Summer to Fall in a matter of hours

Although as I drive between my house and Lynn's, or my house and school, or geez--my house and anywhere, I compose blog posts in my head about our rides. Unfortunately, I don't seem to sit here and actually write them down!! I am not sure why I don't seem to have any time--I don't know what I am doing with my time--but I haven't used it to write.

For the second year in a row, we went to Quincy over Labor Day weekend. This year we had great rides along Buck's Lake with Alisa, Suzy, and all our dogs. It was a beautiful day and other than "adding a mare to the mix," the ride was uneventful and even the bees didn't interfere with our overall happiness at being ahorseback. :)

The second day we rode into Meadow Valley (is that the right name?), a relatively flat, open forest area. It was really pretty and allowed us to create our own trails. Being away from home felt like a mini vacation and no vacation is better than being with friends, the horses, and our Poodles!

Lynn and I had a weekend of Plan A, Plan B, and then Plan C. It worked out, but it was a bit of a mess. We just had to laugh. Plan A was starting out for the High Road. It was our BIG plan. We were going to make a loop and had all our tools with us. We left the dogs behind because Haley had a pulled muscle and we were going to be out there for awhile. Well, as we were pulling out of the driveway, a car pulled up to us and said there was a fire. I had seen the same smoke and Lynn and I had talked about it, but we didn't really take it into consideration. So based on the info from tourists, Lynn called it in. Then she said she wanted to see it; so we drove toward Salyer. Yep. There was the smoke, just like it was reported, BUT Lynn realized it was near Ziegler Point which is right where we were headed. So we reluctantly scratched Plan A.

Plan B: we headed to Hennessey to ride up and around Gray's Falls, down to the rolling hills above Heidi's, and up Lynn;s favorite trail. We know how to make lemonade from lemons! We had a new fun plan. That is until we were on the trail. Jupes didn't feel right to me. So before we had gone very far, I said I need to check his feet for rocks. I picked up one hoof, no rock. I picked up two more, no rocks. I picked up the last one and I'm rubbing his foot thinking, "Sheesh. I need a hoof pick to even see if there's a rock." Then I realized I was rubbing his foot and there was something missing--a shoe! Dang it. I walked him back--no boots in the trailer. So scratch Plan B.

Plan C: Cowgirl chores--not as fun as riding, but still fun!

So. . . hay is in and covered; fences walked and horses moved to the hill; dogs shaved up and beautiful (as usual); and we loaded one trailer full of wood and have one left to do (for my woodstove). I have yet to come up to feed at night, as somehow, I have less time in the day than I used to! Weird, but I think my daylight hours shrunk!

Every day is a good day when you are with your beloved friends--two-legged and four-legged. I am blessed to have both!

Split Rock revisited

** I logged on to do a quick update on our adventures and found that this had not been published, so here it is--long after the actual day of riding.

After a couple, "Is that the trail?" and peering down the mountain, we found the trail to Split Rock. We had no problem--it was clear sailing. We tied up the horses and lay on our bellies and looked at the bottom. :) It is truly something. Climbers had attached hooks in the rock for rappelling, but someone else sawed them off (hope they weren't on the other end at the time!!). Guess they didn't want the natural beauty marred by climbers' equipment. There is still a couple over the side of the rock with carabiners in place, but they would be pretty tough to get to.

After we headed back to the grassy spot and back down our regular trail, we decided to do more bushwacking and looked for another way down off the mountain. Found it! It cut some of the road riding off. More fun.

We did not see any bears, but Jupes was so certain something was out there, he took a detour (I thought he had to pee, but no) and cut off Ziggy so he would be in front and would not be in the back and get eaten first. :) Too funny. He was pretty jumpy and shied at one of the dogs again.

It was another fun day of exploring and adventure and wet blankets.

The high road

Yahoo! What a day! Today Lynn and I headed toward Groves Prairie. We came to the fork in the road and there was a sign, but it was broken off. The bottom road looked less traveled and the entrance was kind of overgrown, so we stayed on the high road. After a few miles, we passed a left turn and by then both of us were pretty sure we were on the wrong road. We went a little farther and we crested the top of the mountain and could see the road was headed down the other side. We were pretty sure it would turn into the road where we shot our guns and would then eventually become the Denny road. Wrong road. Lynn successfully backed us probably half a mile to a spot where she could turn around. !! She's awesome.

We found a  wide spot and parked. Got the boys out and tacked up and rode to 6N24. Lo and behold--a campground with a bathroom. We rode through it and up a skid road and around two loops. It wasn't brushy a bit and the horses did great going over downed logs and water bars. The trails left by logs weren't too steep and everything connect back to each other. It was glorious. We had a great time. Talk about beautiful flowers everywhere and relatively easy climbs in elevation. It was super fun.

 We didn't see any wildlife (well, I take that back--Lynn saw a covey of grouse that I heard, but didn't see). However, she did spot a mountain lion track that seemed really fresh--like it was in front of us. Yikes. It all looked like prime bear country: lots of berries, water, and cool grass to lay in.

Jupes did one of his hardest spooks ever; Haley was coming up from getting a drink in the ditch. Scared him. Sheesh. We had a great laugh. I found a bell at the campground that I kept. And we trimmed brush all the way home so it would be a better passage next time.

According to my watch we rode six miles in almost three hours. There was much more exploring possibilities as well. It was a great day of riding and we were home by lunch. Sometimes a "mistake" turns out to be a fortuitous adventure! I am looking forward to doing it again.

Noses and Bottoms

June has a been a great month of riding, but today was one to put in the books! I finally got to see the bear we have been sure was out in the woods just off our trail. Yep, he's pretty big. All I saw was the bottom end, but it was pretty round and healthy looking. He (or she) is brown with reddish tints in the sun. Yay. I was excited to see him.

Lynn had a crazy moment herself--she was peeing, so picture her in a crouch (you don't have to picture anything else), and a fawn--smaller than Haley--bounced up to her and looked her over. He (or she!) was very interested in Lynn and got within 18 inches of touching noses. Then it kind of smiled at her and bounced away. Wow. Pretty cool. Lynn was afraid to say anything because she didn't want Haley to come to her and want to chase it.

Shirley called after we got back and said there were twin fawns born on the hill this morning as well. No more walks on the hill with Haley for a bit.

We also saw some beautiful lilies that had opened up since last weekend; they ranged from white to light lavender to a delicate purple. The Mock Orange bushes were in full, over-the-top, bloom as well! Talk about smelling good and looking pretty. There are still lots of wild flowers and water. Let's hope it stays nice like this.

Closing out Spring

It's the last weekend of May and we have not ridden much at all. It's kind of been a-wake up-and- look- to see if it's raining kind of spring. The most positive part is that Shirley has gone with us all but two of the times we have gotten out. We go pretty slow, but it's steady riding. Lynn has a breast collar on Buster now and it has made a huge difference in keeping Shirley's saddle where it's supposed to be.

As of today, we have ridden all our trails. We have to pick and choose according to whether it has rained recently, but we've been all on of them. Surprisingly, some of the dead trees are still standing and then some came down that we didn't expect. We have done some trimming, but mostly, we have made trails around stuff and are still dipping and diving around the branches and bushes. There are a few that we need to work on. . .

Today we rode our Grey's Falls trail. The motorcycle guys have been out there and they have made some new ones for us to check out once they dry out a little. There is the possibility of an old skid road that looks like it has potential, too. It was a really fun ride and the longest one we've been on all spring.

Underwood also looks good. Lynn and I did that one by ourselves one Sunday. I sure like to ride over there. We tried to find a way around riding the road, but as Jupiter said, "Why are we doing this? You know she's just going to get us in a spot and then turn us back around!" :) It has potential, but got kind of steep and bushy.

Today was the first day the girls had to wear their tape bonnets. Bright pink!

TICKS have been the worst ever. I have had two in one week actually digging in and biting me. Talk about hurt. I have picked off many, many walking on me, Ziva, and Jupiter. GROSS. I hate them.

Memorial Day weekend just crept up and surprised us. Next weekend is the beginning of June! I am looking forward to riding in jeans and shirt sleeves. I think I only went one weekend without my chinks (maybe one day) and I've had a jacket on every time. Even then, I have had cold toes and worn my gloves every day. Yesterday, I was wishing for another layer. Today, I tied on an extra vest, but didn't need it after all. Of course, it's always entertaining to watch Lynn: jacket on with vest, just the jacket, just the vest, just a shirt, then repeat in reverse order. :)  Shirley simply wears all those layers with her helmet insulator and gloves. Today, she took off a layer and her helmet insulator. ! We are usually prepared for whatever weather is thrown at us. It gets cold on that back side! The fog bank was especially neat today.

Both our boys are now 14--Zigs just had his birthday on Friday. Jupes has worked out his beginning of the year quirkiness, firecracker attitude. Lynn is talking about buying Star some old man vitamins so his hair will grow back in and be ready for the saddle; Buster is happy to go. He's a slow walker, but he gets it done! They aren't in great shape, but we're working on it. (Jupes is a chub and breathes hard after climbing.)

We are looking forward to our friends joining us. I was thinking about the PCT today. We should ride it before it gets so dusty. I am always reading the Shasta Ranch posts--I think we need to join them. Although I am certainly happy to ride here at home, we need to start making riding plans for this summer or before we know it, it will be Labor Day.

Anyway, enough rambling.

A Weekend for Shirley

Saturday was Shirley's first ride in almost 17 months. She rode Buster, who hasn't been ridden in a year. They did great! She looked at ease the whole time, in fact, she really wanted to ride longer, but had made the mistake of bringing Happy, who couldn't go any further. When we got home, she said, "We're riding tomorrow, right?"

Sunday, was less successful for her, but was very much like what it was before her heart attack; we rode up the deadwood ridge and down to the turtle pond again. Buster was a little more antsy and threw his head all day (which is how it always was!). Ziggy, used to a couple of places where we would zoom into a canter, did it at the end of the ride and caused Shirley to get a couple blood blister/bruises on her wrist fighting Buster. She said the reins were wrapped around her there.

She told me, "When you get older, your skin gets thin." She said people will say about her, "Well, she would've been okay, but her skin got too thin and wouldn't hold her together anymore." Cracked me up.

Sunday was also a digfest for a couple digging dogs! "Hard to 'leave no trace,'" Lynn said, "when you got a couple digging dogs!"  Do holes count?

We had two beautiful days of sun and butts in the saddle. Life is getting back to normal.

A trip to Deadwood Ridge

Sunday started out with a bright, bright moon shining in the window! That means no rain! So off we went to break in those new shoes. We rode up to the top and took a left--both of us were thinking the same thing! We wanted to see what trees fell down. Well, quite a few did, but not the ones we thought should.



We rode to the turtle pond and our get on rock was almost completely submerged and there was still a big patch of snow. It was cold and the wind was chilly.

Lynn convinced Lee to help clean up one spot of our trail so Shirley won't have to go off the bank to go around it.

Jupiter was full of himself or hungry or something; anyway he was a pill. Ziggy almost threw his head going down a hill, but didn't seem to slide down any.

It was another good day.

I missed church this morning, but somehow, I think it's okay.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

On Saturday, Lynn and I did some toe trimming. Wait until Adam sees the raggedy job we did! :) But we got Jupiter and Ziggy into some boots and away we went. In addition to just getting to ride, both of us have been wanting to see our trails. Yep, sure enough we have some trees down across the way and we had to jimmy-jack ourselves around them and we didn't even go all the way to the top! The boys were puffing a little, Zigs doesn't like wearing boots, and both of them were not happy about walking across rocks, so we did a short ride.

But it was glorious. There was water running everywhere and the evidence of where water had run earlier was crazy. Everything was bright green and the beginnings of flowers are starting to come out. There was even some snow still tucked into shadows.

Ziggy is so silly--he loves to slide down hills. He just plants his front feet and whoosh. Lynn even squealed once because it was a fast, out-of-control slip. I think I could see Ziggy grinning. If he has to wear those boots, he's going to make it fun. If not for her, at least for him. :)

The girls were happy and running, too. The water was cold, I'm sure, but that didn't keep them from running through it. As I am writing this, Ziva stood up and vomited up a horse hoof--good grief, from Saturday! It wasn't even chewed, she must have swallowed it whole. Poor thing.

Shoes on Tuesday; the boys will be happy and we can start the season of riding. I think all of us: horses, dogs, people--all of us are excited and happy to get out and be on our mountain!

Trail Trials

Wahoo! We finally got to ride our horses on Saturday. It is unbelievable to me that we have not ridden since November--that is the longest we have ever gone without riding. Last year we rode in February's snow and in March we rode just about every weekend (at least that's what I think I remember!).

Anyway, we went to the BCHA's Trail Trials in Ferndale. Last year we worked. This year, we had it scoped out, so we near some of the outbuildings near a patch of lawn. The boys got to eat out of their hay bags and stand on grass, rather than the blacktop. Both of them are shoeless and tenderfoots.

After we brushed, and brushed, and brushed, and then cleaned the dirt and hair off OUR faces (the wind was blowing), we saddled them and rode around a circle drive. Boy, it felt good to be in the saddle. Then we headed over to the arena. We had the option of walking them through the obstacles first, but we elected to just do them.

We started with a gate. But it didn't seem like it worked right. So I just walked him through it and then over the to the mounting block. I got on and went around the gate to the next obstacle. Lynn did the same thing. I didn't really see her again for a bit, because of course, Zigs just went through everything and Jupes is the shy guy.

Next were the turkeys and a 30 inch step over log. Jupes sniffed the turkeys, sniffed the log, backed up and went over. The second time we did it, he would not go over it. We went around the edge and he sniffed all those turkeys and went back over the log from that side, but still would not over it from the right side. ?? It must have smelled funny on that side or something. We walked through the brush and logs--no big deal.

Next was pulling a LOG--way bigger and heavier than it should have been. Jupes was like, "What are you doing? What is behind me? Oh no, you are not making me pull that horse-eating, loud thing back over there!" So we drug it and then I dropped the rope.

The tent, dog, little girl inside the tent, and two women standing there gave Jupes pause. He looked at the fake deer and said, "I'll stay here. Can I come in the tent? Do you have granola bars in there?" Finally we got past them and turn into the "forest" with the bear skin, wild cat skins, sheep skins, and he relaxed. Later, both of us were in there waiting our turn and they just stood there; it was no big deal.

Then came the silver pond. No way, Jupes said! I don't like it. We never went through it; he wouldn't even get close enough to smell it. He wouldn't follow Zigs. Nope. Not going.

We went by the backpacker--no big deal, didn't even look at her. We went over the tippy bridge several times. No big deal. We kind of back down the trail by the chicken. I need to work on backing--he'll do it, but really only interested in it when he sees the purpose. :) We went over the logs and turned the way we were supposed to turn. Then came the llama. He touched noses with it. The next time, the llama was peeing, so Jupes was like, "Give him some privacy! Plus he's stinky." Then he asked the guy for a treat.

The trash was kind of a big deal. He didn't want to go through the pit with the trash. Go figure. He's not used to seeing litter? We finally did. We attempted to side step down some PVC. He would have if he could have figured out what I was asking him to do--it was my fault and I was trying not to be in the way. He was so good.

It was fun and I'm glad we went. I am super proud of how well both of them did. They're turning 14 and it shows.