Saturday, March 29 – Monday, March 31
The crew and I laze around our camp on BLM land south of Congress, Arizona. The weather has been beautifully warm and sunny. My weather widget says, as I type this, that balmy days are coming to an end with a high of 59 degrees for Wednesday. Also we may get some rain.
That would be good.
The cattle are running low on forage. They lick the dry ground with their big tongues as they tear up tiny tufts of dry grass. Not that I feel very sorry for them, given the pests they make of themselves. They’re getting on my last nerve. Hang on; I shall explain.
Tree sculpture seen on our morning walk
Experiencing a little bovine drama here at camp . . .
The Not-So-Fab Five
Remember the party of five cattle that I shooed away from our camp the other day? That’s them at the left side. Well, they come back and stare at us, just like before.
This drives Bridget and Spike nuts. They bark their fools heads off and the five cattle respond with puzzled looks, unmoving.
Bridget retreats and lies down next to my chair.
I feel sorry for Spike and his pathetic efforts. I put down my book, take off my hat, and, waving it wildly, run at the cattle, hollering, “Go on! Get outta’ here! Go, go, GO!” They turn and hoof it down the slope with me chasing after . . . oh, about fifty yards or so.
I trudge back to our campsite, give Spike a compensatory pat –“Good try, boy”– and sit down with my book.
A few minutes later, back they come.
The five of them stand shoulder to shoulder with pissed off faces. Spike crouches on his haunches and stares back at them. Bridget worries. I read, or, more accurately, I try to read. It’s impossible with bovine glares drilling into my head. All five take a step forward.
“Go ON!” I yell, getting up from my chair. Off they trot, stopping periodically to look back at me, as if to say, “Ya’ know? You’re rude.”
Well, too bad.
The day ticks happily along with no sign of cattle. Good. La-dee-dah-dee-dah. Oh, happy day . . . boondocking in the desert . . .
I’m inside the BLT when Spike commences to bark. Now what. I recognize his panicky, I-don’t-think-I-can-bluff-my-way-out-of-this bark. I run outside and see why.
The five visitors from this morning have brought a few of their friends.
“Oh, no,” I groan. Spike nonchalantly strolls under the BLT, effectively communicating that this is definitely my problem, not his. Bridget looks up at me with that face that says, “What are you gonna’ do, RVSue?”
This photo shows a third of our visitors. The line extends out of the photo to the right, wrapping around the rear of the BLT. I’m reading a Zane Gray book set in the old West. It’s come to life at our camp!
I stop counting heads at seventy. I figure at least 150 eyes stare at us. Suddenly Spike darts out from under the BLT. Gee, what’s this? A renewed sense of responsibility? A resurgence of canine courage? Spike’s gonna’ be a hero and save the day?
Not hardly.
Apparently Spike remembered he left his beef bone lying on the ground between the outdoor mat and the menacing chorus line of cattle.
Here’s Spike on the return lap, heading for safety, carrying his precious BEEF bone.
He dashes out, grabs the bone, and totes it to safety under the BLT where he remains to guard it. Gee . . . Thanks for the help, Spike. Again I take off my hat and wave it about, arms flailing overhead, approaching the cattle with the fiercest body language I can muster.
Sheesh . . . This morning I chase five away from our camp. This afternoon it’s an effing cattle drive!
“Hiiii-yooooo!!!” I holler and off we go in a thunder of hooves and dust . . .
rvsue
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“Good night all!”
Am I first? I might be first!!
YES! Ain’t it grand to be first! Congratulations!
You probably cheated….I read the Blog first…;)
Now children. . Everyone will get a chance . ..
I left a comment before from the bovine prospective. Remember, Missy, you came of your own accord, they were trucked in. Hi Sue and crew.
Well, be that as it may . . . They can truck right out of here.
Sure and you don’t like steak either, a little respect please….
Reminds me of going to get the cows at Grampa Sutherlands.
His herd was a lot smaller!
Sue, I laughed so hard all the way through this post. My husband kept looking at me wondering what was so funny. Maybe they’ll come back tomorrow with 300.
Juley
Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. You mean it’s gonna’ be like the Battle of the Little Bighorn? Like the gathering together of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Lakota? Outnumbering we three? I see an oncoming nightmare . . . 🙂
OMG when I got to the picture of the “herd” I laughed so hard I couldn’t stand it. You are so funny. I guess it could have been dangerous, but since you didn’t say it was a problem, I chose to enjoy a good belly laugh. Thanks Sue!
Jo
Hi, Jo,
Glad you got a laugh out of it. Imagine that photo wide enough to include all 70+ cattle. It was a very impressive group, I’ll tell you that! Spike’s fur went straight up! I wondered if they were going to march forward and trash the place.
This post made my day! This is just too funny!
Hi, Shelley,
Just think of all the cow pies they’d leave behind . . .
Yuck!
You definitely need to make that homemade coffee can rattle on a bailing wire to rattle and fling. Grandma made one for each of us to fling not only at cows, sheep, goats, horses but coyotes too. It works!
I should have something like that, Rita. My coffee (Folger’s or Maxwell House) comes in plastic containers. I don’t even have pot covers to clang together; mine are made of glass. Hmm . . .
A bunch of small rocks in a plastic water bottle.
That I can do. Or I can blow my air horn. 🙂
Oh dear those poor cows……………they think you have piles of forage hidden in the casista!! Loved your blog today………….too funny and Spike rescuing his bone………I’m rolling on the floor laughing!!
Hi, Glenda . . . . It’s funny in hindsight, but it was very strange at the time, all those cows showing up, in line like it’s a military maneuver, right at our doorstep! I’m happy you got a laugh.
Seeing just those five, then a few more, then a LOT more reminds me of the movie The Birds. In the school yard, where they keep panning the playground equipment and each time the camera goes back there are more birds.
You Sue, are Tippi Hedren. Just be glad that cows don’t fly.
Poor cows. They are wondering who this woman is that just shows up and tries to chase them away. Here they are, just minding their own business……
Oh, that was one of Hitchcock’s greatest films! Unforgettable . . .
Yeah, the cows are curious. All they ever do is graze, go to the water tank, graze, sleep, and then repeat it all… Sounds like the rut I was in before I retired and hit the road!
Teri, that’s what I was thinking of too! A bovine version of The Birds. Watch out if they start flying, Sue!
You are probably parked on the spot where they buried their directions to the local watering hole. Maybe that spot is their clubhouse where they go to chat, drink coffee and stand on 2 legs until a human comes along. Or maybe they see humans as a shortcut to something good to eat and they just can’t understand why you don’t break out the chow.
Hi, John,
I think you hit on something… The palo verde on the back side of our campsite shows evidence that they like to hang out there. We’re on the way from the wash to the water tank. The five have passed by here every day. I hope it isn’t going to turn into a bovine highway!
How do we know that this is not an April Fool’s joke on your part? What a hoot!
Ha! Now where would I get all those extras to pose in cow outfits for those photos?
Are you a new Bob or one of the legions of Bobs who have commented here?
Well, I’m not that new, pushing old guy age. But new to your blog and enjoying it very much. Thank you.
Welcome! I’m glad you’re with us, Bob.
Best Spike photo EVER.
Hi, Kim . . . With Spike it’s all about that bone.
What Kim says! Lol!
Spike has his priorities straight. You have to respect that.
He’s no dummy. Not about to tangle with up to 300 hooves.
Sue, here’s news about Tioga George in case you haven’t heard?
Thought you’d want to know.
NOTE: I removed the URL at Cat Lady’s request.
Cat Lady… Could you give us an update here please?
Fingers Xd…
http://thebayfieldbunch.com
Tioga George news is a little ways down the post. Hope it works this time.
You mean his open heart surgery? George posted about it on his blog:
Tioga and George
You’ve written funny stuff before but this post is right up there with the one on the destruction of the hummingbird feeder. “Not So Fab Five” showed you – they brought all their friends and family! And all of them have that curious look on their faces. Thanks for the laugh- I needed it!
It’s my pleasure to give you a laugh, Susan. Yeah, that hummingbird incident marked the height of ridiculousness on this blog. LOL!
Ha, I loved that post. Very “perky” 😉
Did you say that it was a beef bone Spike left outside the BLT? As in, a BEEF bone? There is your answer. That last picture tells the story.
You are feeding one of their own to your pet!
No wonder they are ganging up on you. It’s kind of like those movies when people build a house on an old graveyard and the ghosts come back to haunt them. The only answer for those people is to move. In your case, I would substitute some other meat like turkey. Avoid pork as there could be some wild boar out there and a bunch of them coming at you could get a lot uglier than a herd of cows. Put yourself into the cows’ place. Walk a mile in their hooves. You can then understand.
Okay, Rosemary. I hang my head in shame. Spike, on the other hand, shows no remorse.
Yikes, I hope you realize this was all in jest…that’s what I get for trying to be funny!
🙂
Haha!! Those photos are priceless!! I love the line up with the whole herd!
Good to know Spike has his priorities in order…save the bone and don’t share!!
Outstanding post!
Thanks, John and Pam! BTW, that’s not the whole herd, only about a third . . .
Adrenaline City!The shock coupled with not knowing what to expect next must have been intense.Having a tame herd that I was very familiar with run toward me in a field made me vault a barbed wire fence once.I guess being cared for,handled,fed and watered by humans just made them excited and hoping to get apples as treats when I called,I’d expected them to slowly mill around like they did coming to the barn each evening,oops.Licking dry ground to forage sounds like a bit more heed needs to be given to their conditions by land management or whoever.Thirst and slim provisions don’t bring out the best or predictable behavior in living things.Glad you were able to handle it and that you and the crew
are just chewing,staring and blogging as usual.
It seems, in my ignorant opinion, that it’s near the time for the cattle to be rounded up or hay brought in. Their range, as you can tell from previous photos, is immense. However, they can only roam so far from their water source and that area has been grazed down to the ground.
Cattle that I’ve seen in the desert/arid areas in the past don’t prefer to eat the bushes much. It’s only when they aren’t getting enough from the grasses and ground cover that they turn to bushes. The shoots at the top are eaten. That’s been done to a good portion of the bushes I’ve seen.
I hope the rain that’s forecast for Wednesday comes and is enough to cause new growth for the cattle and other wildlife like the jackrabbits. They don’t seem to be in a dire situation at this point but that could change. I suspect the cattle are being monitored by whoever leases the BLM land.
Darnit! It’s Wednesday morning as I type this and no sign of rain. 🙁
funny,I was just getting ready to ask you that,so thanks for answering my energy mail.I’m choosing to trust that provision will appear
Wow! Those cattle sure are bold. Must be hungry looking to you for food?? Good grief! Doesn’t sound fun at all! I think my Rochelle could give ’em all a good run though! Heh heh! She LOVES chasing animals of varying sizes.
Hi, Gloria…. I think it was curiosity. They really looked us over!
OMG I haven’t laughed so hard.. That is hilarious!
I scrolled down expecting to see a couple more… ” oh dear god” they are standing in a bovine riot skirmish line!
The first five were all giving you the dreaded “stink eye”protesting Spike’s gnawing on one of their kin folk relatives! And when you didn’t take em serious they called in the entire clan! Ever wonder ummmmm nah forget it…you’ll think I’m crazy.
Classic…….thanks!
PS I proof read before I posted.
Oh, now you’re going to be worried about typos. 🙁 It’s okay if you mess up.
What a shocker to step out of the BLT to an arc of cattle across the front of our site all the way to the back end of the BLT, every one of them staring at us with that grumpy look cows have. Spike tried real hard when there were only five. This massive onslaught was too much for him!
Ya know, when you don’t feel good some times you just need a good laugh. Joe and I came back from the desert sick with upper respiritory infections and we are trying to get our selves well before we hop a plane to Hawaii for a two week vacation celebrating our 10th anniversary. When I read your blog tonight and saw the pictures it made me laugh. I’m sorry for all your frustrations but thank you for making me feel better.
You’re welcome, Betty. I’m happy my blog gave you and Joe a lift. Get well and strong soon so you can enjoy your anniversary vacation!
I think they are pretty curious animals. Watch this.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W_ROUREcM4I
Hi, Angie… Thanks for the link. I’m in the last week of my allotted data for the month and have to be careful what I open. I’m sure there are readers who will enjoy the video.
Great video! I knew cows were curious and smart in their own way, but never knew they would do something like that. Although, when I’d visit my great-aunt’s farm and I rode on the tractor that took the honey wagon around the field, the cows would follow us around. I always figured they thought we had food.
Great video! Thanks.
The cattle are hungry and thirsty. severe drought is predicted for the area you are occupying. I have to feel sorry for the cattle. Their owner needs to take care of them. Too bad they are licking up the last drops of vegetation. Maybe they can sense that you have water. Who knows…
I am worried that the hives near you may draw Africanized bees and that is a problem for any living creature in the southwest. Sorry to sound so alarmist, but that area is on the severe drought radar list this year.
Hi, Diann,
This is our third year camping here. A lot more cattle have been placed on this land than in previous years. I may have over-dramatized the situation with the bit about tongues on the ground. I sometimes do that for the sake of story-telling.
Cows, some may not know, do not have upper front teeth. They wrap their tongue around a bunch of grass and pull it over their bottom teeth to cut it. (Thus the tongues on the ground.) They swallow and bring it up later to chew.
There are two large water tanks here. One I passed on the way in. Another is located over that hill I showed in a previous post (where the three black cows stood in the photo). The cattle have plenty of water, so no worry there.
You’re a Montana girl, Diann, with a heart for livestock. 🙂
I didn’t mention the bees at our Sore Finger Road camp as I didn’t want to alarm my readers. I was lying in my lounge chair (I do that a LOT) with the crew on the mat. This is mid-afternoon. I hear a drone of bees working the many creosote flowers not far from our camp. It gets louder and louder. Bridget sits up and barks. I was very attentive, ready to grab my two babies and run inside. This occurred for the last three afternoons we were there.
You are such an understanding person. That’s why I keep coming back. (Also, thanks so much for fixing those darned ole typos I seem to get myself into!)
Yep. Living and teaching in ag communities, I have learned to respect not only the livestock, but their stewards, as well. A couple of years ago, the state went through a few years of tough drought, and the motto was “Feed ’em or ship ’em”. Many stock owners were forced to reduce their stock.
Glad you left the bees and the cholla “in your dust”, O Mighty Camper Woman! :>)
Hey!-it’s the Shadow Cowgirl (to go with Al’s Shadow Cowboy)!!
Oh, yeah! I forgot about the Shadow Cowboy… funny.
Ladybug… What were you going to say to us under the previous post? You started out with TO ALL THOSE DESIRING CASITAS: and then you wrote nothing more.
Oh geez, I didn’t think it posted. My computer went wonky!!
I was going to say, to those who might be looking to buy a Casita used, there is a consignment company in Houston that lists used RVs of all kinds along with photos, descriptions and floorplans. The RVs are actually on their lot, so when a sale is pending or the item is sold, it’s noted. They sometimes have Casitas for sale (there’s 2 listed right now). I believe the price is set by the owner that is selling the unit.
The company is called PPL Motorhomes (they have from Class As to travel trailer, separated by type. You can sort the categories by size, which will bring the Casitas and the other small trailers to the bottom.
I’ve never dealt with them, so I do not know their reputation. But it might be an option for someone that knows what they want. I just like looking at all of them. 😀
Well, I had a BIG BELLY LAUGH on this one when I saw the bovine boys!
Still laughing…I used to raise cattle. They are a curious lot. They may suspect you might have some feed in that trailer. Cattle are not dumb animals. Don’t ask how I know…this is your blog not mine. Thanks Sue, can’t wait to see what’s next. Beehave.
You’re welcome, Diane. Love to give out belly laughs! Maybe the cattle do associate us with food. They certainly were curious.
Oh my! This was so funny. I literally did laugh out loud when I saw that the cows brought back reinforcements. So funny and also a little freaky! Also so funny was Spike running out to get his bone. He’s got his priorities straight!
Hi, Donna,
When I got my first glimpse of all those cows, it felt like the original five were saying, “We’re back. Watcha’ gonna do about it, huh?”
ROFLMBO, OMGOSH….I am sitting next to dear hubby, nice and quiet in here as he’s watching a movie and all very sudden… I BUSTED into laughter! He looks at me, much like the bovine’s were looking at you. Oh Lordy, what good laugh. Those 5 left and came back to show you a few things. Be careful, hubby says cattle can be very unpredictable.
Hi, Kay,
I can picture the scene at your place. Ha! Always fun to hear that I made a reader laugh . . .
This reminds me of the time we were towing east of Yellowstone and got caught in a cattle drive. A few cows came by, we stopped to enjoy the show, next thing we knew there were at least a couple of hundred. It was actually fun, we turned off the truck and just waited it out. Afterwards we figured out right quick we should have pushed on before the first came through, it took us a couple of hours at the nearest truck wash to get all the cow poop cleaned from under the truck and trailer, from driving through it. What a mess!
Hi, Judy,
The crew and I were in a cattle drive, too! It was in Utah, only it didn’t last for hours and we didn’t get “pooped.” I thought it was fun, too. . . something unexpected.
We were on the motorcycle going through Cortez, CO. We made a turn onto a road leaving town and went right into a cattle drive. It was a bit unnerving being so close to them and us with little to no experience with cattle on the hoof.
Roundup at the OK Corral? or something along those lines. Cows can be so SERIOUS! My favorite photo? The last one – best ‘selfie’ I’ve seen in a long time 😀
Lacy
I was thinking the same thing about it being a great selfie…
And loved the curious cows. I do think it was all about curiosity…
Lacy and Connie,
That photo was unplanned. I went around to get a BLT-in-the-light-of-a-sunset shot. The sunset light wasn’t that great and then I noticed… “Hey! There I am!”
Loved this! The picture of the herd is priceless! Have not laughed so much in a while!
Do believe this is a case of mistaken identity……maybe the food guy/girl wears a similar hat?
That could be the case, Lynne. Last year I was standing on a promontory with the crew, looking out over the huge wash. Dust kicked up… It was a cowboy rounding up cattle.
Crack me up….settled in for nightly reads…running through your post and bam, you got me! Laughing …. what a round-up! Loved it…
Isn’t it weird how the crew and I can camp out in the “middle of nowhere,” minding our own business, and stuff like this happens? I never have to start a post with “Nothing much happened today.” Even when that’s true, there’s always something to write about in our world!
Still laughing about the bovine posse! I just ordered some new cookbooks from Amazon. I hope you get the credit as I used reward points from my checking account.
Hi, Susan,
Here are some cookbooks ordered recently. If your order isn’t among them, it probably will show up in tomorrow’s orders report.
Power Foods for the Brain: An Effective 3-Step Plan to Protect Your Mind and Strengthen Your Memory
The Blood Sugar Solution Cookbook: More than 175 Ultra-Tasty Recipes for Total Health and Weight Loss
The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook: 125 Easy and Delicious Recipes to Jump-Start Weight Loss and Help You Feel Great
New Atkins for a New You: The Ultimate Diet for Shedding Weight and Feeling Great
The New Atkins for a New You Cookbook: 200 Simple and Delicious Low-Carb Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less
Thanks to you, Susan, and to everyone who buys books through my blog!
Yep, mine are in there. Glad you got the credit 🙂
The pictures are priceless. Thanks for making me laugh today!
You’re welcome, Sandy. I could never make up the funny stuff that happens on this blog. All I have to do is with my crew and read. The laughs find us!
The cattle are definitely curious creatures. They can be unintentionally destructive as well. I would take precautions about antennas, cords, etc. which might be exposed to them to bump up against or chew on. I caught one calf on our country place “stealing” a towel, length of rope, and water bottle from my four wheeler while I was working on a fence about 10 yards away. They just don’t have much else to do and when presented with such an unusual site as your Casita (which might look like a huge round bale of hay to them) they just can’t resist!.
Have Fun Sue!
Don
Hi, Don,
I’m wondering what they’ll do when the crew and I go into town. I’ll put away my chairs, but I don’t want to pull up the stakes and mat, too. Then there’s the cable for the antenna… Last year they bumped and rocked the BLT with me and the crew inside .. .
Yep, something new in the desert to rub up against. And, it doesn’t have thorns!
Yeah, these cows don’t have fence posts.
Now really Sue…all animals love some entertainment…and you and the dogs have done it well, from the sounds of it…heehee…and you are in THEIR field…so you can count on daily visits I think. My dad’s cows seemed to have certain parts of their fields they visited at certain times of the day…they are creatures of habit…probably you are where they generally are at that time of day. And if they have been around herd dogs, they know yours are not herd dogs…so have nothing to fear. They are funny creatures. Have fun while it lasts…
Hi, Elizabeth,
Walking around with the crew each morning I can see the cows have their worn pathways and they do follow the wide lanes on their way to and from the water tanks. I think they do like to hang out around this palo verde tree.
I’m enjoying this camp once again. Wasn’t sure I would, it being our third visit here.
“All they ever do is graze, go to the water tank, graze, sleep, and then repeat it all… Sounds like the rut I was in before I retired and hit the road!”
Wait a minute, isn’t that what you do now? 😉
Hi, Nancy…
Gee, your’ right. Only we graze all over the western states! 🙂
That’s a LOT of cows !! !You must be camped in there sleeping spot or something. They look a little perturbed !
Hi, Sue…
The trouble with cattle is they don’t have many facial expressions. They’ve got “pissed off” and that’s about it. Same for body language…. Mostly, standing, sitting chewing cud, walking, pooping, pooping while walking, and humping each other. Not much expression of emotion going on!
If they were humans, I’d picture them having their arms folded across their chests, head slightly back and with an eye on you. Not quite arms akimbo, but…
OMG – best laugh of the day!! Best photo in a long time. I’m just picturing all those bovine circled around you and the crew, like you’re a wagon out in the old Wild West. I was humming the tune to Rawhide the rest of the day – “rollin, rollin, rollin, move em on, head em up, keep them doggies rollin, rawhide” All you need is a rope !!
A rope and a horse, especially for the cattle drive down the slope and out of here!
You have me laughing out loud, Sue. Those cows are definately interested in you and the crew.
Hi, DebbieAZ,
The crew and I seem to attract attention wherever we go! So far the herd hasn’t come back which is a relief!
Those cows, Sue, were a riot. So solemn as they stood there quietly watching you. I guess you were their entertainment for the afternoon. Who would have thought that the five would have so many friends? I’m impressed with their organizational skills.
And the video was a hoot. It might be entertaining to sit in your chair, directing your radio controlled car and keeping an entire herd shifting. Of course, their owners might not like you taking some of their weight off.
Hi, Pat in KS,
Is that what the video shows? I bet it’s hilarious.
This data limit is a pain. If I open up videos and do too much surfing the web, Verizon hits me with overage charges.
Glad you enjoyed our latest bovine adventure!
Sue, next time the cows come by for a visit, sing to them. They seem to like it and it will put them in a better moooood. That’s what I found in the past….
Oh wait…maybe it depends on if you can carry a tune. 🙂
Spike might want to bury that bovine body part, yikes.
Well, Micky…. If I sing, they’ll think I’m one of them and want me to join the herd!
:-)))))
Go Spike. He’s got his priorities right!
Hi, Heda,
Typical Spike… As Bridget would say, “He only thinks of himself!”
Time for a new campsite?
Aww, Gayle… I can’t let a herd of cattle run us off. I’m standing my ground and keeping this wonderful 5-bar connection a bit longer!
Seriously, the weather is turning cooler. We’re at the edge of higher elevations. I don’t want to move us into wintry weather. I remember sitting in this same spot looking at the snow on the Weaver Mountains and it was in the spring.
I’ll be patient a bit longer, then we’ll cross the mountains and visit Rusty and Timber in Chino Valley, north of Prescott.
Can’t wait to hear the latest about rusty and Timber
I emailed Rusty and asked if we could visit and he has welcomed me and the crew. I look forward to seeing Rusty and Timber again.
Back in 2010 I was hanging around a forest campground north of Dolores CO when some of my neighbors had a run in with some ominous cows. They were elk hunters, driving a white Ford pickup, and I noticed on one of my walks that their truck had a curious orange-polka-dot pattern to the paint. When I got closer I realized the orange was just the prevailing dirt, but why the polka dots?
These mighty hunters had gotten surrounded by cows while en route up to where the elk were, and the amorous beasts proceeded to lick their vehicle from stem to stern, smearing the dirt into swirls. When 50 cows suddenly decide you are delicious, there’s nothing to do but sit there and take it.
Fortunately they weren’t in a tent. An intrepid RVer generally has enough protection to be able to take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.
It occurs to me I may have already told this story here somewhere. If so, forgive me. Your cow posse picture brought it back to mind.
If you told us that story before, bobg, I wouldn’t remember it anyway. Great thing about poor memory, you can enjoy a good story many times and it’s always as good as the first time you heard it.
I will not be happy to find the BLT covered in polka dots when we return from town!
Your readers know you are not fond of drop in visits. Not being computer literate, maybe you will need to post a sign at camps edge for the bovines. 🙂
Hi, Strelsi,
I suspect the cows consider US the drop-in visitors. 🙂
That was hilarious! I guess Spike said “You got it this time, right?” But he didn’t forget that bone! Loved it! Stay safe.
Hi, GypsyPurl….
Sure does tell you a lot about Spike’s thinking, doesn’t it. He lets me and Bridget face an army of bovines on our own…. but, oh gosh, my bone! Gotta save my bone!
The first thing I thought of when I saw the five cows was they were courious, but when they brought the whole herd it looked like they were at the movies watching the show. I think they told all the others about you and they all had to come and see. I got a good laugh out of it that is for sure. Glad the internet signal is good there so you can make the herds day. Looks like something they will talk about for days.
Hi, Jean….
I can imagine what you’re saying.. “Hey, guys, you gotta’ come and see this! There’s a woman up there with two dogs and she’s got a 17-foot Casita. You know, one of those lightweight fiberglass trailers . . . . “
The cow lineup is a classic! Hilarious!
Good to see Spike has his priorities straight, gotta protect the bone! LOL!
Hi, G,
I wish I’d taken a photo of their back-ends as I drove them away. If I’d had a herding dog, it would’ve been quite a sight. Instead I have Bridget cowering next to the open door and Spike pretending he doesn’t know what’s going on from his hiding place underneath the BLT. That’s my crew! 🙂
Hahaha! When I saw that picture of the whole herd of cattle I lost it; it’s the Moo-pocalypse. Gotta side with the bovines on this one.
Hi, Sarah,
Just goes to show… If you’re gonna’ boondock, you hafta’ be ready for anything!
We’ll have to track down the cow blog and see their side of the story!
There is a series of children’s books (older children but not young adult) about “Hank the Cowdog” that your stories often remind me of. My kids and I used to listen to the audio version on road trips and they are a hoot. If you ever run across one pick it up and I think it will give you a smile. Today’s cattle chronicle certainly gave me a hoot and a smile. Thanks and be safe.
Jodee!
I had a tape of “Hank the Cowdog!” I bought it for my 4th grade language arts students. Used it to help them put dialogue in their stories.
Hank talks just like Spike! I forgot all about Hank until you mentioned him here. I bet that’s what put Spike’s online personality into my head. 🙂 Funny!
I think they’re adorable. knowing me i would be over there talking to them and trying to rub their soft cuddly cow faces. I KNOW that’s not very smart.
Oh, Riley… You’d start rubbing the faces of a herd of over seventy “adorable” cows and bulls? Haha! I can see it. You’d be surrounded, everyone crowding in for their head rub!
Now I’m the one laughing! Thanks.
Oops I forgot about bulls!
They might prefer chasing me across the desert instead of head scratches.
There is one of the Not-So-Fab Five… a bull… and he was a bit confrontational with me. The others turned to go and he stepped forward. Little did he know how scary I can get . . .
Having owned cattles ourselves, those cows are probably very hungry and are looking to you for some food. Watch Bridget and Spike as cows can be dangerous to dogs, as in stomping on them. I see abused cattle all the time around where we live and it is infuriating, although I don’t see too many ribs in your photo. But, they do probably want food and since you are the only human around guess what??:)
Take it easy!
Hi, Terri,
It’s hard to say if they’re hungry or just curious. I’m not too worried about the crew. Both of them can haul butt when they sense danger. You’d be amazed how fast Bridget can move that trailer of hers. And Spike, even though he has arthritis, will take off like a shot when necessary… such as when a bone is threatened. 🙂
Sue,
You should probably start carrying some range cubes around with you! Ha Ha!
Carry some range cubes but watch out for cow pies.
I don’t even know what a range cube is. . .
Had to look it up. Some type of fortified (with vitamins/minerals) food for range animals.
Again not to be confused with cow pies.
Sue do you know what cow pies are?
Yes, I know what cow pies are. I spent many summer days on my grandfather’s dairy farm and herded cows with him. These weren’t range animals as his farm was in upstate NY where cows are kept in smaller fields and sometimes a rotation system is used. That’s what my grandfather did and that’s when I herded the cows, from one field up the road to another field.
May I join the herd of others who thought that the pictures you posted today brought me to laugh out loud right a my computer desk AT WORK!.. OOPS….Great job on the shadow shot also…..Wonderful post today….Thank you for all you do for all of us homebound people.
You’re welcome, Shirlene. I enjoyed bringing a little of the West to your workplace.
Do those cute cows have any shade at all?
Am I going to have to leave NC and come set up a tarp for those cows?
Don’t worry Sue I won’t bother you, just the herd.
You can chase away all of us.
See the photo of the tree at the top of this post? There are plenty of trees like that for the cows to lie in the shade. Another photo in a previous post shows cows lying under a tree. Also, steep ledges throw cool shade depending upon the location of the sun in the sky.
Yes, nice shade trees. I’m learning a lot about the desert and cows via your informative blog.
Thanks for the laugh today! Made my day. Tell Bridget and Spike they shouldn’t leave it up to you next time, the cows had to go get their pals and have them come see the crazy human! Great Photo! Keep, Keepin on!
You’re welcome, Wendy. I’m surprised that the herd hasn’t returned. It’s like the lead cow said, “Okay, everyone. Move along. Nothing here to see.”
Got a chuckle out of the expanded cow picture. Interesting mixture of breeds. Here mostly Hereford and Angus. It’s calving season so I sometimes take a drive and watch the babies toddle around. It isn’t too long before a crowd of “teenagers” are gathered curious creatures.
Hi, CheryLyn,
There seems to be three breeds here, maybe four.
They came to see the giant marshmallow.
Hi, Al . . . .Add some cow pie and you’ve got Bovine S’mores!
BTW… I took a look at your blog (well done, nice pics!) and a couple of posts back, I took an interest in your review of Aguirre Springs Campground. Looks like a pretty spot and cheap! I don’t know how I missed it when we were camping in New Mexico.
Sling shots work good for cows. I’ve had to shoo cows away before. They can be very persistent.
Hi, Marie… It hasn’t come to that yet. I hope they satisfied their curiosity and won’t come back. I’ve only seen the Not-So-Fab Five since the cattle drive. They took a long way around us, keeping their distance.
Range cubes are like a nutritious dessert for cattle. Feed them these and you will NEVER get rid of them! We always fed ours a snack every weekend just so they wouldn’t forget where the corral was!
Good idea re: the corral. Not such a good idea re: our campsite. 🙂
Sue, this has nothing to do with your delightful post [I really loved the pic of Spike retrieving his bone! :-)] but could you post a link to the blog entry that involved your becoming a South Dakotan? I’m thinking of going that route. Thanks!
Hi, mockturtle,
My blog has the worst search feature of any blog on the internet. I looked for a post about legal residency and didn’t find much. If you aren’t in a hurry, I may be including that process in an installment of “The road to vagabond living.”
If you can’t wait for that, go to America’s Mailbox. That’s the mail forwarding/legal residence service I use. Obtaining legal residency is explained including the costs.
Blogorino here……I can help if you wish.
Are you also a South Dakotan? My main interest is in savings in sales tax when buying a new Tiger. I would pay $8K+ if I register it here in WA while I’ll ‘only’ pay around $4K in S. Dakota. Yes, I’d welcome any personal experience. I’ve read the website many times but I’m still not clear on what order one does things, e.g., driver’s license, vehicle registration, mail service, everything needed to establish a domicile. [Sue, I don’t mean to hijack the thread but I am….sort of. ;-)]
No I am not.
I meant help in finding the post!
Thanks anyway, Cinandjules. I don’t think I wrote a good post about the process of obtaining legal residency.
This is the best, so funny. Beef, Beef everywhere and not a steak to eat.
I think frustrated hunters call them desert elk, usually right before they “mistakenly” shot one.
Speaking of Americas Mailbox, did you get the notice that they can now mail you your prescriptions if you set them up at the Walgreens next to them. Walgreens will deliver it to their office and they will include it in the next package.
Yes, I did get that notice, Alan. I am fortunate that I don’t have any prescriptions.
When my husband was alive we traveled all over the country and every summer we spent 2-3 months in AK. The easiest way to get his prescriptions refilled we found in walmart. Every walmart had access to all his information. We never had any problem and as we all know walmarts are everywhere. We often called a specific walmart pharmacy a couple days in advance and his prescription usually waited.
BTW, Sue do you still get up with your crew at night and using a headlamp? Can you share what headlight do you have, where did you buy it (walmart maybe) and are you pleased with it? Thanks
Hi, R,
Yes, I do get up with the crew during the night. I haven’t used the headlamp lately because it died after many uses.
We don’t walk far. I can still see the crew from the beam of the outside light on the BLT. The headlamp was especially useful when we camped in campgrounds and I didn’t want to put on an outside light and disturb neighbors.
You can see a headlamp by going to Shopping Links in the header and clicking on “For the road and campsite.” Scroll down and you’ll see the Energizer brand. It’s not the same as mine, probably better than mine.
My two cents about your bovine buddies–they are curious. Years ago when I became a veterinary technician, I worked for a vet that did artificial insemination on dairy cows. We had one that lived in a pasture beside our clinic, and I guess because I fed her and rubbed her head, she followed me everywhere. I would move through the clinic and she would follow me, eyeing me through the windows, and when I stopped, she stopped, slowly chewing her cud. I loved that cow and still have a picture of her! Your neighbors are just not used to having that much commotion and excitement in their neck of the desert. The thrill will wear off. Great blog!
Hi, DeAnne . . . I think the thrill has already worn off. One lone cow came by a few minutes ago, saw no one outside, and off she went.
It’s hard for me to reconcile that we kill and eat an animal capable of the devotion you describe.
I think they just wanted to be famous on your blog. Sometimes beef [beeves?] can be hams. 😉
I grew up with cattle, I think they were hopeful for food! Along with being curious.
We just picked up,our little egg. Now to sell the house and get moving!
Have a wonderful day everyone. 🙂
Edie, congratulations on your acquisition. How exciting! I’m listing my house next week. Hope we both sell quickly!
Like everyone else, I busted out laughing as I scrolled down your post. Who would have though that a dog and a bunch of cows could be so entertaining? Made my day !
Well, Glenda… That’s my specialty. Making blog posts out of nothing! Glad you appreciated my efforts. 🙂
Seinfeld made millions on a TV show about nothing…..I really liked the shadow pic.
An absolutely great post! Your writings and the photos had me laughing! What a great Blog! Really like the selfie too!
Have a great day today!
Thanks, Deb. Same to you!
Cattle are like a bunch of kids just looking for something to get into.
One of the jobs we did out of my steel fab shop was build cattle pens and feed lots. It would be hilarious watch the cattle,you would weld a runner on the fence and look up and all the cattle in the pasture would be gathered around you watching and as soon as you walked away every cow in the bunch would walk up and lick the hot steel then go to running and bucking ,another one would walk up and do the same.
Ron
Hi, Ron,
Reading your anecdote of the funny cows has me wondering why I spent so much of my life indoors. Almost every job I had kept me cooped up between four walls. *sigh* Oh well, live in the present, right?
After our experience here, I can picture your story very easily!
Those cows want you to move and I do as well. Tired of just seeing desert, rocks, and cactus…How about British Columbia, the Yukon, the Tetons, Alaska or something else!?!
Go for it!!!
Feed your soul.
Happy trails
I’m where I want to be, where it’s warm and sunny. This is not a road trip. This is full-time living in a travel trailer. Your request is unrealistic.
I live for me and my crew, not for this blog. Sorry to disappoint you, Dan. If you want to see something else, it’s easy. Read a blog of people in “British Columbia, the Yukon, the Tetons, Alaska, or something else.” As for me, I don’t feel like freezing my arse off in the Tetons in April. . . or anywhere else for that matter.
Hear, hear! 🙂
April in AK, are you kidding? It is a break-up season when snow, ice are melting and mud is all around. Then in May mosquitos are coming back. As much as I love Alaska I would never recommend visiting this state in April or even May. June and July are fine but sometimes mosquitos are out in a full force. Going to AK should involve a long advance planning and it could be a very expensive adventure. Furthermore, not everyone is interested in visiting places we enjoy and want to visit. I, for instance, have no desire to ever again visit Las Vegas but there are millions of tourists who love it and many of them returning over and over again. Good for them. I also do not have any need to return to Yellowstone and Tetons. I appreciated a beauty and uniqueness of these places but dealing with crowds helped me make my own decision to never return there again. I have friends who love snowmobiling (snowmachining in AK) I tried once and have no desire to do it again.
Every time I hike I feel grateful our friends, families, visitors, tourists, strangers enjoy different activities and visiting other places. I can’t even imagine how some trails would look if we all wanted to be there.
Lets feed our own soul our own and independent ways.
R. (Colorado) . . . Informative post re: conditions in Alaska in the early months of the year. Lots of folks dream of Alaska trips. I’m not in a hurry to make that long trip because there are a lot of wonderful places to visit that are closer.
I agree… I’m happy that many folks enjoy the touristy areas. Keeps the other areas less trampled!
You sparked my interest, Dan. These weather reports for today will give you an idea of why the crew and I aren’t in the places you suggest . . .
(All readings are in Fahrenheit.)
Whitehorse, Yukon… High of 36 degrees, Low of 9 degrees, partly cloudy
Vancouver, British Columbia… High of 48 degrees, Low of 45 degrees, rain for the next four days
Denali National Park, Alaska… High of 31 degrees, Low of 18 degrees. (As I type this it’s 12 degrees)
🙂
Putting on my body armour and steel pot.
Ron
Huh? Relax, Ron . . .
Our neighbor here at Escapees North Ranch hates the cows, (our sites back up to the desert) she gets a metal pie pan and a metal spatula at 6am and beats the drums to get the cows to move away from the fence–she says they stink and they do but I could do with a little less noise at 6am!! When we go for our morning walk out to “Inspiration Point” we can see you tucked away in the creosote bushes.
Hi, Janna,
I had to laugh out loud at your neighbor’s behavior, even though it must be very annoying for you. It’s funny how people are oblivious re: how their actions affect others. Maybe you should go outside at 6 am and moo very loudly at her! Hahaha!
I wonder if the cows come to hear her play her percussion instrument.
The crew and I walked up to Inspiration Point, too!
Hmm, I’d be thinking of ways to shoo the neighbor away. Loud banging at 6 a.m.?! Note to neighbor: Others exist!
Uh…Reality Check:
http://udottraffic.utah.gov/CLALertViewer.aspx?CLType=2
MT and WY are even worse!
Wow, that road cam is “a picture worth a thousand words.” I really wouldn’t want to be on that snowy highway right now!
Thanks for the link, Diann! I’m doing my best to be patient and that weather/road report does the trick.
Loving your blog. After been reading you for about a year I decided to go back to your humble beginnings before you became blog-famous!
Really made me think I’m going in the right direction. I started thinking ‘what the hell am I going to do when I retire’ in my early 50s. Surely I didn’t want to sit at home and watch the world go by. And surely I couldn’t afford to travel year round. Then I discovered rv’ing and that you can have the best of both worlds. Just be smart, frugal and have a budget.
At 57 I can’t wait to retire but I’ve started the downsizing. From a large 3/2.5 house down to a small apartment and life can’t be any better!
And I can’t believe your sis lives in boca raton as I do!
You have come a long long way.
Hoping to bump into you and the nut cakes down the road one day!
G
Hi, G….
I was in the same situation… Keep the house and go nowhere or . . . . dump the house and go places! Thank you for going back to the early posts. I’m pleased you love my blog.
Sue, this brought back fond memories of being on a gravel forest service road in the Black Hills, pretty close to Mt. Rushmore. I was driving past a primitive campsite and stopped for a laugh. There was a small, bright colored dome tent set up about fifty feet from a five string barb wire fence. The other side of the fence was packed full of 40 to 50 cows, shoulder to shoulder, staring at the tent like they were looking at a spaceship. They were transfixed to the point of being hypnotized. I came down the same road a few hours later, same cows, same tent, same dumb stare. LOL, they are smarter than a box of rocks, but not by much.
Hi, soren,
That is a funny story! Haha! I can see it clearly. Can you imagine rolling out of a sleeping bag in the early morning to look up at all those cow faces? Hilarious.
Just came across your blog and wanted to say how much I love it. I’m considering getting a motorhome and having that as my tiny home. My thinking is because of my pets (5 cats, 1 very small chihuahua who is also elderly and blind) and also because I would be traveling solo. Did you consider one before getting the travel trailer? I like the
Casitas but worry about having to have too large a vehicle to tow it, and also not having any help hitching it up.
Love your writing style!
LMAO, I can’t stop, the tears are streaming down my face. You, rvsue are hilarious!