BCHW Northwest Region Prize Ride~

Five Chapters Represented!

It was a cool Saturday morning!  We were up early & driving up to Harry O's  - we'd volunteered to help with the set-up, food service & clean-up for the 16th Annual BCHW Northwest Region Prize Ride.  A collaborative effort between CHC, Island County, Skagit, Traildusters & Whatcom  - these rides are always so well attended, but with the rainy weather we really didn't know how many riders to expect.

Setting up for the food!

So many wonderful volunteers helped with this event, set up was completed in no time!  Connie S. & her husband were in charge of food preparation & did an amazing job!  Almost everything done in advance, only a few things to finish on site.  Butch, Linda, Carrie & I served - once the riders started returning from their ride.  I was too busy to get photos of any of the horse/rider teams - but there were some amazing costumes!  The theme was Riding Through the Ages - each club had a poker stop, CHC was the 60's & Traildusters the 70's.

Ready to begin the drawing!

There were tables full of some very nice prizes!  The rain held off too - no one got wet out on the trail!  It was cool enough that some of us had jackets on!

Breast collars, halters, hay bags, buckets~

The new log, hand cut & carved - looked beautiful & made for some nice seating :-)

Colorful group :-)

Did I say colorful?  Within a two-hour period, we served over 150 lunches!  No totals in yet as to how many riders, but the lunch count is pretty accurate!

All around the Shelter~

Once the prizes were handed out - it was time for clean-up & that went really fast with so many helping hands.  We were on the road for home just after 4p.m. - most of the trailers had already pulled out.  Everyone left the area spotless!

Our first time at this popular ride & we really enjoyed meeting riders from the other Chapters!  A Good time was had by all!

Sunday Benefit Ride~

Beauty of a Trail!

We laughed at Farah's expense this morning when we looked out to see her pouting, butt to the sun - trying to get some rest after her busy night :-)  I think she must have covered about 50-miles.  With all the other horses around her taking things easy - I can't understand why it upset her so...

Around every corner!

Sam did such a nice job of laying out the trail & the informational signage was interesting to read.  Farah & I left on our own, my mare was really a Great Trail Horse this day :-)  Yesterday, I'd ridden out a Big rounded buck that included a huge Grunt - since the pace didn't suit her :-)

We were both enjoying the relative coolness of the morning~

 Today, we did some trotting, a little gallop but mostly just a nice movin' out walk.  Last night - when I decided to head back ahead of our group, my girl put on her 5-mph walk going back! 

Unnamed Wetland~ 

This wetland was mirror perfect, not a ripple anywhere.  We waded through the shallow end, Farah trekked in without any hesitation - such a difference from her first rides :-)

On the sunshine trail~

When we went through a grove of Alder, all the leaves were on the ground - the smell was rich & very Fall like!  I'd told Butch we'd be out about two-hours, figuring the ride loop was probably around five-miles.  It was a little over, almost six & all of them very pretty.

We return~

We made it back a little early & with the heat of the day upon us - decided to pack up & head for home.  Enjoyed the time away - never long enough & really appreciative of all the work by the many volunteers for a very good cause.

Another Fine Day~

Harry O's Loop

It was 25 degrees when I checked on our front deck at 6:30 a.m.  Butch had me hitched & ready - I headed over to pick Farah up.  Dean's gate lock was frozen - out came the lighter :-)  (No... I don't smoke :-)  

In just over an hour we were at Harry O's Backcountry Horseman's Camp.  I'd invited myself along for the morning ride that two of my friends had planned :-)  What an incredible day it became!  We were on the trail by 9:30 a.m. & the first layer peeled off within minutes.  The sun was over the mountains & the day was WARM with a light breeze.

We could see all the way to the Olympics

Taking a turn that was unfamiliar, we climbed to almost 2,000 feet.  Most of this was on logging roads, so the footing was good.  Once we started on the trails down, we found the mud.  The worst of it was only in a few areas.  Riding for just over three hours, still felt like a short ride!

Once back, I stripped Farah's saddle;  she started looking for a place to roll & roll she did!  Grunting & rubbing & have a whee of a time :-)  Next she jumped up - had a good shake & walked over to see what Fancy had to eat!  Fancy was so nice & shared with Farah.  By the time we were ready to leave, she'd also emptied Fancy's water bucket!  I was hearing things like;  "She sure takes care of herself."  "Are you sure you might not try endurance with her?"  :-)