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The Drive Home, conclusion.

leanin' H

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 8, 2007
Messages
7,286
Location
Western Utah Desert
Today is the finale! We started at 1st light with the bunch and headed south for the last 12 miles. Pretty sunrise behind the silouette of Toby Keith! Toby is really my Younger Brother Rich! :D
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Intermountain Power in the distance with blurry cows in the foreground. Sorry i was shaking but it was right at zero and my horse was shivering. :shock: That's my story anyway!
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'

For the concerned folks worrying about our cows lack of a drink, I thought i'd show our efforts. Dad and Phil chopped ice for an hour and we let them tank up.
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Rich posed on the earthen dam while the desert dawn broke! Behind me the thirsty cattle enjoyed a nice long pull of pleasantly chilled water. :wink:
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See how long they drank? I think the cattle enjoyed the drive as much as we did. We didnt have a cow quit on us, lay down or sulk at all. When they made the home corral they hit the feedrow.
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Today the crew included Phil, Rich, Adam(Phil's nephew), and one slacker with a camera hooked to his ugly mug. Rich thought i looked like a one-eyed robot. Nicest thing he's ever said to me! :wink:
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Finally the smoking stack is going behind us! A couple times i swear it was actually getting further away.
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The power lines leave the plant and head for California. Lots of voltage! Like 3/4s of a million D.C. volts. If i'd had a string of Christmas lights i could have been in the remake of Electric Horseman!
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All this civilization kinda irritates me! :P The next monstrosity is this drillrig in the middle of an saltbrush flat. They are drilling into a hollow saltdome to store natural gas or greenhouse gas or something. Heck, by next year we'll have to stop, hook-up the herd and bleed off any excess emissions!
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Closing in on the last couple hours. Down a dirt road, right at the tee, first left, mile and a half down asphalt, hang a left, hang a right and stop at the hay buffet.
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Plenty of geese stop by and hit the farms. Corn, barley..... all a hungry honker needs! The cows eyeballed the stalks and grabbed the occasional mouthful of salt grass.
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The last half mile! Some of the leaders had a spring in thier step as they neared thier winter home. This country flood irrigates some of the best hay ground in the west. The big ditch on the left is a drain ditch that takes any leftover water off the field.
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An old hay derrick used for putting up loose hay. I imagine most of ya'll know that though. :D
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Into the wire lot! It was a long, cold, tiring, wonderful, beautiful ride!
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The tail-enders! While i appreciate the fact it was a long way, it was common practice not too long ago. No one had trailers, bull haulers, ect. In was until fairly recent ya trailed em' to the nearest railspur. Our industry is based on doing whatever it takes to put beef on plates. We(including the cattle) made a good drive and enjoyed ourselves doing it. :D
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Relaxing on the recliner. After a full belly and drink>
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Phil has a immaculate place. We tease him about numbering the gravel! He is feeding his calves weaned in October. That way he can wait till prices sink even further before selling. :roll:
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The silage pit. This year it's chopped sudan and barley. I think i'd like silage if i were a cow. It smells good to me! :D
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He also raises fine hogs. I propose a toast to bacon!
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Can you see the family resemblence? By the way, "WE DON'T RENT PIGS".
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Kinda off the subject, but you know me and HORNS. :D This is a bruiser of a buck. Giant mass, extras, a broke-off drop tine, 5 inch eye gaurds. He ought'a be on a wall!
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So the drive is done. Hope i didnt bore ya with the storys. The sunset at my place was spectacular.
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One last sunset shot over the Sheeprocks! Now i'll quit hogging the forum and look at what ya'll post. Hope all your work with cows, with feeding, with winter in general is as pleasant and good for your spirit as the last four days was for me. To Phil and Marg, I tip my hat to ya for blessing my life with your friendship and and giving me the priviledge of sitting a horseback behind your cattle! If the good Lord doesn't run cows, i'll just stay on the desert!
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I sure did enjoy your traildrive...Thanks so much for sharing the photo's with us...it's like being there,,( :wink: only warmer) I'm sure the cattle were glad to be home also and enjoying their holiday meal...
 
there has been plenty picture stories posted on ranchers,everyone of them appreciated,but I rate yours as one of the best,wish I coulda been there helpin instead of sittin here in my favorite chair enjoying............................good luck & good nite,bout bed time for an ole geezer.
 
thanks for the pictures. I enjoy seeing different ways of doing things in different country. I can tell you enjoy what your doing and to me that is pretty important.

Brian
 
It was nice to see your corner of the world. Something to see cattle and then the modern world so close behind them. As far as the thing used for putting up loose hay I'd have had no idea what it was. Before round bales we put up hay with a slide stacker. I'd also seen a hay cage where they pile the hay but wouldn't have known what yours was. :oops:
 
Thanks a bunch for the picture story. Was a great ride! If running cows on the desert doesn't work out, you obviously have other talents you could persue :wink: Looking forward to your next story :D
 

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