I took the dog with me so he could get some much needed excerise. We have to keep him either tied or penned up while we are here at Rob's sister's.
As I was driving over the Indian Valley Rd, I had the time to stop and take some pictures. Pictures dont really tell it like it is. They don't show how the hills connect, and each one gets higher like waves in the ocean. Everything is so brilliantly green. They say the snow stays on the mountains until June, or later depending on the snowfall up there.
As I traveled along I came to the fields that had humps all over them. We were told these mounds of dirt were where the Indians set up their teepees. I suppose it kept them high and dry.
I don't know if that story is accurate but it was a sobering thought. Off in the distance I saw what looked like a pool of water. As I got closer I saw that it was a patch of lavender wildflowers.
They reminded me of flowers that grew in grandma's flower garden.
This next picture is just a glimpse of the Ben Ross Reservoir.
An abandoned homestead.
This next picture is the Indian Valley Rd ahead of me.
This next on is on Hanthorne Rd approaching the ranch.
I got to the ranch, parked the truck and let the dog off so he could chase bunny rabbits or quail to his hearts content. I also brought our leftover pancakes in case he got bored. We now have two pancakes buried on the property somewhere.
Rob arrived, so we ate our lunch before he unloaded the ATV's.
I never went riding the range on a mule before but it wasn't at all what I was expecting. From the way our furry friend was sliding around on the back, I don't think it was quite what he was expecting either. The whole area was covered in sagebrush, the only way to get around them was over them. Some of them were tall enough to capsize us. I didn't know whether to use the seat belts that were provided for our safety or not. I didn't like the idea of being flung from the vehicle but the mental picture of me hanging upside down wasn't comforting either. I opted to hang on for dear life and pray! As we headed straight up over that big hill behind the ranch, I hoped and prayed there was a better way down.
This is sagebrush up close and personal!!
There were no tracks to ride on, so over the sagebrush we went.
We were looking for fences that needed mended and water holes. Rob found both, I was still concentrating on hanging on. When I saw we were heading straight for the edge of this water hole, I was ready to jump off and walk but I waited too long!!
A few minutes later we were stuck, not only were we stuck, we had sunk!
I looked at the floor of the mule and the mud and they were almost equal. Rob spent several minutes doing the forward and reverse thingy. We were going nowhere except deeper. He finally realized we weren't going to get out without some help. One of us was going to have to walk back to the ranch for the four-wheeler and a chain. This was not how I had planned to drive a UTV for the first time. Rob climbed over the mule and proceeded to walk back to the ranch. He did leave the dog with me...for protection. The sight of a stone deaf sleeping dog did nothing to soothe my fears. I won't disclose what my worst fear was but it had nothing to do with Cowboys and Indians, out here in the middle of nowhere.
If I was going to sit and wait, I might as well take some pictures. This was on one side of the mule.
And this was out front. We were stuck!!
This was where we had come from!!
My knight in shining armor finally appeared riding a green 4-wheeler.
He hooked his chain to the back of the mule and told me to hang on! I had already anticipated my hasty retreat, so I stuck all my valuables in the glove compartment. He got us yanked out of the mud, his new mule now looked liked it had been on the range for years. I guess this mule is now broke in!
He headed back to the ranch and I tried to follow in a vehicle I had never driven before. When he disappeared down over the same hill we had ascended moments before, I stopped. I wanted to see if he was going to go head over heels.
It looked like he wasn't having any trouble so I started down, standing on the brake. Half way down I had to stop and take a picture of the ranch. The sagebrush was less populated here and I was actually starting to enjoy myself.
I made it safely to the bottom. Decided the next time I climb that hill it will be on foot!! We transferred Judge to the back of the ranger. Rob went back out over the hill to check on more fences. I started back to the motorhome, about a half mile from the ranch, I met something that made me rethink my thought of walking the range on foot.
It was my third encounter with a snake in two days. Thankfully two of those encounters happened to be on the road. The fact that I actually took a picture of this fellow, makes me feel a tad braver. Who knows, I may have to do something else I never thought I would do, target practicing!!
The next time he says let's "check fences" I will be a little more prepared!
