We head back toward that For Sale sign from yesterday~
I've had to amend this post to include mention of Earth Day! Our first on the Homestead - we planted trees & still are! :-)
I really didn't expect to get in a ride today... But the early afternoon was so pretty & even though the clouds were moving fast, there was plenty of blue sky. So - I saddled up again & had a plan to check out the trails to the south - since we'd gone north yesterday.
Pilchuck Creek
Though it's hard to see under all the green - the creek flows through here from it's headwaters further up. This land is home to the headwaters of no less than three different creeks - along with the numerous wetlands that I love so much. Coming to our old "Clover Hill" the creek was beautiful!
Farah gets a drink~
Pilchuck creek used to be full of Salmon. In the fall - the banks would be covered with dead fish. We were wading through one year - when one splashed unexpectedly & spooked our horses.
The creek flowing~
We went down the two trails that I re-discovered a few months ago to the place where the old bridge has fallen in - or been removed.
Farah was just Great! She went through water up to her chest, then dropped down into a small ravine full of flowing water & a small waterfall! The entire ride she worked on a loose rein & even in the middle of a heat cycle - used her head. From this point - we made the turn to go back.
Caught by the rain!
Back in the future development - the rain hit! One big dark cloud right over our heads - small hail pellets too. We parked under the trees until the worst of it blew by... Then started up to the power line & north. The rain let up, the sun returned & my shirt actually started drying out! Farah hit a good trot on our way back & I got chilled from the breeze :-)
Rain is Moving IN!
By the time we'd crested the hill - it was obvious that our good time was coming to an end! It's just so gorgeous these spring days - that I'd spend All my time out riding if I could! It seems so many riders get wrapped up in the conditioning aspect of riding... For me - it's all about the Ride!
First, another Thank You is due to Dean Essex, DVM - for teaching me about saddles! It was so cold & so crisp & Farah was So full of herself! We got past the Utility crew cutting on our trees, snort, snort. Then across Pat's & up the road...
Farah is very animated!
Next we go through the neighbors yard & up onto the trail.
Snow frozen on the ground & bushes~
Good I say to myself, now she will settle down! Not! AT the end of this short trail it opens up & there were several spots of frozen water. As we went past one, Farah's fast feet set a rock flying that landed & slid across the ice at her rear end. In the next second she bucked & I was above my saddle looking down. I came down - right back into the seat with my feet back in the stirrups! YES! I love my saddle! My horse got the stick! No more shenanigans!
Rock hard frozen ground~
At the end of this trail is a sharp downhill where the base of the Beaver Dam blocks the end of the big wetland. The water was pouring over the trail.
No, not a river, just a full creek flowing over the trail~
I love this part, the part where Ms. Farah just goes trudging right through the water! What an improvement over our first months together almost two-years ago now. We actually did a little gallop on the way up to the power lines.
North - It looked & was COLD!
We turned South~
Going past one of the Beaver Ponds,, the water had a layer of ice. Farah had been breaking through the ice on the trails. She figured out how to break through with a foot - then drink as it gurgled under the remaining ice.
Beaver Pond
This time we rode over to see if the gate was still in place on 130th, & it was~
Closed gate on our map~
Another adrenalin rush... as we rounded the corner & went into the shade, Farah slipped! The road was covered with a layer of black ice. I moved her over onto the shoulder.
Looking back the way we'd come~
As you can see in the photo above & a close-up on the one below, this area hosts probably the most "protected" area signs anywhere in the state.
Really?
Before the logging, before the paving, before the fencing - yes - it was the most spectacular area - a forgotten gem of a place with fresh flowing creeks, full of salmon, wetlands with fish, birds & beaver - but now? Houses in rows, yards, pollutants, yard debris? Really? There's the matter of the funding to actually protect the area? Where does that come from? If they'd just stayed out - it took pretty good care of itself. Somewhere under this land is supposed to be the largest fresh water aquifer left on this side of the state. The large wetland is the recharge area for the aquifer, I've been told.
Mt. Pilchuck
We come back over to our side of the ridge & are welcomed by one of the best views in this part of the county~ My fingers were getting numb from taking the pictures, but it was our ride & I'm sticking to it! :-)
Don't ask me how I did it, but this time I managed to overlay our ride route today onto the top of the route from the 17th! As you can tell, we got MUCH farther! When we woke up to gray skies, mist & fresher air it was a hallelujah moment! A perfect riding day & we were riding!
A "where are we moment" :-)
When we came out of a large stand of trees to this clear-cut, we had an idea that Hwy 9 was below us. We pushed on & entered another large stand of timber, it was like riding through Narnia! Moss hanging from the trees & so quiet.
Gray green in the timber~
Some of these trails were heavily overgrown, so we had to pick our way - but we never did get stopped! Linda recognized where we were, I did too eventually :-) By the time we looked to see how long we'd been riding - we'd been out over three hours! We circled back & onto the "fun" trails through the trees! Yippee!
Same picture, different day & With Lynn!
We worked our way back & up the ridge - to find ourselves back in the clouds, it was still misting & by the time we reached the overlook to the lake, it was actually RAIN! Not much, but we'll take anything we can get! That fresh, clean air was a true gift!
Linda, Dawn & Lynn
I had to lighten this up, but you get the idea. :-) This time Farah "rubbed" my right 1/2 chap on a couple trees - so this tells me that she is trying to make adjustments! We did have to go back & do a section where she let her need for speed get ahead of her brain - but the second time through it was perfect. We did have one very large spook at a rock... it seems that Farah heard somewhere that rocks have eaten horses... When we came to the last rock she had spooked at, we went right by.
By the time we got back, we'd been out almost five hours & it didn't feel like enough~ More exploring to do too!
Yes, we're riding & riding a lot. The weather is making it easy to remember that at least according to the calendar it's still Summer! The sunshine is actually starting to get on the "nerves" of true Western Washington residents who are looking forward to & expecting some of those cool, crisp, beautiful days of early fall with some rain thrown in. Linda & I both like to ride in that kind of weather & are missing it a little - still holding out hope for that perfect fall.
Christa & Dawn rode with us today - we took it easier than we have - since Christa had been on a couple weeks of vacation & Dawn was riding her husbands very nice big gelding. It was amazing to see how this huge horse fit through the trees! :-) Wish I'd taken a photo!
Linda, Christa & Dawn
With the roads rock hard, at least the trails are still soft & nice under the canopy of the trees. On a steep up-hill, Farah - in the lead - dug in & flew up! She has the "bottom" now to keep going even when she realized that her first burst had to be followed by a second! :-) I gave her a big Yippee when we crested the top & she loved it!
We did go way to the south on the old trails there;
View from the clear-cut
Checking it out on Google Earth - I'm pretty sure we were looking east toward Mt. Washington. There have to be old trails somewhere in-between, but it would take some dedicated trail volunteers to open then up. Another fine ride & I never thought I'd say it; but I'm looking forward to riding on a gray, misty day~
I actually did try to find someone to ride with - without success. In retrospect, so glad I didn't! This ride was all about Farah. Decided to let her do what she wanted to do & see what it got me. What I got - was the most fun I've had in forever! We left the parking area at a trot! Yes, usually I let a horse warm-up, but she'd been out all morning & wanted to go! Part of the "deal" I made with her. What a trot it was! Over 14 mph - fast, straight, consistent for just over 2-miles! She slowed to her walkfor a mile or so, then we trotted right up the first two hills - where she took another breather & ate grass while I took pictures :-) Again we headed up - nice collected trot to the top. Loose rein with contact the entire way.
It was no surprise to find that the view east was totally socked in. We headed over to the west side & were rewarded by breaking cloud cover that revealed a soaked landscape.
West from the Monument
Was someone coming? Not likely!
After a short break, with heavy clouds moving in quickly from the south, I decided to start back. Once over the top of the ridge & onto the east side, the sky lightened. I could have spent the day watching natures show... instead I pulled out my new waterproof smartphone & tried out it's video to capture this~
On the way back, as we headed up, Farah dropped her head, lifted her back, dropped her rear & moved into a gallop with one of the smoothest transitions I've ever ridden! We started flying! Again - straight, true, not even the glimmer of a spook! Up to 18 mph by the time we reached the summit. Yippee! Deep breath & on we went! All this & only the start of what is her first real year of conditioning!
It's May! One of the two months of the year that I think are the most beautiful here in Western, WA! The greens are so intense & the foliage so lush that I can almost spend my days drifting away inhaling the negative ions! Since I'm going to be working on the farm the end of this month, I've been trying to get all the Spring "stuff" done! Moving my geraniums out of the greenhouse & into pots around the house & yard. Planted zucchini & summer squash in the garden. Just a couple plants of each - but it should be plenty for the two of us.
With the beating that the Woods took this last Winter, we still have one very large limb out of the biggest of our Big Leaf Maples to chain saw up & figure out what to do with. I try to find places even for the trees & downfall that ends up on the ground & usually on my paths! It's a long way to haul it down to the yard & takes forever to use our small wood chipper - plus the noise...
Creek at West Woods
I've found that the very best thing to do on these lovely days - is just to enjoy them! I take that extra bit of time to walk, listen to the birds, admire the fresh green of the new ferns & the tinkling sound of the creek... Time to be thankful for being alive!
This is the sunshine that we were told to "enjoy" before the next front comes in? OK!
The beauty is outstanding -- so must enjoy!
It's very few winters where I'm not outside working most of the time - if I'm not riding! But this winter is different! I'm going to be drawing up a new "name" sign for our next granddaughter!
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