Cactus Pants

Today I put on my cactus pants. Let me explain. Several months ago I was riding with friends leading the way as usual. I was headed up a very steep hill covered with pinon, juniper, cactus, various other prickly plants, and large volcanic boulders. Why? I'm not sure, but we were very bored with our regular routes. Anyway I was leaning downhill off over the side of my horse to avoid a low tree branch and, you guessed it, just fell off into a very large prickly pear. I was covered in thorns! My friend had to pull as many as she could, they were in my back where I couldn't see them and then I had to get back on my horse and ride home. It was one of the most uncomfortable rides I've ever been on. The long and short of it is that these pants are still prickly after several washings. I've always wondered what that would be like to fall full body into a cactus and now I know. But to fall off just by leaning over is just a little embarassing!