Takin' Each Day~

Another glorious day, ten degrees cooler would have been perfect.  It seems these last few years, the flowers bloom,  things get so beautiful - then we get a streak of heat that burns all the delicate blooms. :-(   83 in Arlington as I was heading up to Linda's just about noon - another record breaker.

Heading up Linda's access trail~

Farah's spring season seems never-ending - she was pretty low key & miserable.  It was wonderful - for me anyway!  No spooking, a nice subdued mare - except when Khody gave her an uninvited touch!  Not!

Lower trail~

Linda has an upcoming trail-clearing, the trails are very dry - we took one to see what work will need to be done.  It's amazing to see how fast the little trees have grown!  Grass taking over where thistle & weeds were.  Before too many more years - this trail will be shaded!

Linda & Khody

Khody's beautiful buckskin color is just as pretty when he darkens with sweat.  We did a steep climb & he only stopped once for a break.   Farah wanted to do her usual leaps up - but agreed to take it easier & put out the extra effort to step up the trail.

NW from the Monument

There was a light heat haze in the air today, the bugs are horrible - out in force.  We had to stop to spray ourselves down & it hardly helped.  Once up on top though - there was a nice breeze that we really enjoyed.

Starry False Solomon's Seal

The tiny white flowers & showy leaves make this plant a nice native for your home garden.  Best grown in rich, loose, humusy, consistently moist but well-drained soils in part shade. Preferring our climate with moderate summer temperatures, it spreads by creeping rhizomes to form colonies - as you see above.

Linda & Khody

Khody has a super nice walk!  He lead most of the way back & even gave Farah nasty sideways looks when she came along side!  I told her that it's called payback :-)  We had a good ride, I took my electrolyte tablets & drank my water.  Once back to Linda's - a V8 hit the spot!

Our route~

Farah came back as calmly as she'd gone out - just a peach the whole way.  The kind of ride that I can't help but sit back & enjoy when I get it!  On our way home, it was 82 in Arlington - hopefully cooler for tomorrow.

Sittin' On Top of the World~

Monday, Justin re-shod Farah & boy did she need shoes!  We waited 7-weeks to let her hooves grow.  She was ready to lose a front & the backs were paper thin.  Tue. I had errands to run & Wed. we were riding.

View from the seat at the Monument

 Yesterday, I spent the morning writing letters of support for a grant that Snohomish County Parks is applying for, to finish the last 7-mile section of the Whitehorse Trail.  In the afternoon - I emptied out the horse trailer - then scrubbed it inside & out!  I think it had been over a year & I couldn't believe how the grime had built up.  Butch got home, checked it out & we re-loaded the tack room.

My hard working Bronco, with our generic Circle J Bronco Pony Trailer~

 If I had kept track of the miles Farah & I have been on the road these last years - I'm sure it would be a very large number.  90% of the mileage probably within 100-miles of home.  Being retired has it's perks, but it's a shame that Seattle traffic keeps me from traveling farther :-(

Heading to the top~

 Today - I was more than ready to enjoy another of these amazing sunshine spring days!  Farah & I went to Victoria - no one there - except for a couple bike riders & a car parked in the horse trailer parking.  I left him with a note & a LNT brochure :-)

Almost to the top~

 Farah was feeling really good, having new steel seemed to give her an added boost!  :-)  I've been wanting to increase our over all speed & today we got that done easily.  She had a nice sheen of sweat at the top.

Who's coming?

 I tried wearing the new Under Armor tights that I'd bought at the end of last season.  Wow - was I impressed!  They actually did keep me feeling cooler & anything that does that I'm all for!  I don't think it was as hot today as yesterday - but if they work as well on the hot days - I'll order another pair!  Thanks Cortney!

Mountains, Water, Sky~

 Such a brilliant day! 

Olympics from the Monument

 Farah was grazing & I'd seen her look up toward the trail once or twice.  Sure enough - two guys came out on bikes & hailed as they did saying that they didn't want to scare the horse.  How very nice of them!  Farah only glanced their way - she'd heard them - & went right back to the grass.  Time for us to move on anyway.

Old Cedar Stump~

 Have always especially liked going by this old stump, so today he got a photo taken :-)  We did a whole lot of trot & at one point Farah lifted herself into the air & leaped into the smoothest canter ever!  I loved it!  She's getting her annual Adequan series a month later than usual.  She's only had the first dose, so I can't believe that it's making any difference that soon - but it's great stuff!  Too bad it's not available for human use!

At the bottom~

 I'd heard that lots of trees were down on the lower roads & there were a lot, but all were either easy to step over, or had been cut. 

At 300th~

We went all the way down to 300th - I would have liked to go on, but had my Chiropractic appointment & had to start back.  I have to say that I'm riding so much better & feeling so much better - I'm hopeful that it will help with the heat too.

Heading back north~

Once at the bottom, we started our 3-mile trot then gallop to the top!  So much fun!  Farah has it so well timed - I know she enjoys it too.  Once we hit the 3-way intersection - she takes a breath then does her burst up the final hill.  She slows down when I sit deep - at least when she's not in a halter :-)

Tomorrow - Trail Clearing at Bracken!  

Taking the Bit~

Fog at home, but promise of afternoon sunshine motivated me - as if I need the motivation on these brisk Fall days!  Farah was more than ready too - I unsnap the lead & she loads herself.  I wanted a faster paced ride, we were the only rig at the trail-head.

Rays of sunshine~

The sun broke through just as we were parking, last of the fog burning off.  Before the first mile was behind us, Farah moved into her nice trot & I was busy admiring the sun, the leaves & the day.  Making the climb up to the Monument - all the little trees on the hillside were sparkling with the last of the dew on their branches, growing fast!

Trail to the top~

Once we came off the trail & made the turn onto the road - Farah passed her usual drink at the water puddle.  Before I realized that we weren't stopping - she took the bit, gave a little buck & took off at a gallop!  This was earlier on the hill than where we have made these runs before.  She wasn't slowing down - the speed went up - with one air-above-the-ground - sideways over a sunspot on a fern.  She used that momentum to gain more speed & I was asking sternly for a slow down just prior to the upcoming intersection.  Happily - she complied & we pulled up for me to get a photo of Mt. Washington under a cap of clouds.

Mt. Washington

 A couple deep breaths & we turned to go to our lunch spot - I'm sure part of the motivation for the run :-)  It's made me So happy to see, feel & know that finally, finally we have a saddle that works for us both!  For her to offer these runs, with a free spirit - tells me more than any sweat pattern could!

Stunning views off the west side~

The sun felt that perfect warm, not the hot of Summer.  It was really a quiet day too, only the small wrens flirting from bush to bush~

Enjoying the green grass~

We had a meeting this evening, so I decided to go down the hill to do a short loop at the bottom before heading back up.  There were mushrooms sprouting through the moist forest soil in many places. Strangely, many had been broken & broken off -  certainly looking intentional - either by humans, dogs or other animals.

Fresh shrooms~

I was happy to see this one intact & so pretty!

Lower woods~

It was quite here too, we turned on one trail, followed it a way - until another turned back the way we needed to go.  Again, at the bottom of the hill - a certain gold mare took off at a trot - leaped into a gallop & we flew back to the top, with me yelling "yippee"!  Which she Loves!  :-)

With the growing hair coat, it took me a while to get her brushed out once we were home.  Too late in the day for a bath.   Love these October rides~

On Our Own~

Sunshine & Farah

It was a brisk morning, raining off & on - but by mid-day it looked like there might be enough clearing to get in a ride.  This time of year, riding - at least if you hope to stay dry - is something like playing Russian roulette with the storm systems blowing off the ocean.

We got sprinkled on, but didn't get wet.  Mine was the only trailer in the parking area & that was fine with me.  Farah set a nice pace & we hit a gallop coming up to the views.  It's never disappointing - no matter how many times you see it.  Washington weather can be so changeable this time of year & always so dramatic. 

The Monument

We took our usual break at the Monument, where Farah decided that she likes pumpkin seeds!  Maybe the salt on the pumpkin seeds - but she would have eaten them all!  :-)  As much as we ride on our own, we've been so happy to have the company of Joyce & Lynn over most of the last few months.  We had a really Great run up our hill - lots of horsepower beneath me!

Sunset~

The sun was setting by the time we'd finished our loop, the temperature was dropping too.  When we got back to the truck, I discovered that I didn't have my keys...  Then I remembered hearing a sound when we were just a mile or so into the ride.  Almost dark by now, I walked back the way we'd gone out & before long found them on the ground!  A Very Good thing - even though I had the hide-a-key.  It was dark by the time we picked up a pizza in Arlington!  The days are really getting short now!

"Twas" a Cold One!

The Monument on a Cold Spring Day!

Was needing some saddle-time.  The weekend was a tough one, the week had been too, so even though the sky really looked like we'd get drenched at least once, Linda & I headed out late morning.  I was pretty sure that the day would be warming up, so only wore a couple light weight layers.  Wrong!  We froze, or at least I did!  Linda was smart & wore more layers, thicker layers & was cold along with me :-)

Regardless, we covered a lot of ground checked on the progress made by the last work party just a couple weeks ago.  A lot was accomplished, with plenty more to be done, as per usual on Western Washington mountain trail. 

Now we can see the bridge~

The hard working volunteers cut an amazing amount of downed tree off the little bridge & stacked it to the side.  When the loggers were finished with the clear-cut, they left the trees in the gully.  Winds came up & of course blew them down onto the bridge.  Now - there's just a huge root ball covered with dirt that's going to have to go somewhere if the trail is to be re-established.  No lack of work for the future!

It was almost 4 p.m. by the time we got back, having covered a slower paced 12-miles.  Still cold, but warmer lower down, with less wind - than it had been up on top!  I pulled in at home just ahead of a Big Black cloud that unleashed a big strike of lightening & hail as I'd finished my chores!  Good timing!