Riding with Lynn~

It was not from lack of trying - but it's been busy out for me.  Finally - we found a day that worked for us both to ride!  It had been way too long!

Waking to cool temperatures & cloud cover seemed strange after the string of sunshine days!  I even took my jacket.  We decided on Lord Hill - one place that isn't too long a drive for either of us.  It was only my second visit this year.

On the trails~

 It's easy to forget how lush & beautiful these trails are.  Both mares were in season, Farah giving Sophie snarky looks - I smacked her for it.  Lynn was a perfect trail guide.

On the newer trail~

The string of wetlands through here are so beautiful & the quiet of the morning was wonderful.  Besides a few birds, all was serene.  Taking one trail early in the ride, Farah came to a quick halt.  I looked down to see where a very large hole had opened in the trail, going all the way across into the Salmonberry.  It looked deep - so we backed the mares up & went a different way.  It will take a Lot of rock to fill it in.

At the River~

On the way to the river, Farah was walking down the middle of the old road, when I felt her drop & a front foot had broken through into another pretty deep hole.  I was thankful that we weren't trotting!

Connie & Farah

The Snohomish River was So low!  We could see fish jumping.  Farah waded out quite a distance from shore before she started yawning :-)

Lynn & Sophie

Sophie was totally distracted by something in the distance - No swishing tail!  Both mares had a nice sheen of sweat by the time we'd started looping back.  I could feel that the humidity was high & was surprised when I downloaded my Garmin that we'd done over 1,400 feet of elevation gain.

Falling leaves!

Leaves were already starting to fall from the huge Cottonwoods!  It even smelled like Fall!  Of course the cool, cloudy day contributed to the feeling.

Our route~

I had to ask Lynn to cut our ride a little short.  We got in almost ten-miles & if I'd had more time, Lynn said we could have squeezed in about 13.  The only place we missed was the lookout.  Hopefully - we'll do that next time!

The Destruction of Development~

Last night - just at midnight - we woke to the sound of the Coyote's howling.  Loud & mournful - I knew - without knowing - they were voicing their shock & sorrow at the loss of their habitat.   With those howls fresh in our minds, we decided to hike up late this afternoon.  Only a few feet in - the trail was gone.  We were confronted with a scene - surreal in it's stark contrast to what once was...  Soon, there will be 600 residential homes here, residents complaining when the coyotes take their pets & deer eat their flowers.

Where my entry trail was~

Utter destruction in every direction.

Trees cut & stacked ~

 It was like walking through a place so strange - somewhere I'd never been, rather than a place that I've known as well as anyone for over twenty-five years.

Butch - where my trail came out on the intersection~

 To the south - a line of heavy equipment - ten in all.  Hundreds of trees down & stacked.

Lined up & ready to go~

 This trail now a graded roadway - went to the first section of the development - where the tree was across earlier this year.  Post~

The gate now~

The development is moving from south to north along the east side of the power lines.

Toward the power lines, west~

 Above was my main access to the outflow of the wetland & on up to Cottonwood Cathedral.

My trail is between the trees ahead~

 We walked all the way to the end of the grading - the trail is still there at the bottom of the wetland, but I'm sure not for long.

Right past the edge~

 A stake marks the clear-cut boundary - for now.  Trees felled here too, as close to the wetland as they could possibly get.  Several had fallen over the boundary line.

Looking back the way we'd come~

 Back at the intersection, we walked north.

Butch walking north~

 Parallel with what's left of the woods, where houses will be built.  Actually toward our street.

Looking east from the road Butch is walking above~

 I was surprised to see the drainage basin dry & marked for houses!

What was a drainage basin~

Below, full of water~

12/09/15

 Evidently, they no longer need water retention.

Cutting through toward 116th~

 Another surprise, to see that a dozer had gone through from the end of the graded road toward the top of our street.  I've not been able to ride up our road for years - due to the adjoining landowner with the pit.  Originally we were told the development would not come through here - but now - who knows?

Looking south, back the way we'd come~

 As we headed back to the way we'd come in, to say that my mood was subdued, would be an understatement.  I couldn't help but notice the little things. 

Butts in the dirt...

 Butch had to ask me where we'd come through. 

The cedar log marks the way~

 To think of all the land that isn't wooded, doesn't have the headwaters of three different streams, doesn't have fresh water wetlands & doesn't have wildlife...   Somewhere else besides here?  This last remnant of the forested land that was our buffer from the ever-spreading Marysville. 

The land - looking from west to east~

Since this image is old, it only shows the first of the development.  Now, everything along the west edge of the large wetland is gone.  It's probably not worth the effort to try to get through - but I may try.  I know that the Cathedral will go down soon - there's the trail soon to be road that they will cut right through it.

Marysville development moves east~

 Combine this mess with the new development just five-miles up Burn Road, then the 300 houses that are planned for the old Thoroughbred farm near the Granite Falls High School.  Our narrow country roads were never built for the kind of traffic that we already have, not to mention the cars that all these developments will add.  Our rural lifestyle has lasted a long while - just not long enough...   Snohomish County has sold out our rural - five acre status - for rural cluster development dollars...

Out From Home~

I use the above title for a tag, but I guess I've never used it for a post.  If I'd had more common sense - I would have broken my routine & left earlier this morning.  The high clouds kept the morning nice & cool.  Instead - it was after lunch & warming up.

Time to hay~

Going through Pat's, I got a peek at the the new little guy - it was his lunch time too - so just a glimpse.  I'll have to to go back for a formal introduction & to get some photos of my own :-)  It's been a long time since there's been a new foal at Pat's.

Connector Trail~

Once we were through the final yard & onto our little trail that connects to the main trails above, it was obvious that Summer is here & the usual early July weed-whacking needs to be done.  I cut the worst of the long blackberry runners that were in our faces.

Beginning of the end~

Getting out the end was difficult - the bulldozer had broken down the small Alder & left the raw ends sticking up over 2 ft. tall.  Others were laying across the trail.  Farah did a great job of picking her way through without getting stabbed.

All the Alder that had almost closed the "trail" are bulldozed now~

At least they'll be no more of us having to saw & prune the Alder through here...

To the pretty trails~

It was a relief to cross the creek & get past the outflow of the wetland & up onto the wooded trails.  So much cooler up here too.

North on the Power Lines~

All the mowing that had been done earlier this spring, really did a number on the Salmonberries.  They were cut so low that it gave the grasses a chance to grow.

Fireweed~

The patch of Fireweed that I enjoy so much - survived, it's up on a little hill - away from the lines & near what's left of a good sized patch of woods.

Trail down to the creek~

I didn't have time to go out  farther - though we both wanted to.  Farah was being so very good, moving very nice too - after the ordeal of getting her toes shortened.  (More on that later.)

Mossy Woods~

We looped through the mossy woods, I love the moss hanging from the branches.  A remnant of how this whole area used to look.

Wetland~

The big wetland looked great, water still flowing across the road.  The daisies were blooming everywhere & looked so pretty with the white Foxglove.

At the top of the hill home~

Farah could hear the neighbor's tractor.  I usually walk her down the steep hill & decided to today.  From cut grass to bales of grass hay!  This is one of the nicest fields in our area.

Bale's~

 As we were walking by, one of the bales fell over & Farah jumped 10-feet into the air & almost took me out.  Another reason that I usually wear my helmet even when I'm on foot on paving.  There was the time...  A story for another day.

Depending on what happens between my access trail & the top - will be the deciding factor as to whether I'll be able to continue to ride on the trails I've used for twenty-five years now.  Most are gone - but just to be able to reach the power lines & go a little from there has been so good - for so long...

Survived!

Looming large~

 I've only experienced bad vertigo when riding twice.  The first on a "Y2K" ride, the second - on the 2nd of this month.  I tend to associate whatever I was doing when it happens with getting sick...  Today, when it looked like we'd actually get a break in the never-ending rains I knew it was time to Cowgirl Up...

Farah~

 Farah hadn't been out until yesterday - when she spent a while tearing up the pasture.  She had her happy face when she realized that I was actually going to saddle her up!  I planned a short ride!  Taking my hand pruners, the goal was to cut all the long, nasty hanging blackberry that I'd had to dodge on my walk back last time.   It gives us an opportunity to practice side-passing, I can't believe how well she understands where I want her to be.

The neighbor's field is growing!

 As I made the climb up the hill on foot, I felt hot - took my helmet off & hoped I wouldn't feel worse.  I'd just worn cotton tights & shirt, taking a jacket around my waist.  At the top of the hill, I mounted up.

The newest houses under construction are on the left~

 The noise from the construction wasn't too bad, but we knew they were there.  At the far end of this section of trail is the outflow of the large Wetland.  I couldn't believe how much water was flowing over the trail.  It dropped down into the creek using the Beaver's drag path.  The culvert must be totally clogged.  I love the sound so captured it with the video below.

 On the good trails - we did some trotting & Farah broke to a gallop - soon it was a faster gallop & gosh it felt good!  I wish we had the room here to do the miles & miles of galloping that friends in CA enjoy.  This has got to be one of the wettest years I can ever remember.  Ground just saturated, so much mud etc.  Once we were up & on the power lines, I dismounted & took a nice long break.  Ate a few nuts, drank some water & let Farah graze.  The sun felt so good & I was so relieved that I'd made it that far.  I decided to drop south just a little way to check out that Wetland.

South wetland

 It was as beautiful as ever & full on both sides of the road, but not going over the top.  This section had been filled with large quarry spall a couple years ago.  From here - I decided to play it smart for a change & start back.

The "new" Beaver pond~

The Beaver pond was full & overflowing!  The dam is a little further down from where I took this photo.  I worked at keeping Farah calm on our return.  Once or twice she tried her little head drop/shoulder shake - but she's doing it less & less.  As Temple Grandin has written;  we're making a new picture in Farah's brain!  The realization that this saddle doesn't pinch her shoulders.

Pat's Snowbells!

Pat's new automatic gate opener has presented us with some challenges, but soon all the quirks will be worked out!  It was fun catching up with Donnie on our way out & with Pat on our way home.  Pat has such a knack with bulbs!  

Home long before dark, mare calm, me calm & better yet - feeling pretty good!  It's so good to feel better!

Gray & Fog~

It rained most of the night, then this morning continued with a steady drizzle.  I caught up from the weekend & had lunch.  Looking south - I could see clearing & hearing the weather report, figured that I might as well ride while I could.

Wetland

Just heading out the gate, it started raining again!  Oh, well - we wouldn't melt.  I didn't have much of a plan - we headed toward the Beaver pond.  As we came around the corner, I heard a flurry of feathers! 

Plenty of water in the pond now~

A Huge Red Tailed Hawk took off from a tree that was right over us & flew to the far side - where he perched on a branch.  I tried to get the camera out in time, but he'd flown off by the time I had it. Pretty cool!

View west~

We turned west, the fog hanging in the trees & everything was soaking wet.  Just before we reached the bottom of the hill, at the creek - large doe & younger one crossed our path.

Farah grazes~  With the Stonewall Classic

We stopped at the gas lines, it was getting too late to go out to the far clear-cut, so we turned back.  Once we were back on the power lines, we turned north again for a way.  (Jackie says that my saddle just might get done before too much longer!)

Fog over the clogged wetland~

It was really a gray, uninspiring November day.  The air was super fresh, it would drizzle off & on - hardly enough to get us wet.

Natures Mini Garden~

Coming back, I noticed the top of this old cedar stump - covered with it's own beautiful mini-garden!  With the tiny mushrooms - it looked so pretty!

Sunset - 4:10 p.m.

Just before we made the turn in to our trails, the clouds cleared off to the west & the sunset was amazing!  Now, I knew we had to make some time to get back before it was too dark to be out on the roads.  I was trying to think of where I'd put my little light in my pack :-)

Light between the ears :-)

We got to the neighbors just as their gate lights came on - Farah was busy watching the cattle in the pasture across the way.  Another branch had come down on the trail that goes to Pat's - Farah managed to tangle her hind feet in it, but stood while I got out the saw & cut it in the almost dark!