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bajacalifornian
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Posts: 1117
Registered: 9-4-2010
Location: Loreto/Lopez Mateos/Rosarito
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Another Face of Baja
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.
American by birth, Mexican by choice.
Signature addendum: Danish physicist — Niels Bohr — who said, “The opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth.
Jeff Petersen
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goldhuntress
Senior Nomad
Posts: 663
Registered: 1-28-2010
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That is so cool! I'd love to do that! Lucky you!
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tehag
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Posts: 1248
Registered: 1-8-2005
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Roundup
Thank you for a beautiful and interesting post.
Certainty is the child of ignorance, knowledge is the mother of doubt. Question everything!
http://bcsbirds.com |
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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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.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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tiotomasbcs
Super Nomad
Posts: 1837
Registered: 7-30-2007
Location: El Pescadero
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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. Tio
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nbacc
Senior Nomad
Posts: 770
Registered: 12-27-2008
Location: Northern California
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thanks.........interesting. Looks fun
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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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!
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monoloco
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Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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Good to see that you're not letting any grass grow under your feet.
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MikeYounghusband
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Posts: 213
Registered: 8-27-2008
Location: Loreto, Baja Cal. Sur
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Mood: Always ready for more
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Great time amigo, can't wait to get back.
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BajaBlanca
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Posts: 13197
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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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.
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bajatravelergeorge
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Posts: 154
Registered: 9-21-2010
Location: Baja Norte
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Mood: Happy
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There's a herd of about 50 by my place. Come get them out of my hair.
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Bajaboy
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Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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Thanks for sharing the experience.
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BajaBlanca
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Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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where is bahia soledad ?
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ElCap
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Posts: 281
Registered: 1-22-2010
Location: Montara CA, or San Ignacio BCS
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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.
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
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Location: BCN
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| 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>*)))>{
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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bajamedic
Nomad
Posts: 392
Registered: 12-5-2008
Location: Northern California
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Mood: Just waitin for baja
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In photo #9, one of the cowboys appears to be carrying a rifle, is that acceptable in that area? JH
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dtutko1
Nomad
Posts: 341
Registered: 8-26-2009
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Thanks Jeff! Looks like some of the area between Loreto and Insurgentes. How can you raise a cow in that country?
Dorado Don
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Mulegena
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Registered: 11-7-2006
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Wonderful, Jeff, Wonderful... thank you!
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
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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.
Iflyfish
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luv2fish
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Posts: 455
Registered: 5-8-2011
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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
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