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Peruvian Horses meet
the Galloping Gourmet on Survivor
Oh Where? Oh Why?
Lost in the Darkness far from home
Our lives in mortal peril
Oh where have you brought us Cheryl?
Baked in the dunes with Guillermos crew
They said its just 5 miles
Six hours later and were half way through
Oh why did you bring us Cheryl?
But we made it back and we had a ball
Thanks to our Noble Pasos
So Ill close with thanks from us one and all
Gracias Guillermo and Cheryl
By Richard Green
Englishman/Russian/Lithuanian
Translator/Paramedic/Vet & Poet of sorts
by Cheryl Aldrich
A
new, very different riding holiday experience awaits the traveler in Peru.
A weeklong trail ride in the land of the mysterious Nazca lines, passing
through small pueblos with cheering children and barking dogs, miles of
desert sand dunes, beaches with crashing surf and lush rolling countryside
will fulfill the spirit of adventure of most tourist. Imagine riding for
several hours across a foreign landscape, arriving dusty and tired but
proud to have completed a test of your spirit. Your mount is whisked away
to be cared for, you sit in a beautiful garden eating incredibility
delicious meals while Champion Peruvian horses pass in front of you. Couch
potatoes need not apply is the motto for this tour but be sure to arrive
hungry. The first afternoon and evening of the [1]Cabalgata the group rode
7 hours across a dark windy desert, arriving at a rustic structure lit
with candles where a unexpected meal of [1]anticuchos, [1]papas a la
huancainas and other typical Peruvian food was waiting for the tired
hungry riders in company with bottles of [1]Pisco and jars of [1]Chicha
Morada. Each day brought new scenery that few tourists will ever see along
with food typical to the different regions. Our resting places were old
Haciendas all with a fascinating history extending back over 100 a years.
The
Cabalgata started out as a trail ride through Peru, on Peruvian horses, by
a group of Peruvian horse aficionados, but it turned into more with each
passing mile. Ridding almost 100 miles in 5 days showed that Peruvian
horses excel in a smooth comfortable ride. But their stamina in the harsh
environment of desert sands, living in strange locations every night, and
the stress of transportation in open trucks only proved the toughness of
each of these 26 horses. The cabalgata gave the riders a new perspective
on what a Peruvian horse is capable of.
Cabalgata
2001 even made quiet a stir in Peru. The Peruvian press found our group of
crazy Gringo riders on native bred Peruvian horses as intriguing as we
found their country exotic. TV cameras tracked our group into out of the
way places for interviews. Our token Englishman spent 10 minuets composing
his ditty Oh Where? Oh Why to us, that he used as his interview on
The Cabalgata 2001 videotape which covered the highlights of the ride.
This tape augmented with a segment of interviews of Guillermo More and
myself was used as an hour-long Television show narrated by Peruvian
Breeder Maranio Cabrera.
Cabalgata
2001s maiden voyage has gaited into history as wildly successful. The
14 Gringos, 1 Welshman, 5 Canadians, 4 Peruvians and 1 Englishman who made
the ride are enthusiastically looking forward to our next adventure.
Perhaps if you are feeling adventurous and hungry, [oh be sure to bring
your dancing shoes!] you will join us on the next Cabalgata.
For more information:
Phone # 817-594-1597
Or order the Cabalgata
2001 highlights video. $10 +$6 shipping
Footnotes:
Anticuchos- grilled meat on skewers
Papas a la huancainas-potatoes with yellow sauce made of aji and
peanut butter
Pisco sour- a mixture of lime, egg whites, sugar and Pisco
Pisco-strong alcoholic drink made from grapes
Fundo- ranch
Cabalgata-trail ride
Alcalde-Mayor of town
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