Round & Round We Go~

A beautiful, cool day with a perfect breeze.  After another busy weekend, everyone else had the same idea I did - Ride!  The parking at Victoria was full except for one spot, but the trailer at the far end was leaving so I waited. 

Full parking~

I'd seen a small white car out on the road coming in, but didn't pay any further attention until we were leaving. As we walked up to the mounting rock, here was the little car, taking up the last space in the lot - driver & passenger gone.

Small car - big parking spot~

 I have to admit that I was stuck speechless.  I can't imagine how anyone could be so thoughtless - but someone was...

Past the lodge~

You can just see the Glass School lodge in the far background.  Now the mess from the logging is piled - whether to burn or what I don't know.  Sure not the beautiful view from the lodge that they had - I'm sure.

Farah hears the equipment~

When I think of all the years I've ridden here - I've probably been around this mountain too many times to count - yet it's still a gem of the lower Cascade foothills.  Before we reached Fast Trail, we heard riders coming down a trail & met up with Leigh, Marsha & Linda.  Linda was leading a trail tour & we had fun catching up.

Mt. Washington~

Farah & I headed on up the mountain, I had to be home early & wanted to cover some ground.  I was amazed at the bikes on the trails.  Everyone pleasant, we could hear one guy coming for a mile - he was playing his music loud!

Farah at lunch~

Up at the Monument - it was almost like a social club!  We all chatted, Farah had her photo taken & on we went. 

In the Deep Dark Woods~

Farah likes the trail through these woods, I have no idea why.  She always likes to stop at least once & just cock a hid leg & listen...  She's done this since our early days together & I enjoy listening to sounds of silence as much as she does.  Even without the peaks out today - it was stunning.  Super fresh air, clouds blowing by - maybe low 70's - just my kind of a day! 

Heading down~

We took the trail down from the lower intersection, Farah wanted to go further - but we took the upper road - then had our run up the long hill.  I love the sound of her steel clad hooves striking the ground faster & faster!  Again - at the top she backed off the pace within a couple strides - taking the turn for the trail in one smooth move.

In the big trees~

Farah remembered before I did, our last ride a tree had been across the road, so we took the trail through the big Cedars.  So beautiful there & a nice way to end another ride.

On Our Own - Victoria~

Again...  Are people able to read?

The note I found

It's just hard for me to believe that a fellow horseman wouldn't realize that just one car in the trailer parking - will multiply - as more people coming up see it & think - "Oh I can park there too."  I've seen four cars parked all over the lot - making it impossible for the trailers to pull in or out...   In the last couple weeks, there have been several days - with the closure of Mann Rd. that the lot has been totally full of trailers...  Of course, there's even more signage too - asking hikers, bike riders, etc. to park along the edge of the road, or on the new gravel area that was put in for cars.

Gray & Overcast

It was one of those eerily quiet days...  I was in an off mood. I'd manged to upset a friend & I never like doing that for any reason - even when I feel strongly about something.

The front pack started bugging me right away...  banging around too much...   I have it tied down about every way but loose - the water bottle hung too low & hit me in the knee when we were galloping...

New logging area~

 I wanted to do a decent pace, a lot of trotting & some galloping to see how the Heraldic felt.  The problem I'd first noticed, pressure from the rise of the front of the saddle, has not gone away...  Yesterday - it didn't seem as bad, but we were doing a lot of short up & downs at Lord Hill.  Today - was more of the long downs & long ups.  The entire ride, I felt the pressure - enough that I couldn't clear my mind of it.  Farah seemed to be moving fine, though her reduced speed tells me that something isn't right.  Smooth transitions, no bucking, no shoulder lifting, no head tossing.

Big Cedars went down~

It started drizzling on us - once we were all the way to the bottom of the mountain.  The roads are just as hard as concrete now... I won't do this loop again for a while.  We did go off onto the trails for the return, but the surface even there is very hard packed, lots of bike use & so very dry. 

A gray horizon~

We returned to the trailer just as the drizzle was turning to rain.  We'd covered 15-miles at a good pace, probably too good for the hard footing...  Disappointed that I can't make this saddle work for me :-(  I'll be calling to discuss my options tomorrow~

Thanks to George!

Farah enjoying the bounty of the season~

Yesterday Linda & I again rode at Victoria.  A slightly different approach today & always fun & beautiful.  The Very Best Part though - was that Linda's husband George had taken the tractor up & into some rugged areas - to mow down the rider high thistles, nettles & everything else that was growing along two different sections of trail!  These Trails - are enjoyed by many riders, even more people with bikes & occasional hikers, some with incredibly noisy kids!  Many thanks to George for putting in a lot of work so that others can enjoy the trails!

Numerous cars in the Trailer Parking!

As we were coming up through the woods & could just see the road - we started hearing this loud, obnoxious Sound!  Like a Grizzly Bear in a Lot of Pain - I guess would describe it!  The horses froze in place - Farah in the lead - she went into her "Giraffe" pose :-)   We could just see up through the trees, to where a family was walking back to the parking.  A boy with them was making the screaming noises.  When he stopped for a minute - I yelled through the trees - asking if they were the one's who's cars were parking in the trailer parking?  At my second yell they finally heard me, stopped to see where I was & replied;  "Yes."  At least they were honest.  I told them that the signs were plain & that the gravel area was reserved for horse trailers- whether any were there at the time or Not!  With emphasis on the "Not"!  :-)  Then told them to have a good day & they replied same...

The new clear-cut

It's got to be one of three things - they can't read, or they don't think the rules apply to them, or they choose to ignore them.  Whichever it may be - it's Rude with a Capitol "R"!  Of course what kind of appreciation of nature can you have when you're making more noise than the wildlife?  :-)

Linda on Count

As you can tell from the photo above - there's still more than Plenty of trail work to be Done!   We really had a grand ride, covered a lot of ground & did some blackberry vine clipping - next time it's the saw!

Sunshine Ride!

11-mile loop

Another amazing day in the Great Northwest!  Jennifer & Lynn planned a ride up my way - so I called Linda & she figured that our times would work out well enough that she could meet us on the trail.

Linnea, Jennifer & Linda

We met-up & headed up "Baby Bear" trail - at the top was this perfect place with Lots of fresh grass for those poor starved horses :-)  The temperature was perfect, not too many bugs out & we really had fun - doing some "swishing" through the trees on the wonderful open trails.

Blooming Elderberry in the blazing sunshine!

Later in the afternoon we started running into bicycles, but they were mannerly as usual & offered to make way.  Instead, Jennifer though we should turn back & allow them the room to get out onto the road - which worked - because at least then we could do the trotting that we usually DO on that trail~

Horse Trailer Parking

I have to say how nice it was to see horse trailers in the Horse Trailer parking!  Once Jennifer pulled in & one more trailer - the lot was full up!  That's a Good Thing!  Thanks for a Great ride ladies!