May 2010 Camping Trip Cont.

Frenchglen, Oregon - Day 3

I have to admit that there is nothing like helping to bring in the herd! Little did we know that our "Thurlacki Adventure" today, would involve helping to herd cattle! I guess a little bit of the "City Slicker" rubbed off of us today. Why... we might even have to call ourselves Cow Pokes! :-) But before I get into that, here are a few more pictures to start out with.

*** Click on pictures to make them larger for viewing ***

Close Encounters of the "Mustang" kind

California Quail


Avocet


Great Egret

Juvenile Red-Tail Hawk

Closest picture of a Prong-Horn Antelope we've ever gotten!

OK... now about the round-up. While out wondering the OutBack (actually... we were on a wrong road for going to where we wanted to be), we came around a corner and happened upon a real cattle drive... right in the middle of the road! I asked one of the "Cowgirls" if it was OK to proceed down the road, and she said "it sure was... just go slowly". So slowly ahead we moved. This was actually fun! We didn't need to ride horses to rustle up the cattle, we could just sit comfortably in the Dodge 1-Ton Ram, and mosey them off the side of the road while our trusty Yellow Lab Abby, kept them in check. And all from the front seat of the cab. :-) Of the three roads in all of Haney County, we just happen to get lucky to be on the wrong one. All this with Dave & Sandy's truck with only 1/4 tank of gas. Luckily, all ended well, as Dave's truck fuel light came on within 4 miles of Burns, Oregon. Such is the simple life of the "Thurlacki" way... it's almost like being a Cowboy living on the edge, and bring home the herd.

After we rounded the last curve, the cattle moved slowly off to the open range. A man who was parked and hunting for rocks, saw us moving the cattle, and stood there with his mouth opened. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. I rolled down the window, smiled, and told him... "Hope we didn't bother you much, this was our first cattle drive". (that's the truth)

Get along little doggies


Real Cowboys keeping the herd in check


Modern day herding... all from the comfort of the truck cab


Home, home on the range, where the deer & the antelope play...

As today's adventures come to an end, happy trails to you, until we meet again.

Gary, Karen, and our trusty side-kick Abby