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[RC] East Mojave Ground Zero - Merri Melde

EASTERN MOJAVE GROUND ZER0

[images: http://www.endurance.net/rides/2007EastMojave/Day0]

Gretchen and I set off for the 3-day Eastern Mojave Scenic ride, in the 
National Mojave Preserve outside of Baker, CA, whose claim to fame appears to 
be having the world's largest thermometer. Gretchen and I were a bit worried as 
the temperature started climbing... 68*, 71*... not bad. Then it got to 75*... 
78*...

"If it hits 80* let's turn around and go home."

Kidding!

The traffic was awful - thousands of people heading for Vegas for the holiday 
weekend. It appeared that thousands of Vegans were also fleeing Las Vegas for 
the better (?) environs of Los Angeles.

We pulled into ride camp where, by 2 PM, it was looking a little like the crowd 
at Burning Man: BIG. Lots of trailers, and more coming in. We unloaded the 
horses and saddled them up for a ride.

Boy were they raring to go! They hadn't been out since Sunday, and it was like 
riding a couple of banshees out in the desert. Either Spice was out front 
tripping and bucking and Raffiq was behind bolting because something was 
goosing him in the butt, or he was out front climbing and trying to run off 
because he didn't want Spice in front of him and anyway she was getting goosed 
in the butt and bucking behind. We're using BRIDLES tomorrow instead of 
sidepulls.

The golden setting sun lit the mountains behind us gold and magenta.

At the ride meeting there was quite a crowd... ride manager The Duck said we 
had permits for 100, or "maybe a few more," the BLM guy allowed. It was 100 and 
Maybe a Few More come out for this 3 day ride in the beautiful high desert of 
Joshua trees.

The Duck is very vociferous in insisting his rides are for pleasure, not for 
racing. No special awards for finishing first, or top ten. Not a problem for 
Gretchen and me, because our horses just poke along. We always get to absorb 
lots of scenery.

It seems to take forever to get ready for next day's ride. Lunch is an out 
vet-check, so we have to pack crew bags, food for the horses and for us. 
Already we're hauling horse water to our trailer, already we've filled hay bags 
and water buckets several times. Don't forget to pack the Raven in his saddle 
bag. Get the camper set up for beds, eat a second time (ate once before the 
ride meeting), eat some desert.

Then off to bed, with the busy hum of constant traffic on I-15 two stone's 
throws away, sleep a few hours before starting down the trail with the sunrise 
at 7 AM, all 100 and a Few More of us endurance riders.


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