Sand Wash Basin stallions, part one

After what seemed like an eternity on the barely navigable roads of Sand Wash Basin, we spotted a small band of mustangs off in the distance.

Seth and Piper stayed with the van, but I got out and started walking towards them.

It was a long walk.

The horses could see me coming, but were clearly unconcerned.

Instead, their attention was drawn to something in the opposite direction.

Before I could get close enough to take a picture, the grey stallion lifted his head, whinnied and took off at a gallop. His friends watched him go.

Then they decided to join him.

They trotted right past me like I wasn't there.

Amazing!

Just like that, the long, scary, frustrating morning was forgotten.

This is why we came to Sand Wash Basin!

I watched these three trot off into the distance.

Then I turned back around to watch the last remaining horse, a chestnut tobiano known as Coronado. He had stayed behind when the others left, but now he was beginning to move, too.

While the others had trotted right past me, Coronado was coming right to me.

I stood my ground, and at the last moment, he swerved...

and took off at a gallop.

Goodbye, Coronado!

It's a big empty basin, and those stallions could have gone anywhere. Happily, the path they chose took them right back to where our van was parked. I started the long walk back to there.

Hello, boys. Here I come again.

As before, they were completely unbothered by my presence.

I caught up with them,

and together,

we drifted closer...

and closer,

not just to our van...

but also, to a watering hole.

To be continued.