Shefishs rides again

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to etc. etc. it escapes me at this moment who wrote the above or in what exact context it was used. Seems if memory serves correct it was in the US declaration of independence , no doubt one of you illustrious friends will be more than happy to enlighten and refresh this poor ole memory, The thing is that I have always felt it was a rather bold and meaningful statement, and always wished that I had been the one to say it first. But, as they say on with the show.

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for the ole broad to hit the road, then hit the road she does in a grand fashion. Hence “Shefishs Rides Again”

I won’t bore you with all the gory and sordid details, but feeling the need to head’m up and move’m out was in place before some of the decisions to do just that were made more or less for me. Anyway, Trails End B & B was left at the end of the trail, Rupununi Cyber Café management was left after 3 years in the capable? Hands of one young Stud and I find my self Free At Last, “Thank God almighty I’m Free at last” Yes I know and do remember, Martin Luther King in the mid 60’s.

Anyway August found me heading off on an new project, one that was to take me to the South of the Rupununi, where I would be helping a group set up a news letter and also help them do their promotional material. This is more or less something I have been wanting to do and besides that it also gives me the opportunity to visit a lot of the villages in the south and gather stories for the next production. “Voices of the Rupununi” follow up to “Song of the Rupununi

Now Aug, was still seeing some rain, but the rainy season was slowly drawing to a close, but this is not to say that the travel and roads were at their best.

Although the first trip the first of Aug, was made via plane down to dadanawa, where on a borrowed horse , I rode back to Shulinab, via Shirley Humphry’s Mountain Point Ranch.

The borrowed horse proved to be less comfortable than Manly but got me there and back, only to have to make a flying trip via vehicle back to Lethem to pack up and settle back in at the little house on the prairie. Then saddle up trusty ole Manly and head south once again.

I have to say for an ole gal I consider my back side as tough as most, after all I ride every day, well maybe I don’t ride 9 hours straight everyday, but I can do that no problem.

Well, there were a few problems; one being the fact that with a backpack full of clothes, hammock, paper, computer, enough cigarettes to last a month, and of course coffee, Manly was wondering if I had gained 50 lbs. The first problem encountered was mounting up with this much weight on my back, knees not what they were 30+ years ago, not to mention if you get off, trying to find a way to get back up without having trusty ole steed go totally nuts. After a couple of pit stops I decided the next time to have saddle bags or something that would carry most of the weight.

First tour was to Sand Creek Village where they were hosting the sub-district heritage. This would entail having to cross not only the Rupununi river which was still high but also SandCreek. The Rupununi, I crossed in a boat and manly swam, SandCreek we crossed together, and he proved to be a real champ even with the large slick boulders that litter the bottom. Sand Creek is a very pretty village at the foot of the mountains, and old coconut palms that were planted years ago. Here I was advised that I should sleep in the guest house, or bat house as I called it. I wanted to sling my hammock out doors under the trees but was quickly informed that to do so would mean having my hammock eaten out from under me in the night. Seems that the cattle come into the village at night to try to avoid being eaten by jaguars. One fellow told me that he had hung his towel out of a window to dry only to see it disappear to a hungry cow that seemed to have a real taste for terry cloth.

The folks in the village made me feel at home with fresh tiger fish caught from the river, and plenty of local potato wine, rice wine, kari, and other local drinks.

Back to shulinab and on with putting together the newsletter. Then home again.

About an hour out of Shulinab, I find my self in a bit of discomfort. What I think is gas and will pass, turns out to be an urgent need to find a suitable bush.

Now only in situations like this when you’re trying to find bush other than cambay(sandpaper tree) or razor grass or for that matter anything rather than open savannah, do you see as much bicycle traffic. About the time you spot a likely looking clump of grass/bush here is at least 3 people on bicycles meeting you. “Good Morning Ms Pat, how far are you going?” etc. etc. Now since I have the only red horse and white butt in the Rupununi, there is no way that I can stop and take any chances. So on we go at a hurried pace. Just as I get to the edge of Paraquranu village here is a house with some fellow in the front yard.

“Good Morning, excuse me but I have a rather unusual request, seems I find my self in a rather awkward situation, may I borrow your out house?”

Now if you have never had the pleasure of using corrugated cardboard for toilet paper, that is an experience everyone should have at least once.

After this episode I ride on through the village, only to be hailed at the school by a gentleman wanting to know if I could use some help at my house in Lethem. In other words, there is a 14yr. old girl who wants to go to the secondary school in St Ignatius and needs somewhere other than the hostel to stay.

“I’m sorry but I remember only too well what it was like to be a 14yr. girl and just how hot your pants get at times, no thank you”

“Oh, but Ms. Pat, MY DAUGHTER is not like that” quietly insert my other foot into my mouth.”

“Oh I’m sure she is a fine young lady, but the fact is that I’m not at home enough to really need anyone or the responsibility of having a young woman under my supervision, her school work, church goings, etc, ect.”

After which I hastily ride on.

After a couple of weeks rest it’s back to Shulinab and on to Dadanawa with not only manly but also with wolf dog. Seems Wolf thinks anytime I leave on the horse he should follow, so this time I’m ready. In the mean time I have also decided to solve the problem of weight on my back. One inexpensive hammock soon becomes a Guy-in-pair(this is the brazilian word for bed roll that is tied behind the saddle) not only this but also a Sack-o-G-Boy this is the bag you carry your food stuffs in that goes in front of the saddle. The Guy…… is loaded with cloths, cigarettes, hammock, and such. Sacko…. Filled with my passock(farine and tasso) corn for the horse and dog food. Now poor ole Manly looks more like an overloaded pack horse but at least I can get on and off with less trouble.

The first hour or so is rather uneventful, good ole Manly has only found a few ant hills to get spooked at, wolf is having a joyous time chasing lizards and birds, and all seems to be going fine. But then there is this rumbling noise and black clouds rolling in, oh great looks like rain. So we pick up the pace a little and only get a few sprinkles. After about 6 hours, I notice Wolf is seeking any bit of shade, and keeps looking back at us as if to say “Are we there Yet?, Are you sure you know where we’re going?” “Ok, next time I’ll just stay home”

9 hours after we start we arrive in Shulinab, and poor ole Wolf is true to the statement Dog Tired.

The week in Shulinab is spent with wolf and the local top dog having the usual growling, pissing, and name calling contest. It’s not till Friday night before we are to head out to Dadanawa the next morning that the name calling gets out of hand and one grand fight takes place under a picnic table. Since I left at 4am via moonlight the next morning I didn’t notice that Wolf got the worst of the fight. Arriving at Dadanawa a little before noon, here are all the ranch dogs to greet him. “Ok guys, my balls aren’t as big as I thought they were, I promise all I want to do is lay out here under my saddle and mind my own business. Which will entail making sure I even have balls left, I promise I do not care how many ladies looking for a new stud you have here, they are all yours.”

Manly is turned out into a nice paddock to rest up and I proceed to look for a cold drink.

Several days later it is decided that I should return to Lethem to get the latest Edition of the news letter off to the printers, and check things at home. So the decision is made to travel back to Shulinab-Lethem via vehicle, leaving manly to enjoy his new pasture, and good ole wolf to go home via vehicle.

Now almost the end of October, I am getting ready once again to head south, only this time leaving the dog, and picking up the horse to continue the trek.

Shefishs

October 2006