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Watching Mercedes and Eduardo work sooooo hard, and care soooo much, I'm
constantly amazed at the effort that goes into putting on rides. It's 10:40
pm, dark, windy and chilly. Eduardo and Mercedes and Mike Foss just back
from the ride venue. I picked Mike up at the airport this morning - about a
1 1/2 hr drive from here. Mike spent an extra day travelling because of
delays - late out of Portland, snow/ice storm shut down Dallas, so he missed
his connection, spent an extra day with friends outside of Kansas City
(re-routed), etc, etc... but a day later, and he still arrived in time to
meet the other vets and get settled in. Mike is the 'Foreign Veterinary
Delegate' - a position required at FEI rides. There are a total of 9 vets,
should make things run very smoothly.

There's still a little more to do in the morning. Eduardo needs to put more
water out on the trail, and plant some posts for signs at a critical
intersection where pink/green/yellow come together the same junction from
different directions. Danielle (one of the young men who works for Mer. and
Ed. - a delightful fellow) and I were about 3 km from this point this
afternoon, with a truck full of posts, signs, etc., when the truck died. It
would start again, but as soon as Danielle gave it more gas it would choke
and die. Luckily I had my cellphone (bought a cheap one as soon as I got
here) so called Eduardo, he came and got me (and all the marking stuff) with
Marta's truck (gracias!) - ... left Danielle to stay with the truck, and on
we go.

I spent the rest of the afternoon putting signs and arrows out on the trails
(just got back about an hour ago) so didn't get any pictures of the ride
meeting, last minute preps, etc. Flor (Mercedes's daughter) and I went out
together, with signs, staple gun, flagging, wire, map, and a beer. Most of
the signs we could wire to fences, a few places staple to trees, and
sometimes put them on gates and fences where people live.

One place, chickens, pigs, dogs, etc pretty much wandering around
everywhere. An older couple, maybe with brothers, uncles, etc living there.
Open barn facing the road, they had a small fire going, heating water for
matte. Yesterday Flor and Mercedes and I hung several green ribbons on their
fence, (asked permission), talked a little, walked around the chickens,
petted the dogs, and then on down the road. Earlier this afternoon I went
back around the green loop taking some ribbons down because we had run out
and had to put more out farther on down the trail. I smiled, mumbled a few
unintellible spanish phrases, walked between the chickens, pulled some green
ribbons off their fence, and went on my way. Then tonight Flor and I went
back out on the same green loop, (putting up arrows at major turns). Back to
the old place with the old people and dogs and chickens and pigs, and this
time put a huge white sign with a green arrow on their fence. More smiles,
petting the dog, stepping over the chickens, and off we go again. I can't
imagine what they must think of this whole thing :) Wait till they see all
the funny looking riders go by tomorrow and the next day!

It's late, everybody else went to bed. up at 5am tomorrow - then to the ride
site. Mercedes is riding, one of Claudia's horses that she trains and
competes. I'm going to check all the trail tomorrow ahead of the riders, the
wind has been howling this evening, I want to make sure the ribbons and
signs are still mostly there.

I'll try to get some picters posted, results, etc - will have to see how the
day goes. I may stay busy just helping. which I'm more than happy to do! I'm
so happy to be here, and so proud of what Mercedes and Eduardo have
accomplished, honored to help.

As I was driving the dirt roads tonight with Flor, thinking about the
Endurance Village that they built (much of it rushed into the last 2 months)
I couldn't keep from comparing it to UAE. Watching working men plant little
bushes and things, little palmetto plants along the road coming into Cazon,
really made me feel like we were in a time warp. Seeing the wind blow the
sand across the little farm roads of Saladillo, not that different (in some
ways) from the long lonesome roads in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the wind driven
sheets of sand that block the vision (but no camels here!) - and - the
enormous effort going into buidling venues for Endurance.  Bringing all the
people together again and again. How lucky we are! (thanks to the horses :)

hasta manana -

Steph



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