Up
More About Nikki Tate
Books By Nikki Tate
Dark Creek Online
Estorian Chronicles
Writing Resources
For Teachers
Essays & Articles
On the Road
Day in the Life
Children's Bookshop
Book Reviews
Online Writing Courses
Fun Stuff
Links
Contact Me
Member of
the Arts and Cultural Highway
| | September 13th, 2002
On September 12th, Nikki Tate visited two schools in Fallon,
Nevada. And what a welcome I received at E.C. Best Elementary School
The whole population of the school, more that five hundred children, waited for my arrival. Sitting on the grass outside the front of the school, they pretty well filled the traffic circle! It was a bit of a surprize when principal Scott Meihack suggested I do my entire presentation outside (it would have taken too long to move everyone into the gym)and handed me a megaphone so all the students could hear me. Well, I was fully prepared for poor Breezy to leap out of her skin when I started speaking through the bull-horn, but no, the mare just flicked an ear back as if to say, 'My hearing is quite good, thank you - do you have to speak so loudly?'
I suspect all the carrots Jane and the kids feed her as I talk helps keep her motivated to stand still, but I was still amazed at just how good she was despite all those children and the strange noises coming from up on her back. She did an excellent job and I have to say that the venue really could not have been much better.
In the afternoon we visited Lahontan School and spoke to students first out on the playground and then in the gym. I felt right at home in the gym because a HUGE mural of killer whales graced the wall inside! Students here were able to tell me that the over-sized gerbils I've been seeing out in the desert are actually kangaroo rats. Now I know!
After a little trouble finding the right road (it sure looks like a big road on the map, but in reality, the turnoff is rather... obscure) - we made our way to Fort Churchill where Breezy and I rode around the ruins of the old fort just as the sun was setting. With all the sunset rides, we are thinking of renaming our trip the Sunset Tour! As soon as I can, I'll post photos of Fort Churchill as it is one of the coolest places we have seen on the trip so far. There are plenty of foundations still standing, some of them quite substantial, and in the dramatic light of late afternoon, the sections of wall reminded me a bit of a Stonehenge of the Old West.
Once we had explored the site and searched for the Pony Express trail marker, we headed for the Royer Ranch just outside Dayton where we will be based for several days as we ride trail
in the area and visit places like Virginia City.
Back to map |