I always take longer to drive somewhere than online maps estimate, but this was ridiculous. Even with built in time, we were going to be late. My niece and I snacked on what was supposed to be a picnic lunch–no time to stop! We had a camel ride to get to.
We had started laying plans for this back in September, but between one thing and another, it wasn’t until April those plans came to fruition. My niece eyed the rain clouds looming in front of us. “Do you think God is trying to tell us we aren’t supposed to go camel riding?”
That was a legitimate question, especially after the recent changes at her dad’s business. There were certainly circumstances as well as prayer that went into that. So we talked about the different reasons there could be for hardships, prayed, and kept driving.
Rain spattered on the windshield, but had lightened to a faint drizzle by the time we got to the right road. I drove slowly, looking for the address.
We had to be near–there were pens of bison! A fawn! Miniature hairy pigs in all different colors of spots! We had reached the kangaroos when we met with Cassie, our camel lady.
This was going to be a bigger adventure than a camel ride to research my next story.
Sure enough, we were led through a large iron gate by the field with the pigs. The gently rolling field of vibrant green had deer and other hoofed animals from all over the world roaming through it. This was where we would be riding camels!
Cassie kept the other animals at a non-interfering distance, from this…goat? to water buffaloes. She picked up antlers shed from various types of deer along the way while her husband led the camels.
The wet did not trouble the camels in the least. My niece and I felt it more than they did through their springy, thick fur.
“Do camels mind crossing rivers?” I asked.
No, not at all. Their versatility extends to dealing with water.
Look at those lips! These camels eagerly munched clover while being groomed, and loved the carrots they got afterwards. This picture does not do justice to the versatility of their lips. Think of the tips of an elephant trunk!
Hold On Tight! Once, my camel slipped on a muddy slope, and I clung to the saddle bar in front of me as I dipped sharply forward. The camel gained his feet, and I kept my seat, but I was glad I had left my camera with Cassie. I would have to remember to hold on tight later when then camel knelt for me to get off, too.
Short Camels Evidently, all camels in America come from those bred in Australia for work on railroads, and are comparatively short. This is why Cyrus was able to win a victory by spooking his enemy’s cavalry with a camel rush–they’re so big!
Thanks For The Camel Ride!