Gray Card Gray Day~

Light drizzle - not the sunshine that I'd hoped for.  The day was so close to gray card gray that I had to title it as such :-)  After a busy week, today was my day to ride!  

A slight sun break~

At Victoria, we have our training loop down now & it's fun to try to match or beat our own time.  I wasn't too motivated - we were only a half-mile out when Farah started shying at a broken tree tops on the road.  I dismounted - picked one big piece up & shook it all over her, needles flying!  She finally just dropped her head & closed her eyes - submission for sure!

View from the top~

 From that time on, I had a really great ride!  This mare is far from stupid, she constantly pushes boundaries - but once she realizes that the line has been drawn - she will respect it.  At least until the next time :-)  Of course Spring - doesn't help - her mind distracted until she gets to work.

Lunch is a big motivator :-)

  Today - we matched our good time to the Monument from last week & she was still dry.  I was admiring the view - it was so chilly that I put my jacket back on.  Farah had again looked up a couple times & soon a hiker came walking out.  Nice guy, we made small talk before I decided to move on.

The Sound~

 It was a somewhat subdued day - besides a few jets flying over early on, we didn't see anyone else all afternoon.  In just the past week, it's amazing how all the natives are blooming at once!

Bitter Cherry blooms~

 I could smell the bitter cherry, before we rounded the corner & came up on it.  Just beautiful - too bad the fruit isn't edible.  In Fall, the leaves turn turn beautiful oranges & golds. 

Devils Club

 The Devils Club is coming to life!  Sprouting it's nasty spiked leaves!  We went all the way to the bottom of the hill again - finding another tree blow down across the trail.

New tree down~

 Coming back up - we had to slow our trot/gallop to squeeze under - but Farah picked her pace right back up on the far side.  She again matched her fastest speed - as I asked for the slow down - we ran out of road fast!  It's almost fun when she starts applying the breaks - checking herself down, the smoothest of any horse I've ever ridden. 

We have a trip coming up before long, it will be good to get away again & see some fresh country~

Leaving Lots of LNT!

Trucks at Bracken

 Today I was on a mission & it was well timed.  When I arrived at Bracken - the lot had been newly graded.  No piles of manure or hair.  I came prepared with LNT brochures & a few of the bags we'd received at last weekends class.  I walked the parking lot & put a brochure on every windshield.

One of the bags~

 There was only one lady with two young riders saddling up - as I walked around.  I introduced myself & handed her a brochure.  She had no idea that she was riding on private property - needed to sign a liability waiver & was more than happy to take the LNT information - since she works with a lot of 4-H kids too.  Thank you Karen!

Native Bleeding Hearts

 It was just a beautiful morning.  I decided to stretch my boundaries & take another trail, as I'm memorizing my way around now :-)  There I ran into Leigh & Martha!  We stopped to chat & I explained that they would find a brochure on their trucks :-)

View of the Olympics!

 It was still clear enough that the views of the Olympics were grand!  Farah was in a heightened mode today for whatever reason.  She decided that a tree top on one of the wooded trails was something that she was Not going to go by!  I sat there, started eating some grapes & watched as she huffed & puffed.  Finally - she realized that we were going Nowhere unless she decided to pass the tree top.  After she did - I dismounted & shook it all over her body.  She stood there & looked as guilty as a horse can...

Again - the water tank.

 She tried the dancy/prancy thing at the water tank too, didn't work & she finally gave in & put her nose in the water.

Tree leaves budding~

Our Spring is in full bloom now - pedals from the bitter cherry trees, floating down with the breeze - contributed to the perfect riding day. 

Crossing Tin Bridge still reminds me of moving through a portal to a different world.  Farah is always on a mission to get there, since it's a very nice lunch spot. :-)

Elderberry ~

So many of our state's native plants are now blooming.  The Salmonberry, Red Elderberry & even the small wild roses have their tiny pink buds opening!  The air smells so rich & lush - almost sweet enough to eat!

Bitter Cherry Blooms~

Back at the parking - all the rigs that were there earlier were gone - no brochures on the ground!   I put more on the windshields of the late arrivals. Here's hoping that they are read & that just maybe - gradually - we'll see some improvement.