Rocky’s Web

Archive for February, 2008

Long Riders Guild

I’ve had some of the greatest emails, lately.  Last Monday I got an email from CuChullaine O’Reilly, who is a member (and spokesperson) for the Long Riders Guild (www.longridersguild.com).  I had previously sent them an email indicating my intentions of riding the Continental Divide Trail this coming summer.  His answer was very heart warming.  I was not only welcomed, but was provided with some indispensible information in regards to long distance trail riding.  He not only gave me some pointers, but also gave me the email of other riders that may have already completed such rides and put me in contact with them.  Within the next two days, I had emails from individuals as Erin Zweiner (who attempted to ride the CDT trail last year but couldn’t complete it), Jeyme Feary (who attempted the CDT ride from Canada to Mexico and was bested by a series of unforseen problems), SFC Stan Perdue (who rode from Ga to Az), and Guy Wood (who will be taking a ride from Ga to Montanna, next year).  They all have good advice and were willing to share anything they can with me.  I do appreciate their honesty and appreciate CuChullaine (who is going to start a round the world ride with his wife) in getting me in contact with such riders. I hope to eventually become a member of the Guild.  You have to ride a minimum distance of 1,000 miles to be a member.  Hopefully, this will be a start of a life long friendship. 

Latest Update

Well, the latest.  This past week, I ordered a water purification unit and a small solar energy packet.  The solar energy packet is a group of cells that, within 2-3 hours, can charge small batteries, or I can operate my GPS, IPOD, or anyother small electronic devices.  The water purification unit can distill .3 liters of water in about 3-5 minutes.  That’s enough for me.  I read about one rider that put the solar energy packet on top of their packs and by the end of the day, they had enough stored energy to run their lights, etc., in camp.  It is a small unit and is protected in a good case.  Today, I purchased another two books.  One is entitled “Colorado’s Continental Divide Trail” by Tom Jones and John Fielder.  The other is “New Mexico’s Continental Divide Trail: The Officialj Guide”.  It should be coming in the mail, soon.  I’m comparing their trails to the two others I have.  I’m still waiting on Johnathan Ley’s CD of the trail and will compare it, also.  They are all similar, yet different in the trail routes.  Well, that’s the latest………

Rocky

Corpus to San Antonio

Well….I just got back from another 120 mile ride.  I rode with the South Texas Trail Riders from Corpus to San Antonio, Texas to start the San Antonio Livestock Show.  I guess the weather was an issue on the ride, this year.  We left on Friday (Jan 25th) and the weather was a bit “chilly”! Then, on Saturday and Sunday, the weather got into the 70’s.  I rode my gelding the whole ride, while my black mare was ridden by Suzanne Mathis on Saturday (Jan 26th).  The mare become an issue, because she started to colic just before noon.  We tried doctoring her and was able to ride her the rest of the day.  As we were finishing the day, she started to colic, again.  We walked her, but it didn’t seem to do any good.  At times, she was still eating and drinking.  Then, the next morning at about 3:00 a.m., she started a hard colic.  I tried to get ahold of any vet, but one was sick and the other didn’t answer.  About that time, Zena (the mare) became quiet.  I checked and she had “passed” manure and was seemingly O.K.  I didn’t ride her the rest of the week.  In the meantime, my new gelding (Pepe) was doing quite well.  I worked with neck reining, turning, and keeping a steady walk.  He sure can step out.  I think he will do quite well on the trails, while Zena can be my “pack” horse.  I’ll probably end up trading out, but I think that’s the way I’ll start.  When I got back home, I had received my DeLorme GPS and I am now in the process of transferring maps to it.  I’ll keep you up on how that’s coming.  Well…..that’s an update for now.  My horses are now on my place in Oklahoma, awaiting their future adventure.

Paul’s Birthday

Rockys Birthday