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.
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.
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!
The rain started late in the night~ The weather forecast had Not been promising! By daylight - the rain was coming sideways - in torrential waves! The awnings were working Great! All our ponies standing dry & eating their hay!
Never to be deterred from having a good time & since Sandy's truck was available, we headed to Manzanita & the Big Wave Cafe!
Inside the Cafe~
Walking in the door, were more of our friends from camp, all of us with the same idea! Much more pleasant to sit inside, be served a delicious breakfast & watch it rain :-) With Butch driving, we took the scenic way back to camp & enjoyed a sun break on the way.
It's a dogs life~
Once back, we retreated to our camp, where Butch & I played cards while the dogs rested :-) The only time they moved - was to occasionally swap beds :-)
Nika~
Every time the sun would break through & the rain let up, we'd get the leashes, the dogs, Farah & go for a walk! Over the course of the afternoon, we took several walks! Mid-afternoon, during a break, Sandy decided to pack up & head for home. We were so sorry to see them go...
Horse Rental corrals~
Some riders tried to outguess mother nature & came back soaked to the skin! Having been there & done that - I decided to wait. Just after dinner I was rewarded by a dry break & saddled up.
Looking east at the trail from the horse rental concession~
We'd hiked out this trail earlier - I took it again. From the high point, we could see east, over to the bay. Both Farah & I felt an edge of sadness - with our riding companions gone~
Looking South~
The wind was blowing & it was the coldest evening so far.
8 p.m. Heavy clouds moving in~
From the dark look of the skyline, there would be no beautiful sunset on this evening. With the tide still coming in - our strip of beach was limited.
View north~
Due to the Snowy Plover - the dunes are off limits to horses - with the exception of the established trails. During our time here, we saw a mother bird with three babies, playing in the surf. I can remember years ago when we'd see them in large numbers - so sad that they are now threatened.
Back to our horse camp~
The terribly invasive Scotch Broom, growing ever thicker & was taking up even more of the dune habitat. On every trail - it's now so prevalent & tall that the trails will soon be impassable without some type of intervention.
We returned to camp - I was amazed that with the dark foreboding clouds over the Ocean, the rain didn't come in at all!
With any horse, it seems you have those regular rides, those good rides & some special rides. This day - Farah gave me a really unexpected special ride! Even though it was difficult, we both got torn up by the blackberry & attacked non-stop by the bugs - she stepped up to the plate & let me know that we're - partners!
Water still flowing out of the big wetland~
It was 89 degrees when we left home, hotter on the paving as we headed up to the trails. (I'd wanted to attend Renegade this coming weekend, but with the heat - I had to ask myself why? No fun for me or for my mare - to work as hard as I know she would have - in record breaking, sweltering weather.) We both were more than ready for some trail time - at least leaving from home, I knew we'd have some shade. What I forgot, was how overgrown things become by the end of June!
The trail is where?
Just getting out through the first section - took teamwork! I'd pull back a blackberry vine with my stick, Farah would step over the ones trying to entangle her legs, then drop her head & go under the one I was holding up! We'd had just enough rain this morning to drop everything down low. The humidity was high & the bugs were awful! I'd bought one of the masks that go over a bridle, but did I think to put it on her? Not! Between smashing the biting flies, getting snagged on the blackberry & the general miserableness of the weather - we still had an amazing ride. We worked together! My girl was on a loose rein, collected up - so strong & forward - her best ever!
Whether sprayed or dying, some of the Scotch Broom is dead & bone dry...
The ugliness of the dead invasive was both good & bad to see. Good that some of it is dead, bad that it's so tinder dry.
Fireweed~
The beauty of the blooming Fireweed offset the dark, nasty brown weeds. We went up to the top of our short loop & stopped in the shade of the forest for a break before turning back.
This wetland still has plenty of water - good to see~
Since this area is a Narnia for natural water sources & has been forever, it was good to see it holding it's own in this season of drought & record breaking temperatures.
Beaver's newer pond~
The Beaver's latest pond though - is almost empty. It didn't look like anyone had been up here - so I don't know if this is due to the drought or not. The little creek is nearby & still has water.
Everywhere she could - Farah would leap up into short bursts of speed & we got in several short gallops! She was so forward today - walking along at 4.5 to 5 mph. Fast enough that even walking we had a breeze! :-) This alone let me know that the Supracore pad is working for her & her comfort level has improved.
Dry view of Mt. Pilchuck~
Any remaining snow is long gone off the peak. The neighbor's fields are turning brown, the quarry & logging operations outside town have changed the view. Butch was home when we returned - I hosed Farah off, sprayed her down & she headed out to her pasture for a good roll. Feels good to know that things are back to working for us!
Saturday already! No way! Part of the attraction of camping - the three "R's"! Rest, Relax & Refresh! Then of course, that most important fourth - Riding!
South out one of the dune trails~
We were used to star studded, cold nights & waking to sunshine mornings. The winds usually didn't start until mid-day. We also tried to time our rides to reach the beach with the tide on the way out - to have that width of wet compacted sand.
The Rangers told us of the efforts to protect the Snowy Plover nesting sights. On this day - the Wrangler of the rental horses took her riders through our camp. She stopped to talk when I asked the riders if they were having a good time, all responded "Yes"! Except for the Wrangler - who told us that several of the trails they had used for many years were now closed - due to the Snowy Plover. She believed that the birds were already gone for the season - yet the trails were still closed. So sad - when there's so few places for people to rent a horse & ride the beach.
We ride the sandy shore of the inlet~
Since the plover prefers the ocean dunes, we could still ride along the edge of the bay. The thing I noticed the most - was the proliferation of Scotch Broom... If the concern is for nesting sights - I think the Scotch Broom is destroying more of that habitat than a few horses in a dude string. In just the few years we've been visiting this park - we all noticed that the Scotch broom is literally taking over!
Scotch Broom Everywhere~
It was incredible to see areas that used to be sand - now covered with acres of the blooming weed. Then - just a short way up this shore line I saw another nasty invasive just starting to root in the sand - Japanese Knotweed... Here again - this is a plant that can do so much destruction to our Northwest native plant environment.
Native grasses can't compete with the invasive...
Looking down the bay towards town, we could just see two riders playing in the water.
Kites & wake boards~
With the tide going out, we had miles of fun trotting, galloping & running into the wind! I was surprised to see a few kites, which we had to dodge on our gallop.
Later that afternoon, the Ranger came by our camp. I mentioned the kites & he explained that they were not allowed - the Snowy Plover perceive them as birds-of-prey. He said they were short staffed, but would go out & ask the kite flyers to take them down. I actually hope the kites don't come back to this beach...
The Campbell Family~
Later in the afternoon, our friends came by for dinner & a visit! Bruce was best man at our wedding - so our friendship goes back longer than we've been married! Jessica has just graduated & will be attending Portland University! We tried to catch up on all the news - but there's never enough time! Super way to end a wonderful vacation!
Today - we reached our goal! 1,500-miles since the first of this year. Farah did it All! We did a lot of it on our own... Including this ride - that I knew would take us over the top. In a way, it was fitting that these last miles were riding out from home, on our trails - after all, they're the trails where we first starting riding horses!
On our way~
It was somewhat bittersweet... We didn't win the Derby, we managed to stay in second place all year long - knowing full well that there was no way we were going to win. The motivation came from knowing that if we continued on - Farah would be the highest mileage horse in the Derby for the second year in a row. That was the number of miles we needed to surpass the distance we traveled last season.
Wetland
Heading north, we visited the big wetland, then crossed through the water flowing over the road & headed on to the point farthest north on these lines, where it's blocked by a gate.
It actually got pretty deep at the far end!
From here, we passed the bottom of another wetland, now partially choked with reed canary grass...
Here is what a Wetland looks like when an invasive plant takes over...
Taking a closer look - we did see our Hawk friend!
Do you see him?
The last trail heading west, goes just a short way - then dead-ends at the last wetland of this string.
Another quiet beauty~
It had been a long time since we'd been this way & I wish there was a way to continue on. Instead, we turned back. The day was a quiet one, the birds weren't out - or if they were - we didn't see them. No deer, no people - just a light haze of smoke in the air.
The Homestead - Between Farah's ears~
Some may not believe, but I really think I could tell the difference in the quality of the daylight on this first week of Winter! It was thin, the golden glow of Fall has been replaced with the shades of blue/gray of the winter months. Subdued colors - but lots of those.
With horse people - bragging up one's mount is a recurring theme that I try to avoid - but there are those days, those times, when Farah deserves her due. She's proven herself to me & cemented her place in my heart...
I'm done counting miles... Now - tack is getting washed, Linda's saddle
is getting cleaned & conditioned, my new one may arrive one of
these days... All will be ready for the new year & what it brings.
Finally - we rest & kick-back to enjoy the holidays!
It was amazing how nice an evening we had yesterday - just perfect, then the coolness swept in & it was a nice night for sleeping too!
Today- Linda & I wanted to ride - but neither of us were very ambitious. A trail Linda had hoped to have a volunteer clear yesterday - didn't get done, so we decided to just do our somewhat usual loop.
Looking NW
There was still a layer of haze out over the islands & water, once we were in the sun - it was instantly warm. The trails literally were washed with Tuesday's hard storm - all the tree detritus that usually covers the dirt trails - had been washed downhill & left in big piles at the bottom of the hills - making the climbs extremely slippery. Farah's new shoes helped!
Farah grazes
Once at the monument, we took a break, ate our lunch & weren't in any hurry to leave.
Linda gets "mail" :-)
Count is enjoying his new Reactor Panel girth - Linda has worn through two - this is her third! :-) Finally - we decided to move on & out.
Out on the ridge~
The above trail is getting hammered by invasive plants, the thistle, & scotch broom are taking hold. It's up there on the list of trails yet to get done before it's too late, but that will be another day... Cutting the trail won't remove the weeds...
Whitehorse & Three Fingers - still have snow
Looking east, the air was much clearer & the view of the mountains was really outstanding. Before too long, the storm clouds will again roll in & I'm looking forward to seeing those changes.
We were back early enough that I could move my Chiropractic appointment. up an hour. I was almost late, went running down the street & passed a tall guy with ear buds in. I was laying on the table, happy to be flat - when Jay walked in & said; "Busted - for running past your Chiropractor who's told you to TAKE it EASY!" :-) Almost done with my treatment, I am feeling much better - but was reminded that there's still some healing to do :-)
