Trail Ride Update Week of June 9-14:
I left College Station Mon and drove to Moody, Texas . Discovered a knowledgeable
hospitible couple Ron & Carol Marroquine. The raise, breed and train
Andalusia horses. Not being familiar with the breed it was quite impressive.
These animals are tall.... and I mean tall. 16 hands is starters for these
big boys. They're beautiful and by all accounts a pleasure to ride. Ron
and Carol put up with my animals for the week and were very helpful in
the care and doctoring of Cheater and Henery. Many thanks again to the
Marroquins for the weeks' stay there in Moody. (Link
To
Andalusians of Central Texas, Ron and Carol's Website)
Camped out all week in Mother Neff State Park . (Link to Mother Neff State Park) There's probably not 2 people on this mailing list who has visited this state park. Good facilities, beautiful, and the park personnel were most accommodating to this rider.
Day 7 -Tues June 10
Miles: 19 from Moody to Gatesville
Parked the rig at the Marroquin's and Cheater and I set out. It's been over a week since the animal has felt weight and it takes a while(and short rodeo) to settle him into the pace. He does and I do. We visit historical markers along the way: mostly small churches established mid 1800's. We make it a long day and at the end tie up short of Gateville at someone's house who's not home. After I get Cheat undone, the owner drives up, looks compassionately at me and gives me a ride the 19 miles back to the rig. Spend night in the horse trailer at Mother Neff.
Day 8 -Wed June 11
Miles: 13 From east of Gateville to west of Gatesville
It takes Cheat and me about 2 hours to make it to Gatesville. Then something interesting happens. Seems the townfolk have read in the Waco Tribune paper that there's some guy riding across America raising money for underprivileged kids. Everyone in town thinks it's me. Now this was fun for a while but understand I have to wave to everyone, and I mean everyone who drives by. My route takes me through down town and by the time me and Cheat are photographed twice, interviewed by the newspaper and radio station, it's time to get on down the road. I eat lunch with a guy named Al who has been walking, not ridin, for 12 years all over. Nice guy but he don't care fer horses much and I sure don't care fer walking. Cheat likes his idea better but I win out and we leave. We end the day at the Water Cooperative office between Gatesville and Evant. Spend night at Mother Neff park.
Day 9 -Thurs June 12
Miles: 14 from Water Cooperative office to east of North Evant Liars Club.
This day I am joined by Mr Carl Mancusso of Peidmont , Texas . Carl is the mayor there and I feel honored to have this mule savvy gentleman with me. Carl is riding a fine mule by the name of Annie Wild Fire. I have asked Henery to be my pardner under saddle for the day. Now understand mules travel faster than us 'ol horse folks. So I spend the better part of the day urging Henery on and giving him moral support to stay up with Annie. That morning we run onto Al from the previous day. He walks with us a while and every time I look behind me there's Al. One time he was ahead of us. Man can that guy walk. We spend the day in training techniques with Annie and Henery and it was time well spent. Annie learned much and Henery as near as I could determine learned little. Carl remarked it was a direct reflection on the trainer. I don't begin to think so much of Carl by this time. We finally pass Al when he decides to nap. We stop short of the ranch that Carl and other ner do wells have for hunting and hitch hike back to the rig. The only car we saw for a couple of hours stopped and picked me up..... as if they had a choice. We bid the Marroquins goodbye at Moody and relocate base camp at the hunting lease some times referred to as the North Evant Liars Club.
Day 10 - Fri June 13
Miles: 12 miles from east of the ranch to the ranch house.
This day the weather was cool and drizzly. We welcomed the weather. Felt good after warm..... no hot days in the saddle. We are at the ranch house by shortly after noon . We meet up with the working cowboys on the ranch... you know the kind.... not like us wanna bees. They ask if Carl and I want to help ride some stock to which we both simultaneously reply "thanky but no thanky." We make it to the ranch house and eat a fine meal prepared by Mr Cuso called "Choir Angles." Don't ask. Sleep in the Titantic and just generally enjoy the surroundings. On the next morning I return to Coll Stat for the weekend. Cheat says "thanky."
Lookin at the Sunset from The North Evant Liars Club
RNG