Relaxin'

With the new skills we learned at Russell's clinic, it was time to head out on the trails & put them to use.  Riding is an addiction that I've had for so long now...  Just spending time outside - in the woods, or wild places - is something I've craved & enjoyed since childhood.  Thing is - I'm at a point in life - where I don't want or need the worry of getting thrown.  Some would say - that's in direct opposition to my enjoyment of a faster pace than what's the norm for a reasonable trail ride.  Whether Farah has learned from me - or whether we both enjoy the same thing?  Who knows...    

Getting a drink in Harvey Creek

We've been a good team for a long while now - but as with all things - there's always room for improvement.  Taking Russell's words to heart - my new goal - is to spend however much time it takes to fix those small things that can & do - crop up over time.    With several trailers at Bracken, we didn't see anyone at all.  Crushed rock has been added near the hitching posts & by the sign.  The blackberries have been cut back too - all nice improvements!

White foxglove against the forest greens~

We took the long way around the south end of the tree farm.  The trails there are still muddy in spots, the little bridge is repaired.  With our upcoming Cascade Horse Club - Cinnamon Roll ride this weekend - the trails overall -are really in great condition.

Red Elderberry "curtain"~

The berries are weighing the branches down, more pruning :-)  I even had my first taste of our native blackberries!  They're getting ripe!  If Farah made any move toward a shy - I'd move her rear to the left, then to the right - then we'd move on.  We also worked on leg yields, one side of the trail to the other.  I tried to not use the reins at all & it didn't take her long to understand. 

Green Valley~

She was relaxed today, I could see it in her eye & so was I.  Such a beautiful day - mid-70's & a really nice breeze that kept most of the bugs away.  I'd sprayed her, but not myself.

Survey done~

Russ had mentioned at our last meeting that the survey work was finally done at Cloverdale.  The evidence was clear.  He also told us that this section will be the last to get completed :-(  I was so disappointed to hear this, but Butch reminded me that scheduling all the work over almost 30-miles of trail is not an easy task.  We're still looking at a completion date in 2017 - years ahead of the original schedule.

Farah at lunch~

Some mowing had been done around the picnic table, I sat in the shade of the tree.  Grazing near me, Farah raised her head - looked at me - then purposely walked over to the tall grass & grazed there. 

Heading back over Tin Bridge~

Water levels in the North Fork of the Stillaquamish - are whats become the new normal for this time of year.  Nice to see water flowing - there had been tiny fish swimming in Harvey Creek.

The first time we'd passed the stock tank, I'd noticed that the drainage hole was plugged & the water dirty...  On our way back, I tied Farah up & decided that I could try to empty it.  I did get it lifted & dumped out - what a mess.  The slime had clogged the hole.  I broke off some Salal leaves & started scrubbing.

Yuck!

It took a while, I'd add a little water, scrub - dump that & start again.  The leaves actually worked pretty well! I'd love to see some rock added around this area too.

Finished!

By the time I was done, Farah was standing bored.  I asked her to walk through all the standing water - she put her nose down - you'd have thought it was a raging river - then walked through :-)

Field of Daisy's~

We were overdue to head for home, but took a couple more trails on our way.  Rounding a corner, three beautiful doves took flight over us.

Our ride home~

I didn't like seeing the Bronco as the last rig at this parking area!  So many break-in's continue to happen.  A friend told me that after Bridal Trails installed a video camera & signage the break-in's there went to zero.  I wish something like that could be done here...

Part I - Sunshine Ride!

For as stormy as Friday had been - Saturday arrived sunshine stunning - in all it's glory!  I think all of camp slept in - it was so blissfully quiet - at least early on.  We'd originally planned to do the afternoon train ride with Janelle & friends in camp.  That changed when we heard from our daughter (who lives in Astoria) - that her family was coming down to visit us!

Out near the bay~

I was really looking forward to riding out to enjoy the sun on the dunes & on the beach.  Farah again looked at where Sandy had been camping - still hopeful that Ody might be around :-)  When we passed the horse ride concession, there was a long group of riders just returning from their ride.  The wrangler said he'd seen me last evening & pointed me to a trail that I hadn't taken before.

Fishing dock~

The first time we came out on the bay - we could see north to the dock where Butch & I had walked the day before.  We continued on & soon came to a beautiful little secluded valley.  Still with mostly native grasses & so gorgeous.  Almost like riding in a totally different country.

Farah admires the view~

Eventually, we wound our way back to the main trail & into the little secluded woods area that's so pretty.  On the way - we found Foxglove competing with the Scotch Broom for growing space.

Foxglove~

The first time we found the outhouse & hitching rails - we had a good laugh!  I think it's probably a spot on the trail for the dudes that are out on those all day rides!

We pass the "facilities"~

The trail here, turns out east again & winds along to the next spot looking over the bay.

Scotch Broom & native grasses~

I think I've taken a similar photo - which gives the true view - of the destruction to a once vibrant - verdant grassland dune.  The dark green is the Scotch Broom taking over...  Can you imagine how beautiful it was in all native grasses?  I've linked above to a recovery project elsewhere.

The tiny coastal forest~

Even here, in this tiny section of coastal forest - you see the Scotch Broom has gained a foothold & is edging out the ferns & natives.  Amazingly adaptive even in the shade of the pines.  We came to the end of the trail south & made the turn west.

Trail post on the horizon~

You can just see the post marking the start of the trail from the beach, near the jetty.

At the beach~

Since last year, somewhat of a trail has been made down & through the driftwood that piles up here during storms.  The signage asks that we stay on trails & not enter the dunes to the north.

Farah~

There was a little wind & Farah knew that on this day she'd get to go!  She was excited the minute her hooves hit the wet sand :-)  I called Butch - he was already out on the beach taking photos of other riders & waiting for us.

We galloped all the way north until we reached Butch, passing another dude string on our way.

 

Then we did a little circling around Butch :-)  I appreciate him taking the video, as it's helpful to get a chance to see how Farah moves & how I'm moving too.  Our first time at the beach with the Stonewall saddle.  It was nice to see that I'm not riding like a Monkey on a stick :-)  Dean's favorite descriptive phrase for legs too far back, heels too high & body too far forward.  At least it seems to be working for us! 

Farah & Connie

With all the long trotting & galloping we did, Farah never once raised her shoulders, tossed her neck or bucked into the gallop.  All things that she had done regularly in all the other saddles we've used.  What a relief to know that she's comfortable - finally!  I'm also really pleased with the performance of the Saddleright pad that Cassandra recommended.  We used it for the first time at Mt. Adams & it stays perfectly put, is thin & Farah's back looks super when the saddle comes off.

Top of the dune~

 Farah loves to attack the big dune going to the top of the trail to camp - so we did :-)  Then we waited for Butch & the dogs to catch up :-)  Back in camp, it was quiet, just the sound of the breeze in the trees & the birds chirping.  Almost everyone on their way to the train ride.  We had time for lunch, then sat out in the sun until the kids arrived!

We Get Through!

Did someone say; "Warm"?  Well, it was!  The humidity was high too or felt so.  I was more than ready to saddle Farah up & go to see if I still had any trails left up on the hills behind us.

Our first obstacle~

 Our trail out from Pat's was somewhere under this pile.  With my hand pruners I managed to cut us around it - but have more work to do.

Final private yard~

 At the top of the hill, our neighbor here too, had been cutting trees & putting the limbs over where our trail goes along the edge of their yard.  We went between the tree limbs & the yard to get by.

"Our" trail~

 Once past the yard, we found our trail - as usual this time of year - no matter how much we'd had it cut back - new growth was in our faces.  I had my hand pruners out again - will have to hope that I can convince Butch to come up with the weed-whacker again.

Nice~

 Our favorite section - that has stayed mostly open - was.  What a relief, we could even do some trotting!  I didn't want to spend too much time cutting - since I worried that the big fir might still be blocking our way out.

Cut out!

 Yippee!  I was so excited to see it cut away!  With it gone - chances were good that we'd make it to the power lines.

Farah notices!

 In the shade of the woods, it was really nice - once in a while a breeze would cool the sweat.

Foxglove~

 Darn, a little blurry - but the Foxglove above was so pretty against all the green & growing in the shade along side our trail.  We got out on the power lines, then went north & did our loop through the little woods.

 

Seed heads at the wetland~

 Circling back, we stopped at the big wetland.  The water lily's are getting ready to bloom.  It's almost like visiting old friends when we stop here - especially since it had been a while.

Upper end~

 Farah consumed mass quantities of Reed Canary Grass - the cattails are holding their own along the edge.

Heading back~

 A refresher course was needed for Farah to remember that it takes a lot of  side-passing & halting for me to cut all the greenery out of our way & get us through :-)

Water in the Beaver Pond

 There were puddles of water on the trails & still a good level of water in the pond here.

From the top~

I could see the haze moving over when we were almost home.  The day seemed to warm up the longer we were out.  Even so - it felt so good to be in the saddle again!  We both enjoyed it!

Young Horse Stuff~

Foxglove in Full Bloom~

You know how it is...  you have a great ride on a youngster, then you take them out again & things are not as good?  Well...  I decided to get in a short ride from home & check things out in our backyard.  Overgrown!  That's how things were!  If I don't do some clearing - we won't be getting through in another couple weeks.  What clearing I'd done last season - which was a lot, still hadn't kept up with all the growth! 

We made it out to the power lines, the perfect time to enjoy all the color from the Foxglove.  Years ago, it grew all along the trails through the woods, that since have been bulldozed.  Now - it's coming back in the few places that haven't been disturbed.  Heading back - by a trail that we used to call our running hill.   Going down it - rather than up.  Besides being covered with brush, what was left of the trail had a small river of water running down the middle, that had washed a deep v-shaped grove.  Those are hard to navigate - I'd seen them before at Capitol Forest - made by the bicyclists who ride there.  Farah wasn't doing bad, just some slipping - as she tried to avoid the running water.  We came up on a very deep hole & decided to dismount & guide her past it.  That done, I went to re-mount & that's when she decided to make a sharp left & leap - UP the hillside!  I was left hanging from the stirrup, still with the rein in my hand as she tried to plunge through the brush dragging me along.  I managed to get her pulled up after barely missing a tree trunk.  She was barrel deep in Salmonberry & standing over two large partly rotted cedar stumps.  Did I cuss her out?  Oh YES!  I sure did.  She knew for sure that she had been Very Bad!  :-)  

I forged a way back down to the trail - told her to STAND on fear of death & re-mounted.  Now - we will be Standing for Every mount - standing Firm!  :-)