Charlotte's Web~

Ode to Fall~

Friday the 13th - not superstitious - or so I say, but I still drove carefully, paid attention & was happy when Linda & I were in the saddle & out on the trails.  The day started out overcast with heavy fog at home.  During the drive north - nothing changed.    When Linda asked me which way I wanted to go, I said;  "The Waterfall Trail".  I hadn't been on it in years & Linda didn't know what kind of shape it would be in.

The creek, silt over the bridge

It was as steep & technical as I remembered, when we slid down the hill to the crossing, the culvert was partially blocked & the slit had covered the top.  I dismounted to see if the little handmade bridge was still solid & it seemed to be.  Farah paid attention to where she put her feet & made it over, Linda rode Count over without incident.  We kept expecting the day to clear, but instead the fog just seemed to thicken.

Fog in the Woods~

It was almost oppressive...   We were circling the mountain & staying on trail.  Some places actually muddy & slick from the recent rains, other places, bone dry.

The "view" of Lake McMurray

By mid-afternoon, we were still riding trail.  We came to a switch-back where horses had cut up the hillside rather than taking the trail.  Something that always makes a trail steward mad.  We dismounted, I tied Farah off up the trail a way, with Linda just below us.  We started tossing limbs back over the area that was torn up.   Suddenly Linda yelled; "Bees" - "Run"!  I climbed up to Farah - untied her & took off at a run up the steep, narrow trail.  I heard thrashing behind us - Count was getting stung!  Next, Linda said;  "I've got to let him go!"  This was not good...  he's big & powerful & was coming right up the trail at Farah.  Farah - didn't move a muscle - just stood there on the trail, alert.  As Count pounded toward us, I watched to see what side he would take to get past - the uphill - steep, or possibly push her off the downhill side.

Our route~

I wish I'd had the presence of mind to pull out my camera.   As Count came up behind Farah's rear - his expression changed from panic to "OH!@  Farah!" as he applied the brakes & stopped shy of running into her!  Guess if it was a choice of being stung or Farah's wrath - he chose the bees!  :-)  Linda caught up to him & as she did, the bees came behind her!  Still on the warpath!  We both took off running up the trail until we were out of breath, mounted still on the run & took off to the top!  Finally...  there...  the bees gave up!

No excitement in our lives!  Linda had two really huge sting welts that we treated with Dean's anti-itch cream.   Later Linda found welts on Count.  Good horses both!  Of course we looked at each other & said;  "Gee - wonder why those other riders had gone off trail on that corner?!"  Yea - we can be a little dense sometimes!  :-) 

Ridin with Friends~

Farah waits in the shade~

Yes, as with most of us these days of electronic everything - I read Facebook.  It's not the newspaper, but it's certainly almost as news worthy!  Not every day - some days more than others, weather dependent :-) & use it to keep up with my friends.  I saw a post late last night - that my Fishy & Pirate type friends, who usually call themselves the Usual Suspects, planned to ride at one of my favorite places - Victoria - today!  The weatherman was promising another sizzling hot day - but they were leaving early enough that I figured we'd be done before mid-afternoon.

Contrast day - hot sun, cooler shade, haze over the Cascades~

I loaded Farah & we arrived early.  Next was Aarene, of Haiku Farm with Fiddle, then Dory, Tim, Patty, Siri & Monica of Horsebytes!   Can you just imagine the reading we'd all have to do if everyone had a blog?  :-)  Anyway, it wasn't long before we split up into two groups, the two "A Type" full-of-themselves mares - Spotty & Farah setting a nice pace, with Tim on his new horse keeping up. 

Dory & Tim

 After a nice loop, we met-up with the rest of our party for a photo op at the marshmallows.  Monica & Aarene took the mandatory "City Slickers" photo - it took some positioning to get everyone in a "line" - or maybe an "almost" line?    Here's a photo from Aarene that Monica took.

The Motley Crew :-)

The Smell of Fall~

Our trail through the tall trees~

After two-days of canning in the kitchen - it was time to Ride!  Butch has taken some vacation days, originally we thought we'd have to make a trip to CO.  Thankfully - that didn't happen - so instead, we're both working on projects here at home, before the rains return.

Our trail west - brush cut~

 That said...  I was itching for some saddle time.  It was so late in the day by the time I'd finished the second batch of zucchini relish - it was easier to head out from here.  It had been awhile since we'd been out on "our" trails.  I was surprised that the air in the woods had the smell of Fall!  Just enough leaves on the ground to rustle as we passed through.  We haven't had enough brisk nights to start them turning yet, let alone falling.  What color we do have is from our dry summer.

At the north end

 It was obvious that the utility company had come through & done a lot of brush cutting under their lines.  Everything looked "wide-open" in comparison to a couple months ago.  Rounding the corner to head north at the upper end of our "loop" I found where they were putting all the debris.

Brush piles

We rode around, back toward the gas lines & turned back.  Still too early for sunset, but that's going to be changing fast!

Reed Canary Grass

Farah was determined to stop at her favorite grazing spot - where the Reed Canary Grass grows lush & thick in a low wet spot. 

Our Trail back~

The last section of trail that we take to get home, the same that we worked hours to clear a few weeks ago, has held up pretty well - even after the rains.  Next time through I'll have to be clipping blackberry though!

Mt. Philchuck

It was going on 7 p.m. when we crested the hill, a beautiful end to the day~

Another Brick in the "Wall"~

Our two bricks

Under the Resilience Arch Plaza just north of Haller Park, there have been bricks installed on the convergence of the Centennial & Whitehorse Trails.  These bricks are available for a small fee, that supports the trail & it's further expansion toward Darrington.   Butch & I have had a thing for purchasing bricks since we first heard that the Pike Street Market was selling bricks to help finance renovation & new construction in the mid-80's.

Certificate of Recognition

Ours was still there about ten-years ago when we looked for it.  We haven't checked lately, but it was in a "good" spot - not heavily used, but where we did find it.  Now, after reading the article - guess we'll have to go down for another "hunting trip".  :-)

Museum Brick

Another year, the Island County Museum in the town of Coupeville, on Whidbey Island was promoting memorial brick sales to help with their renovation.  This was right when the movie "War of the Roses" was was filmed on the island & the actors who were in the movie, (Michael Douglas was one) - purchased bricks!  So did we!

I think it was my Dad who started me on putting my name somewhere permanent :-)   In the back yard of each of the three homes we had in Boulder,  Dad would install a clothes line for Mom.  The posts were set in concrete & each time I got to put my hand-print & name at the base.   I have to wonder if they are still there?   Maybe we'll have to go check that out our next trip.

Here on the Homestead, when concrete hit the dirt, there was someone putting their initials, hand-prints or both into the fresh wet cement.  Abby's kennel was the first thing we built & it still has her paw prints at the door along with her name spelled out in agates that Jentry collected on our beach trips.

Jentry & Abby doing the print!  9-1-1990

So - here we are many years later & still buying bricks!  The plan is to get out there shortly on our bikes -  for a photo!  If you haven't taken up this particular "hobby" now would be a good time!  Support the two wonderful linear parks that so many have worked so hard to make reality!

Into the Cool & Clouds~

Moving in~

The weatherman said something about a big, slow moving storm that was coming up from the south - one clear day - then tomorrow & Friday - rain!  I didn't want to miss an opportunity to get out while the getting was good!  Joyce too had a plan for today - checking out some of the trails that she'd used years ago - even prior to when she moved into the "neighborhood" of the tree farms.

Freshly graded roads~

The first thing we couldn't help but notice, was the freshly graded logging roads, so fresh that when we came up on the grader - we were ready to turn back.  The operator was super nice, just out to clear the brush from the sides.  Not to open it up for more logging - which was our first thought.  The footing was so soft - especially after yesterday's rain - that Farah wanted to move-out so we did!  It was perfect for good long stretches of trot!

Large clear cuts

We found some large clear-cuts & lots of lots of forest!  The idea is to maybe make a loop or two out from where we found dead-ends today.  Sure looks possible & would be some nice Winter riding.  Now the truth comes out!  Joyce likes my Google trail images!  :-)  So I'll share it here.

Exploring~

We were out well over three hours & covered just under 20-miles.  It was an invigorating ride!  At this rate, we'll have to move up in distance - again :-)  After Diana Nyad's incredible record breaking swim - who can question what can be done when we take up new challenges, or re-visit old ones?   Not that I will... mind you!  But Karen's book makes those 100's sound like so much fun :-)  Not!