The Fog...

Bracken Ferns in Fog~

I didn't want to saddle up...  Do you hear me say that often?  The fog hasn't let up for four days now.  My ride on Fri. was the last time we saw the sun!  Over the weekend we had a lot of plans - had fun doing them - but it would have been So Much Nicer with sunshine... 

Neighbors Sign~

This ride would have been too!  But I was determined to get out & get out we did.  I finally took a photo of the neighbor's sign above on our way by.  Anything to deter thieves is what I say!  Once we were up on the trails, the views stayed gray~

Up on top, the fog was just a little less~

We did our usual loop, adding in the new trail we'd found last week.  Farah wasn't too inspired, but was happy that we made our stop for her lunch :-)  I'd dressed warm, long sleeves, vest & jacket.  The jacket was off within a mile, too humid.

Farah enjoying the break~

My hands started getting so cold, the slight break in the fog didn't last long & the afternoon was going quick!  By the time we finished the upper section & started back, the fog was thickening up.  When we returned to the power lines, for whatever reason, Farah started threatening to buck.  Dropping her head every third stride - finally she grabbed the bit & tried to take off & buck at the same time!  I managed to pull her up - got off & she took off in a circle around me!  I finally calmed her down, checked her out - nothing wrong...  so started walking!  I walked to the start of our trail home & remounted.  She was fine from there on.  No idea what was up with her - she doesn't often have brain fade.  We'd had one short gallop - which she always likes & I let her have another - she was good the rest of the way.

No mountain today!

It was just before six when we got home & getting dark already.  Very happy that Butch was home to greet us!  When we pulled her saddle, she hadn't even broken a sweat!   At least when it's dark, you can forget the fog!

Sometimes I feel like...

Farah in the fog~

The Lone Ranger...  The best laid plans to ride with others - seem to go astray...  There were plans made to ride with two friends, but they were coming up together & the truck that had the job - had an issue...  So - since I was already on my way - drove on up to Victoria.  The fog was THICK!  Actually glad that my friends didn't make the drive, as it would have been disappointing - if they'd expected to see the views.

In case you haven't seen one of these...

Bet you're surprised to see these!  They must be a "new" kind of horse trailer!  They were parked in the horse trailer parking, which is what the yellow sign that they're parked by - says...  The ONLY place I know of where there is actually designated "Horse Trailer" parking & these cars take up two spots, then - another was parked at the far end.  As I was getting ready to leave, yet another car pulled in.  I said;  "Don't park there!"  They said;  "Where are we to park then?"  I replied;  "Just as the signs say, along the edge of the road!"  Unreal...  Are they blind, dumb or just really stupid?

Since the tree farm has been open for people to come up & cut wood, the beer cans are starting to outnumber the trees!  The mud on the logging roads is getting worse than any mud that the horses might make on the closed trails...

More logging...

On the trail to the Monument we were shocked to find that the far side of the trail had been clear-cut!  In the fog & with the change of landscape - it was almost easy to forget that I was actually on a trail that I know well...  

No way around this - chain saw time...

I did see a lot of hoof prints, so someone has been doing some riding.  No trail clearing though, because the climb to the top was blocked with a fresh downfall.  The temperature was in the mid-40's, but with the fog it felt much colder.

Was happy that Farah is back to acting like herself & not a crazy horse!  She was perfect, great trot, nice canter & we had fun.  I feel very lucky to have a mare that is as happy out on her own as she is with a group.  Have got to get Linda back in the saddle!

Ridin' Time Again ~

10-miles today in black/white

The last time I rode at Victoria was the first of October when Linda & I were riding close to 20-miles a day.  I'd planned many more fall rides there, but life got in the way.  The red track you see in the photo above is from that ride & one a few days earlier.  This really gives you an idea of how extensive the trail system is in comparison to the logging roads!  Of course we'd been riding beyond the "usual" trails & gone to the old trails on other side that you see down on the bottom of the frame.

Connie & Farah in the fog~

 Even in heavy fog it was good to be there!  The roads were getting heavy use, lots of logging has gone on just since I was there.  It was cold though!  Did I say cold?  Pretty bone chilling - so we did some trotting to stay warm & a gallop or two :-)

Aarene & Fiddle in fog, at the Monument

Was so nice to get out with Aarene & Fiddle again.  Only our second ride together with these two mares, but Aarene's hard work with Fiddle has paid off & she is a much more enjoyable trail companion than in days of yore...   Of course Aarene wanted to put reindeer horns on Farah - I said "no" to that :-)  We're pretty straight laced - then there were the purple fingerless arm length gloves - ok...  they were pretty interesting - I'm sure you'll see where to find them on Aarene's blog :-)

We clicked out a nice ten-miles, it was too cold to lollygag.  Wrapping up the year the right way - IN the saddle :-)  Of course there was New Years Eve 2000, we rode that one in, but that is another long story :-)