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01.25.2007

-Reserve, New Mexico : January 12, 2007

Glad I took the advice of a retired historian up to Quemado. He said, “Go South Lady Long Rider – go South,” and the difference that sixty miles has made is about 30° in temperature. I had been riding one day, holding up two days (or 3 or 4) due to snowstorms and temperatures below 0° - it had me knocking on doors every night. The ride from Albuquerque up to Quemado was most interesting. We hauled across the city on a Friday night before the weekend. Claire and Honor were in the trailer as we made our way along the busy freeway.

We were caught in a snow storm while in Alamo on a Navajo Reservation. We spent 4 nights! We were treated very well and very well spoke at their chapter house.

Rancho Magdalena was our next stop over. They put us up, and I nearly cried when they put Claire and I in a beautiful guest room. They also put Honor is a very nice stable – what a difference from our prior stop. They were S.A.S.S. people and put us up for free. Next we rode the historic Magdalena cattle trail to Datil – it was a long day. We then slept in a barn at Jim and Janet Coleman’s. Then in the house as the temperature dropped again – his life had been horses. He had lots of stories he was starving to tell.

Then to Pie Town, where I stayed one week in a tarpaper shack with a million dollar view. We rested as we waited out two snow storms. We met many people in two and ate pie.

In Quemado we spent two nights with historian Bob Roland – he was very interested in the ride. We did much talking, then he sent me South.

Ten miles out of Quemado a cowboy stopped us on the road and invites us in for lunch. We met his family and set me up with a place to stay in Reserve.

I am now without access to libraries for sometime, and I feel it quite rude to ask to use a computer when I go into someone’s home as a guest. I liken it to eating at a restaurant with someone and they talk on their cell phone, and so don’t like asking to use a computer in peoples’ homes. I’ll be crossing down from Reserve along the San Francisco River, the historical mail route to Alma. We then crossed over into Gila National Forest, following the power line to west of Mule Creek. My farthest point South will be along Stafford, Arizona on Highway 78 – I should be there in a week or so.

We are all holding up well, and I receive many compliments on the condition of my horse and dog. This pleases me to know and to hear.

I gave a talk at the Senior Center and played the piano for them – I seem to do this more and more. I “Passed the hat” to make a bit of money, $20-$25 gets me through a week - so money goes a long way. It grows more and more interesting. I have been appointed to do a historical trail from Missouri to Oregon for the next ride. We will see.

For now I must finish this ride, first.