Week #2

*most recent dates on top*

Sat May 2

Sun May 3

The group participated in the T or C, NM annual parade on Saturday and rode in the grand entrance to the rodeo both Saturday and Sunday.  It was a lot of fun and Ali was absolutely perfect in the parade despite riding next to a crazy horse who wouldn't settle down due to the motor cycles, crowds & balloons.  All the work we've been doing the past 3 years and continue to do has paid off.  

Saturday at noon we had a wedding!  A couple traveling with us, Roy and Janice from Florida, were married by the Best of America preacher, Dale Shields.  They decided to marry while on the trail and it was completely unexpected.  We all rode into the arena and viewed the wedding by horseback.  The couple rode in, dismounted and tied the knot.  

After breakfast Sunday, we attended cowboy church and spent the rest of the day making ready and putting together the provisions needed for our 3 day trek into the White Sands Desert where the riders will be camping out on the ground beneath the stars.

Fri May 1

Early in  the morning, the horses and riders were shuttled to back to the Cain Ranch where we rode another 11 miles to Engle, NM.  Engle consists of four old buildings and not much more.  The town borders one of Ted Turner's ranches.  He did not allow our group to cross his land.  A few of the riders stopped at that point, but a few of us rode another 4 miles into the White Sand Desert.  Since we left Ft. Selden State Park, we've been riding along the Trail of Death which is part of the old trade route from Santa Fe to Mexico City.  It's called the Trail of Death due to a history of rampant Apache Indian attacks on travelers along the route.  

Total miles for the week: 69

Total miles to date: 125

Thu Apr 30

We picked up on the trail where we left off and rode another 19 miles further into the desert.  The day's ride ended at the entry to the Cain Ranch.  After riding, we returned to our camp in Hatch then moved it to Truth or Consequences (T or C), NM which is about 50 miles down the trail.  We set camp after dark that night at the Sierra County Sheriff's Posse rodeo grounds where we stayed through Sunday night.

Wed Apr 29

We had a "rest" day.  I think from now on I'll call it a "non-traveling" day because there's not much rest involved.  A few of the riders, including me, made presentations to several different classes in the Hatch Elementary school about our adventure.  A trail mate and I spoke to kindergardeners, 1st and 2nd graders.  Talking to the kids was a lot of fun!

Tue Apr 28

We left Fort Selden and rode 18 miles to the middle of nowhere in the surrounding desert.  The landscape consisted of cactus, sagebrush & tumbleweed.  When we arrived nowhere, we had crossed the first 100 miles of our ride.  There we tied the horses and returned to Fort Seldon to pick up the rigs.  After we drove back to the trail to pick up the horses, the camp was moved to the fairgrounds of Hatch, NM.  

Ali did very well and shows no soreness or lack of energy.  He's eating and drinking as well as am I.  

Mon Apr 27

The riders left Las Cruces, NM and rode 16 miles to a state park with beautiful scenery.  We rode along the Rio Grande River shadowed by the mountains all around us.  Ali was strong, but some horses showed signs of weight loss & dehydration.  The trail master talked to riders about the need for feeding and watering the animals that afternoon.

In the evening, we were treated to a BBQ by a group of people from the New Mexico Parks Department.  They gave us presentations on folklore & local history.  One individual talked to us about the nomenclature of the saddle and the Spanish influence on it.

*posted for Bud by Melissa*