The Last Ride of Bonnie McCarroll

March 26, 2011

Had a big-outdoor cowboy breakfast this morning with Jackie Autry, Nege Bogert and Juni Fisher, along with 40 other shooters and Palm Springs locals at Elaine Hill's and her husband John's magnificent casa in Palm Springs. Sat next to and really enjoyed talking with the Western singer Juni Fisher and we made plans to do a feature with her in True West magazine on The Last Ride of Bonnie McCarroll. If you know your rodeo history, you know what we are talking about. Juni did extensive research on the fatal ride and wrote a song about the incident, "Bonnie McCarroll" which is on her classic "Let 'er Go, Let 'er Buck, Let 'er Fly" CD, celebrating 100 years of the Pendleton Round-up. Check her out. She is the real deal.

After a stop back at the Westfest grounds to pick up a dolly, Ken Amorosano and I drove back to Arizona, stopping for burritos at La Paloma in Blythe, one of my family's fave hole-in-the-wall Mexican food restaurants. Had the chicken burrito and a horchata (medium) and got back on the road. Had lots of time to plan big for the magazine. Arrived home at five. Lots of art to catch up on.

Great trip. I had never spent time in Palm Springs. Really pretty canyons and high desert oasis living. New country for me. Great people, lots of history. Glad I made the trip and attended Westfest. Gee I wonder what ol' Tennessee has to say about this?

"Make voyages. Attempt them. There's nothing else."

—Tennessee Williams