Turkey Trot

Last Saturday we decided to ride even though it was the second week of hunting season. We left the dogs home with Lee and headed out. We parked and started going through our usual readiness routine: load up granola bars, water, and cameras. Put on helmets and chinks (it had rained) and spurs. It was at this juncture that I realized I was hearing something out of the ordinary. I finally listened to try to identify the sound. I stood up and saw the horses, Jupiter and Star, were staring intently toward the noise as well. I took a step backward to look down the road. The sound stopped and suddenly I was looking into 18 pairs of turkey eyes!!

The turkeys were standing in the middle of the road in a large cluster between the parking spot and the trailer house just below it (less than 20 yards away?). The sound I had been hearing was them walking up the road and talking to each other. When I moved, they realized we were there and they stopped. I got Lynn and Shirley's attention, but before Lynn could get her camera, they began to move again--this time southward across the road and into the woods right there. It was really cool.

We rode up Hennessey to the top and met not one, but two trucks road hunting. We told them a general direction we were heading (left road, up over the ridge to the pond). We just did a short loop to get the kinks out and have a little wind in our helmets.

Buying our chinks was such a good, good thing. It was nice to not be soaking wet from the thigh down. Every now and then, I would hear Lynn laugh as she got a wet branch across the face and Shirley and I told her to keep doing her job making it less wet for us. All of us had wet boots and the bottoms of our jeans were wet, but no one was cold. The top of the mountain was fogged in and it was a glorious way to begin the weekend after a long, hard week.

Kicking up some dust

It's been a good couple of weeks. School was postponed due to construction and lack of food services and I have made the best of it!! :) Although I had to work on Labor Day, I got to spend most of the weekend with Alisa and Lynn. We rode all over our new spot on Gray's Falls. There are tons of possibilities to explore over there. We rode along the fire break trail and it joined up with a trail we had already found. It is a good trail--thanks, fire crew! We'll keep it clear by riding it.

The next day, Mary Ann joined us and we went up Underwood. No bear this time, but it was a really nice morning. The company was good, the horses behaved, and the sun was shining--what's not to like?

Lynn and I went to Weaverville on Friday of this week--hoping to ride to Bear Basin. We almost turned around and came home. Lynn decided we'd look and reassess from the top of Oregon Mountain. Then our stomachs prevailed and we drove to Marino's, hoping it was open. It made our morning to find it open and serving breakfast. All the while we were looking out the window. It sure looked smoky.

We didn't take the cutoff to Hwy 3; we headed back toward home. It looked like the horses just got to go for a ride. We stopped to get some diesel and then headed toward home. As we neared the Hwy 3 junction, Lynn asked one more time, "What do you think?"

Let's do it! So we headed up the hill--both of looking at the sky and praying it would be better. We knew we could always turn around and head home. It just got clearer and clearer--bluer and bluer. We turned the corner to the parking spot and GEEZ! Horse trailers and trucks everywhere! It was the day the CCC broke camp and came home. We got to tell many of them how much we appreciate them. One of them replied that he appreciated that we were using the trails they worked on. :)

We met a nice hunter, who had three loose horses on the meadow above where we stopped. I am glad we did not go on up there--not knowing the horses were there. We had decided the plane wreckage could wait another year for us to visit. He visited with us for awhile--long enough to see Jupes decide to roll with the saddle on in the tall grass! Doggone it. He did not get to his back--I was pulling for all I was worth, trying to get him to get up. Mike, the hunter, said he was in the video, glassing us. I never did see him, but he said he saw us take our selfie and I am sure glad we didn't do anything embarrassing. :)

We were dust balls when we arrived in Weaverville for dinner. The dogs were no longer black and they were tired babies.

Bear Basin

Mules shy, too

Last weekend we rode both days again. Mary Ann and Goldie came both days. Saturday was uneventful and fun. Goldie prefers to ride in the back and having Jupiter back there made her nervous, so back to the front for us. That makes Jupiter happy and Ziggy happy because he wants to be by his girlfriend. He rolls his eyes at her, but he has gotten back to normal and letting his tongue hang and stopping to pee. If she's going be his girlfriend, then she needs to accept him the way his is!

Gary says Goldie watches for us to drive up to the trail-head and then looks for the horses when she gets home. She likes being with them. :)

Sunday started out rough with Shirley upset and yelling at us about our dogs having no manners. She left her threats dangling and unfinished, but it won't be good if one of them hurts Happy. From now on, we are to put them in the pickup or keep them in the house until Happy can get into the truck safely. It set the tone for the ride. :(

Coming up the road, right before the dumping/shooting area, Ziva was on the little hill and I called her to come with me since I was in the front of everyone. It still makes me a little nervous that she might get kicked by Goldie. Well, she is a good girl, so she bailed off the hill and came up the road to me. I heard a little commotion and then Lynn cried, "Oh my gosh! She's off!"

The mule, and thus the horses near her, all shied when Ziva jumped down on to the road. Somehow, Mary Ann went over sideways on her mule--her stirrup was left on the saddle. Maybe mules aren't as smooth when they shy--Heaven knows we've all been through some big shies. Anyway, that road is hard-packed! Mary Ann said she was sore, but she climbed right back on and away we went.

We went to the turtle pond and down and around. I have decided that bears are my best friends--there are lot of diggy holes that look like they could be ground bee nests. All around  the mountain, our trails are torn up and scratched up. We have decided that the bears are taking care of our potential bee problems. We have had a lone dive bomber pester us for long stretches, but no problems with bees in the ground. Yay! I hope the bears are enjoying them, because I am happy, happy for them. :)

Overall, it was another good ride and a new trail for Mary Ann to experience.  This weekend, Lynn got to take off Friday and head over to Quincy Thursday night. She and Alisa and Alisa's friend are out and about having a great time, making wet blankets in eastern CA. Next weekend is Labor Day and Alisa's birthday. She is coming here and we are going to explore our new Gray's Falls trails with her. I can hardly wait.

BEAR!

Sunday, Lynn and I rode alone on Underwood. First, we pulled out or kicked out star thistle. Both of us thought of the weedeater about the same time. We made a plan to go back one evening (when it's not so dang hot) and eradicate it from our parking spot. Anyway, we spent some time pulling weeds before getting the horses out.

There was a big, fresh pile of bear scat right by the trailer. It was obvious, somebody had been eating the berries right there. Luckily, we both managed to avoid stepping it while we were getting the horses ready to ride.

It was a good ride. We rode along looking for bear, but not seeing any. We actually didn't see any wild animals. Both dogs stayed pretty close and came when called--a positive. The horses behaved and there were bees flying around, but we did not see any ground nests. We trotted and had a pretty good pace most of the day. On the last leg of the trail, Lynn said she wanted a picture of the pond. It was full of cattails and whatnot. So instead of turning we rode along it toward the south side.

Right when Lynn stopped near the water's edge, I heard a deep, warning growl. It brought me up quick as Jupes was stepping through some down branches--I wasn't sure what I was hearing. Lynn said something about how unusual it was, but at the time I didn't realize it was Haley. She was far enough ahead of me that I thought it came from the thick underbrush. I just knew that it wasn't the sound of Jupiter's feet on the wood. The next time I heard it, it was a definite growl. I still didn't realize it was Haley, but I said, "I think we should get out of here." So we both turned the horses back toward the trail and rode back to the trailer without incident. We trotted and swooped around the trail--it was fun. (Alisa picture the spot where Keota always lopes so prettily.)

Walking down the dirt road back to the trailer, Lynn told me that it had been Haley growling. She said, "Haley doesn't do that." So we decided it probably had been a bear having a snooze in the brush by the pond. After brushing the boys, but they were still tied to the trailer, I started brushing Ziva, I love Underwood, but dang! the burrs are awful! I was near the trailer tire, when Ziggy whirled around, eyes and ears pointed out toward the brush to the east. Jupes followed suit. I looked at both of them--high alert. So I thought, I probably shouldn't be down near their feet brushing my dog. I called her to come over to the road and I continued to brush her. Haley was near us.

Suddenly a big bear stuck his head and shoulders out onto the road about 50 feet from us. Haley saw him instantly and took off running, with Ziva hot on her tail. I yelled, "Bear!" and starting hollering for the dogs to come back. Lynn came flying over, but the bear had already retreated back into the brush he was coming from. Both dogs stopped and looked at the spot (maybe they could still see him) and then ran back to us. Yay!!! Both horses remained on high alert, looking at the area where the bear was headed--maybe there was more than one? Yay, I got to see a bear--well, half of it, anyway--AND, most importantly, everyone was safe.

Another perfect day ahorseback!

Hobbit's Wild Ride

Wowza! It's been three weeks since we've ridden. Lynn has had lots of unfortunate and blessed events that kept her from having "wind in her helmet." But today we were ON. We rode Hennessey backwards. No not backwards on our horses, the trails, silly. First thing we noticed is that a lot of our regular trails have new down fall and many hanging branches that used to be up and out of our way. I don't how Shirley stays so clean and unscathed, but Lynn and I had branches across the face, cedar down our shirts, and Lynn's shirt got hung up on a branch and ripped two holes in it! At the regular granola stop she had to shake the tree detritus out of her helmet.

Jupiter led most of the first part of the loop and he was on high alert today. The first scary thing was my helmet got scraped by some branches and he coiled up and sprung out away from the sound. Next I scraped my boot on a tree--again, he coiled up and sprung away. Then there was a big, gray bush. I think it's been there all along, but remember, we were going the opposite direction. He whipped around and told Star, "You go first old man." He was willing to go up and sniff it once Star walked by it.

It was an overall great ride. Although Lynn said more than once, "Geez, this is Hobbit's Wild Ride!" It took me probably an hour to realize why it sounded it familiar: there's a children's book called The Wind in Willow and it has a chapter called "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride." (And there's a Disneyland ride by the same name! That's probably how crazy our ride was today.) We even had a jack rabbit! It stopped and looked at us then took off again. Thankfully, Haley did not catch it and all the dogs came running back without incident!

Looking forward to tomorrow. . .

 Ready and willing!

The end of a great ride: no bees, happy dogs, wet blankets.

Just talking (posting) to hear my head rattle

It's been a week since our fun vacation at the Guest Ranch. I am the lucky one--I don't have to work--and yet, it feels like it's been a very long time since we were in NM; even though, Lynn and Shirley keep listening for Tim to ring the chow bell! I have a list a mile long of things I want to accomplish before the craziness sets in, but sometimes I find myself spinning in circles or just sitting down to listen to the trees and toss Ziva something to catch. The latter makes me feel a little guilty, but mostly, I really like it. I think I am lazy at heart. :)

Yesterday, Lynn came and got Ziva for a haircut and kept her all day. I finished a baby afghan and went to his shower. It was the only homemade present there. Probably, I am only one who has given him anything homemade--I sent flannel receiving blankets before he was born, as well. I think I am a throwback to earlier times. (I just remembered, someone gave him a rattle they had woven from Native materials. I made one for my friend's baby eight years ago--I was so proud of it; that's way harder than knitting!)

When I picked Z up, we went out to see the horses. I think it's been almost three weeks! When I called to Jupiter, his head came right up. I told him maybe we would ride on Sunday. He looked like, "Okay, whatever. Do you have a granola bar?" :)

The weather has been pretty great--we had rain off and on all day Friday. I got lots done outside; so when it was raining at 5:30 am Saturday, I called Lynn and asked her if she just wanted to stay home and work in her yard. She worked so hard, she went to bed at 8:30. :)

Today was another cool morning. It rained overnight and was dawning pretty clear, or as Shirley said, "The event had passed." At least according to the weatherman. The horses were easy to catch and ready to have their halters on, even Star. We rode up the Hennessey and had a great time. It wasn't a long ride, but, it sure felt good to be in my own saddle and on my best boy. Lynn said she wished she could have merged Smokey's personality with Ziggy's smoothness. Shirley was just happy to be on Star.

We only rode a few hours, but it was nice. There was a cool breeze rustling the trees and the boys seemed happy to be there, too. I think they like getting off The Place--even if it is work to pack us up the hills and down. There was one horse-eating branch that almost got Star, at least according to Jupes. Star kicked a fallen branch of some length and it swung up and tangled in his tail. He did not even notice, but Jupes turned his head and stepped sideways, giving it a wide berth.

Tomorrow, Alisa is riding with her new riding partner on a trail neither of them have been on before. We are all excited for her new adventure and especially that she feels good on Keota and is off having fun again! I heard Odie got into some wire and I hope he is doing well--he's such a sweet boy.