2015 Wrap Up~

Sunset - Mt. Pilchuck

By the time Justin was done with Farah's shoes - I was frozen to the bone & the temperature had started down again - from our 30 degree high to 28.  The ground is so hard now, it sounded hollow as Farah walked up to the barn with her new shoes - the last of this year!  :-)

"What ya doing Justin?"

New shoes nine times this year - so roughly every six-weeks.  Not bad for a mare that carried me over 1,000-miles.  Less than the last two-years, but still a very respectable number.  We had some amazing highlights in 2015.

Trip to Southern, CA - 3-14-15

Our trip with Patty to Joshua Tree National Park & Pioneertown in Southern, CA was a trip-of-a-lifetime for me.  Riding in new country would be all I would do if I could.  If you get the opportunity - go!

Columbia River~

 The days we spent the end of April at the Ancient Lakes area - was another I won't soon forget & hope to do again!  More new country - new to me - new to Farah & nothing more fun than enjoying it with good friends.

May - Mt. Adams!  Farah's first win & a really great ride for us both - the only ride we did this year.

Butch trots Farah~

June, the yearly beach trip!  This year was special, since Sandy came & brought Farah's sire Ody with her.  The two of them are a perfect pair - they walk, trot & gallop side-by-side without any issues at all!  Sandy & I reap the benefits - with some incredible riding.

Farah & Ody ~

Summer arrived!  We camped with the kids & grand-kids, lost Rascal & then found him!  Grandson Ben started driving his new truck - Thanks Joyce!  Farah & I tried saddles, several saddles & finally - just a month ago, our new one arrived & it works!

Grandson Mason, David, Nephew Chase, Grandson Ben & Butch

Family visited in Aug., Butch took the guys in our family on a fishing trip to Canada.  They were gone a week & came home with huge smiles & lots of fish!

Butch with Josie & Skyla

September, we made the drive south to visit the Wrights & our two littlest Granddaughter's - who moved to the Astoria area.  No fun to have them so far away - but it could be farther!

Farah checks it out!

Farah & I attended a Saddle-Up Meetup at Fire Mountain - fun obstacles & good time with our friends.

Connie, Farah, Linda & Count

October, camping up at Harry Osborn's with Linda!  Our first camping trip together in probably close to twenty-years & we enjoyed every day.  Perfect riding weather & my only trip up there this season.

Sauk River

November, we made several trips up to Darrington - watching as the Sauk River took huge chunks of land - putting it's main flow right up to the edge of the Wrights backyard.  They moved out November of 14, when it became too scary to stay.

December Cold!

December, well - who isn't busy during the holidays?  Hottest Summer in history, rivers lowest ever, second rainiest December in history - plenty of records were broken this year!

Here's to a Bright, Shiny & more moderate 2016!

Happy New Year!

First Desert Ride~

On the trail~

We woke to a cool & overcast day.  It was so nice to take long hot showers & sleep in a little.  The mares too - enjoyed being off the road.  In town we picked up groceries & after we loaded them - Patty noticed a puddle under the truck...  Thinking transmission - we headed to a transmission shop.  There - they (with Butch on the phone) diagnosed a leak somewhere in the fuel line.  They tightened it - Patty dropped me & the goose neck back at the motel & headed to the Dodge dealer - where they diagnosed a bad fitting on the fuel return line.

Patty got a ride back & we wasted No time in saddling up!  Both mares were pretty high & full of themselves, anxious to be Out & seeing what we'd traveled all this way to see!  With the gray of the day - the countryside was subdued shades of reds, grays & greens from the rains the area had received the week before.

Burned Pinyon Pines

The monochromatic landscape was punctuated by the black of the burned pines.  A huge fire had decimated the area in 2006 & when Patty was here in 2009 these trails were closed except for a few miles close to town.  She was surprised at how much the area had come back & that now - the trails area again open to horses.

Patty's smile says it all!

Behind Patty in the foothills is Pionertown - our home base.  Around every turn in the trail were the wonders that a fresh landscape held for anyone who ventured out.  Soon - the sun was peaking out from under the cloud cover.

The blues popped!

Just in time for us to enjoy the incredible wildflowers that greeted us!  Spectacular bright, blue color that just screamed at us against the granite boulders!

Orange too!

Next - orange!  Such a pop of color!  Needless to say - we weren't making any time & didn't care in the least!

Rock formations~

The rock formations were so cool!  Everyone so different from the last & you could decide for yourself what you thought they looked like :-)  Even Farah thought this one was strange :-)  I did see my very first Roadrunner!  He was smaller than I expected & faster too!  No photo there!

Back north toward town~

 There were jack rabbits too!  Big guys & could they HOP!  The first one took us by surprise!  Farah;  "Wow!  What was that?!"  I did try & try & try to catch a photo of one - but let me tell you - if I do manage it this trip - I'll get the bunny Gold Star!

Shoes!

What you doin' Justin?

We managed to go six-weeks on a set of shoes!  Of course the ground is softer with all the rain & we haven't covered as many miles - so far this year - as we had the last couple.  It's pretty hard not to be getting excited by now!  With Patty's invitation to accompany her to  Joshua Tree National Park -
I've been setting out all the stuff that I think I'll need to take!

Last week we did paperwork, Health Certificate, Coggins & Brand Inspection.  This week, I'm starting to get things together for the trip!  The cinch rings have worn away some of Farah's winter coat - they have a flat, brass ring - with mohair strings, that I've used for many years.  I do think it's her winter coat that causes the problem.  I'd been using the Cashel Ring Masters, but over time the neoprene roughens up & almost feels like sandpaper.  Did some more searching & found the Sheepskin Fleece by JMS.  They arrived yesterday - seem to fit pretty well & hopefully will solve the problem.

I've been borrowing Linda's saddle for almost a year now!  Garry McClintock was hit by a fully loaded motor-home - while sitting in his truck at an intersection.  Thankfully - he's recovering from his injuries & back working in his shop.  Last time I spoke to him, our saddle was next up!   At one point on our trip - we'll only be about 150-miles from his shop - so I may call & see just how close to completion the saddle is!  :-)