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I would first like to say, THANK YOU LYNNE FOR
EVERYTHING !
And Julie, and every volunteer.....I really like
this ride. I have ridden it 4 out of the 5 years (last year I had to go to
a funeral).
This year was a tough one. Was waiting for a
government check. I got to the house at 11am Friday. My husband
said, GO. Well, I had given up the idea, so I had not packed yet,
but went anyway. Left showered, shaved packed and loaded in under 2
hours.
Oh and just to make it more interesting, I (yes me)
was under the truck all day Thursday working on the drive train ( and yes, I
really should have changed the Universal Joints then!), changing the oil and
radiator fluid.
So on the road at 1pm. Oh yes, the AC is out
on my truck. Went out just in time for the summer. I think this was
the start of my demise.
The truck was making a very strange noise, but the
gauges were all running normal, good power, transmission good, so kept
driving. Even got good (for a gas hog) mileage. Got through LA with a
minimum of traffic. A couple of years ago I left Thursday night for this
ride and loved diving through LA with NO traffic. Got to basecamp in time
for most of the ride meeting. OH YEAH, got to vet IN the horse.
Found one of the vets which I knew ,but he had no clue who I was. Well, at
least I haven't left a bad impression. He asked me if I had done this
before! Oh well, it was nearly dark. I just said yes, I have.
Ed (the horse) vetted in with all A's. Back to the trailer to eat, me back
to the meeting. That is when Mike Benson invited me for dinner.....thank
Goodness. I had forgotten people food. Ate well thanks to Mike and
Sue.
Since I had gotten a call through to Sue via a cell
phone network to save me a spot, she had even picked up my ride packet. I
had left in such a hurry, I didn't put the camper on the truck and just "roughed
it" in the back seat. At least I do have the crew cab. I was
sweating in the dark up until at least midnight. Didn't sleep well at
all. Oh well, nothing too unusual so far.
I didn't have to work at finding my tack through 2
or 3 sets, I only brought one set. Saddled and ready. Mike held on
to Ed for me. Once on, we are fine, but I recently found out why I got him
for very little. He bucks HARD when the mood strikes him. As in
rodeo stock ain't got nothin' on him. At least everyone tells me so.
( I am always on the ground, dazed. ) So Sue and I are walking waiting for
the start.
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