Poke Poke Poke*

So last week I was entirely too excited and busy to tell you about my then upcoming weekend. I wanted to just jot a quick note about it, but was afraid that I would just ramble on and on and never get any sleep (such as I am likely about to do).

What could possibly have been so exciting, you ask? Another epic mountain bike ride? A fantastic hike? A trip to Parts Unknown?

No no no. I went on a cattle drive! My friend S mentioned it to me months ago when we first met. Said she: "There is this cattle drive in October, and anyone can go and they rent horses if you don't have one and it's full of win and awesomesauce." Said I: "Count me in!"

And time passed and I got the infos and I sent in my registration and my horse rental fees. I got a three man tent, a sleeping bag, and a sleeping pad of my own (thanks, Folks, for the REI gift certificate!!). I made a concerted effort to shed a few pounds, lest I break the back of whatever pitiful pony I got to ride. I got out my old black motorcycle boots and planned and packed my gear for days before hand (although not as painstakingly as my friend Shanny might have ;) ).

Thursday came and S and Roommate arrived to whisk me away to The Ranch. The place is just about an hour north of Phoenix, but we got a late start and arrived long after dark. We managed to set up my never-before-used tent easily (/flex!), and got ready for a good night's sleep before the 6am breakfast bell set to clangin.

Little did we know that we were surrounded by pens full of deer, and these deer had the most peculiar and baleful calls ever heard. We were caught up being simultaneously creeped out and curious about these calls when the horses started whinnying. As we lay cramped together in the tent listening to the cacophony, Roommate K ventured to ask what the horses might have been saying to one another. S was only too happy to oblige us with a translation, which included her very own rendition of "pony speak". I'm sure our camping neighbours were befuddled, to say the least, at the arrival of these three girls whinnying and giggling til all hours in their tent.

Tomorrow, 6am Cowboy breakfast, and my first cattle drive!

*get it? Cowpoke? :)