A wrangler and mentor of mine, Raymundo Vargas, invited me to join him at Rancho San Antonio, north of Loreto, to participate in a ride herding stray
cattle from the mountain returning them to the ranch. We loaded our mules early Sunday morning in Loreto. Following is a photo documentary of the
ranch & ride that followed.
The animals were fed after arrival at the ranch. Ample water serving the ranch comes from a well 36 feet below the surface & pumped using wind
power.
The Kitchen Oven
Early morning chores ongoing included milking of the goat herd. Many members of the family went about multiple duties, each moving from one duty to
another as a most efficient & organized society.
Two kids headed for the nursery & special care.
Food in prepartion for our afternoon return.
Discussion with coffee before breakfast.
Fed by a surrogate mother, this kid walks freely about the place & is treated very much as a family pet.
On the road . . .
Stopping occasionally, the group scoped the canyon walls for our prey.
From an initial group, this young calf was roped. Yelling in great protest, it was restrained to a tree as bait to attract others.
Better served by video, the action really began.
The mule . . . a most extaordinary animal. These powerful beasts carying rider and gear transition terrain seemingly unpassable on foot.
On the road home to the ranch . . .
Scenery and experience . . . spectacular.
We will return for an overnight ride next month.
In the meantime, I ride with my new friend and mentor throughout the night several times weekly. His job is to patrol Loreto for roaming livestock.
My job . . . enjoy life as it happens.goldhuntress - 5-30-2011 at 03:08 PM
That is so cool! I'd love to do that! Lucky you!
Roundup
tehag - 5-30-2011 at 03:13 PM
Thank you for a beautiful and interesting post.rhintransit - 5-30-2011 at 03:25 PM
great post, very interesting, thanks.
now if you are riding Loreto at night looking for stock, there are quite a number of them around my place out on North Davis past the arroya. cows,
calves, and horses...feel free to round them up, they've already destroyed the garden.tiotomasbcs - 5-30-2011 at 03:34 PM
As a kid, we lived westerns ! TV was full of Classic movies and weeklies. You're getting a rare look into Bajas Old West. Great pictures . Howz
your rear end after a day in the saddle? Soothed by a shot of Whisky, my
recommendation. Have fun, Amigo. Tionbacc - 5-30-2011 at 03:54 PM
thanks.........interesting. Looks funshari - 5-30-2011 at 04:46 PM
this was a fantastic trip report amigo...this ranch life is so incredible and you are fortunate to experience it...and we are lucky you share it with
us....gracias sr.vaquero...viva mexico!monoloco - 5-30-2011 at 07:46 PM
Good to see that you're not letting any grass grow under your feet.MikeYounghusband - 5-30-2011 at 07:46 PM
Great time amigo, can't wait to get back.BajaBlanca - 5-30-2011 at 08:35 PM
wowwwwwwww I had no idea of ranch life as I have never ever been on one ... your pics really tell a story and thanks for that ....
closest I have been to a ranch is a dairy farm in England. Now my curiosity is peaked. We have been invited to so many and I just have never made it.
time to go, that is clear to me.
gracias for sharing. your photos are really nice.bajatravelergeorge - 5-30-2011 at 08:37 PM
There's a herd of about 50 by my place. Come get them out of my hair.Bajaboy - 5-30-2011 at 08:41 PM
Thanks for sharing the experience.BajaBlanca - 5-30-2011 at 08:43 PM
where is bahia soledad ?ElCap - 5-30-2011 at 09:30 PM
Gracias! I've ridden a mule up in Sierra San Francisco for just a handful of days, and I agree they are the animal equivalent of a Toyota 4WD.
Thanks for sharing the real Baja with us.Paulina - 5-30-2011 at 10:12 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by shari
this was a fantastic trip report amigo...this ranch life is so incredible and you are fortunate to experience it...and we are lucky you share it with
us....gracias sr.vaquero...viva mexico!
Shari said it all.
I would give anything to be able to experience what you've shared with us, to be invited into the lives of the ranchero's, if that is the correct word
for these folks.
I want to be there.
P>*)))>{bajamedic - 5-31-2011 at 12:05 AM
In photo #9, one of the cowboys appears to be carrying a rifle, is that acceptable in that area? JHdtutko1 - 5-31-2011 at 06:33 AM
Thanks Jeff! Looks like some of the area between Loreto and Insurgentes. How can you raise a cow in that country?Mulegena - 5-31-2011 at 07:23 AM
Wonderful, Jeff, Wonderful... thank you!Iflyfish - 5-31-2011 at 07:31 AM
There are so many Mexicos and Bajas. Thank you very much for sharing this slice of life, one most of us have never experienced. What a hearty crew!
The shots of the mules crossing those boulders is amazing. I love the photo of the gal sorting beans, I'll bet the meals are wonderful.
Thanks again for this unique perspective, keep 'em coming.
Iflyfishluv2fish - 5-31-2011 at 07:55 AM
This could be a new tourist industry. Be a Cowboy for a weekend, (my new moniker will be Little Joe) I'll pay for the opportunity to go out there and
live the life. Don't know if they offer any packages, maybe have the Gringos come in and do some of the duties of the ranch including rounding up the
cows, return to the ranch and have a BBQ. Just thinking out loud. And thanks for the pics. One of the best posts so far, and no sharks.........Yet
Trips
tehag - 5-31-2011 at 08:15 AM
Trudy Angel has been outfitting and guiding such trips to the remote ranches in the Sierra Giganta and Sierra Guadalupe for many years.
A great movie about the ranchero life is: "Corazón Vaquero"shari - 5-31-2011 at 08:27 AM
I highly recommend to anyone to get out there and visit a remote baja ranch...you will be amazed and delighted. Trudy is my heroine and her trips
would be nothing short of stupendous.
Or just take up that rancher's offer to visit him...the one you met and chatted with at the store....but do plan to spend the night at least as there
will be so much to see and do...the catre cots are super comfy...just bring a sleeping bag and your favorite pillow and you are in for the sleep of a
lifetime....
but bring some treats along to leave...something they cant get...like flower seeds, nice coffee beans maybe, flavoured powder stuff for their coffee,
thread for their embroidery work and charge that camera battery up good...it is so picturesque.BajaGringo - 5-31-2011 at 09:27 AM
Fabulous!Neal Johns - 5-31-2011 at 11:15 AM
Great pics and captions! Just like a freeway!David K - 5-31-2011 at 11:42 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by ElCap
Gracias! I've ridden a mule up in Sierra San Francisco for just a handful of days, and I agree they are the animal equivalent of a Toyota 4WD.
Thanks for sharing the real Baja with us.
Wonderful comparison... only a mule can decide not to move whenever he doesn't want to!Bob H - 5-31-2011 at 12:22 PM
Fantastic series of photos Jeff! I really enjoyed this.marv sherrill - 5-31-2011 at 06:04 PM
But Jeff - It's SOOOOO dangerous in Baja - were'nt you afraid????
Man - that is what baja is all about - the people are the best -the country the most beautiful, and getting back to the basics of life is the lesson
for we gringos - Great pictures - very nice - thank youMarc - 6-1-2011 at 06:35 AM
Great! Let's see more!wilderone - 6-1-2011 at 08:13 AM
Now that's Baja - always loved cowboys. Great photosDebra - 6-1-2011 at 11:17 AM
Soothed by a shot of Whisky, my
recommendation. Have fun, Amigo. Tio
