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Skagit River |
It was one of those stellar days - a day that if you could have a wish for a perfect day - this day would have fit that description. I met Lynn & Jack at the
Northern State Recreation Area parking area late morning. Our plan was to again ride the
Cascade Valley Trail from there - just outside of Sedro Woolley, to Concrete.
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Typical Bridge on this trail~ |
The black lama that has been the bane of this trail in rumor & fact for years now - was at his post. Lynn warned me that we were coming up on his pasture, but this day - the fence wasn't hot - so the lama charged the fence, hissing & unnerved Farah enough that she 180'ed. Lynn had her hands full with Sophie too. I got Farah going forward - then the lama charged again & we whirled again. This time I Really got a hold on her & we went forward. Next thing & heard Lynn yell & turned to see her on foot & Sophie taking off down the trail at a good trot! (We were only just over 2-miles from the highway.) I turned Farah & started in pursuit - knowing that it's a tricky business to catch a run-a-way without pushing them faster & farther. Seeing a man on foot up ahead of Sophie - I yelled at him asking if he would try to grab her. He made a vain attempt - but she took off around him. By now the distance to the highway was shortened... I picked up the pace - figuring that if all else failed I'd come up on her in a rush & try to cut her off. One more jogger was in her path & this man who was tall & fit - managed to grab her up! Sweet relief & our adrenalin rush for the day!
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Beautiful in the Spring too! |
We walked the horses past the lama with a nice lady who was walking her dog in front of us. Both mares thinking - I'm sure - that the lama would eat her first :-)
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Beefalo Herd |
Next up the trail was the nice herd of Buffalo/Bison & part-breds. Such majestic beasts! A really cute calf in the middle & nice big bull. This was a more "normal" looking animal to our mares - no spooking here :-)
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Herd of mules & horses |
Finally - we came to the very large pasture full of mules & horses - some really nice looking stock! They too thought of us as their excitement for the day - so all raced the fence to check us out :-)
Fun to see them & watch them gallop across that large field of green.
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Beautiful trail coming up on Concrete |
One of the prettiest sections of the trail is close to Concrete - we enjoyed it so much & I was surprised to find a beautiful patch of
Vanilla Leaf.
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Vanilla Leaf |
I've tried to get this started in our woods without luck - they are really a "niche" native. Next is the Winery, with the grapes just leafing out~
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Cascade Valley Winery |
Again - one of these days Butch & I will have to stop to check out the wines here! As the photos show, the day was just so spectacular, with the white capped mountain peaks all around - that it would have been
easy to just keep riding... But...
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Concrete |
Jack was waiting with the horse trailer for us in town & we were getting hungry! We'd made it to the end of the trail!
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A "mare" moment :-) |
Even after over twenty-miles of trail - our two mares are pushing each others buttons :-) After a short break at the park, we drove over to the local burger joint for a quick meal before the drive back to pick-up my trailer.
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Ms. Farah |
Farah was really great today - Butch had removed the old rawhide nose-band from her bit & replaced it with the flat piece. She really seemed to like it better. She's feeling good, going good & Linda's saddle is working really well for us!
Update; My tree was supposed to be in a box ready to ship to Mr. Olson the end of last week. If it arrives in Ellensburg soon - we hope to have it boxed with the rest of the saddle & on it's way to Mike in ID by weeks end. I'm not holding out any hope that Mike can get it done & shipped back in time for our ride, so at this point - will probably be riding in this one & won't complain - just thankful to have it to use!
Must have been the weekend of horse-eating livestock. The mare I rode this weekend thought the frisky cows would get us for sure.
ReplyDeleteThat crazy Llama! He has such a blast scaring all the horses that spook by! Does the trail end at Concrete?
ReplyDeleteLaura - yes it does~
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