Aug 11-17, 2009 To Marmarth, ND
Tuesday, August 11, 2009 We put our horses on a stock trailer and Terry’s trailer and they were transported back to where we left off the ride on Sunday. There were only 13 of us and we rode faster than we could other times. I was riding Dakota and he floats along. He is a pleasure to ride! The land is not fertile but farmers are bailing hay. They leave the round bales in the pasture wherever the bailer spits them out. We always pick up the round bales and store them in straight lines 18 inches or so apart. We leave the space between rows so the rain water can drip off the bales and not soak in and rot the hay. There are some fields of oats. The landscape is valleys and swells. Then there are some cliffs across the way. One had interesting shapes on top – a spire, then a pyramid, then a rounded hump. We only rode 15 miles but did take a lunch break. We sat on the side of the road and ate our lunch in the sun. It was in the low 90’s. They brought the trailers back and we and horses returned to camp in Camp Crook.
I took my pc to the community center and was able to use their Wi-Fi and updated my blog. I didn’t have time to add photos. We had dinner in THE restaurant, and then returned to the Community Center in time to hear Del Shields play for the locals. I enjoyed talking to several in the community. Most have roots in this area that go back into the 1800’s.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 We still have not ridden into Camp Crook so we trailered horses again. I rode Cisco and carried my rope. Shortly after the ride started, I dropped the rope except for the end so I could recoil it better. Well, Cisco, my cow horse that I have roped off of, forgot his role and started jumping around, trying to get away from the dreaded rope that was following him. I finally dropped the rope. Later, I got Cisco used to the rope again and threw a few loops. This bothered some riders so I put up the rope. Later, Nancy J. wanted to drag something. She does completive trail rides and is sometimes asked to drag an object. She found a piece of wood 24 inches or so long that had a small branch jutting out. This was perfect! Bobby started dragging and got his horse used to it. Then I had a turn. Before Nancy J had a turn, we were informed that this was bothering some and was “very dangerous”. So we had to let our wood go. I know we need to be safe but also I want to train my horse when it fits in. We passed a ranch that raises buffalo. They have several hundred of the beasts and sell 2 a month. I think they should be looking for more land….The miles flew by and soon we were back at camp.
Dakota has a cough so we started him on sulphur. Hope he gets better soon so I can ride him again. We break up pills, dissolve them in hot water, and pour the solution down his throat. We have a syringe – no needle – and stick this to the side of his teeth with his head up and squirt, then hold his head up until we think he has swallowed. Then he puts his head down and dribbles what is left in his mouth. Oh, well….
Thursday, August 13, 2009 I declared that my arm was healed and I could lift heavy things again – and get into my saddle myself. This day we rode out of camp. We headed across a pasture and were in pastures most of the day. This is MUCH BETTER riding than along the road – even if it is a dirt road. After the first pasture, we crossed a hard road. I got off of Cisco to take off some cactus spines he had on his legs. I got him in a ditch to facilitate my getting back on. I had him stretched out but he took a step down into the ditch as I got a foot in the stirrup. The end result was that I fell on my right shoulder when I slipped in the grass and down into the ditch. Now the rotator cuff hurts! Darn! I finished the ride but needed help getting back on my horse and getting up after sitting on the ground for lunch.
We saw several herds of sheep and cattle. The cows are mostly Black Angus but occasionally there is a herd of Red Angus. And there was a corn field! We have not seen corn for miles and miles. It is probably silage corn. The farmers take their used hay/manure and spread it on the fields. This is good fertilizer. Some farmers calve in the barn and use hay for bedding. Guess it is too cold to calve outdoors – and what would you do with the bales and bales of hay if you had not used them????? Anyway, the terrain is rolling – some sage and cacti – therefore antelope – and some grass and weeds. Gerald rode with us and we had lunch at his place. After lunch we were on the road and saw a herd for 40 or so horses running to keep up with us. Gerald said these horses belong to his brother and would be sold at the weanling auction soon. Some were good looking horses! This was exciting to see free horses running in a pack! We got to the ending place, tied our horses or loaded them in stock trailers and were transported back to our trailers. I loaded Dakota and we went to town to fill up on water. We had 40 miles of road, then over a one-way bridge (this is the border of North Dakota but no sign), turn right at the oil well and Quonset hit, another right in 4.5 miles and who knows how much farther. I didn’t think we would ever get there but just when I was about to give up, we came up over a hill and saw the trailers! I pulled in and swung around so I’d be facing out and north (remember, north/south gives you shade in the afternoons.). Nancy J was behind me and made a wider turn and promptly got stuck! After a while, Kelly came and pulled her out with his tractor. Whew! Freda had gotten stuck earlier. Kelly and Susie served us a roast beef meal and provided entertainment by the Sons of the Wagoneers. Del took the microphone for a bit and sang. I left at this point as I was tired and my shoulder hurt. I didn’t sleep well as I groaned every time I turned over.
Friday, August 14, 2009 This was not a good morning for me. I was generally tired, my shoulder hurt, and my eyes itched from allergies. I even considered not riding! But after all this way – every step of the way – I was not about to give up! I can be miserable on a horse or off so what is the choice? So with the help of Ibuprofen and Benadryl Allergy I was ready. I rode Nancy J’s horse Clover since Cisco had sore kidneys and Dakota was still coughing and had a snotty nose. Today we rode south – yes this is Mexico to Canada Trail Ride but we had some miles we had not ridden and it was easier to ride south and get trailered back. The first part of our ride was through some interesting property. There were draws and canyons and ups and downs. At the top of a ridge, we were “on top of the world”! Sometimes the dirt was white – either sand or clay. Other times there were black rocks that looked like lava rocks. Then we got to some pastures with weeds as high as the horses’ bellies. Eventually we got to the road and rode along side it back to where we ended the ride the day before. The trucks and trailers returned so we could load horses. I rode with Susie, the ranch wife. I was taking my afternoon nap when – POW!!! – I thought we had had a blow out. But come to find out, the whole tire/wheel had escaped, leaving just the part to screw the tire into. 2 bolts had sheared off completely and 3 did not have their nuts on. We found some parts and the tire on the road. Luckily, another of our trucks was behind us and stopped. We climbed into the truck and rear bed and were taken back to the ranch. Kelly went out to check on the car, put on the spare using the spare’s nuts and drove it back home.
There was a dinner for us in town and Del played at a restored old theater for the locals. I opted to stay at my trailer. I needed the number for Exiss – the maker of my horse trailer – to order some parts since the handle closing the horse compartment had come off. Kelly and Russ came over and looked at my trailer problem. Russ took the entire hinges part off and returned soon with it fixed! Thank you Russ and Kelly! I showered, fed and watered my horses and was in bed by 7:00. I knew I was tired.
Saturday, August 15, 2009 A Rest Day My shoulder/rotator cuff is better. I only have a little pain when I raise my arm. I can probably mount my horse tomorrow by myself again. I thought I would sleep in but was wide awake by 5 and tired of being in bed. We went to Bowman to the nearest Laundromat – a mere 35 miles away. We started south on a road that went in all directions except west and ended up at our target – northeast of the Stearns Ranch where we are staying. After laundry, a Western store, fuel, lunch, and the grocery store and we headed home. This land is interesting – swells and low “mountains” off in the distance. These “mountains” are buttes (flat on top), pointy or rounded on top, some with straight cliffs down, others with gentle slopes, some with black dirt – coal or lava? – some with white sand or clay, some with grass, some with brown dirt. Then there are canyons that go down, down. I think you’d have to see it to believe it. We are back in oil well territory – some pumps operate VERY slowly. We looked over in a field and saw antlers standing up. On a closer look we saw the antlers were attached to elk lying in the grass! There were hundreds of them!
I took a nap then cleaned up my trailer. It sprinkled/rained off and on all afternoon so I put Dakota in the horse trailer to keep him dry. He still coughs some but does not have a snooty nose. I made bulghar to take to the pot luck dinner.
At dinner, Tom told about his afternoon adventure. He went with a local guy to a canyon where the local has discovered a whole dinosaur! Tom picked up a rock that he showed us that is skin on the outsides and bone marrow inside! Another “rock” is the lower tibia. There is a museum with more finds that I will have to go to.
Red sky sunset tonight. I hope this means “Sailors delight”. Bed time – I don’t want to stay up late as tomorrow is a long ride day.
Sunday, August 16, 2009 We rode out of Stearn Ranch with Russ leading us. We went over hill and dale. Ii was a cool morning and the horses had had a day off and they were fresh. Cisco danced and pranced. Michael came up beside me to grab my knee. Cisco spun around and would not let me get anyway near Michael to grab his knee. We went over a hill and down into a ravine, then into a canyon. Then up, up, up. This was another “on top of the world” place with 365 views! Wow! I was glad Freda had not ridden with us as she would have been scared with these ups and downs. This was like going across the peat fields in Ireland. We cut across the pasture and eventually ended up at the road. From then on, the ride turned into a gaited horse ride with the gaited horses setting the pace. I pushed Cisco the rest of the way. The wind started when we left the Stearns’ yard and blew in gusts over 50 mph and sustained winds of 45 mph. I did not have a hat that covered my ears. Mu cowboy hat just tried to blow off. Tom took my hat and exchanged it for a cap. How did he know I needed a cap? Tom Seay is the “world’s greatest outfitter and trail master!”
Monday, August 17, 2009 We rode out of camp and along dirt roads the entire day. I was on Dakota and had a smile on my face – or both cheeks as they say about gaited horses. We rode through canyons and buttes and along the Little Missouri River that flows to the north. It was cold and windy but I was more prepared for the wind with a cap that ties under my chin, a jacket and my slicker with a hood. The land has huge swells so the road goes up and down. I put Dakota in his running walk and covered miles. Then there was a herd of horses in a pasture down the road. Dakota wanted to get close to them and he went from his running walk to his rack! Wow! I had not gotten him to go this fast before. Cool! Now I know what he can do! A little later, Bobby and I traded horses and he got Dakota racking up and down the road. Then it was my turn. He flies! But my saddle bag that hangs over the saddle horn came unstitched and half of it fell off. It was lunch time so after I ate my lunch, I could put the broken half in Tom’s truck. A trailer was parked at our lunch spot and took 7 horses back to camp. The rest of us had a fast paced afternoon – doing a running walk or trot. We were picked up by Don who is head of the trail association where we will be riding and taken back to our rigs. We moved to Medina Rodeo Grounds. Tomorrow we will start the ride at this point.
Happy Trails,
Nancy
