the great beastie dispersion

Llama Goodbye 

Mama Llama Goodbye

Llama sniffles and kisses goodbye

One last ride from home

Every last one of my hooved beasties has been dispersed.  My corral stands empty.  The gate isn't even shut, it is swung wide open with nothing to keep in and nothing to keep out.  Without five prehensile lips to nibble down the grass shoots it is beginning to grow again.  Spring makes sudden and unexpected advances of growth when it has the chance and now that it has its chance it wisely will waste no time.  The llamas have moved to Golden Colorado where they returned to a career in goat guarding.  I've heard they are fulfilling their responsibilities with fervor and they are charging the fence line when ever an intruder approaches.  As for the ponies, the two mustangs went to Fort Collins to the McAleenan Training Center  and Breezy my itsy bitsy arab mare, well she has fallen in love with the neighbor's horse and is having an extended sleep over.  So now my household consists of just me and Lola Rue, plus a room mate and a scattering of things left to do in order to get ready for a 1400 mile ride to Bellingham Washington.  I will admit that right now all I want is a vacation.  I want one with a beach and some sand and warm blue water that doesn't really have waves.  I wouldn't mind a sun tan and an all day game of cribbage with a good friend.  But still there is much to do.  While my horse team undergoes training and Lola undergoes training and I undergo my physical conditioning I still need to find time to organize maps and routes and contacts and learn how to use all my electronic devices.  And I still don't know what pants I want to bring!  The pants thing is a ridiculous and embarrassing truth!  It feels like a very important, very crucial  decision.  What pants would you want to wear for 3 or 4 months straight that were comfortable in the saddle and easy to walk in, sometimes sleep in and sometimes go to town in?  So you see....pants are important.  With all the beasts in good hands I should be able to find those trousers and learn how to use a GPS a satelite responder, an iphone, a solar charger for my electronics, and the ability to stay connected without using a computer.    Wish me luck!