Ouch!

After working a big chunk of the summer as a ring photographer at the Kentucky Horse Park, and taking literally thousands of photos of horses jumping over things – I know a horse’s anatomy better than I ever wanted to. From the green froth that forms in the corners of their mouths’ under exertion to the exact angle at which a stallion lifts its tail to take care of business, it has all come through my viewfinder at one point or another.

Some was good, some I still have nightmares about.

All disgusting imagery aside, I was recently offered a chance to head out to California on Wednesday to take pictures at a big horse show in Temecula, which is just south of LA. I’ve never been out of the airport in California and once they dangled a free flight under my nose to someplace warmer than Kentucky, I was the one frothing on myself in anticipation.

Plus, any state that elects someone who has been filmed while chewing cigars and brandishing belt fed weapons for money deserves a proper visit.

I won’t have much time to explore, but that’s OK. The weather is supposed to be in the 80s and its a chance to earn a little cash assuming I don’t go play too much around Cali. It looks like I’ll have 4 days in Temecula (which sounds like the name of a medical disorder) and 1 day of running around Sacramento which I’m quite excited about.

I know its not exactly the same as climbing volcanoes in Indonesia or dodging poisonous darts in New Guinea (hopefully on the radar for next year) but its still a new experience…..and I am in desperate need of some action. I even miss that airport smell.

I’ll return next week with pictures and hopefully a good domestic vagabonding tale or two to share.