When I arrived at the Victoria parking about noon - it was full! Just enough space for me to pull in between to other trailers. Several riders were there I knew - Charlotte was kind enough to come over & say; "hi". Overcast - with big thunderheads rolling by overhead - I put my jacket on the back of the saddle.
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| Foxglove & daisy's |
We were only a mile out when Farah stopped - I couldn't see a thing & she moved on without urging. Shortly after that, two deer appeared then disappeared into the woods. We were staying on the roads, I wanted to move out & was short on time, with a Centennial Trail meeting at 5:30 in Snohomish.
About to reach the bottom of
Fast Trail - without any warning - I was thrown! Farah had suddenly gone into a violent spin &
nothing was keeping me topside! I'd grabbed mane - which allowed me to stay on her side until the edge of the road came up - which is where I hit - hard! First my lower back, then my left shoulder & finally - the side of my head with a dull
thud! Farah ripped the last of the rein from my hand & took off at a trot back the way we'd come.
Realizing that nothing was broken, just blood dripping from a gouge in my hand - I crawled to my feet & called her name. She stopped & waited for me to come up. Once I had her - I was Furious! She knew it - as I yelled & screamed at her - she took it with a look of stoic intensity. I called Butch - told him I was in one piece & that HIS horse was in Big trouble!
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| Gee Mom... |
I'd remounted & gone a short way when I realized I'd lost my sunglasses. Dismounting - I started back down the road kicking at the low growing weeds trying to find them - when suddenly Farah blew herself up & stared at the woods! In the next instant I heard a distinctive, loud but low huffing! Branches breaking - the unmistakable sound of a large bear coming our way! OK! Forget the glasses! I mounted
fast & we booked it out of there!
Our last visit from the Bear cubs~
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| Mt. Baldy with rain moving in~ |
Once through Fast Trail - now almost totally overgrown, we galloped to the top of the mountain - a few raindrops falling by now.
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| Stunningly beautiful~ |
By the time we came out at the Monument - the sun appeared.
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| Olympics & Sound |
I was still pretty shook, sitting down to eat my grapes, a bike rider appeared. Holly asked me; "What happened to you?" I looked at her? How did she know anything had "happened"? She said; "You're back is covered with dirt!" Oh! I told her my story - it was nice to have her company.
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| On our way down~ |
Starting back, the sun-breaks would come & go. I missed my sunglasses - my favorite pair :-(
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| Mt. Baldy again~ |
There's something about the way the storms hug the Cascades through here - I always find somewhat mesmerizing...
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| Sun & showers |
Ever changing - fascinating - a landscape I could watch for hours on end. We got back to the trail-head in one piece. As usual, ours was the last trailer in the lot.
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| Our ride home~ |
Dismounting - the stiffness hit...
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| My helmet - not quite "fine" but OK! |
Just a scuff mark...
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| Back of my vest~ |
I had to rush to get ready for the meeting, Butch drove us to Russ's office at Willis Tucker. We had our usual full agenda, but Duane didn't make the meeting - as representative for the tree farms - the largest of our
adjoining landowners. After hearing my
story - everyone agreed it was a shame he wasn't present - since he needs to be
reminded to keep his Bears under better control! :-)
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| Where Mr. Bear found us~ |
A
good ride is one where you can ride &/or walk away - I do think my helmet helped!
