An action-packed weekend ahead

A snap of the finger and all pics will be clicked.

Just because I'm no longer at Whitewater draw, doesn't mean I've run out of pictures of Cranes.

This morning, I made my way back to the Pima County Fairgrounds and paid for a week of boondocking. Since I would like to head for New Mexico, I'm hoping that the worst of the chilly weather is over, and I'll be able to go to New Mexico next week.

Starting Friday here at the Fairgrounds, there will be four different horse events. First, they're going to have Dressage riding; this is where the riders dress the horses up in fancy costumes. Then there's going to be stadium jumping, which I believe is what Evil Knievel used to do on a motorcycle, so it's going to have to be a pretty small stadium to jump over it with a horse. And then there is cross-country racing, which means from New York City to Los Angeles, and that ought to be something to see. Then, last but not least, the contest that makes the most sense, there will be barrel racing.

That sounds like an action-packed weekend for me and a tiring weekend for a horse. Unfortunately, it would appear that I will have to do a lot of walking to get from arena to arena to watch everything that's going on. I'm beginning to wish I still had a bicycle.

I was rather sad leaving the Sandhill Cranes this morning. I spent a lot of time with them in the last few days and have come to be amazed at the way they live and travel. But they haven't seen the last of me; I'm sure our paths will cross again in the near future.

Theboondork

There's still a lot of birds at Whitewater draw, but not as many as the first time I went there. And the lakes are shrinking down leaving more mud- flats than water.

Cacophonous composed Cranes cross coral colored skies.

Whitewater Draw

The morning sun breaks over Saggy Bottoms

The boondocking bronco at Saggy Bottoms.