Sunday, July 27, 2008

I'm A Goin' And A Blowin'...

Headin' down the road, trying to make a livin' rodeoin'-as Chris LaDouix would sing.

Okay, so I am not making a living rodeoing...yet!! But I was trying to make it to a rodeo today, so I got to see the sun rise through the windshield of the Duramax, as I left Denver...
A hundred miles down the road and I ran into this...
I could still see well enough so I didn't have to slow down, but for the next eighty or so miles, this is all of Eastern Colorado and Western Nebraska that you are going to get to see-LOL.

Finally, back in the Sandhills. When you turn north on 83 at North Platte, once you cross the bridge, you are officially back in the Sandhills. Here you see lots of these(yep...cows...sorry, It's hard to take pictures at 65mph, when you are by yourself...and I wasn't about to slow down)...
The sandhills are interesting to me. These rolling hills are basically grass-covered sand dunes. Grazing conservation is very important in these parts. Over-grazing the grass exposes the sand underneath and when that happens the ground just starts to blow away. Needless to say the good ranchers are very protective of the grass that they have. The water table is very shallow and the ground water is wonderful. They say that there is a huge underground ocean under this part of Nebraska. Several companies have tried to come up with ways to pull from this aquafir to supply areas like Omaha and Denver with an additional water supply, but the people in this area are very protective of their ground water and have stopped them at every turn.

Because the water table is shallow you see tons of these...
And this...
For 65 miles!!
There is nothing but rolling sandhills, grass, windmills and cows!!!
It is easy to drive down the road and lose yourself in thoughts of how much fun it would be to be riding in these wide-open spaces. The pastures are huge-in some you could ride for a full day and not have to see the same country or get off to open a gate.

Then you get to see one of these...
If you need fuel...you better get it...
Because there is another 65 miles of this...

Some neat old corrals...
And these guys in the back, going "Are we there yet?, are we there yet?, are we there yet???"
Finally, we hit Valentine! One of my favorite little towns. This is a cowboy town. Lots of cowboys-old and young....Oh Pony Girl...they are always in need of good teachers in these parts(wink, wink)...
One more jag and we are home. I know I am getting close when I see a herd of these...
This is just one of the many herds of horses along the road owned by a local "production" ranch.

The final sprint...

Covered 380 miles in 7 hours just in time to hook up, load up and head to the rodeo...
That's my little pin-headed, speed-demon.

And this is our run! It sucked! We were everywhere, but on track.



Pilot errors galore!! I must have looked down before first because Moon tried to turn early. I am not sitting long enough as we come out of first, causing a major bow. I don't know what the freek happened at 2nd, but it caused us to blow wide to 3rd. But we won! Don't ask me how...oh, you probably guessed...the competition level was not very high. Oh well, I won my entry fees back + extra, bringing Moon's money earnings up to $111 for this year.
This sort of run would never have won if there had been a decent turnout for this rodeo, but the high entry fees and the high cost of fuel is really affecting these small rodeos.

Now for me and Mr. Cooked Noodle Boy...we are headed back to the slow pen to let me get a grip on my timing and to give me a chance to add some starch to the Pin-Head's shoulders!!

How's that Train Wreck?? That enough pictures for ya? LMAO...

16 comments:

20 meter circle of life said...

OK we have to get together, thats all there is to it!! YOU actually know who Chris Ledoux is, I love that. So maybe instead of NFR in Vegas, how about FEI World Cup. We can smoke,cuss, no Cowboy watching, but the Male Dressage Riders all have to wear TIGHT WHITE (nothing to imagine) white Breeches and most of them have swoony accents. I at this exact moment have a Chris Ledoux cd in my car...my all time favorite?? Silence on the Line

Nuzzling Muzzles said...

I always wonder if the people who own those gas stations in the middle of nowhere are millionaires based on what they charge and the fact that people have no choice but to fill up there.

Mikey said...

Congratulations!! Hey, that run didn't look that bad at all! You're too hard on yourself girl!
I love Moon. He's such a nice boy :)
Love all the pics too, wow, long journey!!! Glad you're back home safe!

Train Wreck said...

All those just for moi?!! You are the best smart as...Best friend ever!! I was lovin all those pictures! Especialy the one of the dogs! Just who was driving!?! I can see the fear in their little trusting eyes, and they are shaking so much they look blurry!! Woman keep your eye on the road when driving!!!
I loved the video! I think you did awesome!! You didn't knock any barrels over!! Winner!!
Becareful on your way back! Need I say "Stop pull off the dang road and take pictures!! Hello Big Red Truck!!! LMAO!! (Hope you have heard that joke!!)

kdwhorses said...

Great pics! I loved ALL of them!!! Just beautiful country! I agree I would love to ride all those wide open spaces! No gates, a big plus!!!! LMAO!!!!

Girl, your run rocked! I agree you are too hard on yourself!!!

Glad you made it back in time for the rodeo and took all those awesome pics! Dogs are looking alittle concerened about who is driving! LOL! I'm glad I'm not the only one that takes pics while driving!

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

20M-your on! Chris LeDoux(I couldn't remember if there was supposed to be an "i" in it or not)-ROCKED! Megan and I love soooo many of his songs-but I suppose my motto song would have to be "Even Cowboys Like A Little Bit Of Rock And Roll".

NM-I guess I haven't noticed this station being higher than anyone else. But I have run across some in desolate areas that have 2 prices-one price for the locals and one price for the tourists. Capitolism at its finest!!

Awww Thanks Mikey-I just want Moon to get as good as he possibly can get. I just have to get back into riding right.

TW-Driver?? We don't need no stinking driver--LOL. You should see all of the photos I took that didn't turn out-giggle. I have adopted Megan's point and click and click and click...gotta love digital cameras-hehe.

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

K-They have pasture ropings out here too. Can you imagine the pain in the neck it is to get a yearling caught in a 1000 acre pasture? All I can say is ride a fast horse-LOL.

Poor Red Dog-He is such a worrier-LOL.

Anne and Leigh said...

Hello,

I stop by and read your blog quite often. I enjoy reading about your barrel horses, since I am getting mine going as well. Thanks for the great blog and very interesting post!

-Anne

Andrea said...

Wow that rodeo was out in the middle of no where. Crazy! I am with Nuzzling Muzzles with the gas staions.
I wish I could run barrels like you, i am too chicken to go that fast. I think you looked great!!

Treasia Stepp said...

Hey you won! That's wonderful. Loved the pics.

Callie said...

WooHoo! You go girl! Were those pink boots I saw there?

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

Why yes they are Callie-you are observant. Pink Lucchese--they go perfect with the black shirt I am wearing. It has tiny little pink cowgirl pole dancers on it-LOL.

Mrs. Mom said...

BECG- Love it. I just love it. Pole dancers? LMAO

Hey- you got an award waiting at my blog! Come on over and scoop it up ;)

Trailboss said...

It looked good to me but of course I have never barrel raced in my life. I always wanted to but didn't. I don't know wny either.

Callie said...

HeeHee! Pole dancers! LMAO!

Anonymous said...

know all about the sandhills we live east a while from valentine, there are lot of open spaces in the sandhills.