The Cuyama Oaks XP Bear!
“TWO KINDS OF RIDES”
By Russ Faure-Brac
On the 2001 XP Endurance Ride
July 28,2001
There are two kinds of rides,
neither better than the other.
The first has much structure. Rules are clear
and there are many,many rules.
The Ride Manager is responsible,mature,and fair
unprejudiced and consistently calm.
You always know where the start is and which
way to go.
You know you’ll have water and where
it will be.
The portable hot tub will be in the center of
Camp with accurate digital temperature
read outs,swimsuits required.
The vet will check your horse like a pre-purchase exam
This is the way most rides are done
If you want amenities and lots of certainty,
Choose this type of ride
Then there’s the other type known as the “Man the
Torpedoes,here we come”kind of ride put on
By the Freezing Wet Reverend Duck
As stated in the award winning and often quoted pamphlet
“Riders of the Lost Duck”,what you get is a cave with one or more bears and
a chance to wrassle the suckers.
You get a Ride Manager who has a wry sense of humor,is excited by a challenge and can
Be vague. But he will forewarn you over the Internet to keep your expectations low and to learn how to use a GPS!
He is completely intolerant of snivelers.
Gruff on the outside,he’s soft on the inside –it’s all part of his maverick nature.
For Dave,life is an adventure waiting to be experienced. The details are
Less important than the overall gestalt.
You want water? He’ll give you the best information he can but you’ll need to figure out the details yourself.
You want comfort and convenience? That’s not what he’s about.
He’s about having a good time and figuring it out as you go.
What certainty and amenities did the Pioneers have? Very little,and the Duck doesn’t want to deprive you of recreating the same experience
Should he put glow sticks out to mark the start of a ride? Maybe,maybe not. It’s not important to him.
When it comes down to it,it’s a question of personal preference. If you want certainty,call the AERC office for their standard list of rides.
If you want adventure and an opportunity to wrassle a bear or two,gird yourself up and come ride with the Duck over the vermilion cliffs of Utah at sunrise.