Carnation Farmers Market~

The drive to Duvall is usually so enjoyable, I take the back roads until the outskirts of Snohomish - where I take the Hwy 2 on ramp from 88th.  The ramp was closed just as I went to make the turn.  Directed to Lincoln street, past the Lord Hill turn & on to Monroe in a solid string of trucks & traffic.  I called Courtney to tell her I'd be late...

Courtney's back patio decor~

I needed some advice on a sewing project I may get started on this fall & Courtney had the expertise to help!  Lunch at the Grange was just a good as usual!

Spectacular flower pots outside the Grange~

The plan was to pick up Mason, (Cassidy had a game in Fall City) then visit the Farmers Market in Carnation.

Made me want to have a picnic!

 This market opens on Tue. afternoons by 3 p.m.

New covered area for the market!

It had been a couple years since I'd been here - the new cover is such a nice improvement!  

Honey~

There were some wonderful displays of fresh farm products!

Sweet red peppers

Such variety too!

Swirling colors~

Courtney & Mason tried their hand at marbling paper!  Glycerin mixed with water - then add the colored dye of your choice.  Next dip the sprayed paper in the mix & see how it comes out!

Creative!

I don't think there's any way to go wrong when it comes to playing with bright colors!

Veggies good enough to eat!  :-)

 With a light breeze, brilliant sunshine, friendly vendors, it was a perfect way to spend the afternoon.

Brilliant blooms!

Mason is always hungry & directed us as rapidly as he could toward the food vendors!  A hearty recommendation for the pulled pork sandwich convinced me to place a to go order.  They had a variety of fresh salads, I couldn't pick just one, so decided to try two for tonight's dinner!  With a lemonade drink that included fresh blueberries, I was ready to make the drive home :-)

Fall on the SVT~

Toward Duvall, on the SVT

Finally the stars aligned, Lynn & met-up at Taylor Landing for a ride on the SVT.  I do love this trail, looking back through my Garmin stats, it seems I end up riding here 3 or 4 times a year.  It was cool when we started out with dark clouds going by overhead.

Typical bridge on the trail~

With funding available to deck the bridges on the Whitehorse Trail, I'm trying now to find out who the contractor will be & what type of decking material they plan to use.  Both for ease of maintenance & non-slip footing in all weather - these pre-formed light weight concrete planks seem to be ideal.

Wetland - Green

The water in the wetland looked like something out of an impressionistic painting!  Swirls of green that moved oh so slowly.

A beautiful stretch of trail~

It was on this section of the trail - during our return that we saw the hunter, complete in his orange, with a shotgun broken open over his shoulder & his two black lab hunting dogs - off leash of course.   Duck hunting season must be open - there are ducks on the wetlands along the trail - but a shotgun with kids on bikes, horses, moms with babies etc.?

At the Tolt~

We rode to the Tolt River.  This was the longest ride that Lynn has taken Sophie on in a while, so she wanted to take it a little easy.  Sophie was fine with that - until we turned back!  Then, as usual - she started her little jog trot with determination!  Farah remembered & just walked along behind unless Sophie made any attempt to trot!  All bets were off at that!  :-)

New interpretative signage~

I was thrilled to see the new signage that describes the different native plants along the trail.  These were all on the section just before the bridge over the Tolt.  I'd hoped to make connection with the Duvall Grand-kids, after they were out of middle school, but the timing didn't work out, I'd forgotten that Cassidy has a music lesson on Wed. after school.  Next time!

Lynn & Sophie as we start back~

Besides the duck hunter...  There are a couple of road crossings that can curl your hair - if you want curly hair...  The highway crossing below at Hwy 203 west of Carnation is one.

New signage here too!

With the limited sight-lines, crossing either direction is very challenging.  The speed limit drops to 40, but the road is heavily traveled.  Just after we'd crossed going out - a logging truck flew by doing at least 60 mph.  Going back, we found a break where only one car was coming from the direction of Duvall.  She too was going way to fast, but while talking on her phone & talking to her passenger & paying absolutely no attention to the traffic coming up behind her - she did slow just enough for us to make it!  More signage out on the road - or a flashing light would be a godsend.

Flowers!

 There are several organic farms along the trail, this field full of flowers was a show stopper!  I hope to go back - again with those Duvall Grand-kids to do some pumpkin hunting again this year!

Snowberries

Another of our amazing native plants - the Snowberry is both unusual & beautiful.  One of the plants that I'd like to find a place for on the Homestead.

Novelty Hill & Hwy 203

 The second road crossing that's a little hairy - is the round-a-bout at the intersection of Hwy 203.  By the time we were coming back, traffic was already heavy & coming from all directions.  Finally - one car stopped & as the rest came pouring off the hill - we could see that they were slowing down.  With a slight break in traffic coming off 203, we trotted across.

Back near town, there were many more people out enjoying the trail.  It was a beautiful day & a beautiful ride!  Nothing finer!

Spring on the SVT~

As we leave Duvall~

What a Spectacular Day!  Lynn & I met in Duvall, it was a no jacket day!  As if the world woke & was starting to burst at the seams!  Everything is popping open!  The light green flush of new growth is Everywhere!  The birds were singing - a few people out on the trail enjoying the warmth!

Beaver Lodge

The Beavers are thrilled with all the water & debris that the flooding brought to their door!  They're using it to enlarge their home!  Farah has been moving better than ever!  Thanks to the incredible saddle that Linda has loaned us.  I used my old - but very good Woolback, shaped to fit the lowered rigging on this saddle & it worked perfectly.

Farah~

We planned to go to Carnation, but once there - we decided to go ahead to the Griffin Creek trail-head.  There we finally had to turn back.   We set a decent pace on the way out.

The Tolt

 The Tolt River was lower than I'd expected it to be - but it was nice - we waded out & the mares got a good drink.  I was busy being comfortable!  So nice to be back in a saddle with a great seat, rigging in the right place & my legs back where they belong!  Everett has bucking rolls ordered for me - that's the only thing I'll add.

Farah, Grammy & Mason

I knew that Courtney would be picking Grandson Mason up from school - when she called, ten-minutes from the school, we were about ten minutes out of Carnation!  We met at the park where Mason gave Farah cookies & I got my Big hug! 

Heading back to Duvall, Farah really started warming up - she was finally hitting her stride, maintaining & lengthening it.  It's taken this second ride for her to realize that there's no more pinching, rubbing etc. from the saddle.   When I think of all the miles she did last year  - it's amazing that she's kept the good attitude she has when it's time to ride.  I've been very lucky - notice I don't say "smart" -  in that we're finally working through this one issue that every horseman knows can be a tough one.   I'm so happy to be enjoying the ride & to know that my mare is finally comfortable too!

Winter on the SVT~

Leaving Duvall~

It was a cold morning, as I haltered Farah, I heard frozen sleet on the roof of the cover!  Did I really want to drive to Duvall & ride?  Well...  Yes!  I'd been feeling edgy for whatever reason & a ride would cure that!  Lynn had planned for us to ride from the SVT to the Tolt pipeline so we checked with Chris & headed in that direction.

Flooded trail

Lynn had ridden this area before & found the trail that would take us up to SR-203, it had turned into a deep, flowing, stream!  Instead, we took a only partially flooded graveled drive.  At the top, we could have taken the shoulder over to where the gas line cut down the hill.  As we were discussing the dubious merits of taking horses out on that Very Busy highway - a huge motor-home crested the hill.  He saw us & let off the gas - in doing so making a LOT of noise.  We watched as he passed us - with his extended side mirrors & the trailer he was towing behind - he took up a LOT of the road & was oh so close to that fog line & narrow road shoulder between it & that guard rail.  Farah didn't like it at all & neither did I!  Lynn & Sophie had come to the same conclusion.  Much more sensible to go back to the trail & have a nice ride - rather than risk life & limb on a wet busy road on a gray morning.

Farah - always alert~

We returned to the trail & the sun was burning through the clouds, but it still felt really cold, a wet cold after all the rain of the night before.  Both mares set a nice pace, good walk & we enjoyed catching up after the holidays.

At the Tolt River

We rode to Carnation & took the dike trail over to the Tolt.  A large tree had fallen across the trail, Lynn & Sophie went around the end, through the brush - showing off their trail obstacle skills!  I dismounted & watched as Farah again levitated onto her hind end, raised herself up & jumped from a standstill over the log - just Beautiful!

Our 20-mile Ride

We took a short break in the sunshine before starting back.  Clouds were moving in & we hadn't left Carnation before the rain started!  I zipped everything that I could zip & we hunkered down for the ten-mile return.  As we were watching the clouds, a rainbow appeared!  So beautiful against the dark gray of the clouds, with the sun coming from behind us!

The rain stopped, the sun returned & we saw yet a second rainbow!  Auspicious start to a new year of riding!

"Exploring" south on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail~

25-mi. on the SVT

Linnea - always count on her for an interesting ride!   Those of us who are lucky enough to enjoy her company on the trails - have talked of cloning her mare Bizy as a possible source of retirement income!  Bizy is in the best shape of her life. due to the fact that she's such an amazing ride & has three women now vying for time in her saddle!  The mare has had no choice but to get into amazing shape!  :-)  Wish I'd taken a photo of her rear end!   Lynn has plans for the mare - so wanted to do a longer ride & I was happy to oblige!  Then - there's Linnea's knowledge of the different trail systems - clone Lynn?  :-)

As we start down the trail~

We met at the Stillwater parking area south of Duvall & north of Carnation.  The day was cool & overcast - perfect summer riding weather.  The trail was very hard-packed!  Not out to break any speed records, just set a nice traveling pace & enjoy the day.  Farah & Bizy have developed a friendship of sorts - I sneer at you & you glare at me!  :-)  They are amazingly close in body color, with Bizy being a chocolate buckskin & Farah a chocolate palomino (san's mane).

Very nice at the river~

There wasn't much traffic on the trail, the bike riders we did meet were all courteous & let us know when they were coming up.  Much nicer than those of the Centennial Trail - where it's all about how fast they can blow by!  If your horse doesn't do bridges, then this is Not the trail for you!  We ran into a couple endurance riders, new to the trail, having exactly that issue.  I've been noticing that so many riders have these plans for conditioning their horses... Go this far, go this fast, do this, do that...   I think if they'd relax a little on all that planning & just ride the horse for the conditions of that day - they might have more fun, more success & more willing mounts. (Just my two cents.)

We come up on one of the multiple bridge crossings~

We found the Boy Scout camp where our Grandson Mason has camped!  Lynn showed me the multiple parking options - while sharing some of the history of the area - fun!  Then we headed up what was the trails for the Griffin Creek area - also called "Fall City" trails by some.  We got up onto the hill before we hit the fresh logging that obliterated the trail.  We turned back at that point, taking a short-cut down the hill - the bugs were out in Force!

View from the top of our climb~

 I did get to admire the view above & saw just enough, to realize what a Huge loss this trail system was to all the riders of this area...  So sad...  Always appreciative of the trails we do have - it nonetheless saddens me when the few areas of wooded trails that still exist go under the loggers equipment...  Or are sold to private individuals who turn them into their private holdings.

Our turn-back point!

The Google Earth image, dated;  4-30-2009 still shows the acres of intact forest...  not anymore...  Regardless - we had a really Great ride!  Bizy impressed Lynn - moving out & up to a 10-mph trot & holding it for 3-miles!  Faster than anyone thought she could do!  Go Bizy!  We finished up at the trailers at 21-miles, so headed north for a couple more & looped back to get that magic 25 that Lynn was looking for!

Farah came home to fresh bedding in her run & me to smoked ribs!  Can't beat that for a perfect summertime day!

Cherry Creek Falls~

Ride to Cherry Creek Falls

I'd been waiting & waiting for the opportunity to ride to these falls, after seeing a photo that my friend Lynn posted on facebook!   I'd received a email from Dena, she had a day-off & wanted to ride on Tue.    I contacted Lynn & asked if she'd be willing to guide us to the place in the photo?  Being the super person she is - she agreed!  Of course I had to mention this upcoming ride to Brandi over the weekend & she too was excited at the prospect of new trails & a waterfall!   So!  Our ride was set!

We met-up at Taylor Landing - then drove from there to a wide place in the road where we could leave our trailers, saddle-up & head in.  Lynn warmed us that these trails were not for the faint-of-heart.  Logs, drops, mud, etc. - all the usual stuff, common when riding western, WA trails :-)  Before we were too far in, we came up on the largest of the obstacles that Lynn had warned of!

Riding her very nice QH mare, Bizy - Lynn sat her on her rear & slid down like a pro!  I've had issues in the past with this type of thing, so dismounted.  Farah slid down - I followed her while she waited parallel to me at the bottom - landing with my hands on the saddle to stop!  Next was Dena with her young somewhat inexperienced mare, Bella.  Dena too decided to dismount & let the mare go down on her own.  That worked, until Bella decided to bail & jumped back up the hill - passing Brandi at a trot & taking off down the trail...  Not far!  :-) 

Bella & Dena

Brandi grabbed her up & offered to pony her down, doing a perfect job of handling her mare & Bella too!

Brandi ponies Bella down as Dena watches!

After we were all safely across, Dena mentioned something about having a "collar" in her trailer but not wanting us to use it on her!  :-)

Since Bizzy is a bit slow - this day Farah was allowed to take the lead & lead she did!  It only took to a fourth consecutive day of riding & over 40-miles for Farah to to finally settle in & give me just a stellar ride!  Collected, slowing her gait enough to keep her companions with her - she never hesitated & led like she'd been doing it for years :-)  (I really think the Saddlebred is coming out!)  :-)

First view of the falls!

As you can see from the photo above, the first view alone was well worth the ride!  It was actually only about 3-miles in.  From up here we could hear voices!  As we dropped down the last steep little bit of trail, I hailed - to let several hikers know that that horses were coming down!

Linnea, Brandi, Dena & Connie

They were kind enough to take photos for us with my phone!   Somewhat surprised to see horses in the area, even though it was plain that the local riders do use the trails.  We all said that next time we'll bring some pruners etc.., & do some trail clearing on our way through.

Lynn's photo of our three smiling faces :-)

We did some exploring - as in taking anything that looked like it might be a trail.  We found one that went quite a long way - hopeful that it might circle around - but NO!  We came to a dead-end with a old small fire circle.  We'd done some brush-whacking just to get here!

Finally - after a couple loops - we headed back!  Total mileage wasn't impressive, but the ride sure was!  Once back at the trailers, we settled on lunch in Duvall before heading home.  Again - we have Lynn to thank for guiding us to a really beautiful place & taking us on a Very Enjoyable ride!

Return to the SVT~

Our Route & Stats

It was a cool & cloudy morning, but no rain & people were out & walking this very nice trail "linear" park.  Heather & Rafik were our riding partners today & we both enjoyed their company!  Rafik & Farah are almost the same age, seem to get along well & their paces are well matched.

We started moving right out, had some of the "usual" spooks when the ducks flew up off a wetland & the garbage truck caught us off guard at the edge of town :-)  Otherwise we made good time.

At the Tolt River

Once at the Tolt, we took a short break, the horses had a drink & we explored a little way east on a trail that seems to go along the river.  I'd like to check with the locals to see how far this trail might go?  Would be a great ride for a longer day.

Connie & Farah at the river~

Once we turned back for the return trip, the pace went up :-)  I let Farah loose once & she quickly moved from her 12 mph extended trot, up to & over 14 mph. before the highway crossing came up.   I love riding that trot!   We did the round-trip in under three hours - including two of our three stops.

Great ride, fun day - afterward we stopped to see those Duvall Grand-kids!  I enjoyed a hot cup of tea, Farah a BIG apple! 

Visit to Duvall~

The Grange Cafe, Duvall

When we woke up to a white world of snow, it looked like a good day to take a trip south & visit the Peters family.  The roads were worse than we expected, but only in some places.  After seeing several cars in the ditch & two overturned on Hwy 2 - by the time we were a few miles out of Monroe, the road was only wet.  Once in Duvall - it was snowing - beautiful, but still wet until we climbed up the hill to the kids house.

Hogwarts Castle!

The grand-kids had worked to put their castle together & it's really something!  Every little detail that you can imagine!  Cassidy had fun showing me all the "secret" hiding places & Mason was busy cutting out pictures of the characters from a sticker book.  We watched a slide-show of the recent trip to Disneyland for New Years!  Even with heavy fog, the fireworks were pretty amazing.

We left at 5:30 p.m. arriving home by 7 - most of the way in 4-wheel drive.  Fun!  Snowing more today & more on the way!

Whew! A busy Weekend!

Looking west at the Edmonds Dock

It started Sat. morning when I drove down to Edmonds to pick up my friend Mary Ann from the Kingston ferry.  Wind blowing & white caps on the water!  Amazing views of the Olympics too.  We'd planned a busy weekend, starting with a stop in Duvall & lunch at the Grange Cafe in Duvall - great food & wonderful old building.  Yum! 

Hours of shopping fun later, we headed home for lasagna & a movie.  Sunday, we were up early - more shopping in Snohomish & a visit to the Bakery.  Finally, on to north Everett, for the highlight of our day - daughter Jentry's Baby Shower!  Our son-in-laws Grandparents; the Haverlocks hosted a wonderful party.  Joe's mother Meri is a professional chef - we enjoyed several beautiful trays of delicious ordure's & sandwiches.  Shower games followed, along with gift opening.  Both families looking forward to a new grand-baby!   

Mary Ann caught the 4:45 ferry back to Bremerton, with her arms full of purchases.  I made it home before dark - a sure sign that our days are getting longer!