Unusual Photos:

ANTLER IN THE CACTUS

This was certainly a very unusual sight I saw on a recent desert outing. With some guides, we had wandered into a remote part of the desert..a place we had never been before, when the oddest thing presented itself to me:

A desert muley buck’s antler stuck fast into the trunk of this cactus.
-

(SORRY, LOST THE ORIGINAL ANTLER STUCK IN CACTUS PHOTO SOMEHOW)

replacement photo of muley buck an doe


Now, desert bucks do use their horns on cactus during rut and velvet-rubbing times, but it is extremely rare and irregular..dare I say ‘unique’?...to find an embedded specimen like this..and one so old. It smacked of ‘strangeness’ to us right off, and was a little eerie. That antler had to have been thrust with a very mighty force to impale the cactus trunk clear-through. Plus, it was so high off the ground? It had to have been impaled in that cactus trunk for many, many years...perhaps since the dawn of time...or earlier. The sky seemed to darken slightly at this point...with a faint rumble of 'thunder' in the distance.

From some far distant memory, a nagging thought came creeping into my mind....slowly taking shape...and hauntingly I realized the cactus-stuck antler reminded me of the stone-stuck sword in King Arthur’s ‘Sword in the Stone’ saga. I remembered the ancient legend:

“Whoever shall pull this sword free from this stone shall be the rightful king.”

This premonition was instantly borne true when my companions/guides spied the antler and became quite agitated...looking around in all directions before approaching the cactus.

Truly, the sight must have meant something quite special, because they set to pulling and grunting at that antler, sweating bullets to pull it loose. Shouting curses didn’t seem to help, (except that I did learn a couple neat ones.) I would like to think that the local guides were pursuing a legend of their own, much like King Arthur. Something like this perhaps:

.“Whoever shall pull this antler from this cactus shall be the rightful don.”

But it was no use, they failed...it was stuck too firmly into the cactus, for indeed the cactus had grown around it over the centuries, sealing it in a vise-like grip. The knights/guides gave up and grudgingly toasted a Tecate to the antler.

Conversely, Olde King Arthur had fared better, as he HAD pulled his antler/sword loose and became ruler of all England.

Personally, I choose not to take a pull at that old antler. No need to. Felipa has told me repeatedly that I am already royalty....(her goofed-up phrase is something like.. a royal pain in the burro..but forgive her, she mixes up her legends and metaphors a lot.)

note - edited because I lost or somehow deleted the dang antler in cactus photo..grrr



[Edited on 12-12-2008 by Pompano]

Nice horny cactus

That's great! I got goose, no moose bumps

Thanks all for your nice words...and I am very glad you liked 'the antler in the cactus.' It was a fun event for us to see and yak about later.

I do think that this particular antler was not a 'shed' that some Baja walk-about picked up and jammed into that cactus, but a natural break-off from a desert muley while it was vigorously engaged in cleaning velvet from it's horns and/or marking territory during rut. It had been there a considerable length of time...and this is a very remote area where casual visitors just do not roam.

I wish everyone could see the many deer are living in the boondocks of Baja. Here's a small bunch from that outing. How many can you spot?

I tried to inhance the pic but still only see four. (spell check) enhance

[Edited on 2-27-2008 by Russ]

More horns...

Russ, that's a nice job of enhancing the deer herd photo. Thanks and yes, there are 4 muleys total.

New photos....Baja's cattle - ganado

Want to know what kind of cows and roadkills you have been braking for all those trips down the Baja Road? What bovine breed is under that cloud of buzzards and ravens? Bifstek rancheros or tacos de res, anyone?

Well, stockmen and steak chewers, wonder no more. Most of the 30,000 or so cattle scattered throughout Baja's small ranches are known locally as 'Chinampo.' Since the original cattle introduced in 1697, some varieties were notable in that once established, they were exposed to the dry environment of Baja for many generations, and natural selection produced the creole cattle we typically see on the roadsides..a small, rustic animal...Chinampo.

As we have all witnessed in our travels, Baja's Chinampo cattle are kept using a system of extensive pasturing in marginal areas that are less appropriate for exploiting specialized breeds. In better pasturing areas in the north and fenced, well-watered ranges, you will see herefords, angus, charlois, and many other breeds...including some really exotic types that are raised for certain characteristics suited for the bullring.

I stepped into a fenced area and waved my pancho at this guy..."Hah! Toro!"

His tail went straight up and an eager gleam came into his eyes as he lowered his head and threw dirt with his front hoof...."Hah! Fatso!" ..then 'he' charged.

Later when applying the ointment to my scratched body, Felipa said she was proud that I could leap straight into the air, spin 180-degrees, hit the ground sprinting, and slide under a fence.

When driving away the next morning, the ranchos vaqueros waved to us....and Manuel, who was milking my 'Hah!Toro' antagonist. Hey, Felipa..I betcha those milking bulls are the toughest!

[Edited on 2-28-2008 by Pompano]

Paulina, thanks in part to better water and graze, there are some better-looking livestock this year. Including this multi-branded and handsome devil that an amigo brought over from Sonora for his rancho. Let's hope this trend continues and Baja can reclaim economic importance in the cattle business.

Flight

Nothing captures man's imagination, poetry, and pursuits so much as the aspect of ...Flight.

[Edited on 2-27-2008 by Pompano]

Flying dragon

I wonder what happened to this photo. I scrolled back through these today to look for new pictures and it was not displayed. I re-loaded it. Its not a "hosted" file, so ?????



[Edited on 3-6-2008 by Gadget]

This was one of our visitors while camping at Rancho Santa Inez near Catavina. Looks like they clipped the horns for safety. Bob H

Too Late

La Bocana, yesterday

And check out the proliferation of wild flowers!

Hey, ya wanna ball?

Gadget, I guess this is normal dragon behavior.

[Edited on 2-27-2008 by Sharksbaja]

Dogs really are different when in Baja. I think it brings out the Huckleberry Finn in them.

In the states, this guy shuns the water...but in Baja he turns into a sea otter.
He cruises the tide pools, looking for treasures..getting WET!

He does this because it is so damn much fun in that warm Baja wind....DRYING OFF!

...................... GIMME A BREW, DUDE!..........................


[Edited on 2-27-2008 by Pompano]

Quote:

Originally posted by Sharksbaja Gadget, I guess this is normal dragon behavior. [Edited on 2-27-2008 by Sharksbaja]

Baja sea otter...

..by way of Oregon pound.

Brrrrrr

Chicken Dog

by way of Oregon truck.


[Edited on 2-28-2008 by Sharksbaja]

Look out....Here I come!

"Hi...My name is Cheyenne, and I am a recovering retriever. I have an unconcious urge to run after things and bring them back.

Here!.. throw this again! Quick!"

...and now a little nap.

....zzzzzzzz

I'll see yer dog and raise you a pup

Keep an eye on that toy Buzz! He still loves his toys 5 yrs later.

Labradors are versatile dogs and love to please.

She wanted a 'lap-dog'. So from time to time, Cheyenne accomodates...even though she would rather be helping me fish.

And my wife's chihuahua

[Edited on 2-29-2008 by kodiak]

[Edited on 2-29-2008 by kodiak]

Unusual dog?

How are we going to get our new dog to baja?






Actually he's only on trial right now, but I'd love to be able to take him back and forth with us, if he decides to choose us for his new family.

P<*)))><

Wow! That pic is awesome, makes me breathless, what a beautiful animal and the lighting is so lovely.....What is the breed of this gorgeous beast?

[Edited on 2-29-2008 by Sallysouth]

Paulina...great Baja 'Dog'

That's a brand of retriever called...'draft-dog', right? Perhaps an American Cream Draft?...or a cross of one of these: Dutch/Ardennes/Schleswieger/Lithuanian. Also looks to have some Breton blood. Beautiful creatures, all, and I hope you can bring your 'pooch' down here. Among other working breeds, I grew up with a couple of Clydesdale/Haflinger crosses named Tom and Mix, a gigantic gentle pair who tolerated us kids clambering all over them.

Lots of them figure in our lives. Who could live without them?



We do have some of them around the area. Here's Jeanne Pierre and Lupita riding along the rio in Mulege.

[Edited on 3-6-2008 by Pompano]

Thanks Bob, we're glad you the pics. Dog lovers are just like grandparents..always dragging out the photos of our loved ones! As to how many dogs we have...well, a bunch...including our neighbor's dogs who came calling.

These two can hear you eating a marshmellow at 100 yards.


[Edited on 2-29-2008 by Pompano]

He is a Belgian Draft, a little out of shape due to lack of use for the past year. He needs some groceries and toning up, but so do I (the toning up part).


And he has a great sense of humor.



P<*)))><

One thing about Old Yeller....

...he will keep fetching that tennis ball...FOREVER.

Libbie the (Baja) Wonder Dog

[Edited on 3-1-2008 by wiltonh]

Hummingbird Nest and Egg on a clothes line and two clothes pins.

Baja Christmas Tree.

Oh man, that xmas tree is classic!!Kudos!

wiltonh....I admire your camera 'eye.'

'The Baja Christmas Trees' have a special place in all our hearts. We have had a ball over the years decorating mangales, palms, cactus, and even cow skeletons with Navidad things every season. Even our dogs!

Many thanks...and keep up the good photos!

The picture I was looking for last night is listed here. The crab was taken just a little distance from this rock. The hummingbird nest was taken by a friend of mine and we swap pictures. Her name is Cherie Crane. They normally camp on the beach near us. The hummingbird picture was shot just a few feet from the Christmas Tree. I actually posted the version of the Christmas Tree that Cherie gave back to me but she had cropped my original.




[Edited on 3-1-2008 by wiltonh]

Pompano. there is something a bit scary about that pic. I think it's the demented snowman.

Quote:

Originally posted by Sharksbaja Pompano. there is something a bit scary about that pic. I think it's the demented snowman.

View behind my back.

I N E E D T O G O F I S H I N G S O O N!

Where's this?

an unmarked cow crossing

people watching

I totally relate!

another people watcher

try again

dang

another people watcher

sadly no longer there

Next to it there was a five gal. bucket you filled with sea water then poored in the bowl to flush it. Last time I went by it was all busted up though. The view from the crapper was fantastic

[Edited on 3-3-2008 by BajaDanD]

Unusual dinner? Only for us.

Love the upside down dog picture.

Our Lab "Duke" spent most of his first few months upside down. We wondered if he would come out OK. This is one of my favorites.

[Edited on 3-6-2008 by Gadget]

Yup, La Paz it is, but you got me as far as it being near the Tecnologico. I don't know La Paz that well (hardly at all actually) Do the cows still rule the streets or has that kind of bovine behaviour disappeared from La Paz in the last six years since this picture was taken?

Before Mulege Had Paved Streets...

...which was not that long ago. When it rained, or a water main burst, it was a mess...but a fun mess.