Standing on a Corner
April 27, 2005
Hello,
I write this standing on the corner in Winslow , AZ , such a fine place to be...After Wayne had trailered us to Parker, AZ we had high hopes of taking the trail across the Bill Williams River to Prescott , AZ. No such luck. The rangers advised against it, as did the back country horsemen who knew the trails. It was absolutely flooded out. Wayne had to head back to Julian, and I needed to figure out my next move. We went to the local feedstore and there we were given a name to contact. Chris in Lake Havasu City took us in without hesitation, and ultimately, we ended up at their neighbors Chad and Dana's. I am now to the point where I can go into a strange situation, not knowing my next move, without tears streaming down my face, and with good reason. I believe God is whispering to the right people as I move on in this journey, for I am finding simply the best in helping me out and taking me in. I truly enjoyed my stay at Dana and Chad 's. They have three children, an 11 year old girl, seven year old girl, and a nine month old boy. I loved seeing the family antics and my heart absolutely broke when we went to their nephew's 11 year old birthday party. As he blew out the 11 candles, tears streamed down my face for Sam. But thankfully laughter was shared as well.
I had no idea at this point as to how I was going to get across the arid areas I was facing. There were few towns and not enough help for water and forage. After finding out that the river trail was closed, I was facing having to follow route 40 to Flagstaff . Route 40 is an interstate like 95 on the east coast, although passable in the western part of the state there just aren't enough exits to find water every 20 miles. After facing yet another closed trail, I opted to be trailered to Flagstaff where I had helped lined up.
There I was staying with a friend of a friend, Marie, who had lined up an absolute horse spa for the horses at Valerie and Mark's house. Valerie, Mark and I were unfortunately kindred spirits, in the loss of our children. We shared stories, laughter and tears over fine wine, and my horses were well taken care of. Dana and Chad 's parents, Cheryl and Mike, whom I had met in Lake Havasu City , had contacted their friend, Gay, in Flagstaff as well. Cheryl and Mike were genuinely concerned about my ride from Flagstaff to the NM border, and as it turns out with good reason.
Flagstaff is absolutely beautiful. It sits in the Ponderosa Pines at the base of a snow capped mountain called the Peaks. It sits at an elevation of 6000 feet. However just past town, the elevation drops slightly and I'm back in high desert for the next 300 miles. Fortunately Gay contacted KAFF country radio who did a local spot on the news asking for help for the next 100 miles. Ryan from Arrowhead Water came through and made a drop off with 25 gallons of water for our stop at Meteor Crater. Marie, in Flagstaff , generously loaned me the use of her car, and I was able to stop every 20 miles lining up places to stay and making hay and water drops.
One of the places I stopped at first was at Steve and Pat's at the Twin Arrows exit. I was on the phone with Linda Veblen, my trip coordinator back home, and told her to wish me luck as I approached absolute strangers asking for help. They welcomed me and the horses without hesitation. I was able to stay there for two nights as a storm that dropped snow and hail on Flagstaff made it's way across the desert 16 miles away. I left two days later, heading toward Meteor Crater, where Ryan from Arrowhead had dropped off water. I was able to stay at a Mobil Station/Campground where I was able to corral the horses across the highway.
This part of the country is BIG. I believe I have a fear of wide open spaces after traveling for so long through miles and miles of open range where there's nothing but cattle guards and brush. I feel insignificant and naked, absolutely small. I'm appreciating the enclosed feeling back in Maryland that gentle rolling hills and trees provide.
A mile from the exit to Meteor Crater, Val came up alongside of me, with a snort. Sure enough, I looked behind, and the saddle and pack were slipping, much to my horror. I am riding interstate 40 to get through the high desert, through 300 miles to Albuquerque , NM . Route 40 has a wide, wide shoulder that has land set back about 500 feet from the Interstate. It had been working well, however, that day when Val's saddle and pack started slipping we had 25 mph gusts of wind blowing. I had nothing to tie the horses to, so I had to ground tie Rocky (just dropping the reins) with Val attached and hoped and prayed that they would stay there as I went to work. They once again were champs, and stood there on Interstate 40 with trucks, motorcycles and RV's passing and honking. I took the entire system off, and fought the wind to get it all back on. We pulled in and set up camp. I was thankful I had dropped hay and water off previously, and I was able to get a much needed shower at the gas station. My skin is dark and turning into leather, my hair is unruly, and my nails will never come clean, but I am absolutely loving the generosity of spirit I am finding in the American people.
Yesterday we rode 25 miles to Winslow. The horses are staying at a corral outside a local bar, Minnetonka , with Julie and last night I stayed with a 67 year old lady, Janice who took me in. Janice is a terrific person, and I only hope that I have the energy and spunk that she does, twenty years from now. It's like looking in a mirror, we had a lot in common and shared the same philosophy of life. Tonight I'll be camping outside of the bar. Julie has taken me in. I'm sitting in Winslow , AZ at the Minnetonka Bar typing this e-mail...Just to give you an idea of how large a ranch can be here: Julie leases one that is 36,000 acres. 36,000 acres. That blows me away. That's simply too much open space. Yesterday, in the 25 miles I rode, I counted 2 trees, 2 rocks, and one rattlesnake. To get through this I'm taking one step at a time, one day at a time. Tomorrow I'm heading off to Joseph City, AZ...20 miles farther from Flagstaff and 20 miles closer to home.
God Bless,
Linda :)