Monday came along too quick and it was time to really pack up and head home, but not without a short ride first. Shannon, Judi, Linda, and I tacked up and while waiting for everyone to get ready, I found this little guy wandering around. I'm sure the guys were wondering why I was "taking pictures of dirt", Nah, just a neat little spider.
I also took a few more pictures of the area
Everyone was ready to go and we were thinking of keeping the dogs back at the campsite because poor Rowdy did a number on his paws/legs the day before on our 12-mile ride. He was so lame in his fronts that Linda, her hubby, and Shannon had to play vet the evening before.
But thankfully the goofy pup had other plans in mind and seemed pretty okay that morning, so Judd and Rowdy were allowed to come along. With their excitement, Judi's old lab Tia wanted to come along too. She had been kept at camp all weekend due to her age and that fact that she has terminal cancer and a bad back leg. We felt sorry for her and allowed her to come along with us because we didn't plan on riding very long. We were just going to ride up the creek so she could stay cool as well. We knew she'd let us know when she needed a break or wanted to call it quits.
She was SO EXCITED to come along!
We made it back to camp and by that time all the guy's had everything ready to go. We untacked, got the horses on the trailers, and hit the highway back up North to Salt Lake City.
When Linda dropped Cobre' and Hal off at our barn, Cobre wasn't soaking wet with sweat. In fact, he was dry, calm, and happy to see home again. Maybe he's getting over his fear of being in a trailer. I can only hope!
Sunday morning finally got here. I was still on Cloud 9 and couldn't wait to get saddled up and ready to head over to John and Sena's. Our plan was to be over there at about 10 am. We all ate breakfast, putzed around for a bit, then started to get our horses ready. Connie showed up and we finished tacking up and hit the trail!
Through the creek without an issue
Connie & Hal leading the way
Look it's Linda's "floating cross"
We had to cross the highway, which I am not a fan of. Maybe 23 year old me would be a lot braver but the 33 year old me said NOPE! Thankfully there was a tunnel that went under it! On second thought... I kinda panicked, how would Cobre' do with going through a tunnel? Would he? Would he throw his ass in reverse? No idea, but only one way to find out and that was to just relax, act like we'd done it before, and follow the other horses through.
Judy and Shannon went through first, Connie, Linda, and I went through second.
The results?
I could not ask for a more perfect little horse.
We finally made it to John and Sena's, John greeted us and told us all to make ourselves at home.
We dismounted and tied our horses and hung out with John, Sena, and James while they got their own horses & mule ready. While talking, John goes "You all want to meet John Wayne!?" We all said SURE! He tossed open a barn door and TADA! A life-size John Wayne.
John and his wonderful mule
Cobre' and LaMancha
John told us all to take pictures up on this rock. I have a picture of Linda and I up there out there somewhere, on someones camera. lol That's the only problem with being the "picture taker", I am never in pictures. Which actually is fine by me.
After our photo shoot, we all started heading out. John led the way and off we went onto the "movie route". We started off with riding over to the Rock House. The Rock House is a house that has been built into a HUGE rock and let me tell you, it is simply gorgeous. Check out the link above to see additional photos of the inside of it, also you can book it for overnights as well. Man would I love to do that one day!
John would go on to tell us all about how the movie crews and actors filmed every bit. How and where things were set up and built.
The cement Smoke Signal plaque from filming.
The real ride would really start right after that, down the hill and off to see Blender's grave.
Judd and Rowdy
The Colorado River
John telling us all about Blender and how he is buried right on the cliff over seeing his favorite spot. He is buried right where that T post and flag are at in the background.
Lily, Rowdy, and Gus in the river. Behind them, where the grassy island is, that is "Mexico" in the movie. It was neat to see how they filmed the horses and riders going down the Colorado river in order to make it seem like it was a longer way to "Mexico", but in reality, "Mexico" was a few yards away. We rode over to it and all were like "We made it to Mexico! YAY" It was funny, you had to be there.
Cobre' was great with the river and all water crossings. The dogs took that time to take a good swim and play around. At one point Moose, the red/white dog decided that he was going to take a trip down the river and got too far away to get back to us. John and James had to ride down the river and rescue him.
While we waited for John, and James to get Moose, we all went "Lizard hunting". We were really just looking for the very colorful lizards before the dogs saw and chased them. The one above was a gorgeous yellow and teal color. He didn't move at all while we all looking at him and the dogs even didn't notice him. John, James, and Moose came and met back up with us and onward we went.
Fisher Tower in the background
Mother Nature is AMAZING
Simply gorgeous. By this time all the dogs were hot and tied and trying to find shade. She found shade alright and seemed pretty proud of herself too
John and James
Sadly my camera died right after I took this picture.
We rode 12 miles all in all and man was it one of the most amazing rides that I have ever been on. We got back to camp and all ate snacks and talked and relaxed a bit. John, James, and Sena, and and dogs headed back to their place except for Lily. She was just too exhausted, so she took at nap at our camp. I had planned on drive over to their place 30 minutes later to use their landline. So I would just take her by car back to them.
A very very tired Lily. When I pulled up to their barn, John shouted to me "A Lily Delivery!". She is such a sweet dog, I fell in love her.
James was putting the horses away and shouted "Granddad! You need to come and see this!"
John shouted back "Boy! This better be worth my time!". Sena
and I went and checked it out as well and come to find, was a little
bull snake just watching us.
I headed back to camp after saying my thanks and goodbyes. Judd was my camp buddy and I just loved her calm and gentle nature, the complete opposite of her brother Rowdy. It rained a bit and a beautiful half of a rainbow appeared over Fisher Tower. Everyone grabbed a picture of it.
