Workin' in the Woods~

Woods from the backyard~

It had been So very long since we'd spent any time working up here...  The last few years I've been spending a lot of time in the saddle & it's not fair to my hard-working husband to have a honey do list loom every weekend.

At Frog Hollow~

After the drought this last Summer, then months of the wettest Winter on record, the creek had gone out of its bed in several places.  Butch went up & started working on that.  He got a fire going, so I decided to work in Tall Trees Grove, another area close to the yard where we'd had so many limbs come down & the lower branches on the Cedars had dried & dropped down.

Kitt in Tall Trees Grove - 1999

 I was happily cutting, hauling & pruning - when suddenly as I was cutting through a smaller cedar branch - my heavy - long handled loppers backfired & slammed back to hit me right between the eyes.  After the pain cleared, I was thinking; "Great!  A nice big bruise!"  For the few seconds until the blood started flowing...  Now, I have a nice 2" gash on my forehead :-( Let that be a lesson to me.  We'd just been discussing the use of protective gear when doing work with the BCH.  (Should have listened to you Chris!) 

Creek at our NW corner~

Not to be deterred, I went back out!  Between the two of us, we managed to clear out that section!  My goal is to have the worst of it cleared before the ferns start growing again.  When I think of all the wheelbarrows full of ground cedar bark we used to cover the trails - I wish I'd know then what I do now...  This state is tough on anything outside.  All that bark has now decomposed into the ground & you'd never know it was ever there.  Even small statuary made of concrete has disintegrated.

Weathered Signage~

The signage too, all hand done - is showing the effects of the 16+ years since it was installed.  As we sat out at the fire - late in the afternoon, we were picturing the McMansion that will probably, someday be built where our modest little home is now.  Until then - I still love every minute I'm working up there & hope the woods will remain intact - forever.  Letting nature take its course, the Cedars growing huge & the creek flowing free.

Gorgous in July~

Dappled Shade in the trees~

I was happy to hear that Joyce had time for a ride today.  It was another beautiful morning, cooler than yesterday.  Sunshine, a light breeze & clouds floating by overhead.   No traffic, no school buses - summertime!  Still not used to the ugliness at the Bracken Rd. parking area of the tree farm - it's hard to pull in & remember it as it was...  I'm sure it will take years before any of us who knew it before - reconcile to the new look.  We headed over to a trail through one of the few remaining stands of nice trees - then wrapped around to the creek crossing where the Beaver Pond used to be.  I think the Beavers were trapped, hopefully relocated & the dam removed.  This all makes for a beautiful crossing for the horses, without what had become a swim across in early spring.

Creek Crossing~

Joyce was riding Target, who hadn't been out much this season - so we took it easy.  Farah had checked him out - almost falling on her face as she exited the trailer :-)  She's always interested in who we ride with & she'd only met Target once that I can think of. 

Joyce & Target

She allowed me to rate her without too much head-tossing or threat of a buck :-)  It's not that I don't see the head drop, neck curl, back come up & feel the power coiled there!  :-)  Thankfully - she's a good girl!  One of her very few bad habits - I say few because it's only happened twice now - is running off when I've been mounting up.  I get a foot in the stirrup & start the swing & she takes off.  Both times, the second just this past weekend - I stay in the stirrup, pull her up & smack her hard with my stick!  Today - when I was ready to re-mount after a short break - I said;  "You'd better Stand - or No Cookie!"  When I say that she "stood like a statue" - it wouldn't be an understatement!  I reached into my pack for a cookie, but hadn't put them back in!  I borrowed one from Joyce - since she's used the cookie as reward for no movement during mounting, for years - very successfully :-)

Starting to flower~

We really had a fun ride, some good trots, did the sand loop a couple times & since Joyce had to work - we quit at just over ten-miles.  Once home,  I untacked Farah up at the barn, our usual routine.  Then - as usual, she walks two steps into the tack room to remind me that she needs one of either the mint or carrot cookies that are stored in the can!

This is the cookie can!

This mare would come in the house if there was something to eat inside!  She loves standing there - looking around, then resting while I put things away.  Next - down to the house for a shower to wash the sweat off - feels good to us both.  Finally, fly spray/mask - & her pasture time.  Spoiled?  No way :-)

Distance Derby Update:  Holding onto seventh by a wing & a prayer - over 650 YTD!  Shoes rattling & ready to fall off after under four weeks!

Camping, Hiking Fun! - Day 2

Route to the Coast - 5.3 miles

Sunday we woke to sunshine!  That & a light breeze motivated us to hit the trails again - this time with the goal of reaching the coast.  After checking out the maps, we decided on the short way out from camp to give us more time to get out to the point.

John Tursi's hand-hewn underpass

This time we crossed under Hwy 20 further south & were rewarded with a beautiful walk through very large Douglas Fir on the west side, before the trail reached the coast.

Looking at the Deception Pass Bridge

At the point above, we were already well beyond the beach where we'd stopped on Sat.  We were on the North Beach trail to West point.  This was a really nice trail, with several spots where you could access the beach areas.  We were moving at a pretty good pace when Rascal had to make one of his many stops to shake.  As he did, the clip on his lead came free.  In the next millisecond...  he was Gone!  Butch called for him, but we knew it was pointless.  Nika was unconcerned - we decided there was nothing to be done but continue on down the trail.  A few minutes later a runner coming from the direction we were headed said that yes, he had seen a Beagle traveling fast up ahead...  If any of you know Beagles, you know that the one thing they can be counted on to do - is follow their nose...  Visions of all the terrible things that can happen to a loose dog were flying through our heads as we hiked.  It seemed like hours but after what was probably only about five minutes I heard Butch say;  "Hi there Rascal!"  As we'd come around a corner, there he was waiting for us on the side of the trail!  GOOD BOY!  Did I say GOOD BOY?!  You can bet that Rascal got way more attention than he wanted!

What made him decide to wait rather than continue on we do not know...  but I do know that we were very happy that he was safe.  Yes, we'd forgotten the pinch collars...  never again & the leads are going to have those snap ends replaced with a bull clip.

Our reward~

The light was just amazing!  The forest was so beautiful!  It was a perfect day & the perfect place to spend it!

Red of the Madrona

View of the Bridge & Cascades

View from the West Point

We came out near one of the many parking areas along this section of the park.  It seemed strange to come off the quiet forest trail & suddenly find lots of cars, people etc.  We headed back the way we'd come & took a short break.

Beautiful old construction~

On the hike back, both dogs were on their "A" game!  Rascal in the lead, Butch, Nika & me :-)  No more pulling, just setting a nice 3.2 mph pace & having a fine time!

Nika, Butch & Rascal

We returned on the same trails that we'd started out on, the day was growing short & camp was a welcome sight.

Our camp through the trees~

After a hot drink & snack, it was time to pack up & head back home, both of us wishing we'd had another day.  The drive back started out beautiful with incredible views of the Cascades as we were leaving the island.  A few miles south of Mt. Vernon though - we drove right into a heavy, dark cloud of dense fog.  Speeds dropped from 70 to 50 mph. in less than a mile.  The rest of the drive home was slower & it was a relief to see the lights of home!

We're already making reservations for more camping & planning trips with both the girls & their families this summer :-)

Camping, Hiking, Fun! - Day 1

First days hike - 4.8-mi.

It had been years & years since we'd just gone "camping".  When the girls were little & we managed residential multifamily - our only inexpensive escape was camping!  Since we were on-call full time, we had two, three-day weekends a month for our get-a-ways.  Our little Apache camping trailer saw lots & lots of miles over the years until we moved to the Homestead.  The girls were grown, we bought horses & life changed!  Now it seems to be changing again as we transition from our competitive years to enjoying more varied pursuits.

Great Blue Heron

 We were more than ready to get-away from the cold freezing temperatures, fog & gray.  Years ago we discovered that the weather on Whidbey Island can be very different & I'd made reservations at the only camp that is now kept open in the winter.

The dogs accompanied us.  These two have never had formal obedience training, so the first few miles were more about dog training than anything else!  Butch took Rascal's lead - he was the worst!  Nika liked to pull, but finally figured out that only one of us could be in front!  :-)  At Cornet Bay we were thrilled to see this Blue Heron.  The first I've ever managed to get a photo of!  He was quite a distance down the beach from us, but the zoom brought him in close.

Sat. started out cold & hazy, but the sun began burning through & it was much warmer than what we'd left at home!

Rascal & Nika

By the time we had our lunch break, the sun was already getting lower in the sky to the west.

Deception Pass from the South end of the Bridge

We made really good time on the trip back.  One big climb where we felt the burn, then a nice wide forested path on the return.

From the Cornet Bay youth camp

Back at Cornet Bay, we enjoyed the late afternoon sunshine.   The day was starting to cool down, Butch built a fire & we had somemores after dinner!

Stupid People~

South side of the road

Today I met with a representative from our Public Utility company to discuss trimming the trees along the power line.  I've been know as a "sensitive customer" for over twenty-years now.  I love it!  As it's become more "politically correct" to prune with the approval of property owners & not just show up to chop & hack - I've actually developed a working relationship with the foreman.  We get together to walk/talk & see exactly what needs to be done - then he schedules the crew for a day I'm home.

As we walked up the road, we smelled smoke, Randy turned around to see the burn barrel directly south from the woods burning & smoking.  He looked at me & said;  "There's a BURN BAN in effect!"  Disbelief in his voice.  I took the photo then called 911.  This "neighbor" has been trying to "rule" his little corner of the world for all the years we've had the displeasure of living across the road from him.  His dogs run at-large, he drives as fast as he wants on the road, he hits our fence, mailbox, etc.  He operates some sort of "industrial manufacturing shop" in what is supposed to be a "Rural Zone" of Snohomish County - with the accompanying truck traffic etc.   I'm the "witch with a B" according to him.  Good is what I say!  

North side of the road - our woods~

This burning thing has gone on for years now, I've tried to get a photo, but he usually does it at night or late in the day.  It's not that he's burning wood, oh no - it's something with an acrid smell.  I've found pieces of ash deep in the woods.  This year - it's more than scary - it's downright frightening!  The Fire Dept. was quick to respond - they told him to put it out, get rid of the burn barrel & to not burn anything besides yard debris.  They also told him to move any fire further back on his property - away from our forest.  

Yes, I've had the sprinkler out for several days now, watering as far as I can along the road inside our woods - just enough to try to keep things a little moist...  Rain, RAIN would be WELCOME!

Blanchard Ride~

Khari, Connie Darlene, Sable, Cinnamon & Kathy

Friday, we were riding "rain or shine".  I met Charlotte at the exit off I-5 & followed her to the trail head where Darlene & Kathy were waiting.  We were saddled & on the trails by 11 a.m.  The wind was blowing, it was cold & looked like rain was on the way - so we brought our rain gear.  We decided on the British Army Trail. 
 

Aliento & Charlotte too!

It was as steep, somewhat slippery & as full of sharp turns, rocks, roots etc., as I remembered from my one ride here, a few years ago with Diane.

Looking Southwest~

We set a good pace & covered a lot of ground.  By the time we reached the edge of the lookout area the rain was moving in & wind picking up even more.  After a short break, we headed back the way we'd come.  I heard my name?  Looked ahead & around the corner to see Patty & Kendal!  It was a gaggle of endurance women :-)  Back at the trailers we loaded the horses & headed to a little tavern in Algers for some Great burgers & beer!   Really nice way to end a day's good ride!  The drive home was through heavy rain & lots of traffic, a 100 mile round-trip for me, but well worth it!

Another Fine Day~

Harry O's Loop

It was 25 degrees when I checked on our front deck at 6:30 a.m.  Butch had me hitched & ready - I headed over to pick Farah up.  Dean's gate lock was frozen - out came the lighter :-)  (No... I don't smoke :-)  

In just over an hour we were at Harry O's Backcountry Horseman's Camp.  I'd invited myself along for the morning ride that two of my friends had planned :-)  What an incredible day it became!  We were on the trail by 9:30 a.m. & the first layer peeled off within minutes.  The sun was over the mountains & the day was WARM with a light breeze.

We could see all the way to the Olympics

Taking a turn that was unfamiliar, we climbed to almost 2,000 feet.  Most of this was on logging roads, so the footing was good.  Once we started on the trails down, we found the mud.  The worst of it was only in a few areas.  Riding for just over three hours, still felt like a short ride!

Once back, I stripped Farah's saddle;  she started looking for a place to roll & roll she did!  Grunting & rubbing & have a whee of a time :-)  Next she jumped up - had a good shake & walked over to see what Fancy had to eat!  Fancy was so nice & shared with Farah.  By the time we were ready to leave, she'd also emptied Fancy's water bucket!  I was hearing things like;  "She sure takes care of herself."  "Are you sure you might not try endurance with her?"  :-)