That’s right, Arcadia, Florida. It’s not only home to some amazing ranchers and farmers who grow and raise our food. It’s home to some of the most amazing vistas, intriguing swamps, and enchanting historic Florida sceneries.
Kristen and I have spent most of the last week working in the swamps. Yes, it was hot. Yes, it was filthy. Yes, it was amazing.
What I wanted to share today was that we were surprised on the last morning by none other than genuine Florida cowboys. Horses, dogs, hats, and all.
They rode away. Dogs leading the riders.
We were investigating a particular stream corridor when they came upon us. It stopped us in our tracks. First were the pack of dogs. All were dirty and romping through the wet grass. All were different. Then came the men on their horses. Complete with straw cowboy hats and bandanas. They reined up next to us to see who we were.
They asked if we had seen an
y head of cow in this area. They told us they had only 54 but need to pen them. They stared at us. We stared at them.
Of course we sometimes forget that we are dressed like crazy people covered in mud. Two women looking that way could be quite perplexing on a Friday morning in the morning fog!
We informed them that we were studying the swamps. Kristen asked them a couple of questions while the dogs all tromped at our feet. They asked if we wanted a dog to which we replied no thanks but they look like good dogs.
A must read for all Floridians!
They left. Turning their horses and the dogs. We wanted to go after them. Wanted to ride with them and see what cowboys do. Wanted to ride while the dogs ran with us in the morning fog. There was something age old….rustic….nostalgic in their words and clothes. Something was there that we have read in books like A Land Remembered.
They seemed like old souls of Florida still riding and penning. It reminded us that lifestyle is still very much a thriving part of Florida. It’s not just history. It’s modern. They just haven’t made any technological advances that can beat a man, a horse, and a pack of dogs!
It’s not often we get the chance to interact with people in the field. It left us feeling a little melancholy. The riders and dogs in the mist of a hot morning. I hope they penned their cows.
Chicks With Ticks 
Very cool. Sounds like one of those Twilight Zone episodes, when a piece of the past comes out of nowhere. Thanks for sharing this and the picture too.
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It was exactly like that!!! It was so surreal….and just beautiful and inspiring.
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This story really reminds me of my hometown…Lake Placid. I remember running across the pastures. Never did run into any cowboys though!
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Mitzy – it reminds me of Lake Placid too! We work quite a bit in that area as well. Very neat places…
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Beautiful…. And thanks for the tip on the book, it’s now in the queue! 🙂
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FeyGirl – you MUST read this book immediately – it will change you forever!! Thank – read Walden….Thoreau!!
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Great story, gals! Reminds me of my time in the field back in the 80’s. Thanks for bring back the memories.
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Well – no need to leave them behind!! Get out there….do it again….on your own terms and then tell us how it makes you feel!
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That is a great memory of My Hometown of Arcadia, FL! That used to be me out there riding the pastures! Those were some great times. And yes that book is a must read. I’ve even read it over again. And there are some great DVDs out there that document that way of life as well. Such as “Cracker – The Last Cowboys of Florida” by Victor Milt. Thanks so much for your blog. I envy your job.
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Carol — tell us a story tell us a story!!!
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…Like occasionally while out riding on the prairie, getting caught in one of those hellacious summer thunderstorms and not having anywhere to take cover. You dang sure know better than to get under any tree. But that freezing rain that comes out of one of those high cumulonimbus thunderheads can make a 95 degree hot summer day suddenly feel like winter’s on the doorstep. You just hope it doesn’t start hailing and the horses aren’t too happy neither. They won’t walk into a blowing rain. They like to turn their butts to it and just stand and wait for it to stop. Then you get to ride all the way back to the barn all sopping wet with a soaked saddle and shivering… I wouldn’t trade those days for nothin!
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Amen – nor would I!!
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What? No pictures of the cowboys. How do we know you aren’t telling a tall tale? But I live in DeSoto County and know some cowboys so I believe every word. I am so glad you got to experience it. If you contact the ranch, maybe they would take you out on a days ride.
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Well Kathy, luckily I am not in the habit of telling false tales. We were so take that I only got a shot of the last dog disappearing behind the forest edge….included that photo in the story. I didn’t feel comfortable taking a photo while talking (what little we did). They looked intense and busy – but very cool! It is a cattle lease, one of hundreds we work on. We do have a true Florida cracker cowboy who takes us to do whatever we want! Maybe I will take some shots and video next time I am in South Florida. Gary Larson is a well known rodeo star and cowboy extraordinaire….and accompanies us in the field sometimes!
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I only follow one blog …. yours… because every entry is a joy, allows me to experience what you are doing and just wanted to thank you for letting me tag along. At 59.5 yrs old my field days are over but your blog allows me to experience it again.
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Lu-Anne – I say you should get outdoors and go for a hike…relive that feeling as often as you can! You are still WILD!! Thanks for being a Chick with Ticks!!
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