Horsin' 'round...

So, I was taking a day off my normal go-go-go (aka bike-bike-bike run-run-run) and was out off-roading in the truck, exploring an area southeast of home.  Off the grid, I had already gone at least an hour w/out seeing another soul. 

For some reason, I'd decided to throw my rarely-used cowboy hat on while in the truck today, even though I surely looked ridiculous with my running shorts and flipflops, but who would possibly even see me way out there? I rounded a corner and lo and behold I see a horse’s bootay sticking out from under a scrub tree. Poor thing was trying to beat the heat and at least keep his face in the shade. There were two more a few feet away, just chillin (in the 105F heat :)

Were they wild? I was on govt property (state/natl forest), but I hadn’t gone through any gates and I don’t think a cattleguard.  But cattleguards are so common here that maybe I did cross one (or two or three) and just didn't notice.  They wore no shoes nor had any saddle/bridle marks.

Of course, I’m a sucker and had to get outta the truck to make friends. And friends we became, all four of us. It took a bit, and by no means did they run up to greet me and ask me to saddle up. But they ‘knew’ I was a horse girl and saw that my eyes were the same color as theirs.

Turns out they were thirsty too. As soon as the one lowest down on the hill saw/heard me chugging out of my water jug, he stomped right up through the scrub and asked for some water -- more like demanded some. For a second, he drank out of my hand, but then impatiently nudged my hand out of the way and went straight for the mouth of the jug.

It was hard to leave those guys, but I’ll be back, with the hat.

Truckin' around....

I grew up on a farm -- a farm with lots of race horses and some crops.  And on that farm, among other things, I learned to do two of my now-favorite things -- to ride a bike and to drive a truck.   (Thanks, Daddy!)

These days, it's growing more popular and "green" for people to ride their bikes everywhere.  I guess I can get kudos for riding mine around, even though usually it's for "fun", although I've been known to run a few errands on it (one errand was about about 60 miles/roundtrip, although, admittedly, it was more because I wanted to ride, not specifically to be more "green").  


On the other hand, however, it seems to be quite anti-"green" to drive a big ol' noisy jacked-up truck.  To those folks, I nod my head, say "roger, out", as I drive away as a happy girl in the big ol' truck -- the Excursionator with the faint Arizona "pinstriping".  Simply, I just plain out adore that truck!


Yes, it's huge and sorta like a modern day T-72, but it takes me just about anywhere I want to go.    Although pretty darn big, it's actually pretty low-key and quiet other than the sweet hum of its diesel engine.  Ol' Excursionator will get me as far off the beaten track as I need to go, and I can either hang there or dismount and keep going by foot, bike and/or dirtbike....any of which Excursionator will haul without even flinching.    (Donkey has actually been transported INSIDE of the truck...not really planned, but it worked.)   All over the southwest, the Rockies, several trips cross-country back east and to Fla, Alaska, around Canada, almost Mejico (see below), etc.)    Sorry, folks, a Prius just won't do it.  

Crossing some snow run-off in Colorado.

Rise and shine!

Other than having one too many pairs of running shoes, flipflops, sunglasses, Lululemon gear, I'm pretty minimalistic, so I like that the Excursionator plays several roles in addition to mere transportation.   


It provides a roof over my head when needed, as many many many nights have been spent slumbered in its hull.   It even serves as an observatory....laying on top, you can see the gorgeous night sky, stars, planets, etc., which can really only be seen so clearly from our high-altitude desert mountains of the west.   We've sat up top watching and listening for critters, and have watched elk, moose, deer, bobcat, antelope, bear (both grizzly and black), porcupine, javelina, rabbits, turkeys, skunks (esp all the slow/squashed ones up the canyon), raccoon, squirrel, sheep (being herded), and even had a bunch of curious cows LICKING the back of the truck up in northern Colorado a few years ago.  Last week, I sat up there, ate chips and salsa while watching surfers brave the cold Pacific swells.


So now, I just wanted to give a huge thanks and a shout-out to the Excursionator for being so darn good!   I just got back from another outstanding roadtrip.  2100 miles....no problems at all.  


   . . . Mojave National Preserve, the forest outside Ojai (wow!), Santa Cruz/Monterey for an XTERRA, southern Californina to chill, Anza Borrego to explore, almost ol' Mejico (didn't happen), then back to warmth at home in Northern AZ.    (Did I mention that the water temps for the Calif race was a friggin frigid 51 degrees??!!!    OMG!!!!    But I digress.)      


And even with the gas prices being pretty high right now, the prices for DIESEL in California were surprisingly not too bad.  Yay!  It actually gets/got pretty good mileage, provided me with a bed every few nights (when I wanted to escape concrete and/or wasn't in a beachfront hotel), emits satellite radio to me, and lets me get off the beaten path any ol' time an intriguing patch of dirt calls my name.    And it's sorta it's birthday/anniversary...hitting 100K miles this week!  Just getting started!


So, here are some pics from the most recent trip...

I love these long trains parallelling old Rt 66.

View looking down when I woke up after a long day of driving the day prior. Near Ojai.  (That's a road down there.)

Crap, y'all have those here too??  Errrr.

The Pacific was MUCH warmer here near Santa Barbara than up off Santa Cruz where I actually had to swim in it for a mile...FRIGID!!

XTERRA MTB course at Wilder. Fun trails...linking the beach with the forest.

XTERRA Pacific Cup Championship - Brrrrrr! (Photo by Brightroom)

Laguna Beach. Seven miles of good sand for running.



Still showing up for the MTB races, even though waaay outta shape. It's fun no matter what!
(Photo by Lester Sarmiento)

 

XTERRA Pacific. 
"Hey, you rude condescending surgeon in Flagstaff w/whom I sought help in 2009: Really?  I'll never run again? Ha ha ha!"   BIG GRIN!!! :-)
(Love the Newtons!)

Ooops, guess it's time to turn north and head on home.

So, yay, for everyone trying to be green.  I'm all for that!    When I can, I will opt to walk, to ride the bike or to ride Donkey (who, cooincidentally is BRIGHT green).  But it's good to know that the Excursionator is out there ready and reliable. 

And, THANKS DADDY...for those important lessons which have undoubtedly help direct my life.   (...and sorry that I didn't pay better attention to your tractor-driving lessons and wrecked those two in the sink-hole.)


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Recap of Yet Another Impromptu Roadtrip

Finally back home in the red rocks and crisp junipers :-)

An abbreviated recap:

MTB, of course. Ran, of course. What's that 'pain' in my ham? my knee? Hrmmm...??

MTB more anyway :-)

M& amp; J's wedding in Maine.

Beautiful.  M and J launched their adventures...more to come.

For us, fun Atlantic swims...spinnerbait as feet.

Sweet stretch of perfect sand to run.

AZ again.

A young guest arrives...lots to do, teach, play,...

(Her firsts: exposure to the southwest, hikes, mtb, 4x4, long-eared squirrels, grand canyon trip, imax, spotting for javelina, coyote, bobcat, hurling on a red rock,...

En route to NV/CA.

But first, who can resist a solo sunset swim at Lake Mead, esp after driving all day?

And the 'perfect' little private 'pond' outside Vegas, especially while in the middle of a 100+ deg mid-day run? Who would've thought about high acidic/alkaline/parasitic levels??

Arrrrghhh!! (Thank you concierge for the benadryl and hydrocortizone! Thank you urgent care nurse for the guidance! And apologies to those who saw us freaking out, stripping and scratching like mad!! Thank you CB for driving us!)

NV ticket for speeding. NV ticket for passanger sleeping in the back (w/o proper seatbelt).

Finally...Big Blue (Tahoe).

Cool cabin.

Gorgeous clear water, as usual!

Still not sure about leg/knee, but will probably race anyway. 
After all, we're here.

Race - performance wasn't spectacular, but views/temps were the best yet.

Knee...ouchhhhhh!

Tortillas, guac, etc. on a rooftop...yummmm.

Knee is out, so rather than Socal to surf, head to Rocky mtns to chill...via the 'Loneliest Road in the USA'.

Stumbled across coolest patch of sand dunes en route (NV), which were a blast, but the sand didnt mix too well w/the post-race massage oil nor the acidic/parasitic issues which were brewing under our skin (which we were still ignorant to at that point).

Alas, the San Juan Rockies and a cabin to call 'ours'. Thanks KRE!!

Must swim in Ouray - best pool and hot springs. (And another corky?)

Engineer pass, Stony pass, Miss Excursion rocks!

But still no running nor mtb for me :-(

Finally found the lake above the cabin, sits at about 12,000' elev - w/3 elks and a chipmunk. Absolutely worth the effort!! :-)

Started off w/brilliant clear blue sky and bright sun above; 2 hrs later was snowing on us.

Gotta love colorado!

Headed south to Durango for an eve of sushi and civility.

Spent entire morning at topnotch sports hospital for xrays etc: knee/ham far overused, overtrained, etc. Must rest. Learned about kinesio taping. (am not getting old, repeat, am not getting old,...)

En route southward to NM thru gorgeous terrain!!!.

But both still itching & scratching, so detoured at local clinic. Diagnosis, not good but pretty darn funny. HIGH-FIVE!!!

Wash everything, scrub everywhere, quarantine, best friday night ever!! Arghhh!

Mosey'd around Sante Fe, headed south to see family.

Great day...so good to hang w/the family!

Great day, great chats, great lunch.

Even met an alpaca, llama, pig and more.

Finally, a short mtb, tho sadly on the road. (Knee is healing, but still can't have any REAL play yet.)

Time to head west and homeward.

Had no idea ice caves existed, especially in NM. Very cool!

Fantastic storms along the way...wow!!!

2800 miles or so later, finally, the sweet smell of junipers of northern AZ.

Casa.

More to follow of course... :-)