Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Houdini and Alegre – (two of) Spring Creek Basin’s golden girls.

Copper leaves the scene of a chat with young Skywalker.

***********************************************

“Ms. Toad” had quite a “wild ride” getting out of Spring Creek Basin yesterday afternoon – when it RAINED!

A BLM seasonal employee, a Southwest Conservation Corps intern and I were monitoring vegetation in the basin when the sprinkles started. Pretty soon, the rain sprinkles were sprinkled with ice pellets. We pulled up stakes (literally) and headed for the vehicles. A long, muddy walk later, we were soaked and slip-sliding down the road in a truck and Jeep.

A long, muddy, river-road drive later (spraying water everywhere), we were kicking up dust on the road outside the basin. Fortunately, that area got rain later in the evening.

We’re pretty ecstatic still this morning. 🙂 Thanks for the rain dances. We sure needed this wonderful shower!

Dust in beautiful light looks so magical, doesn’t it? Some rain to dampen that dust would be even more magical. 🙂

Some mud to keep the flies and gnats at bay.

Mustangs are HOT! 🙂

Baby, it’s hot out there. Temperatures are in the hundreds with nary a teaser of rain. The gnats are ferocious, and only head nets seem to keep them at bay.

“I think I saw a cloud … yesterday. … It hung around a minute … then just blew away …” ~ more great lyrics by Dave Stamey. Well, great if we didn’t identify so fully with them!

The mustangs are tough. Temps eventually ease, and rain eventually comes. Can’t be too soon …

Skywalker is making the rounds lately, checking availability and resolve. So far, he remains a bachelor.

Age doesn’t detract from Houdini’s loveliness. It’s hard to believe she’s probably 25 or older, huh? 🙂