Almost wordless Wednesday

I've been lucky enough to go wild horse hunting on multiple occasions in multiple states. Each trip has had its hardships, but none could hold a candle to our time in Sand Wash Basin. I worked really hard for these photos. You know I'm going to share them. Sorry/not sorry. 

P.S. The palomino pinto is Meteor, the chestnut overo is Hoot and the darker pinto is Coronado. If anyone knows the names of any of the other horses, please let me know. I'd love to add them to this post.

The great escape

After we said goodbye to the second group of mustangs, there was nothing left to do but find a way out of Sand Wash Basin.

Seth suggested we drive back to the main entrance, to see if the washed out area looked any better from this direction.

As we were doing that, we passed a car that was just as inappropriate for the conditions as our own.

"That's it," Seth said. "If they made it through that spot, we can, too."

"Okay," I agreed. "I trust your judgment."

We drove in silence for a while. 

Then I said, "This really scares me. Do you mind if Piper and I get out of the van before you try it?"

Seth said that was fine. In fact, he would prefer it.

I thought that was settled so I sat back and tried to enjoy the scenery.

All of a sudden, Seth gunned the engine and headed for the side of the road. The van tilted precariously as gravity did battle with momentum. Seth stepped down harder on the gas pedal, and somehow we stayed upright and made it across. 

"Holy crap!" I exclaimed, as we coasted to a stop. "I thought you were going to let me out!"

"I saw the line," he explained. "I had to go for it before I chickened out."

"Well, it worked," I said with a shaky sigh. "We made it. Happy anniversary."

Sand Wash bonus

We went to Sand Wash Basin to see wild horses, and we had achieved that goal.

Part of me wanted to stay there forever, but most of me - and all of Seth - was ready to go. 

But how to go? Seth didn't think he could make it around the sharp turn at the top of the steep hill on Road 46, and I was terrified of the wash out on Road 67. Our map indicated there was a third possibility, so we crossed our fingers and turned north on 126.

Predictably, the road was terrible. 

"I really hope we don't have to turn around and drive back through this," Seth said after a particularly terrible section.

"It's going to be okay," I said. "I have a good feeling about this."

Then we went around a corner, and that good feeling evaporated.

Seth got out to investigate.

We'd driven through a lot of washed out roads that day, but this one was just a little too much.

Make that a lot too much.

We made a u-turn and drove through all the sections we didn't want to drive through again. We made it, but it was terrible. Then, as we rejoined the "main" road, we looked up and saw a small group of horses trotting toward us.

Right toward us!

I actually thought they were going to come up to the car, but at the last minute, the palomino ducked turned left...

and trotted right past us.

The rest of the horses followed suit.

They stopped at a little watering hole we hadn't been able to see from the road.

Of course, at this point, I had exited the vehicle so I could watch them better...

So cute!

After a couple minutes, the skinny mare raised her head and took off in the other direction.

Her family followed, slowly at first...

then faster...

and faster. 

 "That was a nice bonus," I said to Seth, as I climbed back into the van. "Now let's get out of here!"

To be continued.