One More Time~

Since the rest of my week is busy - today was my last chance to get Farah out before next week.  The temperatures were supposed to be cooler today - I was all over that!  The morning was overcast & cool as predicted.  I had the idea of stretching my mental photo of the southern trails at Victoria.  

Only two trailers at the parking area.  We left out the back - did a short trail - then as we were crossing the main trail - here came a buggy!  The driver pulled up a way off - but I think a Norwegian Fjord was in the traces!  The driver had a flag on a pole in the back - Farah had to do a double-take!  Way too fun!

Big Cedars, Vine Maples & Huckleberry

I'd found such a handy way of getting back from the river when we last went that way the first of June.  I told myself then - that I would remember it - for our next trek that direction.

Can you tell what this is?

We didn't loop the top of the mountain, instead I took the shortest route I knew, down the big hill, to head south. 

Port Blakely Sign

Again, I thought this would be good way to stay in the shade & it worked out really well, except for the humidity, which was higher than yesterday & heavier in the lower forest tract.

So cute~

We ambled on & eventually came to this sign, which told me that we were not going the way I'd hoped.  I'd found the other end of this same trail one day when I was looking for a trail back north & became direction-ally challenged.   

Farah in the Creek~

Once we came out on the road - I recognized where we were.  It wasn't too much farther to the trail that goes to the creek.  By now it was almost 2 p.m. & we'd not had our lunch break!  To make matters worse, I'd forgotten Farah's carrots!  She walked right into the creek & started her usual yawning.  For a mare who used to be terrified of any water at all - she really enjoys standing in it now :-)

Ripples on the water~

I made a serious mistake though - I looked down to take this photo & in the next instant my vertigo hit!  No reason for mine has ever been found - it's been a lifelong problem, so I can't even attribute it to aging - which it seems can be blamed for almost any health problem one might have!  Not!  Needless to say - we left the water fast!  I walked for over a mile until I felt better enough to mount back up.  Farah was unhappy about this & kept urging me forward with her nose in my back :-)

Today's route~

Just to give you an idea of all the trails through this area - the Google image below is from three different rides.  I wonder how long it would take to overlay them all?  Way back when, when we were younger & cleared even more trail than now...  these trails were only a part of the two-day, fifty or 100- mile Competitive Trail rides.

Southern trail tracks~

 Back at the parking, I was disgusted to find a Gatorade bottle, trash & my least favorite - cigarette butts tossed everywhere.  There was also a sheet of paper with a Google earth image & directions as to how to get here - all laying where the trailer next to me had been parked.  That sheet also showed where those riders lived, which wasn't that far?   What would they have said if I'd taken all the trash they'd left back to them?  Fun to contemplate - but I get in enough trouble without making more.  I hope if I do see them again - they'll remember to Leave No Trace!

To the Creek~

Through the big woods~

I'd been wanting to ride down to the creek for a while - it's about a 12-mile round-trip - the shortest way I know to get there.  At the trail-head, I was surprised to find several rigs already there.  The day was overcast & muggy.  Going through what's left of the big woods - is always so pretty.

Coyote Ridge Trail~

We ended up on the Coyote Ridge Trail - overgrown but passable.  All the blow-down had either been cut, or had ended up on the ground - easy to step over.

Candy Flower~

The little tiny Candy Flower was in bloom all along the sides of one of the trails we were on.  The southern trails don't see the use the the one's higher on the mountain do, since the trail-head was moved years ago.

On the trail~

 During last years trail-clearing party - we'd worked on several of these trails & they've stayed in good condition.  Not that there isn't plenty of work that needs doing this year!  Winter weather was harsh, lots of wind & plenty of clearing to be done at the upcoming work party on Sat.  So far, only eleven people have RSVP'd - the usual group of hard-core dedicated riders who continue year after year to make giving back part of their schedule.

Through the young Cedar Trees~

I love the section through the Cedars - it's amazing how much they've grown just since last year.  From what I've been told, the tree farms are planting more Western Red Cedar - they see it as the next big cash crop.  It takes so much longer to grow to any size - that it will be interesting to see how many years these trees stand.  (If I'm around to see it! :-)

At the creek~

We were both glad to get to the creek for our lunch break.  Farah loves standing in the water & yawning :-)  On the rocky shore, I took off my boots & waded in, while Farah again attacked the reed canary grass growing along the shore.  I wonder if I could count her hours?  :-)

Low flow~

The creek is down, no surprise there, amazing how quickly the snow on the Cascades has melted away this year.  The Glaciers were melting off last season, so anything that accumulated this winter, didn't have the usual base.

Our route~

We headed back & only took one wrong turn to find the trail we wanted.  We had to make some time, since we had a Traildusters meeting in Everett.  As we galloped up the hill, a little bunny came out right in front of us!  Farah slowed & put her head down as he hopped as fast as he could for almost 100ft. before turning off on his bunny trail :-)   Back at the bio-fuel field - a large, nice, healthy looking Coyote was standing off in the trees.

Once home, I had just enough time to give Farah an overdue bath!  We were both soaked by the time Butch pulled in the drive! 

Brilliant & Beautiful~

With the final days of Daylight Savings time upon us, our late afternoon light will soon be replaced with shadows.  Linda & I wanted to make the most of what is supposed to be our final day of sunshine this week.  Linda wanted to head south at Victoria & go through the trails that were so badly beaten by the windstorm.

Vine Maples

No real views here, but the colors were amazing!  For whatever reason, a lot more color that higher up on the mountain!  I've gotten lost over on this side more times than I can count :-)  I look forward to these guided tours just to see how much I recognize from my forays!

One of the original farm signs~

This section of the tree farm was planted mostly with Fir, that's been there years now & covered with moss.  The under-story plants consist of Salmonberry & Elderberry, not enough light for the maples to get a start.

Fir trees with their fuzzy moss covered branches

Anytime we're in this area I like to visit the river, it was really nice to hear it before we saw it!  I knew after yesterdays ride - that the level was up.  At our access spot, it was clear to see just how much more water was flowing since the last couple rains.

Pilchuck Creek

Farah loves going to the river here, she walks right out, then stands - yawns & almost goes to sleep every time :-)  She did some splashing today - I had a moment where I thought she might actually go down in it - so I checked that move :-)

Farah watching the water!

 Linda had us on a huge "loop" of all trail, the damage caused by the storm was apparent.  Here too, the Cottonwoods took the brunt of the force.  They'd been cut & were waiting to be hauled out.  Seeing them on the ground is almost as impressive as seeing them standing.  The trails were very slick too.  We were both hopeful that they might stay open longer this season, but if we get all the rain that's forecast, we doubt it will happen.

Color & Cottonwoods~

It still surprises me that we're behind on our mileage this season, compared with the last two-years.  There was summer's heat, our saddle issues, other things that took my time, but we're still close enough to the 1,000-mile club.  With luck, we'll be past that milestone shortly~

Open & replanted clear-cut

We rode trails that were overgrown, that hardly anyone rides - even Linda & Count had to do some hunting to find them.  We ended up on one with several large trees down, navigating around following Count, Farah fell front first into a large hole.  She saved us - I didn't go over her neck - which was what I expected to do - Good Girl!  But!  If she'd pay more attention to her footing, instead of where Count is... it would help! 

Our route!

Returning back to the parking, the shadows were already long, the sun setting through the trees.  Linda reminded me that next week, sunset will seem an hour earlier than it was today.  From then on - we'll be chasing daylight!

Hot Fun in the Summertime~

Fireweed in full bloom

 A couple days into our Summer, but no change in the weather - just warmer, longer!  We're past the solstice, so to think that the days are now getting shorter seems strange when the real strangeness is waking to sunshine, day after day, after day!

Linda has been mowing trail!

I was More than ready for a ride!  Waiting a week for the new saddle to arrive was no fun.  Now - it's here & I had to try it out.  The first thing I found... was that the cinch I'd been using on Linda's saddle - made by the same saddle maker - & ordered to be an exact replica - (with very minor changes) - was too long?  Way too long!  Since I had nothing shorter - it was already a 26" - there were no holes left to buckle into.  I ended up with a big knot of latigo under my calf.  The second thing...  The breast collar that again, I had used on Linda's - sat cockeyed?  What the heck?  The front rings were not even.  When Butch tried to add the bucking rolls (again the same ones I'd ordered & used on Linda's saddle - they didn't fit!  On one side, he could get the screw in - on the other - no way - it was set too close to where the pommel attached.  He'd had to move the screw to get them on - that put an extra hole in the leather :-(

New views, long forgotten trails~

The seat was great, but I had lumps from the stirrup straps under my thighs?  Farah seemed to be moving well, leading us along at her 4 to 5 mph walk.  Count loved it, Leigh's beautiful mare had to jog to keep up.  Linda took us the most direct route by trail to areas far to the south, we even rode the trails Butch & I cleared!

Leigh & Linda - "This Way!"

The bug mask Leigh has for her mare is just amazing - a very thin mesh that is almost custom fit to the mares head & all the way down her neck.  Very nice & black goes well with black :-)

At the creek

Since there's now no water anywhere on the trails & we'd been out a couple hours already - we headed down to Pilchuck Creek.  I was shocked at how little water is left - just since my last visit!  Scary stuff after seeing southern, CA earlier this year - with No water in any of their rivers.

I started feeling a little puny - so decided to head back on my own & see how the saddle worked with some faster trotting & a gallop.  Seemed OK, but something was "off".  Once home I was giving Farah a bath when Butch pulled in.  He found blisters on both of Farah's sides, where the rigging had rubbed :-(  Really Not Good.  Tomorrow I plan to go visit Linda, take this saddle & compare it with hers - the one I'd borrowed for over a year now.

I wasn't thrilled with the craftsmanship - it had certainly slipped, but I was willing to bear that - if the saddle worked.  After only 14-miles - blisters are not something that I'd call working...

A Different Point-to-Point~

One of the few remaining trails through the bigger second growth trees~

I'd gotten the idea when I realized how close we come to the Centennial Trail from the old Scott Main Line road at the bottom of my loop.  Today - I met Jack & Lynn at Haller Park, we loaded Farah into Lynn's trailer & left mine there.  Jack drove us on up to the glass school parking lot, where we mounted up & hit the trail.  We started my loop in reverse, getting in some miles on the tree farm, before heading on down to Hwy 9.

The hole that tripped Jesse!

 Today I was determined to fill in the above hole!  It was deeper than it looks - no wonder he couldn't keep his feet!  It took about seven rocks to fill it, I stomped them down & hope it holds.

Hwy 9

It was a tight squeeze around the gate - once out to the highway - it was about 100 ft. to the current northern end of the trail.  I'd dismounted to see how to get around the gate & once Lynn was around, I started jogging pretty fast down that nasty section of road - next to the guard rail, with Sophie trotting along behind us!  We just got off when a Big truck went whizzing by!  Nothing I'd recommend - but for this one time, it accomplished our mission.

North end of the improved trail~

 We rode the mile + of trail that is unimproved & so pretty!  It had been mowed, but the grasses were higher than our mare's heads - giving them ample opportunity to grab mouthful's as we went.  Bad footing was on our minds, along with mole holes, so we did a lot of walking & kept our trotting speed down.  With all the rain - the horse path was slippery too.

New bright signage made from recycled street signs!

Originally thinking that we'd do the ride in about 3+ hours, we called Jack to tell him that we were running behind.  There were a few bikes on the trail, but we were the only equestrians.   There was a Bear warning sign posted just before the bridge over Pilchuck creek.

Bridge over Pilchuck Creek~

From what was really a cold feeling morning - even at noon, the day finally cleared & warmed!  We were removing our jackets in short order.  The closer we came to Arlington, the more people were out enjoying the trail.  Now that the kids are out of school, it was nice to see families out enjoying such a nice day.

Haller Trestle

Our final bridge was the Big one!  The Haller Trestle!  Lots of people were down on the banks of the river, enjoying the water - even as cold as I'm sure it still is!  Both mares had figured out that we were on a point-to-point & I'm sure Farah knew that her trailer was up ahead!  :-)

Our Trailers wait~!

We could see our trailers from the bridge!  Mine still there & Jack waiting for Lynn.  We'd gone just over 17-miles.  Eight on the tree farm & the rest on the trail!  Fun to know that we'd Done it!  :-)  Now - if I can just keep others from trying to steal one of my favorite riding partners!  :-) 

Exploring We Go!

A rare planting of Western Red Cedar~

Lynn made the drive up to ride at Victoria with me today.  It was another picture perfect day in May!  Not too warm, nice breeze keeping the bugs at bay, blue skies & fluffy white clouds.  More than once we said it was like riding through Narnia!

A trail winds through it~

After my ride here last week, I had a plan for finding the way to the southern trails.  So instead of heading up the hill to the Monument & views - we started out at the bottom, wound around - then found a trail that headed the direction I though I wanted to go.  At one point, there was a large tree down across the trail - I got off to see if we could get around, next thing - I have my mare right up next to me!  Then - past me - over the branches - breaking them as she went - she made it all the way through - with me still on the dumb end of the reins! (A Deanism :-) Well!  I guess we're still in business!  Sophie - not to be outdone, carefully picked her way through, Lynn still in the saddle!

Growing fungi

I was amazed when we came out on the roads that I recognized from the day a couple years ago that Linda & I had gotten this far out.  From that point on - I told Lynn that we'd play it be ear & I still wanted to head south - my goal - to get to the river!

Pilchuck Creek

We could hear it before we saw it & found a small trail - very overgrown that went down the steep hill, water lapping at the small shore.  Those waves had Farah stopped - but my heels at her sides convinced her to go in.  Once she was in, she had no problem moving further out at my urging.  The water was so clear - it was easy to see that it got deep in a hurry!

Thanks for the photo Lynn!

It was so beautiful - Farah stood in water up to her knees & seemed to enjoy the current swirling around her legs.  Finally - we turned back & climbed back up to the top.  We checked out a couple other trails & found one that put us out at a spot I knew - so lucky for Lynn - I was back on track to finish our elongated loop & get us back to the trailers!  :-)

Incredible gift of a day & a really nice ride!