Conquistadors: The Stories: Leo Eaton (Executive Producer)
My Worst Moment; (other than when I heard that my name had to be removed from the British credits);
We were researching the exact route of Cabeza deVaca and I, David Wallace (the director) and our guides were just across the Rio Grande in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, riding horses in the high mountain desert just south of the border. Horses and I don't get on too well. I can stay on, but anything more than a leisurely trot means, at frequent intervals that the ground and I get better acquainted than I would like.
We were several hours out, miles from any shelter, when our guide pointed out a massive storm heading our way. Lightning flashing constantly out of the dark, black thunderclouds that are so spectacular in this part of Texas and Chihuahua. Being on a wet horse, on a high mountain plateau in a heavy thunderstorm where you are the highest point for several miles, is not considered to be a good idea.
Our guide informed us that we would have to gallop several miles, outrunning the storm, to somewhere we could find shelter. So we galloped. I clung on for dear life. The thunder crashed behind us, the horse seemed to know where it was going and, for the next half hour, I debated which was worse -- being hit by lightning or staying on a galloping horse for one more minute. The horse won; finally we reached the hut where we were supposed to shelter for the night and I was carefully eased down to the ground. David, the archeologist, and our guides were all revoltingly excited about the high-speed gallop. I, on the other hand, remembered why Executive Producers usually make their contributions to TV series from either an office, cutting room, or nice warm hotel room.