Baker, Nevada

While driving around the Panguitch area the other day, we ran into a cattle drive. A real cattle drive with real cowboys and cowgirls…

My count estimated about 100 cows and 14 cowboys and cowgirls.

The road we were on is well traveled to a unique geological site, so the cowboys had to deal with lots of cars.

The couple in the car coming towards us through the herd had huge grins on their faces. They were from California, and I doubt they’ve witnessed a cattle drive before let alone drove through one. 🙂

We were really lucky and ran into the drive both ways.

Cows are much easier to drive through if you are hitting them head on. They easily veer to the side of the road to get out of the way.

But if you are driving the same way they are walking, they are content just to meander slowly along their way.

This cow was one of five that wore a bell. Within a herd a small number of cows wear bells for several reasons:

• to help ward off predators because of the constant clanging,
• to help other cows stay near because they know where the rest of the herd is,
• and to help the cowboys locate cows when it’s roundup time.

Take a really close look at the cowboys in this picture.

Yep, they really are cowBOYS! The boys are off on spring break and they are helping with the drive. They were so incredibly cute. They were fully outfitted from spurs to chaps to hats. Their hats were nearly as big as they were. 
And their grins were even bigger! 🙂