Gambler's Special, Day 1 65 miles

[DreamWeaver <karen@chaton.gardnerville.nv.us>]

About a month or two ago, I decided that I wanted to head south for the 
Gambler's Special ride in Las Vegas since I had never done it.  This ride 
is about a 9 hour haul for us, and the reason I wanted to go is I thought 
that it would be warmer, and it was a 2 day ride so I could bring both 
horses and ride each one of them one day.  I did cringe though, when just 
before the trip the price of gas escalated <eeeek>. My only other option 
was to go to Derby Ditch.  :+) (which is much closer, but I've done it 
before)

Loaded up both boys early (4 a.m.) on Thursday morning and we were 
off.  Unloaded the horses in Tonopah - where it was a balmy 25 degrees and 
a strong wind...brrrrrr.  Walked them alongside the interestate, 
whistling.  They both stopped and peed at the same time.  Then drank, ate 
some carrots and went back into the trailer and off we went - to fabulous 
Las Vegas.......

We arrived in Jean and set up camp.  I discussed with Dave the plan for the 
ride.  Was going to have him crew for me on Saturday and then on Sunday he 
was going to go sight-see in Vegas.  I vetted Weaver in on Friday to ride 
him in the 50 on Saturday.  Got his # on his butt, then put his easyboots 
on.  I decided to foam them on him without the heel strap, like I've been 
doing with Rocky, since it has been working soooooo well.  Went to the ride 
meeting at 7 p.m. and found out from Peggie that there were now 9 entries 
in the 65 miler.   Hmmmm....the wheels were a turnin'.  So I asked Peggie 
if I could change my entry, and she said sure no problem...just a click 
with the mouse on her fancy computer program :).  So I ended up entering 
Rocky in the 65 miler.  Went back to the rig and in the dark I foamed 
Rocky's easyboots on and told Weaver that he had a days reprieve 
<g>.  During the late afternoon and evening we had some pretty fierce wind 
gusts.  It was chillier than the November ride.  brrrrrrrrr

Got up in the morning, and silly me, having not actually been entered in 
the 65 miler when the ride meeting was going on (at that point I really 
thought I was doing the 50) I was going by my ride packet instructions that 
said:  6:30 a.m. start 65 milers.  Hehe.  It was really a 6:00 a.m. 
start.  Luckily, Gesa next to us mentioned that I only had like 8 minutes 
left to start.  Huh?  Uh oh.  Really?  Eeeeeeeeooooowwww...luckily I was 
tacked up, just not quite completely together.  Oh yeah, probably oughtta 
vet the horse in too  <g>. I also paid Peggie my extra $5 for moving up to 
the longer distance....and next thing you know...we were off!   11 riders 
started the 65 miler, and so it wasn't long before Gesa (on her mule 
Clovis) and me (on Rocky) were bringing up the rear.  The trail we were on 
was new trail, cross country---thru rocks, dips and well...more rocks 
<G>  Oh yeah, and a few cactus mixed in.  Just ask Clovis, who when I 
trotted up to her and Gesa after the first 4-5 miles was standing there 
looking at a cholla cactus stuck in the mules knee.  I gave Gesa my leather 
glove to get it out with, and then she had to pluck all the needles, much 
to Clovis' dismay!  She got them all, and Clovis had no further problems 
from that little incident (see Rocky I told you there was a good reason to 
stay on the trail) <bg>.

The first loop was 35 miles.  By the 14 mile point at Bird Springs all the 
other riders were long gone ahead of us. We were going about 7 mph, a nice 
easy trot, and taking time to walk, enjoy the scenery and gab away :).  At 
this water stop I electrolyted Rocky and he drank well.  After leaving Bird 
Springs, I glanced over and saw something kinda redish in the bush.  So I 
got off to inspect and guess what....it was Rocky's easyboot that had come 
off last November!!!  LOL.  I couldn't believe it.  The screws were missing 
on the heel strap...but by golly it was definitely Rocky's boot.  We 
continued at a nice easy pace, sometimes having a difficult time following 
the trail (esp. the new sections).  The worst part is when you can see the 
Nevada Landing casino and are headed straight towards it and then are 
turned to the opposite direction.  As we went over Rocky pass the wind 
started coming up.  By this time, the 50 milers had already begun passing 
us.  I had really thought that Rocky would have been pulling and fussing on 
this ride since I had let him move out a bit quicker at the previous 
ride---but he was very good and we had no trouble rating at a steady 
pace.  We tended to walk on some of the longer uphill grades and maintain 
an easy trot on the rest of it.  Finally we got to the last water stop and 
had a clear view of camp :).  Rocky was well aware of where camp was by 
this time.  On the way in Gesa and I both fed our critters several carrots, 
and in between they grabbed bites of grass at every opportunity.  The wind 
was becoming stronger and the temperature seemed to be dropping, probably 
due to the cloud cover that was moving in.

We had our hour hold in camp. (Dave was in the casino ;^)  so much for my 
crew!) Rocky ate and drank really well, and having Weaver to compete with 
for food sure didn't hurt.  I think both horses probably gained weight on 
this ride---I've never seen either of them eat or poop so much in their 
lives!!

Headed out for another 15 mile loop. This one headed back up in a westerly 
direction and met into the first 35 mile trail after a few miles.   Gesa 
and I had reloaded our packs full of carrots and again maintained a nice 
steady pace, slowing down on the gradual climbs.  Both animals negotiated 
the rocks and difficult terrain nicely.  This ride actually has a great 
deal of technical difficulty on it.  While it doesn't have any seriously 
steep climbs, it does have some long gradual climbs not to mention the 
thousands of dips and ups and downs you have to work your way thru.  Clovis 
is such a nice mule, I can't get over how sweet she is.  Her and Rocky are 
quite a pair - he with his small Ayrab ears and her big beautiful tennis 
racquet sized ears <G>.

We made it into camp about 3 p.m., having just ridden 50 miles.  (Dave, 
where's Dave?)  The clouds were growing darker, thicker and the winds 
stronger and more constant.  We vetted and had a 20 minute hold.  Packed 
more carrots, and bundled up like eskimos.  I changed my tights, already 
had on a turtleneck, t-shirt, a polarfleece jacket (like Angie's) <VBG>, 
and now added a goretex jacket, lined deerskin gloves, a polarfleece neck 
gaitor and headband.  Looking around I noticed how all the other horses in 
camp had their tack off, blankets on and looked like they were all 
done.....<wah>

So we headed out for the last 15 miles.  Don't think that we weren't 
thinking "why didn't we do the 50".  We would have been done!!  Why oh 
why??  This loop went thru the freeway underpass, towards Vegas, back under 
the freeway and then back towards Vegas some more.  Rocky had to stop and 
read all the graffiti. By this time the wind was coming up stronger and 
stronger, and we started to feel raindrops.  Soon, the trail became 
difficult to follow as it's hard to see a ribbon on a bush that is blowing 
50 mph (if the ribbon is still attached), all the while squinting thru the 
rain and sleet.  We rode up a long rock wash (rock = no dirt) and this is 
where Gesa dropped back and I continued alone.  Rocky was completely 
drenched and I felt that I needed to keep him moving, and Clovis wanted to 
go at her own pace.  We only had about 7 more miles to go.  Luckily, we 
soon were on the same trail that we had ridden out on earlier in the day 
and even though we were doing it in reverse, Rocky knew the way.  I told 
him "take me home Rocky"....and he did.  When we could canter, we 
did--directly into the wind and rain.  I put my helmet down and tucked my 
chin.  The wind was so fierce that his reins were not hanging but rather 
were doing all sorts of weird contortions and I felt as if at any moment I 
would end up sitting on his rump and not the saddle.  I was a little 
nervous that we might miss a turn on the trail...the rain had come down so 
hard and with less than 10 horses in front of us the tracks had all washed 
away.  Ribbons were down, arrows had disappeared...and the markings that 
were left were impossible to see thru squinty eyes in the high winds.  I 
was so appreciative every so often when I would catch a glimps of an orange 
ribbon.  At the water check some of the metal trash cans had been half way 
emptied had plastic trash bags billowing up all over the place. Rocky's 
greatest fear on this planet is plastic - he absolutely hates it (he's not 
afraid of it at home, in his stall, attached to his saddle or when I sack 
him out with it)....but went up (eyes bugged the whole time) and stuck his 
face in and drank anyway :).  As we neared the casino, it was lit up like 
the electric light parade at Disneyland and Rocky was not quite sure what 
to make of it.  (The whole camp looked like a trash truck had dumped 
over....garbage was clinging to every bush...never seen it such a mess 
before).  As he came around the corner he started whinnying---he knew he 
was done. (luckily that took precedence over him noticing each and every 
piece of trash) <bg>  It was about 6 p.m. - 12 hours after we started we 
had finally finished :).  I trotted over the finish line, then Barney 
vetted us and sent us off to get out of the weather.  Weaver was anxiously 
awaiting our return.  I had worried somewhat about leaving him in camp all 
day, but Dave said that he was actually very good and every time he checked 
on him he had a mouthful of hay.  (apparently Dave had been in camp when I 
wasn't, he's really got this crewing thing figured out) hehe

By the time I had taken care of the horse I realized that I was 
starving!  Our meal (ride supplied) was a dinner ticket for the buffet in 
the casino.  Wasn't long before Dave dragged me off for a nice filling (and 
fattening) meal...but not before I washed my hair and cleaned up.  For 
completion I received a stethoscope and a thermometer.  Peggie's results 
showed 8 horses completed (well, 7 horses and 1 mule).  We were the 7th 
horse :).

Was incredibly tired, riding in the wind and rain had turned my face beet 
red and just sapped my strength.  Needed to recover for the following days 
ride......Weaver's turn......


Happy Trails,

Karen
in NV
& Weaver, 2,530 miles
& Rocky, 1,295 :)
www.greatbasin.net/~sportssaddle


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