August Angst

 

Lightning like I have never witnessed in the 53 years I have lived in Willow Creek passed over us in late July. It lasted over two hours and although one person reported four inches of rain at her house, most of the area received none. I could hear it in the trees, but most of it evaporated before hitting the ground. Needless to say, we had fires started in our mountains. 

The threat across the river and the heavy smoke prompted Lynn to move our boys to their coastal spa. When she dropped off the first group, they trotted off and never looked back. We took turns driving over to feed them and check on them every day. They are fatter now than they were when they arrived. 

Saturday, Lynn brought Star, Zigs, and Buster home. There was lots of whinnying and running and bucking of Jupes and T/C afterward according to Randy. On Sunday, I went with Lynn to clean out the little barn and pick up our boys. Lynn had asked if I wanted to ride on the beach afterward; well, that would be a "No, not really," but you know me--if Lynn says let's do it, I'm right there. 

Well, I am so glad we did. It was so good to be in the saddle. Jupes could not have been more perfect. He did not feel nervous and I worked hard to be relaxed, too. It was not too windy and after Cobie's first look at all that water (!!), he seemed okay, too. Lynn did not make him go to close to it and he was fine. He was more worried about the big marshmallows in the field next to the beach. 

We spent more time wandering around the dunes than on the actual beach and it was kind of fun. (My pickleball partner told me that when he did beach riding, he liked riding on Samoa in the pine trees--something to look at trying, but I would like to drive over and find the area first. He said there are tons of trails--maybe what you had heard about, too, Lynn?) 

Just to backtrack a little, we did get to ride with Alisa before the fires hit. It was nice to hang out and ride with her. We are hoping Keota heals up and we can go over for her birthday weekend and ride with her in Quincy.