Our Finish~ On a High Note!

1,625 feet up Mt.Washington

I was so hopeful of another ride before year end.  I wanted a little cushion between me & the fifth place rider in the Derby.  It was dark & raining when I left home yesterday morning.  Joyce had wanted to do this ride again this year & as long as it didn't start pouring - she decided this would be the Day!  The rain had stopped & the temperature was maybe 40 when we started out.

At the edge of the woods~  We climbed to 1,700 ft. in 4-mi.

It didn't take Farah long to realize where we were going!  Our last time up here was on June 22nd - it was a Totally different kind of day!   Both horses had to dig in & did some grunting as they pushed up the tiny, twisty, steep trail.  I always want to stop for photos the minute the views open up.

Mt. Pilchuck to the south - high point 2,200 ft.

By the time we'd climbed up to the road, we'd gone five-miles & climbed to 1,700 ft.  With the heavily overcast skies - it was great to have such clear air beneath the cloud cover & I was very happy to have the views!

Almost 1 p.m. & a low layer of clouds moves in~

We decided to see just how far we could go, Joyce wanted to at least get a feel for that section to see if there might be anyway to loop around.  We decided to go out another five-miles, then - if we couldn't orientate ourselves - head back.

Joyce & Target

We climbed to Barbara's Bench, then kept going.  There was up, more up & yet more!  We saw fresh logging, which explained the heavy use of the road.  Again we went around the little valley & over to the Stimson Hill side.  We took the lower fork of two roads - where it ended -  we could look down at the Stillaquamish & 530 heading to Darrington!

The Stillaquamish River & 530 to Darrington

The Google Earth image below, is as close as I could come to reproducing the above photo.

Looking East toward Darrington~

 The day would have been oppressive, dark, brooding, quiet - but we both think that we were about drowning in the negative ions!  At ten-miles & by after 2p.m. we knew we'd have to turn back or run out of daylight.  We didn't want to be out on Grandview after dark!

Whitehorse Peak

I had to zoom in & get this last image of Whitehorse Mountain.  On the way back, there's of course...  Lots of down!  Lots!  We got off & did some jogging along side our long suffering mounts!  :-)  Both found growing fresh grass & plenty of water so were doing just fine!

Clouds moving by below us~

It started cooling off a little, we were doing a good trot - when around a corner came two ATV's going like Bats from Hell!  It seemed forever before they looked up enough to actually SEE us!  Joyce had jumped off Target, Farah was holding her own - when they slowed down & the noise level dropped.  Good adrenaline rush for us!  Otherwise - we hadn't seen a soul.

Our fearless Leader!  We'll go That Way!  :-)

It's always so hard to head back from up there - feeling like we've miles to go & wanting to ride them!  By the time we'd climbed back to Barbara's Bench, the sun was starting to set!  Joyce had a dinner to attend & time was running out fast!

View from Barbara's Bench 2015 ft.

We kept moving right along, knowing that we were racing daylight.

Almost 3:30 p.m. - Stunning Sunset over the Olympics

All too soon, we were back onto the lower trails.  I say lower - but we were still just over 1,000 ft.  We dropped below the cloud layer & again saw the sun as it came through the clear-cuts, turning the air & all it touched golden.

After 4 p.m. My golden girl~

We set a speedy trot down Grandview heading for Joyce's!  We beat dusk by a few seconds at least!  :-)  I think Joe was ready to get in his Sheriff's car & come looking for us!  So glad he didn't have to!

Our Route

Our year-end Derby miles total;  1,423.  (Not including 44 miles I rode in January - I signed up too late for those to count.)  Then, only one ride I forgot to log :-)  Garmin Connect recorded;  1,478 - 360+ hours & 120 rides.

 As my last ride of the year - it's time to thank my good mare - for taking me along for all those miles!  I believe that she's the highest mileage horse in this years Derby.  Riders finishing ahead of me were riding multiple horses.  Farah never took a lame step, never quit,  gave more when I asked her & has gained so much both physically & mentally!  Now - I'm dealing with an over abundance of self-confidence.  We tried a lot of new things & ended up coming back to the place we both enjoy most - trail...

Heartfelt thanks to the friends who helped me with my goals;  Joyce, Linnea & Linda - for the miles they shared with me!  A special Thank You - to Justin Foss for keeping the shoes on the mare that carried us 100% sound over all those miles!  To Dean Essex, DVM, James Bryant DVM & Brandi Holohan, DVM - all of whom contributed to our cause!  Finally - & yet again to - my husband, who supports every mile, while keeping the Bronco & trailer smoothing running along - for the many, many miles we spend on the road to get to the trails~

Lookin' Like Summertime!

Stillaquamish from the Whitehorse Trail

What an incredible seasonal gift of a day!  Almost 50 degrees in December?  The day after Christmas?  Joyce & I had planned to get in a ride after the holiday - as we usually try to do - but what a pleasure to enjoy yet another sunshine day in the Winter!  We parked at the Bracken gate & by our noon meet-up time the lot was full, with trailers still coming & going.  All those riders & we only saw two sets of two on the trails.  We decided to head down to the Whitehorse & walk along the river - such a perfect day to enjoy it.  The heavy footing soon did it's job & both horses settled in for the walk out to the Centennial Trail Arch.

Target & Joyce

The one place on the trail where there's a high bank - a nice sized boulder had broken lose & rolled down the hill to land on the trail.  The large hemlock that's been perched on the very edge is leaning back - soon to break free & slide root ball first down the bank & maybe across the trail.  If it does - it will have to be cut out.  It's a Big one!    You can see the base of it's truck in the upper left corner of the photo below.

Sliding bank~

Once we were out to the arch - we found the Centennial Trail to be a busy place!  Families walking along enjoying the sunshine & warm temperatures.  We turned north & planned to go all the way back to Grandview - it was Targets first time out on a public multi-use trail.  He did amazingly well over the bridge & past bikes, walkers, joggers etc.   The grass on the horse path was still slippery & Farah almost went down - too intent on being ornery rather than paying attention to her feet!  :-)  We turned in on Lake Armstrong road & went back into the tree farm from there.

Creek on the tree farm~

  The footing was really good for so late in the year, not much mud at all & the area's been getting a lot of use!   Today, we reached my mileage goal for the year of 1,400 miles!  Yippee!    As I told Joyce, all those miles & my gold girl still has me riding every stride!  It's a constant give & take with her, I give - she takes!  :-)

Our Ride~

 On our way back though - Farah was dialed back as we headed to the trailers.  At a nice steady trot - Joyce said;  "Nice pace."  I looked & we were doing 8.6 +/-.  With only a few days of this years Derby to go - we're still in fourth place by a few miles!   My Garmin Stats tell me that it's taken 121 rides for us to hit this milestone!   We're hoping for at least one more before year end! 

COLD!

Farah

It's not often in this state that we get freezing temperatures for long stretches.  This December is the exception.  The temperatures started dropping over last weekend - by Monday our high was only the mid-30's.  Today, we woke to 18 degrees & more of the blazing sunshine that has accompanied the cold, along with a breeze that seems to be coming from the north.  That breeze creates a good wind-chill & I don't want to know what that might be!

Santa looks festive on the Barn~

I did put our Santa flag up on the barn - when I went up to do chores this afternoon.  Farah was Very Full of herself & used watching me walk/crunch down from the woods, as an excuse to do some running & bucking & even flagged her tail!  (Something my 1/4 Arab doesn't do often!  :-) 

Coming my way!

Fun to watch - but not when the ground is so hard, frozen & slippery.

Half-way through her seventh year~

Luckily - it didn't last long & she was smart enough to keep it under some control.   Once that was out of her system, she snorted, blew - then walked up for attention :-)  I'm really starting to see maturity in her face this winter.  Now...  if it would ever warm back up a little - we could get out on the trails again.  Instead - I'm relegated to house work, more decorating & baking! 

The Sun!

Linda & Count

Linda & I had a ride planned.  When I woke to the fog - I almost wanted to cancel, but within a 30-min. period, the sun started breaking through for the first time in four days!  That gave me all the motivation I needed, so headed north!

"Lake" of fog below us~

I drove through fog, clearing fog, & arrived at Linda's to sunshine!  We couldn't get out on the trails fast enough :-)  The plan ended up being to try to retrace my ride with Sandy - when I got so turned around.   It worked & I finally figured out where I went wrong - as you can see from the photo above - with Linda's guidance we found the clear-cut & even the trail that I thought should be there!  It was, but is pretty overgrown & hard to pick out.  It needs more riding to re-establish.

"Fog Lake" below the Monument too~

By the time we reached the monument, it was actually Warm!  We'd stripped layers & the sunshine felt so darn good!  It was very humid though & I'd worn warm pants.  By mid-afternoon & wasn't feeling too good.  Tried a peanut butter & jelly at lunch - just a small one, that probably contributed to my crash.  Linda was worried whether I'd make the last few miles back.  After laying flat on the ground at the parking area, then eating a cheese stick - I decided to walk a ways, which seemed to get the blood flowing & revive me.

Views clear & crisp~

It was just a stellar afternoon, overdue & deserved.  We only ran into two other riders & one guy on his bike.  The mushrooms were so abundant - we saw so many species, many that I'd never seen before.

One of the prettiest ever!

I need to find out what this one is, but they were growing in several places & looked as though they were trimmed with lace.  It was after 5 p.m. by the time we were back at Linda's.  I ate a yogurt before making the drive home.  It was getting cold by the time we got back, Farah got brushed & blanketed, I made a big mug of hot tea!

Riding & Shoeing!

View to the West

Finally, I plan a ride today with Linda!  Life has gotten in the way of all the usual riding she does - so I was determined to get her back in the saddle!  It was a cool, cloudy morning - perfect riding weather.  I was anxious too, to see how Farah's new shoes would work for her...

The shoer that I'd used for the last two shoeings, did not have time in his schedule to come out two weeks early to replace the shoes that we'd worn to absolutely nothing in the last four weeks.  He'd agreed to take me on as a client - which I appreciated, but didn't have the time to keep us on the trail.

No shoe left here...

He suggested that I call Justin - the same Farrier who'd replaced the shoe Farah had pulled off just as we were leaving for the beach in June.  Thankfully - Justin was headed our way this week & could come out.  Otherwise I would have been unable to ride, as you can see from the photo above.  It seemed that this shoeing just fell apart.  Yes, we did 25 at Renegade & yes we'd done another 25 on the SVT, but I expected a shoeing to last five or six weeks, which is our usual summer schedule.

Justin told me that the shoes that had been used were "EZ Keg" shoes, not known for durability...  Angles had dropped & there were several issues that I'd never had before.   Luckily there was enough hoof growth that Justin had something to work with & we needed those angles back up where they belong.  The rear toes were squared off the way Art had always done them.  New shoes are the Eventers that have worked so well for me, more wear-ability too.  Justin suggested pads, there was some very slight bruising from the worn down shoes.  I would have padded for Renegade - but actually didn't think of it - since Farah has tough feet & we were only doing 25.  Since these new shoes will hopefully take us into Bare Bones - I'm sure we'll get the use out of the pads.  He also used barium nails at the heels, with the idea of decreasing the wear on the hind shoes, at least for a while. 

Freshly trimmed w/squared off toes

I failed to take photos after the shoes were set, but they look SO nice!  Will try for photos over the weekend.  Anyway - today was the test & boy did they pass with flying colors!  Farah was moving better than she has since Art's passing...  Great break-over, no forging & moving like a bat out of you know where!  :-)  I could actually tell that she was happy & moving so effortlessly!  Big heartfelt Thank You to Justin for taking us on as clients!  I think he'll be stuck with us for a very long time!  :-)

Linda & Count

By mid-day the sun popped out, but the peaks of the mountains were still shrouded with clouds & it actually looked like rain!  At least in that direction!  Linda took us on an unusual loop - that hadn't been used in a long time, Farah had difficulty finding the trail, so Count took the lead & even then we got off trail once.

Today's route

We covered just under ten-miles, in under four hours, taking a break at the monument.  Only saw one other group of riders coming in as we were heading out.  Linda mentioned that two of her kids had called & she was hoping the others would.  When I asked why - she said today was her Birthday!  That's what I get for not checking facebook this morning!  :-)  I had a Great ride, think Linda had a Great ride & I can't think of a better way to spend my good friends birthday than riding with her!  :-)

Gorgous in July~

Dappled Shade in the trees~

I was happy to hear that Joyce had time for a ride today.  It was another beautiful morning, cooler than yesterday.  Sunshine, a light breeze & clouds floating by overhead.   No traffic, no school buses - summertime!  Still not used to the ugliness at the Bracken Rd. parking area of the tree farm - it's hard to pull in & remember it as it was...  I'm sure it will take years before any of us who knew it before - reconcile to the new look.  We headed over to a trail through one of the few remaining stands of nice trees - then wrapped around to the creek crossing where the Beaver Pond used to be.  I think the Beavers were trapped, hopefully relocated & the dam removed.  This all makes for a beautiful crossing for the horses, without what had become a swim across in early spring.

Creek Crossing~

Joyce was riding Target, who hadn't been out much this season - so we took it easy.  Farah had checked him out - almost falling on her face as she exited the trailer :-)  She's always interested in who we ride with & she'd only met Target once that I can think of. 

Joyce & Target

She allowed me to rate her without too much head-tossing or threat of a buck :-)  It's not that I don't see the head drop, neck curl, back come up & feel the power coiled there!  :-)  Thankfully - she's a good girl!  One of her very few bad habits - I say few because it's only happened twice now - is running off when I've been mounting up.  I get a foot in the stirrup & start the swing & she takes off.  Both times, the second just this past weekend - I stay in the stirrup, pull her up & smack her hard with my stick!  Today - when I was ready to re-mount after a short break - I said;  "You'd better Stand - or No Cookie!"  When I say that she "stood like a statue" - it wouldn't be an understatement!  I reached into my pack for a cookie, but hadn't put them back in!  I borrowed one from Joyce - since she's used the cookie as reward for no movement during mounting, for years - very successfully :-)

Starting to flower~

We really had a fun ride, some good trots, did the sand loop a couple times & since Joyce had to work - we quit at just over ten-miles.  Once home,  I untacked Farah up at the barn, our usual routine.  Then - as usual, she walks two steps into the tack room to remind me that she needs one of either the mint or carrot cookies that are stored in the can!

This is the cookie can!

This mare would come in the house if there was something to eat inside!  She loves standing there - looking around, then resting while I put things away.  Next - down to the house for a shower to wash the sweat off - feels good to us both.  Finally, fly spray/mask - & her pasture time.  Spoiled?  No way :-)

Distance Derby Update:  Holding onto seventh by a wing & a prayer - over 650 YTD!  Shoes rattling & ready to fall off after under four weeks!

Competitive Mounted Orienteering!

Saturday Morning~!

We drove up to the Harry Osborn State Forest, Back Country Horseman's camp & Les Hilde Trail-head late on Friday evening after Butch arrived home from work.  Our first time heading up I-5 since the bridge has been out.  Getting into Mt. Vernon was a challenge, but the hold-up wasn't nearly as long as we could have expected & we arrived at camp with enough time to set-up before dark.

A new friend Brandi was already there, David pulled in shortly after we did, so our little team of three was complete for Saturday's event!  We woke to a beautiful sunshine morning!  People stirring, horses eating, a friendly camp atmosphere all-round.  We were ready for the pre-ride meeting.   The rules of the game, the course, etc. were discussed.  I'm not going to try to explain the sport in detail - I'm too new to it - but everything you might want to know can be found here - Competitive Mounted Orienteering.

Pre-ride meeting

My teammates briefed me on the use of a compass, our strategy for the ride & some idea of what I should expect once we were out on the trail.  Ride teams draw a card for their time out, teams leave in 5 min. increments.  You receive your map just as you cross the starting line & your time starts!  No pre-planning your ride route!

Our map for this day~

David & Brandi were the navigators!

Our Start :-)

It's funny to see teams leaving, all looking down at their maps!  The first thing to do is to plan the most efficient/short way to the circles - within which are three clues!  On the back of the map, you find the clues that you'll look for at each way-point.

Our Clues!

The idea is to get to the circles on the map, then search for the clues, take a compass reading off each clue, they point to where the plate is hidden in the brush.  Believe me - there were some very creatively hidden plates - but all can be found from horseback!  My challenge was to get Farah to stand still long enough to take a bearing!  She was horrid!  Dancing in place, prancing, thinking that we should be flying down the trails, which we for Sure did!  But!  It was between those circled way-points!  That's where you make all the time you can!
To Be Continued!

Final Ride - Day 5

Final Morning~

It's amazing how a good friend can motivate me!  Dena said as we were heading back to our respective camps in the dark last night;  "Lets ride in the morning!"  I knew we had a long drive home & Butch needed time to set-up for his week ahead... but when he said;  "Go ahead" - how could I say no?  Farah was saddled & we were at Dena's camper door early :-)

Dena & Bella in the Sunshine!

The next best thing to your own first time at the beach, is being able to share the enjoyment of your friends first visit there!  The tide was WAY out!  The beach sand was packed as hard as we'd seen it.  Again we did some really nice cantering!  Farah even copied Bella's nice, slow jog trot!  Finally - it was really time to go...  Dena headed to her camp, I decided to see if Farah wanted one last run.

She did!  We took off down the beach!  When I turned her north again - she let me know that all I needed to do was come along for the ride!  What a ride she gave me!  As we flew past the trail back to camp - I was thinking that she'd be making a wild right turn... No!  Without even a break in stride we continued on!  I truly believe the closest to flying a human can come is on the back of a horse~

Farah enjoys the grazing~

Back in camp, Butch had us packed up & ready to hit the road home.  We loaded Farah, put the dogs in the back & were on our way~

Camping is So tiring!

We both had a Great time!  The "mini-vacation" was just what we needed.  The time to enjoy our friends, meet new friends & kick-back was golden.  (Farah & I had covered just under 40-miles!)

Sunset Ride - Day 4

This mornings ride~

On this amazing day, we started out with a breakfast pot-luck!  Dutch oven hot goodies, baked blueberry french toast, Sausage & Egg casserole's, you name it - we had it & we ate it & we enjoyed the food & the company & the sunshine!

Dena & Bella were up for a longer ride today.  Since I'd done the jetty "loop" last evening, Dena wanted to see the sights there.  The tide had started to come back in, but thinking what the heck, it's only a couple miles, we started south...  Yes, we were pushed higher & higher up toward the dunes by the encroaching waves.   A couple times we did a quick trot to go around large logs that were jutting out into the water.  The footing got deeper & deeper, Farah knew where we were heading & set the best pace reasonable in the deep sand.  Bella trudging right along side!

The waves were getting closer, bigger, closer - I was starting to eye the dunes...  Deep heavy sand, with piles of driftwood, wondering just how difficult it was going to be to get up there!  Finally - we saw the sign for the trail & with relief left what was left of the beach - maybe one wave till it was gone!

We made it!  

Heading back toward camp on the dune trails - both mares moved into a very nice trot & Farah actually let Bella lead!  :-)  Bella looked very happy to be trotting along - ready to become a distance horse :-)

Once back in camp, Butch & I had a visit from our VBF's, Bruce & Shellie.  Bruce was best man at our wedding, so guess that tells you how long we've been friends!

Bruce with Nika, Butch & Rascal

Even with the cold blowing wind, the beach is the beach!  We just wished it had been a bit warmer - more for sitting out on a blanket & drinking a cold one!  But no... instead we headed back to camp & started a fire!  Dinner, a game of stones & lots of catching up before it was time for our group Sunset ride!

I put on a polar fleece shirt, vest - then my warmest coat before saddling up.  Butch planned to try to get some group photos, so we headed on out to the water,  it seemed to be getting dark in a hurry.  As we climbed to the top of the dunes, the sunset hit me in the face.  It was one of those "moments in time" where time itself seems to stand still - frozen in the beauty of the scene.

My view from Farah's saddle~

I couldn't even see the screen on my smartphone, but framed what I thought might be a photo & pushed the button.   There were a few riders already out on the beach, so we started off to catch them.  Too cold to sit!

We head north~

Our group headed north~

We catch up, the main group of riders come out to the beach.  It was magical, horses, riders, surf, the sound of the waves & wind...  A Very Special moment came when without any adieu, Janelle put the amazing Duke into a spin!  An incredible spin!  Then - a second in the other direction!  Showing off that $50,000 breeding!  What a horse!  Let alone that Janelle sat his saddle as good as any pro I've ever seen!

Farah far right ~

Butch was taking photos & freezing along with the rest of us to get them!  I told everyone that we were doing a group photo!  OK, sounds easy, but in reality - getting that many horses to stand side-by-side, in the blowing wind, at sunset?  No problem!

Here we Are!

We all decided to go out one more time, it was just too hard to think of our time here coming to an end...

"Riders in the Storm"

It was truly a magical evening, horsemen all - riders all - friends all~

Dena, Bella, Connie Farah

Dena had another nice gallop on Bella, Farah even galloped along with!  Then it was finally time to head back the way we'd come...

Heading back to camp~

The end of our final full day in paradise~