Easy Eight

Tuesday, we met Cathy and Roany at Jelly’s Ferry. When I got to Lynn’s, she already had TC and Jupiter tied up to the trailer. Her plan was to take TC saddled already and then unsaddle him and brush him out over there. He seems to have a bit of a “cold back” and does better going saddled. Trying to brush him out would have taken too long and it wasn’t really light enough to see just how bad he really was. Lol

Jupes met me with pinned ears and a pushy attitude. I guess none of them found the breakfast hay. They were running around in circles. When they finally saw her and realized the hay was out, they settled a little. She grabbed TC and tied him up outside the gate. Jupes was HANGRY. He put himself around the side of the board by the gate and locked his legs. He was not, NOT, going. FORGET IT! Lynn got him out and he was not happy. Once it was time to put them in the trailer and he saw the hay bags, things got better. 

Once we got to Jelly’s Ferry, we all brushed out our muddy, hairy boys. I was a little worried about how Jupes was going to behave. This is one of his spots where he sometimes misbehaved.  We think it is probably the wide open spaces and he’s not used to it. Thankfully, he was great!

TC was a water warrior!! He did so well. He did jump over one little creek, but mostly he just powered through, even drinking some several times.

The trails were nice and no snakes were visible. Definitely an answer to prayers! We enjoyed a pleasant temperature and were able to wear tank tops. The grass was green and plentiful and Roany and Jupiter enjoyed snacking.  

Dusty, Kate, and Ziva had a great day. There was a lot of water to drink and some shade and easy trails. Dusty and Kate ran and ran. Ziva conserved her energy, but did really well. 

Jelly's Ferry Relive

These are the kind of days I hoped we'd have once we were both retired. It's the best! I am so glad we have Cathy and Dusty to join us. We are looking forward to riding much, much more.

It begins!

Mar 25, 2025

First ride of the year--first week day ride of Lynn's retirement! Woohoo!

We've had a great winter of rain and snow and wind. We finally got shoes and decided to venture out. We decided the ranch was probably the easiest and quickest (I had a scholarship Zoom scheduled). Right off the "git" Jupes got spooked by the big culvert pipe. It was raging full of water; but I don't think that was what did it--I think it was because it was humming. 

Anyway, we turned right off the road and wove our way down to the meadow. There we saw turkeys! Quail were flying everywhere, too. We stayed high on the west side of the meadow because it was sure to be boggy closer to the creek.

Then we went over the creek and back into the woods towards the big pond/lake. From there we went out on the east side of the creek. Jupes was jiggy from the beginning. So not comfortable. So when Lynn said, "Whaddya think? Head back?" I was ready. 

It was short, but felt good to get out.

April 4, 2025

Another weekday ride! We went up Underwood. Lynn thinks it's been since early summer maybe since we came up. We avoid this spot, as much as we like it, when the stickers come out. Well, this day we had snow!!  In the snow were turkey track (I never knew how big their feet were!), big momma bear tracks next to a yearling sized track, and maybe either coyote or fox tracks.  

TC started off spooked this ride. He kicked the mounting block, which made a hollow, deep sound he was didn't recognize. But the longer Lynn sat waiting for me to reset the block and get out from under a tree branch to get on, the more she felt his back relax. Off we went. 

What a gorgeous day. Lots of sun, green grass, and water running everywhere. TC was perfect. He didn't baulk at any water crossings or muddy fields. Because of the number of trees down and branches blocking our way, we had to get off once to navigate. He went right through the squishy mud. Once we remounted, we had to go through a bit of a grassy pond to get to the road and he did not hesitate at all. 

We spent some time up at the top where the sun shone down on us and brought on a great sense of peace. It was a wonderful day.

 

Unpublished draft from Sept 10

Just found this post in my list: it's the one that didn't save and I tried to rewrite it. I guess I gave up? Anyway here it is:

August rides come to an end.

I started writing this draft at school while students were busy and I didn't need to teach or ride herd on them. I forgot that the server at school does not like blogs. Like we are protecting students online--what a joke; they can go anywhere and do anything on their phones. So I lost the bottom half and I never came back to put in the pics, but here is a little bit anyway.

Shoes

Pablo came to trim and shoe the boys on Saturday. Of course he was an hour and a half late. AND he brought his pretty little girlfriend, so I figured it would take even longer. One of the scariest things happened while he was doing Zig's feet--Ziggy pulled back. HARD. He even went down. All the horrible things I have ever heard came screaming into my brain. Jupes was freaked as well and pulled back to get away from whatever scared Zigs and Ziggy's feet as well. It was over pretty quick. Thankfully he did not land on Pablo, who is young and quick and got out of the way. Everything was fine. No one was hurt. But Ziggy's brand new, never been worn halter was shredded from the third hole to the first. 

Lynn's Favorite Trail

We gave the boys Sunday off and rode on Labor Day itself. We rode Lynn's favorite. Unfortunately, the motorcycle riders have found it and created their own messy trail on top of ours; however, they couldn't get all the way through. We stopped at the good grass snack area where we have seen what we think is a rogue elk's markings. When we started off, it became very clear why the motorcycles turned back. More trees have come down. Lynn walked it and put limbs upright like a fence along the abyss/creek canyon so we would know to stay to the right. We made it to the road pretty easily.

Yak-kedy Yak, Sputter, Gag, Silence

The following Saturday we took off for an early ride. I was jabbering on about my trip to Oregon to take my niece to college. Gnats flew all around us. I was sputtering and spitting and Lynn was laughing. Suddenly she was gagging, too. I think we swallowed some bugs.  

Bathroom Stop

Zigs Wild Ride 

Can't remember what I was going to say! Dang it.

"I Have an Idea"

 

I have no idea where to start! We have ridden so many times since my last post. I do not know where the time has gone. Everyone is saying Lynn will have to get a job after she retires; Lynn will need to stay busy; Lynn will miss all the social interaction with customers and need a job to get her out; Lynn will . . . WELL,  I think Lynn is going to be incredibly busy and extremely happy to not have a regular job. LOL. I have not had the time to do this silly blog and I'm retired, but busy. We are going to ride (Jupiter's shoes are good until late December) and she has a list a mile long of things she wants to do. I think maybe people don't realize just how nice it is to do things on your own time schedule and not one dictated by a job.

Some rides I missed writing about that were super fun: we met Alisa and took Jupes, TC, and Zigs up to Cathy's for a weekend. We went with Karrie Ann and did some fun road riding, a little boonie bouncing, and a wide flat meadow with a bit of bog at the end. It was fun. I took Ziva this time and she got along fine with Karrie Ann's dogs on the trail (the mean one at the house scared her). It wasn't dusty and she stayed right along with us. Second day we went up by Little Grand Canyon and out and about through the woods. It was another fun day.

I don't think I wrote about Cathy coming over. We took her on our trails and on the new Ranch loop and rode around. I love it down there. 

 Our Gray's Falls ride now has a rest area. The rest of the ride is a little disheartening and frustrating, but I liked the BnBs. :)

So anyway--it's fall. The leaves are gorgeous and the air is crisp. There's more, but I have things to do and have to get out of my pjs. LOL. 

Cathy and Roany come to play

Cathy made her first haul to Lynn's place. Roany stayed in the corral and got hay and special treatment as the guest. Jupiter and TC looked at his set up and wanted to know what he got that they didn't. Roany was treated to some oats when they got theirs, too. He likes staying at Lynn's, but it's a little lonesome being all alone, so he kept eye on Cathy through the windows.

Saturday, we took her up Hennessey. Of course it is bow season and there were guys in camo hanging out on top and guys shooting guns getting ready for regular season down on the meadow. It wasn't a simple ride, but everybody handled it. Lynn made sure the shooters, who also had motorcycles (and may have camped down there?) where we would be going and they were nice. We made them nervous when we told them about the big, rogue bull off to the south of their camp.

Friday we got over two inches of rain in some places! So it was a little slick in places and the horses skidded down the trails. We went down Hoop-de-doo west and down the deep water creek area and then up through cobweb alley. We didn't go far and did a lot of stopping and hanging out to visit at the some of the regular granola bar stops. However, they shooters started to really go for it about when we came up on the road below where they were. Everyone got a little high headed, so we didn't stop at the snack bar flat, instead trotting up the hill to the main road. Roany did really good and likes to lunge up hills. TC went through the mud like a champ. It was a good day.

Sunday we headed out to the ranch. Again we started backwards (I really like coming into the ranch that way). We showed Cathy how the bulls knock over trees making their dirt beds. Lynn got glimpses of our bear running through the trees toward the creek that borders the south end of the meadow. The boys kept an eye on the berry brush, but we didn't see him again. 

We rode backwards (north) through the forest toward the berry patch and around and back to the meadow. We made our way back to the road from there. No cow/bulls to be seen and no bears were heard. It was uneventful, but fun. 

We are so glad Cathy and Roany came to play. Another great weekend in the books (and on the blog). 

 

Backwards

We had a great weekend of riding--again! Saturday we went up Hennessey and rode Cobweb Alley to the lower, Deep Creek trail from the south end and went west to east and up the trail instead of down. It was the opposite of our usual way and although I worried that the branches would all be sticking into us instead of flowing with us (the way we cut them!), it was a piece of cake. 

Saturday it was forecasted to rain and thunder and lightning and the sky was getting darker and darker, so we headed out. There were a few tiny sprinkles on us at the granola bar spot, (I know, which one?!!) but not enough to get wet. I think the horses heard it coming on the leaves as they were really staring off into the brush. By the time we got down to the pickup, there were drops and when we pulled into The Place, it was raining. Lee said it had really poured a little bit earlier.

Unfortunately, we have bees on two different legs of our trails. Ziva got stung and had three bees burrowing into her hair. I got them out without them reaching her skin, so she was trembly, but fine. Jupes crow hopped and let me know they were getting him, but I don't think he got stung. I didn't either. We bypassed where the paper nest is on the upper trail and on the way back, we bypassed the ones we encountered in the morning. We are hoping the rain ruined the paper nest and drowned the ground nest. Dang things.

So while the dogs got baths and the burrs pulled out, then their hair groomed (thank you Lynn!), and they turned back into the beauties we know and love, it rained outside. Yay. I had a little thunder at my house later that evening, but we were spared from fires.

On our way to ride Sunday, we saw a big bear on the side of 299, waiting to cross and go up into the blackberries on the ranch. We also saw turkeys and their young both on the Hennessey road and later when we were riding. 

We have been trying different trails to go in and out of the ranch; today we went another new way and headed down through the cow trails above the westside meadow and toward the mud and creek area that TC despises. We saw tons of bear scat and runny cow poop (too many green apples?). Jupiter's head was on a swivel watching for cows and listening for other horse eating boogeymen.

TC did great going through the boggy mud that was once more of a creek. He did jump, but he didn't balk. We went along backwards toward the hill and headed out more on the western side making our way up to our trail. The whole way we watched for the bear. We headed down through the blackberries and the whole way I was thinking, "I just want a little notice if we see the bear. I really don't want him to just pop up in the middle of berry patch." As we headed down the road, back toward the meadow, Lynn said, "If he pops up suddenly, I'm sorry, but we will probably run right over top of you." I laughed and said, "You'll have to catch us first!" lol

We stopped to look in the trees as we were leaving the upper meadow. Suddenly, both Jupes and I heard some brush crackling. I saw what looked like the outline of good sized black bear move in the trees in front of us. We all kept watching and listening, but he disappeared. I do not think it was a black cow, but we did come upon about six brown ones running across the top meadow when we neared the road. 

It was a short ride, but so enjoyable. The air was fresh and clean from yesterday's rain. Going backwards always makes everything look new. Being on the lookout more than usual for a bear (or bears) made it exciting as well. The dogs got to run without tape and they were happy, too. 

As I was riding out, I just kept thinking about how blessed I am. I am so happy to live here and be surrounded by beauty and have the companionship of friends and animals.

Jupes was sort of afraid of the little humans jumping on the trampoline down the road. lol

A Golden Day

Saturday we loaded up and went to Little Happy Camp. It was a smoky morning to our north and east, making the sun glow orange. Everything it touched turned gold. It was pretty. 

But the day was golden in many more ways: First of all, we started with high heads. Both Jupes and TC were very interested in the brush. We could not see anything or hear anything, but they could. We got saddled and headed up the hill without incident. It has really grown over. 

Gold grass!

Lynn saw three deer, but I was too far behind or too busy looking elsewhere and missed them. We checked out the big pond, which made TC nervous--all that water and he's never sure if Lynn is going to make him get in it! We turned up the road that we used to be able to loop around to the campground. It is still too brushy to get through. 

Lol. Ya think? Love this sign.

We tried to go cross country to bypass the road. I had a bit of a ride when Jupes started crow hopping sideways. I thought bees, but Lynn said it was probably that he kicked up some Chinkapin balls and the thorns got him. Yikes! She told the story of how Cathy's dad hated these trees. We thought of all kinds of things he might have had issue with. She laughed over the good memory. She also said they are good eating. She opened one up, but it wasn't ready; the nut inside was still a green unformed, sticky mess. 

Chinkapin tree

We couldn't get through, so we went as far as we could and doubled back. But the best was yet to come!

We saw two Tiger Lilies still blooming and three Dogwoods that still have blooms on them. We stopped for Lynn to take pictures and a Digger Squirrel started teasing KD. She was off! She must have seen it run from the trees to a pile of brush and she was on it. Ziva realized what she was hearing and went to help

KD. Talk about happy dogs. They had a blast trying to flush it out as it keep up its chatter. When Z came back, her entire head was wet. I guess it was marshy over there, but she was smiling big.

We did the long uphill pull back toward the truck and although both horses thought it was time to stop and get off, we convinced them to pass the trailer and go down the road to the campground. Well at least part of the way. We stopped and stood listening. There was definitely something in the brush ahead of us and they knew it. Thankfully Lynn already had her camera out! It was a bear! 

She came out on the road ahead of us and looked at us. She took a few steps toward us and then turned back into the brush. She came back out and stood looking at us. Both horses were high headed and coiled to spring. Lynn said she could feel TC's heart pounding and then nothing--like he was holding his breath. 

The bear stepped out a little further and called quietly. It was a baby! The two of them ran down the road to the campground. We let them go. KD thought it was a new friend, but when we took off at a good clip and were yelling for her, she came on a dead run to catch us. We don't need to mess with a young mama. 

It was awesome.

See the baby in the left corner?

Best day so far!

Woohoo LCH (Relive video)