Posted 10 years ago
maggimoo
(1 item)
There are so many old dump sites in New Mexico, full of so much "neat stuff" that lasts forever out here in this climate. I was riding a smart mare thru a maze of wide arroyos just west of Chilie, near Espanola, which is 30 miles N of Santa fe. Rolling sandy dunes, mesas and cliffs, with a few scraggley pines, grasses and catcus, and lots of arroys that flowed into this really big deep one. And so many wild flowers! beautiful fun place to ride a horse, which I was so happy to be doing! Hard walking out there, but not for a horse! We were wandering around back there, going up and down the shallower arroyos, just checking things out. Came around a big bend and saw lots of old lumber scattered across a slightly higher bit of ground. Boards and toys, cans, and this big rusty blue and white box type thing just all sitting there. Someone was trying to live there? I never did find out what was going on, makes me sad to think about all those stories no one now knows.
Anyway, after I dumped all the sand out of the cooler (is that what it is?), saw how beautiful the outside was, and how shot up it was, I was immediatly thinking how to get it home. I knew the mare I was ridding would pull it, but I didnt have a rope or anything long enough. We rode back down that arroyo, with me looking behind all the time to see which way we had gone, and wondering if Id ever find that place again! it really is a maze back there!
Then I think 2 yrs went by till I was over in that direction again, sans horse. There are now roads back there with houses on the tops of flattened out sandy ridges which to me is nuts, but I could drive back in there. And I actually got lucky and found that arroyo, dont ask me how! but I didnt want to take the car up there, no way. So I gathered the "travoi" (?sp?) I had rigged for me to carry the cooler back down to the car, headed up that arroyo and realized it was a rather long way on foot! But the cooler was still there where I had hidden it a bit in the bushes, yeah! I didnt feel like I was stealing it, rather, I was rescuing it! But sheesh it was so heavy! and the travoi wasnt long or stout enough, and it was hot and the sand got deeper with every step. and most of all, where was a horse when you needed one! So I finally got it to the car and back up the valley to my yard.
It didnt do as a planter cuz the soil got too hot in the metal container. So its just sort of sat out there for 6 yrs now, along with my other rusted out enamel ware honey pots and washpans. I love the colors, blue and white patterns especially. Over the years I have googled "enamelware coolers" with no luck. I dont think I've seen this pattern before tho, have you? it has handles on both ends like a cooler. The top must have been separate, no hinges. It made a great target tho! Any more info on it, age, maker, I would love to know!!
Enjoyed writing that out, it was a fun adventure, glad to share with this group! happy hollydaze!
Great story!
After reading this story I needed a glass of water! Well written and a fun post!