GOOD GRIEF!

Day one of what turned into a four day journey.    The North herd seems to always be our problem herd.  They like to go whatever direction you don't want them to.  

Day one wasn't too bad.  Of course Dave and I got out there after the cowboys had done most of the gathering.  

Day two came together pretty well.  The cows had gone back to the previous water stop.   But once we got them re-gathered and headed in the right direction they moved out pretty well.

We got the herd as far as the next fence and onto some fresh water.  They were very sore footed.  This particular range is very rocky.  We figured the cows were so sore that they would stay in the general area until the next day.

'NOPE!  These sore footed, worn out old buggers climbed the stinkin' hills, spread out on the lower ground and everywhere in between.  Dang!  We had our work cut out for us to get them in a bunch.  I was reminded again of Lee's famous words, "you never know what a cow will do".  I am so often reminded of Lee and his words of wisdom while I'm riding on the range. 
For those of you who don't know who Lee was,  he was one of the greatest cowboys of all time and he was the cow boss on Baker Ranch when I moved here.  He worked and rode up until his sudden death at age 91.  

GOOD GRIEF!!

Of course the cows were incapable of taking a step on their own in the right direction.  Back and forth I went, and up and down the rocky hills and steep washes.  The others were working just as hard or harder.  Clay and Kyle were lucky to have had dogs.  I was wishing I had one today.   Thank goodness for my hard working horse Gaucho.  He earned his oats today. 

Ok, good.  A few headed in the general direction.

Clay is way high,  his cows weren't cooperating any better than mine.

Orrin was lower.  Finally he got his cows somewhat in line with the mine.  He came up and took over my bunch so that I could go help with Clay's bunch.  Thank you Orrin.  

Kyle was down lower kicking the cows up.  He covered a lot of country too.  Everyone worked hard.

Finally they started to come together.

The cows went as far as they could make it and would have to be picked up the next day.

I was really lucky to be able to stay home today.  Clay took a few pictures of the final leg. As you can see by Maggie's mane., it was very windy.  The wind was out of the North and it was quite cold.

It looks cold!

Looks like the finish line. 

This is the old Swift Ford.  I 'm not sure how old, but I was shocked they got it running and all the way out there.  Now that is a watering system if I've ever seen one.   Of course a semi is used to haul the water to this place daily.  With it they fill the swift ford and all the tubs.  There are 412 cows in this herd that need a drink.  

The cows and horses got a good drink.

The cowboys never complain, but I'll bet they were happy to be at the end of the trail too.