More Changes~

Widened!

No rain!  Sunshine!  Our first opportunity to go up & chainsaw all the downfall that's blocked my trails out for two-weeks now.  The first change was obvious - someone had driven a backhoe through the trail - breaking off the small Alders along both sides. 

12-9, Where the backhoe must have come in~

This is the closest access - so I know the tree above has been cut out.  I should be able to loop through the construction again.

Gosh - guess they had to turn around!

 At the end of this trail - is the log that was down just before the drop to the outflow of the Wetland.  That stopped him, steep & extremely wet.  Of course - I could add that it's supposed to be illegal to go within a certain distance of the wetland...

Butch & the Mcculloch's last hurrah~

As Butch worked to start his notoriously hard to start McCulloch - the pull string broke.  Hike back to the truck, trip to town, visit to Glens & out he came with a new to us - used Stihl!  I did ask about the McCullough - it went to the bone pile :-)

On to the big stuff~

The Stihl is lighter & did a really nice job cutting through the big stuff!  I was amazed at how much the big one above moved as Butch made the cuts.

Further up~

Further up toward Cottonwood Cathedral - there was this one.  We'd gotten over it, but since we were here - it got cut.  Our final surprise came at the Cottonwoods, where someone had cut them out.  They'd come in the other access gate from the Development.  Now, I'm interested in riding out to see if they've done anything else, since this is not their property.

Butch's work on our way back~

We didn't make it pretty this time.  As we discussed, I may have this access for another week or another year - who knows.  Either way - no purpose in doing any more than necessary - since It could all get dozed anytime now.  It's impossible to reach Planning & Development by phone...  I need to make a trip to their offices in Everett & I dread that.  Just to remind them that the Wetland is here & find out if there's any chance that the Native Growth Protection regulations will protect it?   Not that they care - how could they - when they approved these Rural Cluster plans originally?  To keep from being sued by the Developer - from what I've heard...   Soon, we'll be down to the last tree standing...

Centennial Trail News~

At last nights council meeting - we had exciting news!  The Centennial Trail Southern Extension - will now become a reality!  The corridor will extend an additional 12-miles of trail -  from south of Snohomish to Woodinville!

Please come & join the celebration.  I was told that ALL trail users are welcome!  It will require some logistical planning for horsemen to attend - but I plan to!  One hour after this celebration - there will be another at the Machias Station.  I doubt I can ride that far & get there in time - so we'll trailer up. 

The idea is to have as many people there as possible - in a show of support for these incredible trail systems that so many have fought so hard to attain.  Future generations will thank us for our forethought.  Personally - we all realize that it's the Equestrians who really need to keep in the front of the "news" - otherwise it's all to easy for larger user groups to try to push us aside.

Please mark your calendar & attend - either on foot, bike, or better yet - Horseback!

P.S.  I've been elected to the position of Equine Representative for the trail - if you have questions or concerns feel free to contact me.

Gruesome~

My hands...

I've hesitated posting this, but my fury knows no bounds.  Rascal found a tiny place in our fence where we hadn't been able to put electric wire & pushed under the fence on Fri. morning.  I got there just a second or two after he'd escaped.  As I found the "spot" Mischief did too & was down & out in a instant!  I ran to the house, got the leads, walked up the road to our property corner.  Before I walked along our west fence, I looked over to the area where the "adjoining landowners" Pit Bulls are confined.  They were both behind their fence. As I got to our NW corner I called & Rascal came right away, followed by Mischief.  I attached the leads & started back toward the road.

I heard a sound, turned just in time to see both the Pit Bull's loose & coming at me!  I was down in a ditch along our fence when the larger one attacked - going for Mischief.  He picked her up in his mouth & started shaking her back & fourth.  She started to scream!  I went nuts & just dove in, he didn't have on a collar so there was no way to pull him away from her.  His body had my legs pinned against the fence.  I finally got my hands on her & raised her over my head as he turned toward me.  In that instant I knew I would be next, so  I threw Mischief over our fence.  His owner had come out & tried to gain control of him, both of them falling on me. 

I got up, got away & saw Rascal running for his life from the other dog.  The first time by he still had his collar & lead on, but the second time it was gone & the other dog had taken up the attack too.  I yelled for him & he ran towards me, I caught him up in my arms, as the owner stood between me & her dogs trying to get them to go to the house.

Once home, I put Rascal in his kennel & looked for Mischief.  She was on the porch, covered in blood & didn't know who I was.  I put a towel around her & we drove to the Vet.  (That's where the photos of my hands were taken.)  She was SO lucky to be young enough that she had enough loose skin & only has one puncture wound.  Mischief is having difficulty with her hind legs, but I'm told she will recover.
I also filed another report with Animal Control.  These are the same dogs that attacked my niece's dogs last April.  They were eventually declared "dangerous" by Snohomish County & supposed to be confined at all times.  Evidently  the strength of the confinement enclosure was not checked.  When I asked the "Senior Enforcement Officer" today if the dogs had been vaccinated, she replied;  "They think so."  I asked her when she would KNOW & she said; "Tomorrow - if they are home..."
Friday evening & called 911 again & asked if a deputy could go & find Rascal's collar & lead.  When he came to my gate he had "attitude" to burn & told me that he had been at the "neighbor's" where they had told him that I had been trespassing!  He was so rude & belligerent that I'm going to the North Precinct tomorrow to file a complaint against him! 
Now, I'm nursing my hands & waiting to see what happens next.  I shudder to think what would have happened if someone hadn't come out of that house!