Toni and Mitch joined us Saturday for a ride around the top of Hennessey. Mitch warned us that Bristol, his mount that day, was a designated driver horse. Many a drunk or overtired passenger has nodded off, sleeping on the trail all the way back to camp, and been able to maintain his seat. Bristol has his own pace and couldn't care less what anyone thinks about it. He's a cruiser. So Mitch told us go ahead, he'd bring up the rear.
When we reached the road above the new trail section, Mitch called out to us that it was going to be a short ride today. He had broken his breast collar. I guess he doesn't know Lynn that well. She jumped down, assessed the situation, and proceeded to mend his problem. On we went. We got up to the road above the last steep in-between trail, and I decided it was a good time to get off and tighten up my cinch--there's a good get-on rock right there and Jupes knows the drill.
As soon I as was back on, I heard Toni squeal at Mitch. I guess she too had gotten off and somehow Buckwheat had stepped through or on his reins, broke them, and clunked Mitch. I'm not sure exactly; anyway, Lynn jumped off and fixed that situation, too. On we went.
We went all over the back side of Hennessey and had a good time. Zigman was happy when he got to lead as we blazed new trails. Jupes didn't mind having Buckwheat and Bristol along and I think he is getting used to having other horses with us. Mitch rode a lot of the way with his arms crossed over his chest and he seemed totally relaxed and happy to hang out with us. It was fun.
Coming down the cutoff trail above the dump, disaster struck. Buckwheat bucked Toni off. Lynn turned at the sound of Toni's squeal and saw her fly through the air and land in a pile of brush. Possibly the halter and lead rope swung under and spooked him; possibly a stob on the madrone at the top of the steep little hill poked him; no one really knows. All we know is everyone is happy that Toni was wearing the white helmet and saved her noggin. She probably pulled one of the long muscles that connects her pelvis and thigh as it hurt a lot. Her back hurt some, too, but overall, she was fine. Mitch offered Bristol, but she said it was important to get back up on Buckwheat and finish the ride.
I asked Lynn privately if we should go on the road rather than down the new trail, but she not only sits a horse like her mother--she replied, "No. She needs to get her confidence back." Only later on one of the more steep sections she recapitulated and said that she hadn't thought about how steep some of the spots were. However, when I looked back up at them, I saw that Mitch and Bristol were in front and they kept Buckwheat from going too fast. Although I am sorry Toni went off--I was relieved to not be the entertainment part of the ride that day.
So here it is: the last day of July! I have had good rides this month and look forward to many more in August. As I told Lynn, our tour director, I don't mind riding here at home--I don't have to camp or find exotic places to go to have fun. Sitting on my horse and hanging out with my friends is all I need!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The adventure continues
Remember the fun Lynn and I had stringing the electric wire across the mudhole section of the pond? Remember us almost getting the four-wheeler stuck? This is the site of our latest adventure!
Every summer Barry's horses, Shadow, Willy, Robby, and "that white thing," are sectioned off away from our horses next to Shirley's house. Willy is mean and would hurt Brady--he's already hurt Indy and tried to get Star. Well, they have the pond in their domain.
Our horses often go and lay in the mudhole, which is a section of the pond that stretches over and into the middle pasture. I am sure it helps keeps the bugs off and is a cool spot on warm summer day. Up the hill, the spring water is running over the tub and down into the trees. On one of her sleepless nights, Lynn came up with the idea that we could run the black pipe (that Don had pulled out and left stretched along the road) from the spring hose down to the empty section of pond and fill it up--using the spring water that was simply going to waste. (: Piece of cake, right?
The horses were excited and ran all around both fields. They heard the plastic bag of fittings and had to come and see what kind of good stuff we brought them. Ziggy rested his heavy head on Lynn while she bent over the pipe and Jupiter and Buster stood nearby with expectant faces, "Got carrots? Got apples? What cha got?" Star kept an eye on things because it's his job and Brady just stood a little off to the side basking the knowledge that he was "the man" for his part in stealing the hay bales. Indy? Not sure exactly where he was--but he is not one to miss out on anything, so I'm sure he was nearby.
It was too easy. We stretched the pipe and only had to put it together in two places. And the couplings were already there. Lynn barely got wet while putting the hose and the black pipe together up at the tank, and it was a warm evening anyway! Then we took Haylee for a run up and around on the trails (I love riding the four-wheelers!).
Long story short--fast forwarding through the Keystone cop-like antics of checking everything and collecting the necessary tools again--we found that there wasn't any water coming out the end, but there was a fountain spraying in the air. She was sure there was water in the pipe, so that meant something was blocking the flow somewhere. "Salamanders crawl up in there and die and then they block the pipe," she said. Gross! We fixed both the holes without getting too wet and walked back down the hill to the soon to be filled pond. Still no water. Ready? This is the good part: pipe cutting tool in hand, Lynn says to me, "I am going to cut it right here."
"Are you sure? Right there?" About that time, the blades cut into the black pipe--instantly, dark brown, thick water blew out in both directions! It was like we had struck oil! A geyser blowing north and south as Lynn held on to the pipe trying to get that last bite through the plastic. Instinctively, I had turned away, probably squealed, probably said the s-word, but I started laughing thinking about how Lynn would laugh when she saw my face that I could feel was speckled with mud, which was also speckled on my shirt and pants and everywhere else.
Before I could turn around Lynn said, "Look at my face." I am laughing right now as I think about it! I turned around and there was Lynn: imagine the cartoons with a character's face completely covered in some sort of slime, with clean eye holes where their glasses had been! Imagine a movie of a woman at a spa with mud all over her face except where the cucumber slices had been! Imagine the sight of an oil derrick with men drenched in black oil, the only nonblack part are teeth showing through because they are grinning as it drips down their face--shirts plastered to their chests, wet with the dark substance! She reached up and scraped a layer of dark brown mud off her face. Then I really lost it and I almost peed on myself! She had a layer of reddish-brown mud from her head down to her toes. She was able to wipe most of it off her face with her good, green-striped shirt, but it was on her neck, down her front, in her hair, well--you get the picture. Oh my gosh--it was hysterical (I'm still snorting at the memory!). "It's not that funny! I hope you do pee on yourself!" she said to me as I was doubled over--shrieking with laughter.
I love that I get to be in the front row for all this entertainment.
And the horses got water on their side of the pond! (:
Every summer Barry's horses, Shadow, Willy, Robby, and "that white thing," are sectioned off away from our horses next to Shirley's house. Willy is mean and would hurt Brady--he's already hurt Indy and tried to get Star. Well, they have the pond in their domain.
Our horses often go and lay in the mudhole, which is a section of the pond that stretches over and into the middle pasture. I am sure it helps keeps the bugs off and is a cool spot on warm summer day. Up the hill, the spring water is running over the tub and down into the trees. On one of her sleepless nights, Lynn came up with the idea that we could run the black pipe (that Don had pulled out and left stretched along the road) from the spring hose down to the empty section of pond and fill it up--using the spring water that was simply going to waste. (: Piece of cake, right?
The horses were excited and ran all around both fields. They heard the plastic bag of fittings and had to come and see what kind of good stuff we brought them. Ziggy rested his heavy head on Lynn while she bent over the pipe and Jupiter and Buster stood nearby with expectant faces, "Got carrots? Got apples? What cha got?" Star kept an eye on things because it's his job and Brady just stood a little off to the side basking the knowledge that he was "the man" for his part in stealing the hay bales. Indy? Not sure exactly where he was--but he is not one to miss out on anything, so I'm sure he was nearby.
It was too easy. We stretched the pipe and only had to put it together in two places. And the couplings were already there. Lynn barely got wet while putting the hose and the black pipe together up at the tank, and it was a warm evening anyway! Then we took Haylee for a run up and around on the trails (I love riding the four-wheelers!).
Long story short--fast forwarding through the Keystone cop-like antics of checking everything and collecting the necessary tools again--we found that there wasn't any water coming out the end, but there was a fountain spraying in the air. She was sure there was water in the pipe, so that meant something was blocking the flow somewhere. "Salamanders crawl up in there and die and then they block the pipe," she said. Gross! We fixed both the holes without getting too wet and walked back down the hill to the soon to be filled pond. Still no water. Ready? This is the good part: pipe cutting tool in hand, Lynn says to me, "I am going to cut it right here."
"Are you sure? Right there?" About that time, the blades cut into the black pipe--instantly, dark brown, thick water blew out in both directions! It was like we had struck oil! A geyser blowing north and south as Lynn held on to the pipe trying to get that last bite through the plastic. Instinctively, I had turned away, probably squealed, probably said the s-word, but I started laughing thinking about how Lynn would laugh when she saw my face that I could feel was speckled with mud, which was also speckled on my shirt and pants and everywhere else.
Before I could turn around Lynn said, "Look at my face." I am laughing right now as I think about it! I turned around and there was Lynn: imagine the cartoons with a character's face completely covered in some sort of slime, with clean eye holes where their glasses had been! Imagine a movie of a woman at a spa with mud all over her face except where the cucumber slices had been! Imagine the sight of an oil derrick with men drenched in black oil, the only nonblack part are teeth showing through because they are grinning as it drips down their face--shirts plastered to their chests, wet with the dark substance! She reached up and scraped a layer of dark brown mud off her face. Then I really lost it and I almost peed on myself! She had a layer of reddish-brown mud from her head down to her toes. She was able to wipe most of it off her face with her good, green-striped shirt, but it was on her neck, down her front, in her hair, well--you get the picture. Oh my gosh--it was hysterical (I'm still snorting at the memory!). "It's not that funny! I hope you do pee on yourself!" she said to me as I was doubled over--shrieking with laughter.
I love that I get to be in the front row for all this entertainment.
And the horses got water on their side of the pond! (:
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
A ride of a different kind
Last night, Lynn called and said Shirley had headed to Montana and it was a good chance to find pictures for her next picture book for her mom. We spent hours pouring over old pictures of everything from Shirley and Ed's life: baby pics of the kids, early marriage pics, family Lynn knew and didn't, and tons of horses! It was fun. I will post some of them soon.
Haylee gets to run on the mountain every night as well; so the first thing we did was go out and get the four wheelers. Lynn rode one and I rode the other. What a blast! We ran all over the trails on the hill with Haylee running and jumping through the trees. Lynn flies up and down the trails like a wild woman, sliding around corners and pouring it on. I could not tear the smile off my face as we whipped through the trees both before and after our venture into Shirley picture closet. It's one more example of what I missed out on being a "town girl!"
As I followed Lynn down the trail, it made think of being a kid. (I think about it when we are all piled on the thing in winter feeding the horses, too.) I have to laugh because at 53 and 52 (and 80 for Pete's sake!), we are still doing things that kids would think of as fun. I don't think we will ever outgrow stuff like this. Thank goodness. This is the side of my life that would probably surprise a lot of people--especially my students who see me in a dress every day, being a responsible and boring person. (:
Haylee gets to run on the mountain every night as well; so the first thing we did was go out and get the four wheelers. Lynn rode one and I rode the other. What a blast! We ran all over the trails on the hill with Haylee running and jumping through the trees. Lynn flies up and down the trails like a wild woman, sliding around corners and pouring it on. I could not tear the smile off my face as we whipped through the trees both before and after our venture into Shirley picture closet. It's one more example of what I missed out on being a "town girl!"
As I followed Lynn down the trail, it made think of being a kid. (I think about it when we are all piled on the thing in winter feeding the horses, too.) I have to laugh because at 53 and 52 (and 80 for Pete's sake!), we are still doing things that kids would think of as fun. I don't think we will ever outgrow stuff like this. Thank goodness. This is the side of my life that would probably surprise a lot of people--especially my students who see me in a dress every day, being a responsible and boring person. (:
Monday, July 16, 2012
"It's Summertime. . .
and the livin' is easy. Fish are jumpin' and cotton is so high. . . "
I absolutely love that song. Although there are slower versions, this is the one I have on a 45! It's an oldie, but a goodie and every summer it runs through my head. I am officially on summer break! No more summer school. Yahooooo!
Saturday was treat: Toni and Buckwheat, Mitch and Stranger joined us for a quick ride on the hoop-de-do trail. Stranger is pretty cute; he's a talker. He whinnied in the trailer; he whinnied when he couldn't see his buddy or the other horses around the trailer. He did that "hunnh, hunnh," sound as he walked along. It was Mitch's first time riding him on the trail and they had no problems (not that Mitch would have had a problem anyway, but Stranger seemed happy to be with everyone). In fact, all the horses behaved--Star had mother hen issues of course and Shirley said he "sunfished" all the way because he was trying to keep one eye on the two horses in front and one on the two horses in back, but everyone else was good. That means everyone had a good time!
On the way back down the trail Lynn and I landed in some bees. Ziggy stopped on the trail and spread his back legs like he was going to pee and then I heard Lynn say, "Bees!" and she spurred Ziggs to move. About that time, Jupiter started humping and quivering and kicking and we too rode away quickly down the trail. I never saw the bees and I think we got away unscathed. Both of them stayed real calm and listened to us and did what we asked them to! Ziggy's tail swished for the rest of the ride, so he may have had some stings and/or stingers still stuck, but Jupiter seemed to have escaped sting-free.
Then we rode up the steep, trashy hill and back down the new trail and came home. Lynn had errands in town and I had a feast day with the Bishop at church so it was a quick ride. I hope we all get to do it again.
Sunday, we went out and this time Lynn brought the shears; she dropped them off in one of the openings on the new trail and left them for later. We went up and around the Hennessey and came back down. The boys seemed a little tired and it was getting hot. On the way through the trees, Lynn walked and cut some of the bigger pokey branches and the ones that have threatened to clothesline us off. Shirley and I broke off the smaller ones. So maybe next time our ride will be a little less bruising.
I absolutely love that song. Although there are slower versions, this is the one I have on a 45! It's an oldie, but a goodie and every summer it runs through my head. I am officially on summer break! No more summer school. Yahooooo!
Saturday was treat: Toni and Buckwheat, Mitch and Stranger joined us for a quick ride on the hoop-de-do trail. Stranger is pretty cute; he's a talker. He whinnied in the trailer; he whinnied when he couldn't see his buddy or the other horses around the trailer. He did that "hunnh, hunnh," sound as he walked along. It was Mitch's first time riding him on the trail and they had no problems (not that Mitch would have had a problem anyway, but Stranger seemed happy to be with everyone). In fact, all the horses behaved--Star had mother hen issues of course and Shirley said he "sunfished" all the way because he was trying to keep one eye on the two horses in front and one on the two horses in back, but everyone else was good. That means everyone had a good time!
On the way back down the trail Lynn and I landed in some bees. Ziggy stopped on the trail and spread his back legs like he was going to pee and then I heard Lynn say, "Bees!" and she spurred Ziggs to move. About that time, Jupiter started humping and quivering and kicking and we too rode away quickly down the trail. I never saw the bees and I think we got away unscathed. Both of them stayed real calm and listened to us and did what we asked them to! Ziggy's tail swished for the rest of the ride, so he may have had some stings and/or stingers still stuck, but Jupiter seemed to have escaped sting-free.
Then we rode up the steep, trashy hill and back down the new trail and came home. Lynn had errands in town and I had a feast day with the Bishop at church so it was a quick ride. I hope we all get to do it again.
Sunday, we went out and this time Lynn brought the shears; she dropped them off in one of the openings on the new trail and left them for later. We went up and around the Hennessey and came back down. The boys seemed a little tired and it was getting hot. On the way through the trees, Lynn walked and cut some of the bigger pokey branches and the ones that have threatened to clothesline us off. Shirley and I broke off the smaller ones. So maybe next time our ride will be a little less bruising.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Like mother, like daughter
Too funny! Shirley noticed the similarities when she was scrolling through my camera. (Sorry for the blurriness--Jupiter is a twinkle butt and he makes me jiggle.)
PS It's my first time ever being suspended and I didn't like it!
PS It's my first time ever being suspended and I didn't like it!
Experimenting with links
AAAAGGGGHHHHH! I don't understand why you guys cannot link to the album. All of them are open to the public and shouldn't be a problem. I don't know what I am doing wrong. These are two more attempts. I hope they work.
https://picasaweb.google.com/missvkurtz/MemorialWeekend2012#
https://picasaweb.google.com/missvkurtz/MemorialWeekend2012#
 |
| Memorial Weekend 2012 |
 |
| Lander's Lake |
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Truly we are blessed
The trail was alternately rocky, silty, and peaty. The dust was at a minimum because it is so early in the season, so it was a pleasure to ride in any position: front, middle, or back. Much of the trail going in to the lake is an incline since the elevation at the lake is approximately 7200 feet. There were some rocky step-ups and some really steep places, but the boys never faltered going either way. Although Buster is incredibly boring and walks too slow according to Shirley, he powered uphill and took the steps back down like an old pro. Both Ziggy and Jupiter did really well also and although Lynn feels like Ziggy corners too wide and she is stretched out over the abyss--picture it kind of like Coyote and Roadrunner cartoons--they looked good all day from where I sat.
I teased Lynn about always underestimating how close we were and about her memory from 30 years ago, we made it and there really was a beautiful meadow and pristine lake. The boys loved the high mountain grass and we had a little picnic that the dogs ate more of than we did; however, they probably needed it more than we did. Those two dogs ran at least 2x the 16 miles we traversed. Although they slowed down a little on the way back and stayed closer to the trail, anything that caught their eye had them chasing off through the trees. Haylee was super tired, but she made it! Both dogs slept most of the way home.
The trail was very diverse and once we got to the first meadow we had to look for rocks piled on top of each other like cairns. Lynn remembers having to pick her way through the bog in one spot, but the CCC has since added a causeway which made the trail easy for the horses and less stressful for the riders. There many water crossings and both dogs and horses had lots of opportunities to drink. Haylee doesn't like to get her feet too wet and she's a little cautious of water since her surprise dunking at the pond, so she created her own trail hopping onto rocks and logs or completely over it.
We ended the day with a preventive squirt of Absorbine JR on the boys' knees and ankles and Jupiter got a little "minty fresh" on his nose when he reached down for scratch. He made some great faces that I did not catch on film! Then we ravenously ate hamburgers at Marinos in Weaverville and got home about 8pm. It was a glorious day!
Sunday we did a short ride around the meadow on the Hennessey to make sure they were loosened up and not standing around getting stiff. When we got back home and let them loose in the field with the other boys, they had a group hug! (: It was cute and I wish I could have taken a picture. Great weekend!!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Herd Bound
Yea! Fourth of July became a midweek holiday and we were off to ride! It was a glorious morning: blue skies and sunshine--just like the song says. The boys were a bit off their routine, though, and Jupes tripped /stumbled into the trailer, Star tripped/stumbled out, and Ziggy--well, how can you tell? I guess they thought it was a holiday for them too and they had had to work hard on the weekend and deserved some more time off.
We started off on our newest leg of the trail and it is becoming easier and easier to manuever and find. I really enjoy that section. We are going uphill through more trails and less road all the time. Today, we rode all the backside trails backwards--the opposite way. It was fun. You know a trail looks different from the opposite direction. Jupes was sure he had never seen that gray rock, gray stump, gray monster before.
One scary thing happened: Star slipped and went down on his side. From where I was sitting, I think it looked like he stepped on a slick root with his front foot and then onto another one with his back foot and they slid out from under him. He went down slowly and gracefully without seeming to try to catch his balance or footing. Maybe he knew it would be better to go with it. Anyway, Shirley kicked her foot free from the top (right) stirrup and then as he went to get up, kicked free from the left one.
The dirt and compost nature of the spot was churned up and pretty soft, but there were roots and decaying branches under her. She sat for a minute and took inventory and decided she was fine. We walked the rest of the distance to the pond because it was pretty level and easy from there. (Alisa, picture going up the trail from the pond where we usually give the horses the granola bars. We were just up from the big log. We were coming down the hill there instead going up.)
I haven't called to check on her, yet, but I'll bet she's black and blue. Hopefully she's not too stiff or hurt in anyway.
On the lighter side, I was discussing that my friend Sandi thinks I should take Jupiter out on my own so he will not be herd bound. She also thinks it will help me to be a better and more confident rider. We ran into an old high school friend who has a new horse and said to me she would like to go riding with me. She's an experienced rider and just needs someone to ride with.
Here's the deal: I don't think Jupiter is herd bound. He has gotten nervous when we have been alone (once on the hill) or separated (once on the ride down Hennessey), but he did what I asked and he only bellowed a couple of times for his friends. I think he likes to go and couldn't really care less about having company--he likes to be in the front and would walk off/trot off and leave everyone if I let him.
No, it's me. I am comfortable with Lynn and Shirley. Shirley has forgotten more about riding and horses than I'll ever know. Lynn is calm and capable and can handle anything. I don't really want to ride with other people and their horses without my partners. I know what they ride like and what to expect from both them and their horses. I think I would be more comfortable alone with Jupiter, the just two of us off riding anywhere, than with someone I am not used to being with.
Shirley said, "Jupiter's not herd bound--YOU are!" Now that's the truth. (:
We started off on our newest leg of the trail and it is becoming easier and easier to manuever and find. I really enjoy that section. We are going uphill through more trails and less road all the time. Today, we rode all the backside trails backwards--the opposite way. It was fun. You know a trail looks different from the opposite direction. Jupes was sure he had never seen that gray rock, gray stump, gray monster before.
One scary thing happened: Star slipped and went down on his side. From where I was sitting, I think it looked like he stepped on a slick root with his front foot and then onto another one with his back foot and they slid out from under him. He went down slowly and gracefully without seeming to try to catch his balance or footing. Maybe he knew it would be better to go with it. Anyway, Shirley kicked her foot free from the top (right) stirrup and then as he went to get up, kicked free from the left one.
The dirt and compost nature of the spot was churned up and pretty soft, but there were roots and decaying branches under her. She sat for a minute and took inventory and decided she was fine. We walked the rest of the distance to the pond because it was pretty level and easy from there. (Alisa, picture going up the trail from the pond where we usually give the horses the granola bars. We were just up from the big log. We were coming down the hill there instead going up.)
I haven't called to check on her, yet, but I'll bet she's black and blue. Hopefully she's not too stiff or hurt in anyway.
On the lighter side, I was discussing that my friend Sandi thinks I should take Jupiter out on my own so he will not be herd bound. She also thinks it will help me to be a better and more confident rider. We ran into an old high school friend who has a new horse and said to me she would like to go riding with me. She's an experienced rider and just needs someone to ride with.
Here's the deal: I don't think Jupiter is herd bound. He has gotten nervous when we have been alone (once on the hill) or separated (once on the ride down Hennessey), but he did what I asked and he only bellowed a couple of times for his friends. I think he likes to go and couldn't really care less about having company--he likes to be in the front and would walk off/trot off and leave everyone if I let him.
No, it's me. I am comfortable with Lynn and Shirley. Shirley has forgotten more about riding and horses than I'll ever know. Lynn is calm and capable and can handle anything. I don't really want to ride with other people and their horses without my partners. I know what they ride like and what to expect from both them and their horses. I think I would be more comfortable alone with Jupiter, the just two of us off riding anywhere, than with someone I am not used to being with.
Shirley said, "Jupiter's not herd bound--YOU are!" Now that's the truth. (:
Monday, July 2, 2012
Word of the day: chaps
Saturday it rained pretty hard and watered our country pretty well. Sunday, we went riding again. Lynn laughed and told me to ahead and break trail! The idea of course was to clear the spiderwebs of course, but in addition, knock all the water off the branches! I knew it was going to be a wet morning, but it was too warm for any kind of water repelling gear.
Soon it was a big laughing matter as both Lynn and I were soaked from the top of our thighs to our boots. How Shirley remains clean and dry is beyond me. She never looks like she is hot or sweaty. Nothing out of place--just that jaunty angle of her helmet, her hand on hip, and an occasional, "Star!"
Today Lynn stayed on her horse most of the time and we tootled around the top of Hennessey. We've been going around sort of backwards and looping through differently and it has been really fun. We weren't gone real long, but I could tell Jupiter was a little tired from the steep trails the day before.
Anyway, my funny story for today was on me. At least I thought it was funny. We were in the lead and heading up one of the steeper inclines back to the road when Jupiter ducked his head down pretty far. Since he ducked, I ducked. Reaction I guess. But the deal is--he ducked all the way under a limb and I sort of ducked into it. Picture this: as he stepped through the bush, a fully loaded, rain-soaked, two foot wide, branch of cedar or pine needles swung and swept directly into my face and chest as I was bent over his neck. I had water running down my face, down the inside of my shirt, which of course gapped open when I leaned over, and puddling about the top of my jeans. My hair was wet and dripping, my shirt stuck to me, and little rivulets of rain water coursed down my body from the visor on my helmet down to my already wet jeans. It was like someone turned a hose on me and soaked me. I laughed. It doesn't get better than that.
For fun information on chaps: http://www.circlerchaps.com/chaphistory.cfm
Soon it was a big laughing matter as both Lynn and I were soaked from the top of our thighs to our boots. How Shirley remains clean and dry is beyond me. She never looks like she is hot or sweaty. Nothing out of place--just that jaunty angle of her helmet, her hand on hip, and an occasional, "Star!"
Today Lynn stayed on her horse most of the time and we tootled around the top of Hennessey. We've been going around sort of backwards and looping through differently and it has been really fun. We weren't gone real long, but I could tell Jupiter was a little tired from the steep trails the day before.
Anyway, my funny story for today was on me. At least I thought it was funny. We were in the lead and heading up one of the steeper inclines back to the road when Jupiter ducked his head down pretty far. Since he ducked, I ducked. Reaction I guess. But the deal is--he ducked all the way under a limb and I sort of ducked into it. Picture this: as he stepped through the bush, a fully loaded, rain-soaked, two foot wide, branch of cedar or pine needles swung and swept directly into my face and chest as I was bent over his neck. I had water running down my face, down the inside of my shirt, which of course gapped open when I leaned over, and puddling about the top of my jeans. My hair was wet and dripping, my shirt stuck to me, and little rivulets of rain water coursed down my body from the visor on my helmet down to my already wet jeans. It was like someone turned a hose on me and soaked me. I laughed. It doesn't get better than that.
For fun information on chaps: http://www.circlerchaps.com/chaphistory.cfm
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Get on, Get off
When my alarm went off at 4:30am this morning, all I could think about was how nice it would be to just lay there. But I got up (albeit at 5:00) and did all my morning chores and headed out to Lynn's. Once in the car and on my way, it was a no brainer. Up on top of Hennessey a little later, I thought "nothing could be better than this!"
Yesterday, we went across the river toward Denny with our clippers, loppers, gloves, lunch, and Buster, since Star would be too bored. It was our intention to clear brush and connect the trail into a loop. After some steep, steep hills with puffing horses who rested every six feet, we got to the steep, steep downhill. I've dreamt about this particular trail! Jupes did fine--almost brushed me off once, but behaved and got us safely down.
But when we got to the brushy site, Lynn wasn't certain it was do-able. So off she went on foot to check it out. Shirley and I couldn't see her, but we could hear her, "Ow!" and then "Ow, dang blackberry bush!" and then again, "Ow!" Finally she pulled her way back out of the 10' high bush and said, "Nope, don't think we can do it without a chainsaw." So no new loop. But at least a couple good clipping stories:
One, Lynn can run pretty fast uphill when she's tailing her big, long-legged Quarterhorse. I could hear Shirley crying out, "Vicki! Stop!" So I stopped and looked over my shoulder and saw Ziggy, riderless, stepping out his big uphill, ground-covering stride toward me--without Lynn in the saddle. We turned sideways to cut him off, but he stepped on his rein and stopped anyway. That's when I saw Lynn. Of course she's way too little to be seen over the rump of Ziggy (and it was steep), but once he turned a little, I could see her hanging on to his tail and scrambling up the trail. I guess she dropped her clippers and got off to get them and Ziggy didn't see any reason to wait for her. Well, now she knows she can stride with the best of them (or run uphill with a little help).
Two, if her head was attached. . . after we (I mean Lynn) decided that we couldn't get through the loop, she walked Zigs over to the point and we followed on our trusty mounts (of course we never even got off in the first place!) and after some grass eating (by the horses) and general view appreciating (us), Lynn got back on (again). As she walked past me (of course Jupes isn't picking his head up until he has to!) I looked back and saw her helmet on the ground. "Um, Lynn. Your helmet," I said. "Oh!" she grinned, "guess I need that." Back over to the get-on rock, get down, get the helmet, and exchange the baseball cap on her head for the helmet. Then back on the get-on rock and start again. Nope. "Lynn, your cap." There it was laying just about where the helmet had been on the ground. So back over to the get-on rock to get down, get the hat, tie it on, get back on the get-on rock and start again. It's entertainment for those of us just sitting there on our horses. (: Good thing Ziggy isn't very big.
Three, as we were climbing through the deadfall up a very steep mountain, we couldn't find the trail. So Lynn says (her usual, by the way), "Stay there. I'll go check for the trail over this rise." But Buster got nervous and Shirley got nervous and so Lynn had to get off Ziggy and walk down to Buster to lead him through some downfall. Then she had to find a good get on place and get on (again). PS Jupes did fantastic; Shirley said he only looks like a city slicker!
Four! Lynn is getting-on-ist gal I know. We stopped for lunch and Shirley got off to stretch, eat, and pee. Buster has been a bit of a problem letting Shirley get on. He wants to walk away. So Lynn got on and off him two, maybe three times, to make him stand still. She said the old standby, "There's no work in riding." Well, she got a great workout in her left thigh for sure, but um, I just sat there and watched her, so--there wasn't much work involved for me. (:
Wow! That was all just Saturday. There's more to tell for Sunday. . . stay tuned.
Yesterday, we went across the river toward Denny with our clippers, loppers, gloves, lunch, and Buster, since Star would be too bored. It was our intention to clear brush and connect the trail into a loop. After some steep, steep hills with puffing horses who rested every six feet, we got to the steep, steep downhill. I've dreamt about this particular trail! Jupes did fine--almost brushed me off once, but behaved and got us safely down.
But when we got to the brushy site, Lynn wasn't certain it was do-able. So off she went on foot to check it out. Shirley and I couldn't see her, but we could hear her, "Ow!" and then "Ow, dang blackberry bush!" and then again, "Ow!" Finally she pulled her way back out of the 10' high bush and said, "Nope, don't think we can do it without a chainsaw." So no new loop. But at least a couple good clipping stories:
One, Lynn can run pretty fast uphill when she's tailing her big, long-legged Quarterhorse. I could hear Shirley crying out, "Vicki! Stop!" So I stopped and looked over my shoulder and saw Ziggy, riderless, stepping out his big uphill, ground-covering stride toward me--without Lynn in the saddle. We turned sideways to cut him off, but he stepped on his rein and stopped anyway. That's when I saw Lynn. Of course she's way too little to be seen over the rump of Ziggy (and it was steep), but once he turned a little, I could see her hanging on to his tail and scrambling up the trail. I guess she dropped her clippers and got off to get them and Ziggy didn't see any reason to wait for her. Well, now she knows she can stride with the best of them (or run uphill with a little help).
Two, if her head was attached. . . after we (I mean Lynn) decided that we couldn't get through the loop, she walked Zigs over to the point and we followed on our trusty mounts (of course we never even got off in the first place!) and after some grass eating (by the horses) and general view appreciating (us), Lynn got back on (again). As she walked past me (of course Jupes isn't picking his head up until he has to!) I looked back and saw her helmet on the ground. "Um, Lynn. Your helmet," I said. "Oh!" she grinned, "guess I need that." Back over to the get-on rock, get down, get the helmet, and exchange the baseball cap on her head for the helmet. Then back on the get-on rock and start again. Nope. "Lynn, your cap." There it was laying just about where the helmet had been on the ground. So back over to the get-on rock to get down, get the hat, tie it on, get back on the get-on rock and start again. It's entertainment for those of us just sitting there on our horses. (: Good thing Ziggy isn't very big.
Three, as we were climbing through the deadfall up a very steep mountain, we couldn't find the trail. So Lynn says (her usual, by the way), "Stay there. I'll go check for the trail over this rise." But Buster got nervous and Shirley got nervous and so Lynn had to get off Ziggy and walk down to Buster to lead him through some downfall. Then she had to find a good get on place and get on (again). PS Jupes did fantastic; Shirley said he only looks like a city slicker!
Four! Lynn is getting-on-ist gal I know. We stopped for lunch and Shirley got off to stretch, eat, and pee. Buster has been a bit of a problem letting Shirley get on. He wants to walk away. So Lynn got on and off him two, maybe three times, to make him stand still. She said the old standby, "There's no work in riding." Well, she got a great workout in her left thigh for sure, but um, I just sat there and watched her, so--there wasn't much work involved for me. (:
Wow! That was all just Saturday. There's more to tell for Sunday. . . stay tuned.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)