It’s just after 9am. The hot sun cooks my head while I ride Frenchie and pony Dude and Bruiser. As Bruiser grazes on the shoulder something catches the corner of my eye. A long object moves right by his head. As I focus my vision my heart skips a beat. A thick dark snake looks up at him just inches from his nose. I yank the lead rope and he pops his head up, the snake slithers away into the bush and Bruiser looks at me wondering what the hell just happened…
“Bruiser, you almost got bit by a snake,” I said as I patted his neck.
Like many other moments on this Long Ride, we had came inches from disaster. But somehow, like those times before, some greater power changed the course of fate and kept us safe. I will never forget how scary that snake looked right next to Bruiser’s nose. It’s neck and head grew out like that of an Indian Cobra! It was a terrifying sight. A bite could have taken Bruiser’s life – the venom from snakes in the Pantanal is very strong.
With this horrible moment behind us, we trekked on. That afternoon we arrived at a gas station and hotel called ‘O Pioneiro’.
“You can leave your horses in this pasture behind the hotel and we will host you in one of our rooms,” the owner said as we arrived.
I can’t thank O Pioneiro enough for all of their generosity. We ate in their delicious restaurant and slept in their hotel, all for free!
“We are very happy to be able to help such a wonderful journey,” the owner said.
From there we rode towards Aquidauana, our next resting spot. Before we arrived in the town we stopped in Anastasio to watch Brazil play Mexico. On the day of the game I rode with my Neymar Junior jersey on for good luck. We rode down a lonely road – there were no farms in sight. With the game already underway we were still trying to find a place to rest the horses. Finally just before arriving in Anastasio I found a farm, turned out the ponies and rushed to town. We arrived just before the end of the first half and the game was 0 – 0.
“Brazil is playing like sh&%,” a local fan said as we sat in the middle of a small street.
With a flat screen TV out on the road, we watched the game with the people of that small town. It was a horrible game as Brazil and Mexico tied 0 – 0. I felt like breaking the television after the game, but held myself back and went to feed my ponies.
