1,500 miles - One Horse, One Rider, One Year~

Sunshine & Shadow~

Today - we reached our goal!  1,500-miles since the first of this year.  Farah did it All!  We did a lot of it on our own...  Including this ride - that I knew would take us over the top.  In a way, it was fitting that these last miles were riding out from home, on our trails - after all, they're the trails where we first starting riding horses!

On our way~

It was somewhat bittersweet...  We didn't win the Derby, we managed to stay in second place all year long - knowing full well that there was no way we were going to win.  The motivation came from knowing that if we continued on - Farah would be the highest mileage horse in the Derby for the second year in a row.  That was the number of miles we needed to surpass the distance we traveled last season.

Wetland

Heading north, we visited the big wetland, then crossed through the water flowing over the road & headed on to the point farthest north on these lines, where it's blocked by a gate.

It actually got pretty deep at the far end!

From here, we passed the bottom of another wetland, now partially choked with reed canary grass...

Here is what a Wetland looks like when an invasive plant takes over...

Taking a closer look - we did see our Hawk friend!

Do you see him?

The last trail heading west, goes just a short way - then dead-ends at the last wetland of this string.

Another quiet beauty~

It had been a long time since we'd been this way & I wish there was a way to continue on.  Instead, we turned back.  The day was a quiet one, the birds weren't out - or if they were - we didn't see them.  No deer, no people - just a light haze of smoke in the air.

The Homestead - Between Farah's ears~

Some may not believe, but I really think I could tell the difference in the quality of the daylight on this first week of Winter!   It was thin, the golden glow of Fall has been replaced with the shades of blue/gray of the winter months.  Subdued colors - but lots of those.

With horse people - bragging up one's mount is a recurring theme that I try to avoid - but there are those days, those times, when Farah deserves her due.  She's proven herself to me & cemented her place in my heart...

I'm done counting miles...  Now - tack is getting washed, Linda's saddle is getting cleaned & conditioned, my new one may arrive one of these days...  All will be ready for the new year & what it brings.  Finally - we rest & kick-back to enjoy the holidays!

Over 1,400 miles, Bracken Trails Gone & Great Ridin' with Friends!

Trail Gone~

With the rest of the week a busy one for me & the weather supposed to turn - I wanted to get out again today & knock off the ten-miles, that stood between me & a very big mileage number!  Pat & Donnie were game to ride, Sharon & her daughter Beth were too! 

Another trail gone~

Bracken seemed a good idea.  I'd been told that it was being logged like "crazy", but as we started out - everything seemed normal...  We rode over to the far side of the power lines, where there were a couple very nice, long trails for trotting.  One minute we were on the trail, in the next was a sign saying that logging would be heavy between 12/27 & the first week of Jan.   Then - beyond that - we hit the actual work area.

Pete's trail too - Gone...

It was very treacherous going - through the slash on the ground & heavy track from the excavator...   We were thankful that things were frozen - because otherwise I doubt we could have made it through.  With warmer temps it will all turn to very deep, heavy mud.  After all the years we've ridden here, all the time that's been put in on maintaining these trails - to have three very nice, long used ones torn to bits is really - by anyone's reckoning - devastating...

On Tin Bridge

 So, we headed over to the Whitehorse trail & Tin Bridge.  The level of water in the Stillaquamish was really low!  The week plus of dry weather shows here!

Top dressing the rock~

Another surprise waited for us here!  At least it was a positive one - the heavy rock on the trail is being top dressed with dirt & fines.  Very fine fines...  I'm hoping not so fine that they turn as hard as concrete when they settle?  More questions for our Snohomish County Park Rep.  We'd discussed this at the Centennial Trail Coalition meeting last week, but I had no idea that the work would commence so quickly!  Sadly though - the hole that I've wanted filled for a long while now - will probably be put off until spring.

Distance Derby Team #120!

We headed back, the sun was sinking & the temperature dropped.  I was watching my Garmin & just at the break spot - it rolled over the ten-miles I needed to top 1,400~  Yippee!  So much fun to reach the goal & have friends there to share it with you!

Pat, Beth, Sharon, Donnie & Connie

As we were coming back to the trailers, Sharon said;  "Gosh it would be nice if someone was there to take a photo of us."  Luck was with us & there were two other riders just loading their horses to leave.  They were nice enough to take our photo!

One of days where I would have normally been saddened by the logging & loss of such beautiful trails, but the upside is the continuing work on the Whitehorse & having such good friends to ride with!

Distance Derby Photo Contest~

I have a page on this blog that explains my past experience at photography.  I've loved taking pictures since I was a kid.  I have photos I've taken over the years that I cherish & I hope my family will long after I'm gone.

The Distance Derby is having a photo contest this year, judged by an outside professional.  We can submit entries on a monthly basis, then at years end the winners each month will be judged for the best of the year.  It's been such fun to see all the monthly entries - similar to the "As Seen Through Horses Ears" pages on Facebook.

I've been lucky enough to win twice now & receive a runner's up.  This month I managed to get a photo that I'm really proud of - so thought I'd share it here with you~

PHOTO CONTEST

AUGUST 2014 WINNER

Congratulations to Team #120: Long Distance Rider

Connie Hoge of Arlington, WA

AUGUST'S PRIZE:
Velata Antibacterial Cutting Mat

(Connie chose this prize to use in her camper.)

(Judge's comments shown below for the winner and 1st and 2nd runners up.)

Team 120: Long Distance Rider (Connie Hoge)

Water Rider

AUGUST - WINNER:  "This is a very creative way to show both the horse and rider in the same image.  Some thought went into this image and that is what sets this apart from the rest.  Thinking outside the box makes for interesting photographs.   Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone once in awhile and look at your subject from different perspectives.  This image is both simple and abstract all at the same time.  Well done!"

The Thousanth Mile ~

Unnamed wetland~

Today was finally THE day!  I just couldn't get up much motivation last week to ride in the heavy, oppressive overcast & humidity that each day brought.  We were busy all weekend - but Joyce had a ride in mind for today & I was totally looking forward to it - even when I Knew it was going to be hot & humid yet again!  At least it was sunny & beautiful!

Looking across to the spot the first photo was taken!

There's part of a trail that we're sure used to go completely around the lake, but it's way overgrown now.  We did get far enough around to look back to the far side.  We saw several piles of fresh bear scat - the blackberries are ripe!  We took every off-shoot trail that we could find!  Hoping to figure out some kind of a new loop.

Off another road we found ourselves on the back side of Mt. Baldy

We did more climbing that we thought we would & found a beautiful trail into some Very large timber!  There was a Douglas Fir that was one of the biggest I've seen in a very long time!

The end~

It was so much cooler in the shade of the tall trees that we were sad when we came to the end of the trail & the end of the coolness.  We're both pretty sure we were looking north from this spot.  Turning back - we followed another trail & followed it to what used to be a view point that looks up Grandview Road, but the young trees are taking out the view now.  There's a house not far away - so no way to go past.  There were more blackberries for our lunch though!

Joyce & Jesse

Finally we'd about reached the limits of any other trails in the area - so started back.  Found another large, fairly fresh clear-cut, with nice views of the mountains.  About the only white left on Whitehorse is the saddle in the middle! 

Whitehorse & Three Fingers

We did some galloping on the way back - Jesse & Farah powered up the power lines neck & neck :-)  We were both standing in the stirrups to make the turn back to the quarry!     Again - this year we have plenty of tough competition in the Distance Derby - with Diane having locked up #1 :-)  But with this ride, Farah & I have again crossed the threshold of 1,000 miles to date!  One month to the day earlier than last season!  We'll take it!

Final Derby Results ~

Our Certificate!

Now that the rains have come - really come this time...  I was looking for Good news & found it this morning, with the posting of the final results of the 2013 Distance Derby!   I feel honored to have participated with a group of such fine riders, dedicated to their horses & who rode so many miles!  I think I've been a little instrumental in bringing several new riders to the Derby in 2014!  Most from here in the NW & one - an escapee now residing in CA :-)

Derby Leaderboard

It was a motivator for me - just to have others of like mind - who I knew would be out there riding with me, even on those rides I rode alone  :-)   It's something Farah & I both enjoyed so much - saddling up - heading out & riding!   As Butch said last night - Farah knows that she has a job now & she looks forward to doing it!  That's the kind of horse that I'd looked for, for a long time!   But - even better - is the attitude she brings to our partnership, a willingness to participate, that head up, (Are we going somewhere?) look that I get every morning!  The head over the stall door when I enter the barn.  The anticipation I feel every time I toss the saddle onto her back.  There's not enough money in the world to cover the happiness I feel from that~

My secret goal - after signing up for the Derby & reading the participant bio's - was to go for highest mileage horse!   Farah - attained that goal!  I'm hoping that the Derby will post some of the interesting statistics that they did for the first year of the Derby in 2012.

When the rain hit last night, I realized just how lucky we'd been last season, one of the nicest weather wise that we've had in several years - giving me all those amazing days of riding.  Today & looking at the forecast for the next several days, it doesn't look as though we'll see a dry day for a while...  That 40% chance that I'd hoped would give me a ride window - just hasn't materialized!  With the temperature today hovering at 40, it's the bone chilling wet that only the Pacific Northwest can provide!

Our Finish~ On a High Note!

1,625 feet up Mt.Washington

I was so hopeful of another ride before year end.  I wanted a little cushion between me & the fifth place rider in the Derby.  It was dark & raining when I left home yesterday morning.  Joyce had wanted to do this ride again this year & as long as it didn't start pouring - she decided this would be the Day!  The rain had stopped & the temperature was maybe 40 when we started out.

At the edge of the woods~  We climbed to 1,700 ft. in 4-mi.

It didn't take Farah long to realize where we were going!  Our last time up here was on June 22nd - it was a Totally different kind of day!   Both horses had to dig in & did some grunting as they pushed up the tiny, twisty, steep trail.  I always want to stop for photos the minute the views open up.

Mt. Pilchuck to the south - high point 2,200 ft.

By the time we'd climbed up to the road, we'd gone five-miles & climbed to 1,700 ft.  With the heavily overcast skies - it was great to have such clear air beneath the cloud cover & I was very happy to have the views!

Almost 1 p.m. & a low layer of clouds moves in~

We decided to see just how far we could go, Joyce wanted to at least get a feel for that section to see if there might be anyway to loop around.  We decided to go out another five-miles, then - if we couldn't orientate ourselves - head back.

Joyce & Target

We climbed to Barbara's Bench, then kept going.  There was up, more up & yet more!  We saw fresh logging, which explained the heavy use of the road.  Again we went around the little valley & over to the Stimson Hill side.  We took the lower fork of two roads - where it ended -  we could look down at the Stillaquamish & 530 heading to Darrington!

The Stillaquamish River & 530 to Darrington

The Google Earth image below, is as close as I could come to reproducing the above photo.

Looking East toward Darrington~

 The day would have been oppressive, dark, brooding, quiet - but we both think that we were about drowning in the negative ions!  At ten-miles & by after 2p.m. we knew we'd have to turn back or run out of daylight.  We didn't want to be out on Grandview after dark!

Whitehorse Peak

I had to zoom in & get this last image of Whitehorse Mountain.  On the way back, there's of course...  Lots of down!  Lots!  We got off & did some jogging along side our long suffering mounts!  :-)  Both found growing fresh grass & plenty of water so were doing just fine!

Clouds moving by below us~

It started cooling off a little, we were doing a good trot - when around a corner came two ATV's going like Bats from Hell!  It seemed forever before they looked up enough to actually SEE us!  Joyce had jumped off Target, Farah was holding her own - when they slowed down & the noise level dropped.  Good adrenaline rush for us!  Otherwise - we hadn't seen a soul.

Our fearless Leader!  We'll go That Way!  :-)

It's always so hard to head back from up there - feeling like we've miles to go & wanting to ride them!  By the time we'd climbed back to Barbara's Bench, the sun was starting to set!  Joyce had a dinner to attend & time was running out fast!

View from Barbara's Bench 2015 ft.

We kept moving right along, knowing that we were racing daylight.

Almost 3:30 p.m. - Stunning Sunset over the Olympics

All too soon, we were back onto the lower trails.  I say lower - but we were still just over 1,000 ft.  We dropped below the cloud layer & again saw the sun as it came through the clear-cuts, turning the air & all it touched golden.

After 4 p.m. My golden girl~

We set a speedy trot down Grandview heading for Joyce's!  We beat dusk by a few seconds at least!  :-)  I think Joe was ready to get in his Sheriff's car & come looking for us!  So glad he didn't have to!

Our Route

Our year-end Derby miles total;  1,423.  (Not including 44 miles I rode in January - I signed up too late for those to count.)  Then, only one ride I forgot to log :-)  Garmin Connect recorded;  1,478 - 360+ hours & 120 rides.

 As my last ride of the year - it's time to thank my good mare - for taking me along for all those miles!  I believe that she's the highest mileage horse in this years Derby.  Riders finishing ahead of me were riding multiple horses.  Farah never took a lame step, never quit,  gave more when I asked her & has gained so much both physically & mentally!  Now - I'm dealing with an over abundance of self-confidence.  We tried a lot of new things & ended up coming back to the place we both enjoy most - trail...

Heartfelt thanks to the friends who helped me with my goals;  Joyce, Linnea & Linda - for the miles they shared with me!  A special Thank You - to Justin Foss for keeping the shoes on the mare that carried us 100% sound over all those miles!  To Dean Essex, DVM, James Bryant DVM & Brandi Holohan, DVM - all of whom contributed to our cause!  Finally - & yet again to - my husband, who supports every mile, while keeping the Bronco & trailer smoothing running along - for the many, many miles we spend on the road to get to the trails~

Lookin' Like Summertime!

Stillaquamish from the Whitehorse Trail

What an incredible seasonal gift of a day!  Almost 50 degrees in December?  The day after Christmas?  Joyce & I had planned to get in a ride after the holiday - as we usually try to do - but what a pleasure to enjoy yet another sunshine day in the Winter!  We parked at the Bracken gate & by our noon meet-up time the lot was full, with trailers still coming & going.  All those riders & we only saw two sets of two on the trails.  We decided to head down to the Whitehorse & walk along the river - such a perfect day to enjoy it.  The heavy footing soon did it's job & both horses settled in for the walk out to the Centennial Trail Arch.

Target & Joyce

The one place on the trail where there's a high bank - a nice sized boulder had broken lose & rolled down the hill to land on the trail.  The large hemlock that's been perched on the very edge is leaning back - soon to break free & slide root ball first down the bank & maybe across the trail.  If it does - it will have to be cut out.  It's a Big one!    You can see the base of it's truck in the upper left corner of the photo below.

Sliding bank~

Once we were out to the arch - we found the Centennial Trail to be a busy place!  Families walking along enjoying the sunshine & warm temperatures.  We turned north & planned to go all the way back to Grandview - it was Targets first time out on a public multi-use trail.  He did amazingly well over the bridge & past bikes, walkers, joggers etc.   The grass on the horse path was still slippery & Farah almost went down - too intent on being ornery rather than paying attention to her feet!  :-)  We turned in on Lake Armstrong road & went back into the tree farm from there.

Creek on the tree farm~

  The footing was really good for so late in the year, not much mud at all & the area's been getting a lot of use!   Today, we reached my mileage goal for the year of 1,400 miles!  Yippee!    As I told Joyce, all those miles & my gold girl still has me riding every stride!  It's a constant give & take with her, I give - she takes!  :-)

Our Ride~

 On our way back though - Farah was dialed back as we headed to the trailers.  At a nice steady trot - Joyce said;  "Nice pace."  I looked & we were doing 8.6 +/-.  With only a few days of this years Derby to go - we're still in fourth place by a few miles!   My Garmin Stats tell me that it's taken 121 rides for us to hit this milestone!   We're hoping for at least one more before year end! 

What Are Friends For?

As we started our ride~

Friends are those people who make you do things that you otherwise wouldn't do!  :-)  It went something like this...  Charlotte's schedule has changed, Joyce & I have missed riding with her...  So - since an early start was needed & this was the day that worked for us all - my friends pressured me to get up before the sun, load up my mare in a cold fog...  & head up to Bracken.

See how pleased they are with themselves?  :-)

The sun came out!  The day warmed up!  I removed my jacket & when I did - accidentally shut off my Garmin!  Those of you who follow this blog - know by now that I've logged my miles all year & am in the home stretch of the Distance Derby!  Not a time to lose any miles!  Lucky for me - Joyce had hers on - so I had the stats to back up the ride!  Of course I didn't realize that it had shut-off until we were on our way back to the trailers.

Proof of my two departures & returns!

Since we'd had that early start, it was only 11 a.m. when we were back & Charlotte headed home.  Joyce too - had to leave - she still had chores, before she would need to head to work.  Lucky me - I didn't have any time constraint, the sun was shining & I decided that it would be all too easy to head back out.

Farah on Tin Bridge

Since I've gotten lost at Bracken several times, Joyce told me how to stay on the road & get in a few more miles.  Once I was out there a way, I remembered how to get to the bridge.  We're not supposed to access it from the tree farm, but it's been done many, many times without any problems.  As Farah stepped on - I realized how incredibly slippery the wood planks were!  The nail heads are already worn smooth to the shoe, so no traction there.  She carefully got us across.  Since I've been elected as the equestrian representative for the Centennial Trail, I'm going to mention this at the next meeting.  Something will have to be installed to mitigate the wood planks that will only get more slippery as the wet season continues.

Stillaquamish River - WAY down...

 It's almost shocking how low the water levels are in the rivers & streams.  As much as I'm enjoying the incredible December weather - I know that we need the rain!

Farah was as on task as she could possibly be this ride - we had FUN!  We did some short, fast gallops, some nice trotting & it was great that the trails were as dry as they were & no longer frozen.  We did run into a lady with at least six loose dogs - they all came running at us.  I told her that Farah had just kicked the heck out of my friends dog - she said;  "OK - if they get kicked - they'll deserve it!"  I asked Farah to "be nice" & she didn't kick out - sweet relief.  Joyce told us today that poor Jackson not only has a shoe shaped gash on the top of his head, but also another beneath his jaw!  The only way we can figure that happened - was if Farah hit him with both hind feet.

Farah, Sunshine & rain!

 I was so glad that we went out again!  It was good for us both - she finally had a chance to take the edge off & we got to ride through sunshine & rain at the same time!  It was just a gift of a December day!  Many thanks to our friends - for keeping us on task, in our quest to be the highest mileage horse in the Derby!