It has been an amazing journey so far out West. I have met many generous people, and been present to many unique experiences. I tip my hat to my Taos photography workshop group, and especially Judy Barnes, (Spirit of the Wild Horse Foundation,) the lady who took us to meet wild bands of mustang, on her high desert mesa property, her house being 17 miles off the electric grid, no less!!! in Southern Colorado. She said she comes home to a dark house every night. She is single, and sleeps with a pistol near her bed. She lives on the remote mesa, to be close to the mustangs, her passion in life. She said that she has found herself in tears sometimes, with the difficulty of living off the grid, with clay dirt roads turning slick and dangerous, with little traction, during monsoons and the winter etc, and all that that style of living poses. I rode in her car over dirt trails that I swear, last saw stage coaches rolling through! I was laughing in disbelief at this seemingly "impossible to drive on", sage brush strewn, trail. Judy and I were the lead car, in her older SUV, with two other workshop vehicles following behind, in our cloud of dust. At times, I couldn't even see the cars behind me! (This is NOT show car clean Camaro/ Mustang country!!!) Judy said she has gone through many tires, and now buys only 10 ply tires. She claims that Triple AAA can find her out there, on the mesa, as all wreckers are familiar with GPS, or, with locating a stranded vehicle on those unmarked / sagebrush choked mesa trails, through identifiction with geological formations. ( You know, "Take a right at the big rock, go 3 miles northeast through the arroyo, and then cross the creek bank by the vulture.") Judy had to use binoculars to glass which dirt trail/road we could use next, to travel over her mesa!!! (If my friends could see me now.) The poor cars behind us were hidden in dust, with their air conditioning on, so you know dust was getting inside their cars! You know who was sitting like a Queen up in the lead vehicle, thank-you very much. We got to see plenty of Mustang, though, when the dust cleared. We also walked through the Taos Pueblo Native American pony fields, at the invitation of the Taos Pueblo owner. I nearly died in that field. I was walking along, and heard a rattler right under my foot. I couldn't see it. I stopped dead in my tracks, and looked and looked and looked, and finally deduced that I was either blind, and going to be struck anytime by that hidden rattler, or, it was something else. Still on stealth radar mode, I reached down slowly, only to find that a stupid plant right in front of me, that I had kicked with my boot, had dried seeds in its dead head, causing the rattle sound. I started laughing. No one else had witnessed the event. I couldn't stop laughing, so told everybody else about the plant rattler. (I am bringing some of the deadhead flowers home, for all you disbelievers.) I have recovered nicely, thank-you. In both areas, I walked into bleached horse bones. Not an uncommon site out here. Thank-you to Kenny Blair Jr, super host and Taos icon. Everybody in town knew him. Don't know if that is good or bad, but it is so. He has been around Taos since the 1970's, meeting many of the famous celebrities that were in town, including Dennis Hopper, who filmed "Easy Rider" at the Taos Pueblo. Kennys family hosted many parties for the rich and famous, at the Inn. His family also owns the largest collection of R.C.Gorman lithographs in the world, outside of R.C. Gormans private estate collection of art. Kenny had interesting stories to tell. ( Did I believe him? YUP.) Nothing but the best. 30 years is too long Kenny to go without culture! Start with the Taos Firehouse, for a really unique experience in seeing rare art, right??? Who knew??? Another one of those many, magical side trips in my journey. Stopping into the Historic La Fonda Hotel in Taos, I was lucky enough to run into the owner, and be given a private tour of the historic Taos Fonda Hotel, one night, after shopping in Taos Plaza. Owner Bob Sahd and Pam also showed me their newly aquired R.C. Gorman estate collection of art work. Impressive. The La Fonda Hotel itself is fabulous, and on the National Register of Historic Places. Next - lucky me, a car club had their meet at the hotel! A big hello to Korean War veteran Ebil, son Paulie and Bob. Really nice guys. Ebil - Thank-you for serving our country. You are brave, and a great father and husband. It shows. I was honored to speak to you, and be in your company. I voted on your cars at the car show! If I had the B4C Camaro, you would have been impressed! Hello to Chicago firefighter Rich and pals. They rode into Taos on Harleys, but not before being stopped, 10 miles out, at the Rio Grand Gorge Bridge, by a young woman, pleading for the 3 firefighters/friends to stop her friend from jumping off the bridge. It is a 580 foot drop. After witnessing jumpers on 9/11, at NYC Twin Towers, they witnessed this 59 year old woman drop to her death. They are firefighters trained for rescue. They tried to intervene, but the victim was determined. They had to witness this woman letting go, and falling to her death. I met them the night of this event, as they were staying at my hotel. They told me about their astonishing experience. I burned sage, to clear the air of negativity, (When in Taos...) Rich said it worked. I went back the next day to say a prayer. The local paper said she was someone from out of town. Many people jump from this bridge, due to the accessibly- no fences to stop them. They register in a hotel, have a last meal, then jump, I am told. Guests at the hotel showed me pics of big horned sheep walking down the steep gorge sides, to reach the water below the bridge. Life goes on. Much of Taos and Ruidoso has experienced huge wildfires that have stopped just before the towns. Friend and model Rubin, a ranch owner in Ruidoso, said he was told to evacuate last Spring, when the wildfire came roaring over the mountain behind his and Dr Beechies property. He refused the Sheriff, saying he needed to stay, to put down any horse boarded there, if needed. He had a bag packed with tools in his truvk, in case he needed to do the job. At 3 AM that night, he said the wind stopped, which halted the fire at their doorsteps. God sends miracles. Sometimes, he said, the winds howl at 50 MPH anyway, which can add to the power of the weather that wildfires make. Most of the mountains are blackened, with evidence of orange fire retardant on the ground, around houses, to save them, that was dropped from helicopters. Just amazing. Same thing in Taos. Due to little vegetation, wildlife is coming to town - bear, elk. I saw a bull elk, with antler rack pointing to the sky, next to a guard rail. Too late to get a shot. He shouldn't have been near the road, but is looking for food. On Cathys ranch yesterday, I saw peacock! rescued dogs, horses, cats etc. What a collection. All good for shots. Off to the spectacular White Sands Dunes tomorrow, for sunset shots.
For any photographer, I would recommend finding a good workshop to attend every year, then also wander with your camera. You can't beat what you find, and the people are so gracious. It really is the people on the way, that you take time to meet, that add priceless memories to your journey. Who wants to be sitting in the nursing home, in the twilight of ones life, saying, "I wish I had done that ...
Go out there and live your life.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 10:36PM