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Marilyn’s foot is slowly improving...bruising and swelling are
decreasing. She doesn’t want it wrapped
anymore...she said she’d make sure her shoe is tied tight. Her walking is
getting better although every once in a while there’ll be a hitch in her stride
due to pain.
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I set my alarm today for 12:40 p.m. as a reminder to walk down the road
to George Aros’ roping arena. We had
been invited and I was going to check it out.
The arena was raked then watered. George appeared to have a good time playing
in the watering truck. Cows were herded
over to a holding pen and the riders started warming up the horses. There were 4 people roping today over a 2 hour
time period that included a couple of water breaks. Horses
were switched out at that point also. The arena
quickly dried due to the sun so it was dusty and the wind was blowing it right
in our direction. Learned to duck the
head and close eyes/mouth after each cow was roped and let loose. After the
session was finished I was able to talk to George and I realized I was wrong
thinking that the riders were being taught roping techniques. George’s program is all about training the horses for roping; the
riders have to learn their roping skills on their own. That explains some of what we were seeing
today. Anyway it was an interesting way
to pass the time.
-----
As soon as the horses started warming up a young boy who was dressed more for
a basketball game showed up. He grabbed
a lariat and started twirling it around, eventually going over to practice
roping a metal steer. Made it over the
horns more often than not. He then
wandered over to take over opening the cow chute. After a break he was encouraged to get up on
one of the horses where he looked at home and yet strangely out of place with
his athletic attire. Later George told
me that the kid just started coming over about a month ago...from where I don’t
know. He’d been just practicing with the
rope and helping out; today was his first time up on a horse. George’s prediction: Come back next year and
you’ll see him out here roping with us.
Took a bike ride down Park Link to Tom Mix Highway, turned around and
headed back to camp. A sheriff’s deputy
car passed us twice and didn’t stop to tell us to skedaddle home so I’m taking
that as our kind of biking is permissible under Arizona’s ‘stay home’ order.
This is a quote from Governor Ducey as reported on newsweek.com: “Our order take a uniquely Arizona approach. It’s a whole, holistic approach that
prioritizes all of public health, placing a focus on staying home to slow the
spread, staying healthy and active, and staying connected to provide the much
needed support we can provide one another in these unprecedented times.” Later
in the article he says “We do not want people to feel trapped or isolated in their
homes. The weather is beautiful right now.
Find ways to get out and enjoy it---with physical distancing. It goes on to say the Governor has
faced criticism for allowing nail salons, golf courses and other such businesses
to operate under the state’s list of essential service. The mayor of Phoenix, Kate Gallego, tweeted
on Monday: “This
order is insufficient if he does not narrow his list of ‘essential’
services. Essential services during
#COVID19 are not golf and beauty salons.
They are first responders, grocers, pharmacists, and few others.”
And he is not garnering any bonus
points by decreeing that cities and towns cannot enact stricter guidelines than
he has set out. Hmmm...I wonder if the governor thinks he’s bullet proof when
up for re-election.
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Shared part of my early evening walk with Sam Elliott. He’s been on a different bike every time I’ve
seen him...must have a fleet of ‘em. Today
he was riding a very squeaky three wheeler...no sneaking up on anyone on that
bike. Our conversation ranged from the
rattlesnake skeleton to how to make nitroglycerin. He quickly went through the process and ended
by saying, “Then you have to put it in a cold water bath...and if you get to that
point and it starts smoking, you run like hell.” His last statement was enough to let me know
I wouldn’t ever be making nitroglycerin so I don’t care if he was right about
the process or not. 😏
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I’ve noticed the last few days that the traffic on I-10 is greatly
reduced and therefore, so is the traffic noise. Majority of vehicles are semi-trucks...and
the drivers are probably digging the fact that the road belongs to them at this
point.
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On our ride today we stopped so I could get a picture of one of the
ravens sitting on the saguaro cactus nest.
About by mile marker one I saw another huge nest nestled in the arms of
another saguaro. When I stopped to get a
picture I was surprised to see a hawk sitting on that nest. Another
cactus nest to keep an eye on? Be still my heart!
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Kim switched out his telescope
today...the moon is heading on towards full and he wants to use his
Hydrogen-Alpha (H-A) filter to counteract its light. The H-A filter fits the smaller scope.
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Bike miles today: 64
Total miles: 2145
No miles for Marilyn today!
 |
| Wednesday's route x 2 |
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