I'd wanted to get together with these two - plus Lynn for a ride for a while! Finally, schedules merged - except for Lynn's... We met at Bracken Road, several rigs already there. It was a nice dry, if brisk morning. My usual loop is roughly ten-miles & everyone was game for that & a break at Cloverdale.
Farah in a huff~
I thought Farah would be so happy to see her friend Cato & she'd usually gotten along with Kate. It had been a long while since we'd been out with more than one horse. She was so ornery... A threatened kick toward Kate, put her in the rear. Cato was setting a super nice pace. I tried all my usual tricks to calm her down, but it took several miles until she settled enough to start enjoying the ride.
Toward Cloverdale on the Whitehorse
It's always a pleasure to follow these two buckskins! We'd brought rain jackets, just so we wouldn't need them. The temperature felt like it was dropping by the time we'd had our break & started back. Now, Farah trotted beside Cato & Beth & I got to visit a little side-by-side.
As we finished up our ride, Amanda mentioned lunch, so I called Donnie to get the name of the local restaurant in Arlington - that she & Pat had recommended.
We didn't do much talking - we were too busy feeding our faces! About all we said was "YUM!" I had the onion rings & they are truly the best I've had. I won't say no next time Pat suggests coming here!
It was just such an amazing Fall day! Not too cold, the super charged fresh air & good company!
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!
Rain - lots of rain, warmer & gray. Not the kind of morning that makes me think I'll get in any saddle time. I've told myself that I'm going to get some projects done this Fall & Winter - determined. By noon though - the skies started to clear & within an hour it was such a sparkling afternoon that I just couldn't Not go!
Glorious Golds
Farah was ready, we left from home. Something that is so wonderful to be able to do & something that I have enjoyed all our years here. But on the trail that leads to the Cathedral Cottonwoods we can now hear the sounds of the construction... Sad, so sad...
Farther up the trail~
Soon we were past it, further up & the glory of the day was so spectacular that the feeling of joy was stronger. As a child I was always looking for those private, remote spaces - even if it was an overgrown lot in a neighborhood. My Grandmother had one next door to her house when I was very little, she let me go there. Later living in Boulder, Dad would take me on walks & there too, was a empty lot with trees & grass. Living at the base of the front range of the Rockies, gave us plenty of room to explore too.
Yes, this used to be a trail~
One of the strongest reasons for being an Equestrian - besides the horses themselves, to me - has been the ability to get out into higher, wider & more remote places. I like to hike, but being ten-feet tall is really grand! It almost seems strange when I frame photos on foot! :-)
Beautiful fresh fungus!
We went north, far north, then took two different old trails & I use the term loosely. One had gone through to another area west, way back when - but now is so overgrown, that it's totally impassable. Of course on the far end, development has encroached.
Vine Maples
Yellows & Golds rule this time of year! Everywhere I looked the woods were lit with their strong, bright color! The second trail, goes over to what I've called the "Far North Wetland". Once you get there, you'd better not try to go further - because if you do - you'll be swimming. It ends at a circular piece of land, surrounded by water!
Far North Wetland~
It's still remote enough that it remains untouched, except by a hawk that was sitting at the top of the snag. Luckily - there was some good grass here & Farah of course had to do a little grazing to make the ride worthwhile :-)
My favorite wetland, looking south~
Our view on the way back - past the wetland above, gives you an idea of the size of this area.
Looking north - clogged wetland on the far side of the road~
There's a Lot of water that flows across the road here, the far side is a
continuation of this water system, but it's totally clogged now, by reed canary grass. Of course putting the road right through the middle years ago - didn't help the flow any...
Farah sloshes through the knee deep water on the road~
Our little trail back off the power lines
It seemed crazy, but the sun was already low on the horizon! I wanted to go back to the mushroom spot & collect a few more to freeze for our Thanksgiving stuffing! We found them, now just starting to get a tiny bit soft. Probably the end of their season. By now, my hands were so cold that I had a hard time attaching the bag to the saddle.
Our road & trees of the Homestead~
The ground fog was already moving in, adding a real chill to the air! Nika & Rascal were waiting at the gate. I think they can hear us coming down, once we're on the paving. Farah hardly broke a sweat & was dry under the saddle. Every ride this time of year is a good ride, but this one was especially so~
We were on a mission. It was cold, damp & the sun had just burned through the clouds that produced an early morning rain. By the time I got caught up at home & drove north, it was almost 1 p.m. before I was in the saddle.
Clouds burning off~
Neither the mare nor I had any particular plan for our ride, I just wanted to knock out enough distance to take us to 1,000-miles. Victoria seemed a good place to go, but once I was there - I realized that with the trails now closed it would be a bit more interesting to find those miles without doubling back.
What is it?
On the way up the climb to the Monument - I saw this really pretty, blooming vine. I've never seen it before & it's very pretty. So interesting looking - probably some invasive, since I've never seen it in any of my native plant books...
Very delicate blooms~
Farah's main interest - when we're out on our own on the mountain is always getting to the Monument just as fast as we can! After all, that's the designated lunch spot & today we both welcomed the warmth of the sun after the climb on the shadow/cold side of the mountain.
Farah having lunch~
She's always so good when we're here, just starts grazing & I can sit down & eat my snack too. It was still very chilly though. I wore my polar fleece vest for the first time this season & ended up putting my jacket over it when we left.
Usual, but never boring views of the Sound~
We were the only ones around, I saw bike tracks on one of the trails, but no hoof prints! When we left, I jogged the downhill to the bottom & there had to back-track to find the road, I'd taken a wrong turn.
Heading back~
I was more than happy when we had enough distance to turn back into the late afternoon sunshine! Strange how in just a couple days, it seems like the afternoons go so quickly now! We made some time, I wanted to be back up in the vicinity of the parking area before it got too dark.
The view~
Mt. Rainier was behind a layer of clouds & haze, as the Olympics had been from the top. The sun was dropping with the last of the rays shining through the trees. We made it back with just enough light that I had to use my cell phone light to see the tumblers on the tack door lock. Farah stood watching with concern, her cookies are in there!
We managed to get-it-done though! For the third year in a row, we've topped 1,000-miles. I remember what a big deal it felt like the first time & how happy I was. Last year - we added another 500 to the total. This year, it's taken us a couple months longer to reach the milestone - but still fun to roll those four digits over! Many days I wish that Butch was retired, but since he isn't & I'm left to my own devices... What to do but ride? Farah came at a time in my life when I might otherwise be winding down just a little - but we both enjoy the partnership we've forged. Still ornery, opinionated & bossy, I wouldn't have her any other way!
Our youngest daughter & her husband purchased this property in 2007. When Butch & I went up to see - we thought it was one of the most beautiful places they could have found. Looking at Google Earth & county plots - it showed a 20-acre piece of property between the kids place & the Sauk River.
April 22, 2007 The work~
There was an incredible amount of work to get the property ready for the house. We all had So Much fun! One day Ben & I decided to take the pruners & try to make a path to the river. We had no idea how far it would be - but it wasn't as far as I'd expected!
Ben at the river~ 4-29-07
When we all realized that the river was so close, it was pretty exciting! Fishing, wading, swimming, all the wonderful things that would go along with living in such a beautiful spot! As the years went by, we watched as the river went through yearly changes. Ben's swimming hole went away, all the logs & driftwood would come & then go...
Originally, the main flow had been on the far side, with a large Delta in the middle & a lesser flow - on the same side as the property. In November of 2014 - with weeks of heavy rains - things started getting
Very Scary! The course of the river started to change.
Google Image July 14, 2015 - Twenty acre piece long gone~
Thanksgiving night, the kids woke to the sudden, ripping sound - of a huge piece of land falling into the raging river! After making calls to all the appropriate agencies, it was suggested that if any more erosion occurred, or if the river continued to rage, the safe thing to do would be to leave...
January 25, 2015 All of this is now gone~
With two tiny little girls & Ben - it was the only prudent thing to do... It was with great sadness that their home of seven-years was abandoned.
Feb. 7, 2015 Taken from the rivers edge~
By February, you could see the house from the river's edge, the river taking the bank in large chunks.
Coming over the bank~
We drove away, very relieved - that the kids were no longer living here. As the winter ended & with it the heavy rains, things settled down. Neighbors said that the kids were silly to have moved & that the river was done doing it's thing.
It was - at least until our first big rain maker of this season. The kids are still trying to negotiate with their bank & also with the County. The County has said that they would only red tag the house if the river came within 150 ft. With the big storm we had last week, the river levels reached 12 - two feet higher than it takes to crest the banks. Crest it did, taking away the last acre of trees & buffer between it & the backyard of the house.
Jentry asked me to go up to take a look & get some photos. It was incredibly scary to come in the drive & see the river! I paced off the distance from the corner of the house to the river & came up with just about 100 ft.
What's left of the trail~
Looking upstream~
Downstream~
Directly across~
Roof of the house & river in the same photo now~
It was a fantastically beautiful afternoon, hearing the roar of the river from everywhere on the property was amazing. I walked the property, then sat out at the edge of the river for a long while, thinking of all the fun times we had here & how the forces of nature can change things~
View from the back deck~
I doubt that the property will even sell as a recreational lot, since with another storm, what land is left will probably be under water!
