Do you ever find yourself staring at a bunch of horse butts and realize your planning went wrong?
After a hot day full of fun library and National Day of the Cowboy events, Paul and I were tired and thought, ‘We can just go find the trail ride instead of waiting for them at the park.’
Thankfully having an informant who was also tracking them as an escort into town, we would get periodic texts - “They’re at the intersection of CR 320 and 303.”
As Paul and I (and Google Maps) tried to figure out if CR 305 led into CR 303 and how that would ever lead into Dublin, we found the Cabalgata en Honor al Dia Nacional Del Vaquero Trail. From the rear.
This wasn’t our plan and one turn led us in the wrong direction.
Realizing our readers, nor those on horseback, would appreciate only horse butt photos, we knew we had to carefully pass through.
It was an adventure. Most horses knew to stay away from the car, others wanted to say hi in the most dangerous way possible bringing us to a stop as the riders got the horses under control.
Overall though I have to admit it was one of the neater experiences I’ve had as a journalist.
I felt very much like a Texan enjoying summer as we drove under the canopies of trees just back roading it.
Getting in front of the trailride, we quickly pulled into a driveway so we could hop out and take photos.
Once everyone realized what the crazy car was doing they were quite friendly waving and even stopping to get a photo taken.
As we were wrapping up and the organizers approached us on a Kabota, so did the owners of the property.
I was certain they had either seen us on a camera and were upset we were on their property or just checking in to see if we needed assistance.
Turns out I was partially correct. They wanted to know what the ‘parade’ was about and were wondering if we were their neighbor seeking a couple of long lost Amazon packages.
They were quite friendly and eventually the trail ride moved on its way full of music, spirit and summer fun.
As Paul and I watched the riders turn the corner and continue their trek into Dublin we got back into the car saying goodbye to the property owners.
“We’re going the opposite direction from them, right?” I asked inquisitively.
“Most definitely,” Paul said.
It was the perfect end to a beautiful summer day capturing the true spirit of Texas and just a little bit of the cowboy way of life.
— Wyndi Veigel-Gaudette is the Content Editor for The Dublin Citizen and can be reached via email at composing@ dublincitizen. com.