OK, I guessed who the pic is of. The illustrious and talented writer of Tayo...?
Thank you kindly, wow that was quite a happy dance alright!
What motivation, and those dashing moves.
Kinda' makes
me think back fondly, of the luvly ladies, when they used to be
doing their aerobics, like the happy country line dancers all in time.
I most of all like the strings. You get a new one on that banjo, or was
you just joking about the twangin' plunk...
Thanks for the relevent comments. Good to hear from you also,
it's only fun to have been there and survived, I think now anyway.
...The lead coach driver would not hardly do anything at all, or stop,
nor take any time, to tend to the horses at all. But, allowed that I did
insist, and watered them well at the station, in El Paso. I had not been
around horses very much I admit, though surely would've preferred to.
I listened to him, when he said no to a bite of good alfalfa for them, and
said it was too hot, it seemed to make some sense at the time. I still felt
like there should be more that we could so for them. Like when the first
and only time at 12, that I helped my 13 yr. old friend get 2
horses off of the property and back, near Big Bear, CA...
When his nice Grandmother, was so kind as to take
us with her, up to the well facilitated campground in the
early afternoon on that sunny, perfect So. Cal. summer day.
Then told us to leave our little clothes packs in the bunkhouse,
and go walk around and have fun, but be sure and back, at the
cafeteria for dinner...
So I happily followed my assertive and confident buddy
straight to the horses. I watched him shinny up through
the locked tack room door air gap, and caught the two
bridles, halter and bareback pads, that he quickly sent
over. Then he shinnied smoothly back over, minutes
later sporting his good looking first choice, for our
unauthorized warm afternoon ride. I was not that
lucky however, my first pick looked good as far
as I could tell, but wanted to knock me off as
running under a low tree branch, which I nimbly
at maybe 98 lbs. quickly ducked down to his neck
and avoided. He ran and did a quick left, I fell off.
The next one I picked ran into a stall, and smashed my
leg best he could against the wood rails. I backed him out
with Davids help, and watching suspiciously, gladly let him go.
With the second one and more of the wild, unridden, half broke
same, I wasn't quitting, there still were some more to choose from.
My third pick was truly a charm, and with no acting up at all, was
the relief I was looking for. The next thing I knew, David said "lean
forward, hold on and follow me. We were going up the steep side of a
hill there, and before long, we made it to the State Hwy. 18. Following
the northern shoulder N/E bound, against traffic, on the decent shoulder
with some paved, some gravel. Seemed safe enough, David telling me
we don't run at all here, especially on pavement. About a quarter mile
later we saw the green sign, Jinx Lake 7 miles. It didn't seem to take
very long before we made it to the turnoff. We crossed the 2 lane
mtn. hwy., and rode the short way to the water. We walked in
close to the edge, and let them drink a bit. Then walking on
around the small crystal clear pond sized lake, I couldn't
hold back any longer, gently tapped my big brown horse
and she responded with running at a wide open gallup.
For a minute it seemed we were flying, smooth and
free. The first time I felt like that. But my legs didn't
hold on real good with the bouncing, and I let go of the
little strap to hit the soft ground. I looked up and there
she had stopped. Turned her head back to look at me as
if to grin and say, liked that huh? I hopped back up and
away we went again, but soon found myself bouncing again,
slipping over with the pad, and losing my balance, though
delighted with the speed, but she just stopped, turned
back and looked at me again...
I was satisfied then, walked over and joined David, to let
her cool off, and let people come up and visit that were
walking around who were just so happy to pet them.
We talked, and smiled to their content, and then
carefully walked them the 7+ miles back.
David put the tack up and after we curry
combed, watered and fed them a little bit,
we made it back just in time, to join his
beautiful grandmother for dinner.
She was pleased to see us and spoke
real kindly, asking if we had a fun
hike. We smiled big and tried our
best to look serious, then assured
her that it was great, yes, thank you...
That is just a dreamy childhood memory, not
fake, tho seems sort of unreal. But the twilight
zone, of being way too many hours straight out on
the road, was even more surreal, as I drove about
75 all night. Los Alamitos was fun to see. Arid and
a bit dusty I recall, but very nice. We quickly found
the customer there, and promptly loaded their horse.
Was smooth, and we were right back on the road, not
even taking time for a meal. We were off, and headed
for our next stop that I had never been to before either,
Santa Anita in my western home state. I drove all night,
feeling the fatigue, but with coffee and fresh air, a few
smokes and a song, was in Indio right after daybreak.
Soon we'd be in that wonderful early traffic, till we
made it to the I-15 S. to find the Steven Lucas Ranch.
The manager was very nice and polite, but I saw her
squint unhappily at the sight of the unclean stall, not
decently clean hooves like what shoulda' been. I felt
bad to see that, and was getting more disgusted in
who I was stuck working with. We headed N., then
west on out to the Santa Anita track, and found the
right place to unload the rider from N.M. Man that
place was busy and packed...
It seemed the locals glared at the sight of us, maybe
thinking we were out hauling around in that shiny
white truck and slick lookin' trailer, like having fun.
It wasn't long and we were back on the road again...
Up on I-5 trying to escape the LA area traffic up into
Ventura Highway (no moonlight though) the phone rang,
and a sweet flirty sounding gal was saying, you'll be back
through here tomorrow, we'll be talking to you then. Oh, OK
I said, saying, we will be? Yes, you'll be coming back thru this
way, we will give you directions and meet up with you then.
OK, I agreed, still surprised with this sudden information,
and as Hoss would finally get over and past a slow truck
going over the grapevine I believe, we would get up to
the speed limit and he would get back over in the RH
lane, only to get stuck behind a truck and bogged
down again But the real fun part, was yet to come.
As he got us over at the wrong time, not watching,
and soon I realized, we were not on I-5. A big mistake,
that would soon come to haunt me, as we headed up
toward Oakland Bay, in my weary sleepless, shower,
and food deprived frame of mind...
My secretary informed me it took about 2 long
for me slowhands to type this, but, what can
ya' do, I think it's like I am practicing...
