Jonesin for a Ride!

JimmyV’s

It took two days to complete it though. On Thursday the traditional Annual One Day Cowboy Extravaganza began at Cow Camp. It began at 8:00 am when Cantina Portola opened for check-in and breakfast was served. We started with a hardy breakfast cooked by some of the Patron Portola Riders, which when we finished, headed to The Good Times Bar which was open.

Dean and I, along with others, watched those that signed up to participate in Team Sorting. This is where 10 numbered calves are on one side of the arena that is divided by a line in the middle and three cowboys on horses have 3 minutes to sequentially move the calves to the other side of the line, with out them crossing back over the line. The team that performed with task the quickest won. This turned out to be an interesting event to watch as different teams had different tactics. Most no time because cattle crossed back or the wrong one crossed.

When we headed back to freshen up our drinks, that is when Deans 30 year old cowboy hat met its end as he went to grab the brim to pull down and broke. No problem, run back to town and got his set up with another one.

The rest of the day included lunch, team branding, team roping and bocce ball. Early evening it was back into San Juan Capistrano to the El Adobe for El Presidente Reception with heavy hors d’oeurvres and drinks, and later we migrated to Los Swallows Inn to wrap up the festivities for the evening.

The next morning we were up at 7:00 and on our way by 7:30 to check back in at Cow Camp were Cantina Portola Opens and breakfast was served to Mariachi Serenade. 8:00 am it was find your horse and saddle up and assemble for opening ceremonies at 9:00 am with 350 other riders. My horse for the day was Soxs, Deans was King. A few introductions of Toni and Gilbert, the singing of our national anthem, A blessing from Mission Pastor and Ride Chaplain followed by Saddle Up, Men and go Riding song sung by the original writer Rusty.

By 9:15 we were on the trail winding through the rolling, golden hills and canyons of historic Rancho Mission Viejo. We slowly funneled out and the ride began on a beautiful sunny morning with Santa Ana conditions predicted, but never materialized. We crossed a creek and then headed up some ridge lines. The site was spectacular from the back of the trail as you could see the trail ahead of you full of horses and riders along the winding ridge line with Saddleback mountain range in the background.

Two refreshment stops with The Good Times Bar and live cowboy music during the morning before our lunch break at 12:30. lunch was served buffet style next to a grove of old oak trees to sit under and a creek next to it where we were treated to chicken, beans, salad and Philly cheese steak topped off with cookies for dessert if on had a sweet tooth. The beer taps were flowing from The Good Times Bar along with 4 bartenders mixing up your drink of choice and live music from the cowboy band.

Hour later, saddle up and time to make our way back to Cow Camp. We climbed a few ridges and then descended into a canyon to our last refreshment stop on the trail. Soxs was a bit more excited on the way back, funny how these horses know that they are heading home. He picked up his speed, kept up with the rest and kept me on my toes. I also notice that my ass was soarer too. At the rest stop I tried to get Soxs to drink water, but he just wanted to eat some fresh grass that was under his feet for the whole stop.

By 4:30 we were in cow camp getting off our horses for the last time and heading to the Good Times Bar to celebrate the ride, have a much need drink and have some dinner of tri tip strips and salad. Took a while for my legs to straighten out.

The ride offered an unique experience.  The horses did thier own paces of sorts.  I would be plodding along enjoying the views and a stranger would be on the horse next to me.  We would chit chat, talk abit, then either one of our horses would be on another pace.  Next person would come along a bit later and we would start another conversation and introduce ourselves.  then boom, the next stranger.  At times it would be someone I knew or hadn’t seen in a while and we would catch up.  The whole ride was like that, meeting new people, sharing stories and introductions.  I found my self thinking of what it must have been like during those times out west, bringing a whole new meaning to “Howdy stranger!”

Total ride was about 14.5 miles.

Dean’s View

I was very honored to be invited to participate in the Rancho Mission Viejo’s historic “El Viaje de Portolá” One Day Ride.

This originally started in 1963 when a small group of RMV family members and ranch cowhands had a little rodeo to show off skills and take a casual ride over the ranch property.

It has now grown to a 300+ 2-day event. Day 1 is the rodeo and meet & greet. Day 2 is the 1-day ride. It’s still RMV family, friends and vendors. Now the 1-day ride is a huge fund-raiser for the Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Now cowboy is not unique to me. I grew up on a farm in Central California where a few of my neighbors’ had working cattle ranches. I graduated from Cal Poly SLO where western wear was normal for many the aggies.

When I got the invitation, application and instructions I realized that for a couple days I was going to be a cowboy. The dress code was full on urban cowboy … cowboy hat, western boots, dark jeans, i.e. Wrangler, and long-sleeved western shirt. Inappropriate attire was T-shirts, polo shirts, baseball caps, tennis shoes, designer jeans.

Scrounging around the house/garage I found remains of my 1980’s US World Hang Gliding Team uniform. The World Championships were in Japan and Wrangler had donated western wear as the US Team’s parade wear. Hopefully the 30-year old cowboy hat and boots were still functional.

Thursday, Day 1

Walking into Cow Camp at 8AM for breakfast was a little intimidating. I felt like I was wearing a Hopalong Cassidy cowboy hat and cap guns. But after the first breakfast beer from the Cantina Portolá, everything was good! The Cantina Portolá is a mobile beverage trailer where on the trail a rider can ride up to the window and be served any adult beverage. The Cantina Portolá also has a rack of self serve beer taps … something for everyone!

Some time after breakfast I tugged on the front brim of my 30-year old cowboy hat and ohhh nooooo … I had massive cowboy hat failure! The brim ripped along the edge from ear to ear. I was looking for a hole to crawl in. JimmyV knew of a cowboy shop near by so off we went to the Ortega Tack & Shop to buy a new cowboy hat. This was a great place and they offered “El Viaje de Portolá” riders a 10% discount.

Back at Cow Camp, the real-deal cowboys were in the rodeo arena warming up, working with their lariats. I’m not big on spectator sports so rodeo watching is way down the list. Armed with a beer, spectating the various events became addictive. Team roping, team branding, team sorting all involve everyday cattle operations and handling. Putting a clock on these events and everybody gets real competitive. The teams were assembled by blind draw so no ringer teams. The only thing a dime store cowboy could do and not get hurt is the Bocce ball competition.

The day ends at El Adobe for El Presidente Reception. This includes a C&W band, amazing hors d’oeuvres, and chatting with dozens of new friends. Later everyone walks across the street to Los Swallows Inn for more adult libations and honky tonk highjinks. I was on my best behavior cause my goal for tomorrow was:

1. Not falling off the horse (at least the morning half of the ride)

2. Not getting sick while on horseback.

Friday, Day 2

For a minimum experienced rider today’s all-day ride is met with a little anxiety. Rental horses came from all over SoCal for this event. Sitting on a motorcycle for 16-20 hours a day is no problem for me. I’m OK when the horse is walking but the next level of travel my butt bones and the saddle seems to be on opposing cycles resulting in a jolting butt-hammering sequence.

After breakfast we went over to the corral where our horse’s stood ready. I was introduced to King and as our eyes met, we were one! We bonded immediately! As I saddled up the wrangler said, “there are a lot of 6-year ol’ girls mad that King was not available today!” I knew I was in the right saddle!

The ride started in the rodeo arena with a welcome, flag entry, pledge allegiance, national anthem, and prayers.

Once on the trail the 300+ riders spread out over a couple miles. There were many experience riders and wranglers spread throughout the group to help with saddle tightening and chasing down run aways.

The front seemed to bunch up, the rear sort of spreads out. In the morning we were in the back part of the ride. The ride followed fire roads that went through valleys, along ridges and canopied trees. After an hour into the ride it was hard to imaging that we were 1/2-mile from major roads, housing developments and urbanization.

The morning’s ride was broken up with 3 rest stops where the magical Cantina Portolá bar trailer appeared. There were buckets of iced bottled water. Riders rode up to the Cantina Portolá’s rider-high window and were served with an adult beverage.

The trail lunch was excellent. Plenty of time to eat, chat and meet other riders.

The afternoon leg had just one rest stop and again the magical Cantina Portolá bar trailer appeared to dispense liquid refreshments.

The total ride was a little under 15 miles. The Rancho Mission Viejo’s historic “El Viaje de Portolá” One Day Ride is a unique experience. It’s a flashback to a way of life most will never experience. To be honest, by the end of the day, I was very happy to get off that saddle a little more bow legged. My ol’ pal King and I went our separate ways.

Once again, all activities at Cow Camp centered around Cantina Portolá as we recalled the fun and experiences of the day.

Man was I sore the next day.