Deep in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona lies Rusty and Betty’s cowboy camp.  These rustic stables are home to Betty’s Trail Rides where visitors can take a scenic horseback ride through the cactus laden countryside.  As part of a Trek America tour group I got to experience something regular visitors don’t: camping at the cowboy camp.

Sabina and I’s home for most of Trek

We arrived at the stables near Morristown about 1pm and set up camp before being given our trusty steeds for the afternoon.  My horse was a lovely grey one called Blue Boy.  He was very well behaved and I was glad because it had been a while since I’d been riding.  We were taught how to hold the reins Western Style – in one hand.  This took some getting used to.  I didn’t know what to do with my spare hand!

Me on my trusty steed Blue Boy

The trail through the desert

Lake Pleasant – in real life the sun was sparkling off the water like a jewel

The view from Blue Boy

Check out the size of these cacti!

The scenery was fantastic. We rode through acres of saguaro cacti and enjoyed views towards Lake Pleasant, which was sparkling blue in the winter sun.  As we rode up the hills and down through dry river beds I got to take stock and enjoy the peace and quiet after such a busy couple of weeks on Trek.

Old wagon at the camp

Once we returned to the camp, Betty cooked us a traditional chuckwagon dinner on the camp fire   We tucked in to juicy steaks and baked potatoes, followed by chocolate cake that was cooked in a Dutch oven on the fire.  It was scrumptious.  My new friend Sabina, who I met on the first day of Trek, and I started drinking in the early evening and carried on in to the night.  This made trying to learn how to say “This chocolate cake is delicious” in German, Swiss German (yes there’s a difference – much more hacking and gagging!) and then Korean hilarious!  Betty played guitar and sung cowboy songs to us around the fire after dinner.  I really felt at ease in the great outdoors.  We finally crept to bed shortly after 11pm because we’d finished our vodka and it was getting cold.

Having enjoyed a great night’s sleep after all the fresh air we woke for fresh coffee and breakfast before packing away ready for our long drive to Desert Hot Springs, CA.
By Rachel Birchley