Death Valley Encounter, 1999 Part 2, Day 3 & 4

[DreamWeaver <karen@chaton.gardnerville.nv.us>]

Next thing you know, it was time to get up again.  The third day of the 
ride.  I was up really early, bound and determined to get a size "O" 
easyboot on Rocky's front feet.  I walked him first then we settled in for 
what I thought would be a long frustrating battle of da'boots.  Well, as it 
turned out it wasn't as hard as I thought.  Maybe because I was cold and 
wanted back in the warm camper.......I wrestled the boots on both front 
feet in only a couple of minutes and was quite proud of myself.  No room 
for vetwrap, so duct tape went over the metal teeth on the sides so his 
hoofwall won't get scratched up.  By the third day the horse usually has 
everything figured out and doesn't have that look of shock when he gets the 
saddle placed on his back....yet again.  I am always amazed at the horses, 
that they can just trot out and look so good day after day and keep going 
with so much enthusiasm.

This day was the rockiest day and probably rivals any ride, anywhere, for 
being the most rocky.  The start this day was the fastest of any of the 
ride.  We did start out at a walk but it seemed like everybody was really 
moving out.  Probably because it was flat, and you could see everybody for 
a longer ways so it just seemed that way. We headed into the ranch again 
for water where some darolect threw a wet sponge in Rocky's face while he 
was trying to drink.  <shaking head>.  ;^)  The next section of trail was 
really rocky.  I remembered it from last year.  We walked all of it 
then.  This time, with easyboots on and no worries of sore feet, we 
trotted.  Some of the trail was rockier because flooding had washed away 
all the sand and dirt, as if it could be any rockier......ha...but it 
was.  The vet check was about 35 miles into the ride.  We crossed the 
highway and drank from the second water trough and last chance for water 
before the vet check.  Rocky was getting dosed with electrolytes everytime 
he drank.  I was riding with Kathy and Elfta.  Now we began a long gradual 
climb in footing that was much better, though at times there was a lot of 
deep sand.  I slowed down for this stuff and got behind by walking and 
taking pictures but we'd catch up when the footing got firmer.  We saw a 
herd of wild burros, one of several encountered during the course of the 
ride.  They have such small feet and seem to travel well thru the deep 
sand, making our horses seem like large lumbering beasts sinking and 
struggling to get thru it.

Into the vet check.  I got my P&R at the same instant Dave (hubby) arrived 
at the check. Good timing!  He had five other people with him, three dogs 
and crew stuff for three other horses.  They quickly set up and we had 
Rocky taken care of no problem.  I vetted him after being in for a half an 
hour and then we came back to our spot.  Rocky did his usual pig out for 
3/4 of the hold then spend the last 1/4 of it staring off in the 
distance.  A jet flew overhead.  He just followed it with an ear.  We'd 
been lucky this year, and no low-flying surprise buzzes, you know the kind 
where you can see the pilot inside the plane?  When we left the check I 
noted that we were leaving it about three hours ahead of arriving at the 
same place last year......part of that is the 1/2 hour earlier start but 
most was because we weren't walking as much this time.  We were in deep 
sand again so just went at a slow jog or walk.  This is actually one of 
Rocky's strong points, even though at the time you feel like you're on a 
pogo stick and not really going anywhere.  It was a long way back down, 
with plenty of rock and sand and only one rider ahead that we could 
see.  Kathy dropped back and Elfta and I continued on heading for that 'ol 
cinder cone up ahead that seems sooooo far away. I was grinning the entire 
way, knowing that I was going to finish this day in the light too!  We made 
it to the next highway, turned left and headed up the long grade into 
Panamint Springs.  Wasn't long before we caught the other rider and 
galloped past.  Both of our horses were strong and we slowed them down so 
they wouldn't go into the finish too hot.  It was nice to get to see things 
like the trail, scenery and even the finish line in the daylight - for 
having done this three times this was all new to me since I could actually 
see it for the first time.  We weighed in at the finish line, and then a 
young girl named Patty from PA wanted to walk Rocky for me, so we walked 
into camp.  Still smiling.  It was daylight, and I even had time to sponge 
the horse clean - and have him dry before dark!  Yesssssss!!!!    Next I 
vetted then hit the showers.  My crew was still out, since Dave had to wait 
for all 3 of the other riders to get thru the hour hold none of my stuff 
was back.  Oooops, that was poor planning on my part - I had left all of my 
buckets of Rocky's feed and large haybag in the back of the pickup, and 
extra buckets.  Oh well, we got by.  He had his hay net full of hay and a 
bucket of water.  I stole the dogs water bucket for a sponge bucket so I 
could clean him up.  I figured he wouldn't shrivel up or anything if he 
didn't get any grain or mash after finishing for a few hours (and he 
didn't, go figure......).

Now this is where it starts to get exciting.  Not that I hadn't thought 
about it, but it was pointed out to me that Rocky was most likely the first 
place overall horse so far, with 150 miles down and 50 more to go.  It 
wasn't like we planned it or anything, other riders got pulled or didn't 
get to start each day or were riding different horses so I guess Murphy's 
Law figured he'd messed with me enough and decided to let me have a perfect 
ride.  I tried not to think about it, figuring that if I did that Rocky'd 
be dead lame the next morning or some such thing.  I kept walking him 
regularly, every couple of hours and that seems to help him a lot.  Makes 
him want to drink and when he gets back to the trailer you'd think he was 
arriving home from a long trip or something, digging into the food each 
time.  The size "O" boots were working great, I took them off overnight and 
put them on the next morning.  I put his party hat on his halter, and next 
thing you know we were trotting out in front of the vets for the start on 
the 4th day.  He passed!   Jackie had figured out the times and told me I 
had a fairly large lead on the next horse for overall time, so I figured 
well that's kewl I'll just take it easy today.

So we were off.  Nick and Zayante led the controlled start as we walked 
down the paved highway and thru the turn until we got to the turnoff.  We 
have a stretch of a couple of miles that is flat then we begin the climb up 
Darwin grade.  One of Rocky's best attributes is that he will go at my 
speed without a fight, something he probably learned from me riding him 
with a separated shoulder - he might want to go faster but he won't argue 
the point and lets me keep him at a steady pace on a loose rein.  I really 
appreciate that by the last day of a multiday, especially when we're 
starting out going up and down hills.  There were riders up ahead.  Judy on 
Warpaint, John Lasko and farther up Wendy and Flikka, Patty Danley and Dave 
Rabe.  We went at about the same pace, spaced similarly apart for a few 
miles.  Then Flikka sprouted wings and disappeared.  I rode with Patty for 
awhile, and then she followed suit.  Then Dave and I rode together thru 
Darwin and the rest of the way into the vet check. The footing thru this 
whole section is the best footing of the entire ride.  Just perfect!  We 
were in no particular hurry, just stayed at an easy trot.  We could see a 
big dust cloud behind us, several horses but none of them were 4 day horses 
so we didn't really care.  Going into the vet check Dave and I got off and 
walked our horses in while some of the others trotted right past us and 
went in ahead.  Got a kick out of that because our horses were the first to 
get P&R'd.

Oh yeah, this 4th day I was having Rocky tested again so we immediately 
gave our blood.  Took our break then vetted.  Rocky still had his party hat 
on, and he was humming 'this is my party and I'll trot if I want to' 
(groan) :^).  Vetted thru with no problems except Dave was too slow and got 
stepped on <g>.  Wendy left the check way ahead of anybody else.  Then 
Patty left.  A loooong while later, Dave R. and I were the next ones to go 
but we had a dozen people right behind us.  Eflta caught up and I dropped 
back and rode with her for awhile.  Lori and Dom caught up, both riding 4 
day horses as was Dave and I.  We all rode together off and on at a similar 
pace for the rest of the ride.  We stopped in Darwin again for water.  A 
little girl that lives there came out and fed Rocky hay that was left over 
from the LD vet check.

We alternated between walking, trotting and cantering thru the canyons and 
then up the hill again.  When we got to the top, all 4 of us riding 4 day 
horses got off and led our horses down the looong steep grade.  We were 
passed by several people but we let them go.  I'd heard too many stories of 
people trotting down that long (rocky) hill on this ride and coming into 
the finish only to get pulled.

When we reached the flat, I mounted back up and we started off at a 
trot.  I really was going to stay with everybody else, but Rocky decided it 
was his turn to sprout wings and we were off.  It felt just too darn good 
to slow him down.  Next thing you know, we were flying past all of the 
people who had passed us on the downhill.  I was thrilled that the horse 
felt so good at the end of 200 miles.  I let him drink before starting the 
long walk back to camp from the finish line.  A bunch of other riders 
finished right behind us.  We made our way back into camp and the Duck said 
to bring Rocky back in an hour, so I could show him for overall 
b/c.  Eeeeeeeeek.  I've finished multlidays before, but always ride slow 
enough to not get considered for any such thing.  First thing I did was get 
Rocky taken care of.  Dave was still at the away check with everybody 
crewing for the other horses.  I did my best to clean Rocky up while he 
ate, and mostly let him be.  Eflta came over and helped me warm him up and 
made sure he was sound so I didn't go and embarrass myself.  Well, I 
needn't have worried - Rocky was just floating circles all around me, he 
really did look good, and I was really just thrilled as could be to receive 
a completion for the day.  It's always a sigh of relief (and satisfaction) 
when you complete a multiday, the most important thing is to complete.......

Took a real quick shower.  The hot water was all gone, geeez that's what I 
get for taking care of the horse first!! ;^)   Was nice to get cleaned up 
though, and get ready for the New Year's party.  The party tent was up, and 
the caterer was serving ribs and prime rib.  I was a little tired but felt 
great overall.  I had blisters on my toes, which I always get when I walk 
downhill with sand in my shoes......someday maybe I'll figure out how to 
get around that.  Didn't seem to notice the blisters tho, <bg> when Jackie 
called Rocky's name for receiving Overall Best Condition.  Hot diggity, 
Rocky actually won something wayyyyy kewl!   For me, I was just really 
pleased to have met my goal - to have finished each day of the ride in the 
daylight, and of course, on a healthy horse......

Happy Trails,

Karen
& Rocky, 2,410 miles, woohoooo mom's finally letting me go faster now!
& Weaver, 3,205 miles, hopefully gets to do the next multiday...... :+)))


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