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Region: Mountain, Utah
Name: Virgin Rim Ride I & II (50/50)
Date: We have applied with AERC to make this a pioneer ride in September, 2010!
Awards: Individual daily awards are available for the first to finish and the horse in the best condition. Daily participation awards will be given to all riders.
2005 Ride Report
This is to thank Karen Chaton and Anne Sands for babysitting me at the Virgin
River Gorge Rim Trail ride the weekend before last. At the end of August
right before the midyear board meeting I had a bout of atrial fibrillation and
ultimately had to be knocked out and defibrillated before I went to San Antonio.
(And again last Sunday.) Anyway, my cardiologist said right in front of my
wife that he didn’t want me riding alone off in the middle of nowhere. I
guess the concern is about internal bleeding from a fall from all the blood
thinner I’m now loaded up with.
So I skipped Bryce but didn’t want to miss the Virgin Rim ride. I’d done it
nearly ten years ago, thought it was gorgeous, and didn’t know when it would
be run again. My son Will drove most of the way which was wonderful. When I
got to camp, I asked who would be riding slow and who might ride with me.
Karen and Anne volunteered. They were very patient and attentive both days.
Everytime I would get off to pee or adjust an easyboot I would hear “John, where
are you? are you OK?” Very sweet!
We had to walk a lot through the rocks, so at times the ride seemed endless.
Still, we had a great time discussing everything from the latest AERC
controversy to favorite horse trailer recipes and enjoying the incredible scenery and
perfect weather. Remington’s new shoing regimen (much shorter, squared off
toes and slacker angles) based on before and after x-rays at Alamo Pintado
worked great so I was happy to have him be his old self again. I thought 23 year
old Mistral, 2,000 mile plus in a season again Chief, and almost 9,000 mile
Remington (he needs 30 more) all looked really strong. As much work as he has
done, I think Chief looks even stronger and more confident than last year. He
is still pretty young, so I think he is still maturing physically and mentally.
The best thing is that Karen took a trillion pictures of us all together and
posted them on the internet. That meant I could show my wife proof positive
evidence that I really did follow doctor’s orders!
John Parke
Vestal Virgins in Paradise
Subtitle: Never Mind, We’re Still Looking for Them
The Virgin Rim ride is a wonder to see
Offered to all by the Duck family
It crosses high ridges all covered with Pine
And follows the waters and flowers so fine
But wait just a minute! There’s something quite silly
This ride’s name would prick the ears of a filly
Aren’t we in Utah where folks are so prudish?
And here is a river with a name so lewdish
Well, “What is a virgin?” you maybe would ask
To define this term is not a difficult task
It has to do with coming of age
At a time when our hormones are all in a rage
I was a virgin at the age of ten
The age when boys are on their way to be men
We still played like children with a holler and a hoot
But those tomboys grew curves and were sure looking cute
Before long we functioned, but Lord what to do
Like stallions we nickered and nuzzled and cooed
The girls were all thinking “Should I do it or not?”
The guys knew they shouldn’t, but thought “Man, they’re so hot”
In the end, as always, it all sorted out
Much for the better if you had any doubt
And by the way…
Vestals were girls that priests threw in a pit
Kind of like Dave when he’s having a fit
At Webster Flat we’re gathered, rider and crew
A great ride for virgins and non-virgins too
But if virgins were all that were allowed, no joke
Dave and Annie would be leaving here broke