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! 

Schooling~

We did go to "school" again this week!  I had plenty of excuses to not trailer out over the past couple weeks of not so nice weather...  Slick roads being my primary concern.  Another - was feeling a bit overwhelmed at what I don't know & need to learn...
I had a good discussion with Sandra regarding my somewhat overblown goal of jumping right in to Cowboy Dressage.   Instead, I first have commit to spending some time practicing!  So, we worked on some things that I can work on at home.  Sandra explained that just 30-min. a day would produce some of the reward - that I'm looking for. 
As I rode & as I watched Sandra ride, my inspiration returned.  Seeing how nice Farah looks gives me the motivation to really try to spend that time.  After all, it's the journey & if it's a longer journey than I expected - so what?  Don't they all begin with the first steps?    

Happy Dance!

If you look~

OK, the sun came out!  It was warm!  I could not do anything but saddle up & ride!  Since the trailer wasn't hitched, decided to ride from home & make another attempt to find the old trails that used to get us over to Paramount Stables on 99th. 

I saw tracks from ATV's & tried to follow them.  I knew they had to be coming onto "my" east side, from somewhere to the west of the power lines.  I checked every opening into the trees that looked like it might possibly become a trail & finally...  Success!

Green, Very Green!

It was absolutely beautiful with the trees covered with hanging moss.  The trail was rough, but nothing a good horse couldn't get through :-)

More hanging moss~

Once we came out of this trail, I finally reconized what we called the "big downhill" which it was then & still is.  Down, down to the creek & old rotted bridge - that had been rotted then.

Old Bridge

 Once across the creek, I was in for a surprise!  Someone had been working on the trails, opening them up & doing some grading.  Trails & more trails - some I'd never seen!  We just kept going & going.  Finally at 8-miles - we came to a gate.

Ben's House

Dogs started barking & a man came out.  Ben introduced himself & professed his surprise in seeing a horse & rider!  He filled me in on what had been happening with the 600 acres that are still - amazingly enough - undeveloped.  It was supposed to all go to houses, but with the economy - just has not materialized - yet.  Ben was the one working with his tractor to open some of the trails & do some repair at the crossing by a large pond.

There were plenty of other paths that we could have taken, but it was getting late & time to start for home.  It was dark when we got to our gate & found Butch home!  Farah was Very happy to have arrived back in time for her dinner!  I was thrilled to find more miles - several more than I'd hoped & more to explore!

Sometimes I feel like...

Farah in the fog~

The Lone Ranger...  The best laid plans to ride with others - seem to go astray...  There were plans made to ride with two friends, but they were coming up together & the truck that had the job - had an issue...  So - since I was already on my way - drove on up to Victoria.  The fog was THICK!  Actually glad that my friends didn't make the drive, as it would have been disappointing - if they'd expected to see the views.

In case you haven't seen one of these...

Bet you're surprised to see these!  They must be a "new" kind of horse trailer!  They were parked in the horse trailer parking, which is what the yellow sign that they're parked by - says...  The ONLY place I know of where there is actually designated "Horse Trailer" parking & these cars take up two spots, then - another was parked at the far end.  As I was getting ready to leave, yet another car pulled in.  I said;  "Don't park there!"  They said;  "Where are we to park then?"  I replied;  "Just as the signs say, along the edge of the road!"  Unreal...  Are they blind, dumb or just really stupid?

Since the tree farm has been open for people to come up & cut wood, the beer cans are starting to outnumber the trees!  The mud on the logging roads is getting worse than any mud that the horses might make on the closed trails...

More logging...

On the trail to the Monument we were shocked to find that the far side of the trail had been clear-cut!  In the fog & with the change of landscape - it was almost easy to forget that I was actually on a trail that I know well...  

No way around this - chain saw time...

I did see a lot of hoof prints, so someone has been doing some riding.  No trail clearing though, because the climb to the top was blocked with a fresh downfall.  The temperature was in the mid-40's, but with the fog it felt much colder.

Was happy that Farah is back to acting like herself & not a crazy horse!  She was perfect, great trot, nice canter & we had fun.  I feel very lucky to have a mare that is as happy out on her own as she is with a group.  Have got to get Linda back in the saddle!

Seattle Great Wheel~

We're Ready!

It was just a spectacular day!  I think everyone living in Western, WA was more than ready for a taste of "Spring"!  Grandson Ben & I drove down to tour Butch's work site south of Seattle.  On the way home, we decided to have dinner on the Waterfront & what could possibly be there that we might want to see?  The "Great Wheel"!

A interesting sight against a sunset sky~

OK...  Ben & Butch wanted to take a ride on the wheel!  Me - I wasn't so sure, it's a long ways up there & I'm not much on amusement park rides...  But - they talked me into it!  :-)  There wasn't much of a line, we had a car to ourselves.

Leaving the dock!

The views were breathtaking!

Ferry docks & Port of Seattle

We enjoyed every minute of the ride - which was decent in length.  By the time we disembarked, it was time to go to dinner!  Yum!

Our long-standing favorite!

After too much yummy dinner, it was time to head home.

Final view of the Wheel

We picked up coffee at Starbucks for the ride home, then headed over to where we'd parked the Bronco, off Elliott Ave. & Butch's truck - in a pay-to-park lot just behind.  Ben & I were waiting to pull out when Butch called to tell us he was delayed...  his truck had been broken into...  He' found it locked, but with the drivers side lock missing!  It had been popped out slick as it could have been.  When he unlocked the passenger side door, it was to find his laptop & camera missing...  A call to the Police - yet another vehicle break-in to add to their books...

We'd been approached by a street person just as we'd left our vehicles parked.  I wonder now if he was a "spotter" for the thieves?  That would make it easy...  have a street person scope out the parking - watch for someone coming in that time of day for dinner etc., then rip the vehicle off & walk away.  So - thanks to Seattle for a Great time at the Waterfront, followed by a lot of hassle & expense... 

Video of the Ride~