scoping out a good way to get across.

• Trails: Aguila - State Land - W. 60 State Land 
• Miles: 12
• Riders: 3-16-2025: Self - Celia - 3-12-2025: Dan - Robyn 
• Horses: Drifter - Dirt - Jack - Reba - Bulls - 
• Dogs: Groot - Boo

Notes: 3-12-2025:  Dan and Robyn wanted to go on a ride before they headed north. We made a quick loop between storms. 

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.  

 

 

 

Trail Log: 3-10-2025

Patty - Mark - Erick - Naomi

 

• Trail: N. Eagle Eye
• Miles: 6
• Riders: Self - Patty - Mark - Erick - Naomi
• Horses: Lou Ellen - Nellie - Ally - Buckskin - Sorrel

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. 

Lou Ellen

Trail Log: 3-4-2025

Celia and Raven

 

• Trail: Eagle Eye - Tiger Wash Windmill
• Miles: 3.76
• Riders: Self - Celia
• Horses: Jack - Raven
• Dogs: Groot

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. 

Elizabeth Siddal - by John Everett Millais and his work "Ophelia"

 

Blank Document

(I am not aMUSEd)  

part 1

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.