Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Good night, America.

Some people cuss. The above from me passes for a fairly mild epithet. It means that, like most everyone else, I’m worn down by these conditions … and then we got smoke. It never means much in practical terms, but prayers are with folks near Flagstaff, Arizona, who are dealing with the current Pipeline Fire – and two other nearby fires – which is the source of the smoke in the above pic.

And then there’s this little tidbit about the start of the fire, which makes actual bad words come to mind (after one has gotten over the idea that there really aren’t any words appropriate. I mean … good NIGHT!?).

And did I mention the wind? Gosh, when *haven’t* we had wind this year … this whole year?!

But did any of that stop our intrepid BLM expert equipment operator and all-around good guy Daniel from fixing the road to the next new water-catchment site so he and Mike and Garth can get equipment there tomorrow?

No. No, it did not. 🙂

There *were* some who didn’t necessarily appreciate the equipment transfer into Spring Creek Basin:

They’ll be glad of it, though, in the long run when we have another source of clean water for them. 🙂

If this image of Terra seems to imply searing heat, mission accomplished (though it wasn’t quite that hot when it was taken). Pretty toasty out there … out here … all around the Southwest.

So it’s a good thing that our next water-catchment project starts today! Think cool thoughts for our BLM guys, Mike, Garth and Daniel! We’re gonna need it!

Bonus:

McKenna Peak is obvious. Not so obvious is the sliver of Temple Butte at back left.

The almost-full strawberry moon of June – which will be a supermoon when it IS full Tuesday (appearing full Sunday night through Wednesday; pic taken last night) – is the perfect topper. 🙂

The girls (Dundee, Aiyanna and Rowan) were feeling frisky with some cooler temperatures, and Buckeye was having a bit of a frustrating time keeping his young ladies in line. They ran one way, then started coming back around. I thought they were going to disappear below the rim of the hill, but then I realized they were coming up and would line up right past McKenna Peak and Temple Butte! I fumbled with the window control and barely got it down to raise my camera to my eye and try to focus as the girls thundered past.

I’m pretty stoked that the lovelies were in pretty nice focus. 🙂

(Randomly, this pic of our Sand Wash Basin beauties was NOT taken the same day as the pic yesterday. Because of other, more timely pix, I kept pushing the one that ran yesterday back on the schedule. This pic above, I took just a couple of days ago. 🙂 I thought about pushing IT back on the schedule … but really, you can’t go wrong highlighting these young lovelies, even on back-to-back days!)

This pic was taken Wednesday, the last truly terrible day of wind (so far, I hope). Though Corazon doesn’t look too battered in this single still image, I assure you, the wind WAS battering – as shown by the dust partially obscuring McKenna Peak and Temple Butte in the background.

A little late-day excitement as a stallion keeps his mare away from another stallion.

Can’t go wrong with that glow … or that background … or those mustangs! 🙂

Skywalker does seem to find some scenic napping locations. 🙂

For whatever reason, this (paraphrased) song comes into my head every time I’m out with – usually! – staid, laidback, solid, never-gets-in-a-rush-to-go-anywhere Skywalker. 🙂 (Sorry about the earwig if you know what I’m talking about!)

Sometimes, when you’re feeling good and the weather is the right mix of a bit nippy and not yet too hot for such shenanigans (and when your bands also are feeling frisky on the way to the water hole!), it feels good to gallop across the range (and, of course, you don’t want to be left behind!)!

This perspective of McKenna Peak (right) and Temple Butte is from quite a bit closer than yesterday’s post of Raven. The ground also was quite a bit muddier – because it’s higher in elevation and closer to the roll of the snow-bringing clouds when we get snow – back in this far eastern region of Spring Creek Basin than even the northernish area shown in yesterday’s post.

It was a pleasant surprise to see the heads of Sundance’s mares, then the big guy himself, pop up over a small ridge. It was a bit of a slog to get to them, but I’m grateful for the moisture of that muddy ground!