When the tour ended in California 1966, our charter plane was heading back to the East coast and the pilot asked if we wanted to be dropped anywhere along the route back. Keith asked if I wanted to join him and Gered Mankowitz on an overnight camping , horseback riding trip to Scottsdale, Arizona. I loved the idea and told the pilot to drop us off in Scottsdale. We made arrangements with John Wayne’s cowboy guide (the chiseled faced cowboy looking scruffy guy in the picture) to take us out. The only shoes I had were my Bally shoes and a pair of jeans.. so much for home on the range. When we arrived we outfitted ourselves with chaps, hats, and Winchester rifles. Keith also had a custom made .45 that was loaned to him by Lou Adler. A horseback riding we went. At the very start of our quest for nature my horse walked through a stream and started pawing the water I asked what this meant and found out, as the horse laid down in the stream with me aboard. So much for the Bally shoes…no wonder they wear boots. The image above is prior to Keith and I shooting at targets. I think the .45 jammed after a couple of shots. The carbines were fun as they reminded us of the “old west”. Our biggest concern was that the horses would ‘spook’ and run away.
I have more to tell later, for now, I will mention that a bobcat stole our bacon and there is more to come with our other horseback riding adventures in Dallas, etc.
