You Know The Feeling!

Ominous clouds~

Last week, when we loaded Farah into the trailer, Butch said;  "She's missing a shoe."  Those words a rider Never wants to hear - especially when you're loading up for several days of camping & riding with friends!  I ran back up to the barn, pulled two Renegades out of my bag & tossed them in. 

Farah was still on the first shoeing by our new Farrier.  She'd pulled her RF just the week before inspection, now - the RF was gone again.  As we were cruising down the highway for OR, I messaged our leader & found out that she had invited a Farrier!  Once at camp, I was introduced to Justin & he was kind enough to take the time to put on a shoe.  It was different from the ones she had on - with a little break-over built in. 

I took it easy all during our trip, hoping that the slight difference wouldn't cause a problem.  It didn't.  I was relieved to see Keith's truck pull up at our gate on Tue.!  He left that RF on, put on a LF that matched & put new steel on the rear.  There was plenty of growth & her feet looked great!

Today was our first test - these shoes passed with flying colors!  No forging, no clicking - Farah was as smooth going into her transitions as I could have wanted.  All Good!

Thimbleberry blooming!

It was Great to get out on such a cool, nice day!  We took our time, both of us happy to be out & about!  The Salmonberry are ripe!  I ate quite a few & gave some to Farah.  After spitting one out, she ate the others & wanted more!

Foxglove

We found Foxglove blooming too!  These trails used to be thick in foxglove, but no longer, too much grading, logging etc.  The other thing that hit us in the face - was...

Our trail home~

greenery!  Lots & lots of green & growing stuff!  Of course blackberry vines tangled in & catching us more than once!  I think I'll be doing some trail clearing of my own here in the next week or so!

Final Ride - Day 5

Final Morning~

It's amazing how a good friend can motivate me!  Dena said as we were heading back to our respective camps in the dark last night;  "Lets ride in the morning!"  I knew we had a long drive home & Butch needed time to set-up for his week ahead... but when he said;  "Go ahead" - how could I say no?  Farah was saddled & we were at Dena's camper door early :-)

Dena & Bella in the Sunshine!

The next best thing to your own first time at the beach, is being able to share the enjoyment of your friends first visit there!  The tide was WAY out!  The beach sand was packed as hard as we'd seen it.  Again we did some really nice cantering!  Farah even copied Bella's nice, slow jog trot!  Finally - it was really time to go...  Dena headed to her camp, I decided to see if Farah wanted one last run.

She did!  We took off down the beach!  When I turned her north again - she let me know that all I needed to do was come along for the ride!  What a ride she gave me!  As we flew past the trail back to camp - I was thinking that she'd be making a wild right turn... No!  Without even a break in stride we continued on!  I truly believe the closest to flying a human can come is on the back of a horse~

Farah enjoys the grazing~

Back in camp, Butch had us packed up & ready to hit the road home.  We loaded Farah, put the dogs in the back & were on our way~

Camping is So tiring!

We both had a Great time!  The "mini-vacation" was just what we needed.  The time to enjoy our friends, meet new friends & kick-back was golden.  (Farah & I had covered just under 40-miles!)

Sunset Ride - Day 4

This mornings ride~

On this amazing day, we started out with a breakfast pot-luck!  Dutch oven hot goodies, baked blueberry french toast, Sausage & Egg casserole's, you name it - we had it & we ate it & we enjoyed the food & the company & the sunshine!

Dena & Bella were up for a longer ride today.  Since I'd done the jetty "loop" last evening, Dena wanted to see the sights there.  The tide had started to come back in, but thinking what the heck, it's only a couple miles, we started south...  Yes, we were pushed higher & higher up toward the dunes by the encroaching waves.   A couple times we did a quick trot to go around large logs that were jutting out into the water.  The footing got deeper & deeper, Farah knew where we were heading & set the best pace reasonable in the deep sand.  Bella trudging right along side!

The waves were getting closer, bigger, closer - I was starting to eye the dunes...  Deep heavy sand, with piles of driftwood, wondering just how difficult it was going to be to get up there!  Finally - we saw the sign for the trail & with relief left what was left of the beach - maybe one wave till it was gone!

We made it!  

Heading back toward camp on the dune trails - both mares moved into a very nice trot & Farah actually let Bella lead!  :-)  Bella looked very happy to be trotting along - ready to become a distance horse :-)

Once back in camp, Butch & I had a visit from our VBF's, Bruce & Shellie.  Bruce was best man at our wedding, so guess that tells you how long we've been friends!

Bruce with Nika, Butch & Rascal

Even with the cold blowing wind, the beach is the beach!  We just wished it had been a bit warmer - more for sitting out on a blanket & drinking a cold one!  But no... instead we headed back to camp & started a fire!  Dinner, a game of stones & lots of catching up before it was time for our group Sunset ride!

I put on a polar fleece shirt, vest - then my warmest coat before saddling up.  Butch planned to try to get some group photos, so we headed on out to the water,  it seemed to be getting dark in a hurry.  As we climbed to the top of the dunes, the sunset hit me in the face.  It was one of those "moments in time" where time itself seems to stand still - frozen in the beauty of the scene.

My view from Farah's saddle~

I couldn't even see the screen on my smartphone, but framed what I thought might be a photo & pushed the button.   There were a few riders already out on the beach, so we started off to catch them.  Too cold to sit!

We head north~

Our group headed north~

We catch up, the main group of riders come out to the beach.  It was magical, horses, riders, surf, the sound of the waves & wind...  A Very Special moment came when without any adieu, Janelle put the amazing Duke into a spin!  An incredible spin!  Then - a second in the other direction!  Showing off that $50,000 breeding!  What a horse!  Let alone that Janelle sat his saddle as good as any pro I've ever seen!

Farah far right ~

Butch was taking photos & freezing along with the rest of us to get them!  I told everyone that we were doing a group photo!  OK, sounds easy, but in reality - getting that many horses to stand side-by-side, in the blowing wind, at sunset?  No problem!

Here we Are!

We all decided to go out one more time, it was just too hard to think of our time here coming to an end...

"Riders in the Storm"

It was truly a magical evening, horsemen all - riders all - friends all~

Dena, Bella, Connie Farah

Dena had another nice gallop on Bella, Farah even galloped along with!  Then it was finally time to head back the way we'd come...

Heading back to camp~

The end of our final full day in paradise~

About Face! Day 3

Dena & Bella

This day, we woke to overcast, high cloud cover & No wind!  It was wonderful!  To top it off, Dena & her mare Bella made it to camp!  Bella & Farah met two-years ago, Bella on her first trail ride & Farah on one of her first trail rides with other horses.  The two mares, both standoffish to others, found a friend in each other.  Their riders too!  :-)

Away north we go~!

Farah by now was confident enough to take the "water" side as we turned north :-)  Bella took it all in with perfect aplomb!  On the return, Dena moved Bella into her beautiful Canter & the two of them looked so relaxed!  Since it was Bella's first time out,  we headed back to camp mid-day. 

Morning route north, evening "Loop" south

That evening after dinner I rode out with some new friends who I'd met on-line, but never ridden with.  They knew where to access the inland trail from the south jetty back in the dunes to camp!  Rachelle had a beautiful off-the-track thoroughbred mare!  What a site to see her big muscular read-end in a nice hand gallop down the beach!  Farah wanted to go too, she hit her big trot & we came up on them at over 13-mph, still trotting :-)  On the way back, there were riders who wanted to walk, Farah was full of herself, so we went on alone.  Near camp I didn't know which turn to take, so went back out to the beach when I heard the big horn on the truck signal dinner in camp - still to our north!

Later that evening~

After dinner, I asked Butch if he'd be willing to get some video of us & a couple good pictures.  The light was fading fast, the tide starting to come in again - more wind, but oh so beautiful...

The tittle of the above video - "About Face" tells the tale!  :-)

Our girl started paying attention~

Finally, I wanted a gallop - so we took off to the south -

In just under a mile - we circled back toward Butch.

It felt amazing - room to run - not as fast as we'd both have liked, but a nice long run - FUN!  Farah was more willing to walk in the water now, cooling off.  All too soon, the setting sun went behind the clouds.   The wind felt colder & we headed back to camp~

Another end, to another day in Paradise~

Riding On the Beach! Day 2

Saddle-up time

Our first full day at the beach dawned warm, sunny & windy!  Everyone slept in & you could have heard a pin drop!  Even Farah laid out flat on her side, while the dogs were upside down!

Farah & I wait while she helps the park rangers with some vegetation control.

Butch had his camera & headed up the trail before anyone else, to get some photos as we arrived.  Without a clue as to where the trail would lead, Farah decided she was tired of waiting & started up! 

Most direct trail to the Ocean

Not ever one to stop forward, I thought OK girl - you'll get a surprise!  The sand was very deep & she let out a couple snorts as we climbed up at a nice walk.

Farah's first view of the Ocean!

Was she ever surprised when we crested the hill!  It was a "mixed" expression, because with her first look at all that water, there was Butch sitting on a log about half way across the beach between us & the rolling waves :-)

Above is a short video clip that Butch took as we came down the hill.  I was pretty amazed that she was as brave as she was - since water has always been her big bug-a-boo!  I know it was only Butch being there that gave her the confidence to go as near to the incoming tide as she did :-)

Our friends appear!

I took Farah out north along the beach & we did some very animated trotting into the wind!  My helmet kept trying to blow away!  I had to stop, dismount & tighten the strap until I was choking & even then it was a battle.  Farah started going around me in circles...  I Do Not like that!  I remember it well from my early days in endurance.  This time I just said;  "Do you want a cookie?"  She Stopped, Waited & Got her cookie!  It wasn't long before some of our friends appeared over the dune & how relieved Farah was to see those other horses!

We join our friends!

Such a glorious morning!  Everyone so happy to be where we were, when we were, feeling like the luckiest people on the planet!  The wind though - was brutal.  We made it to the inlet at Mazama, which was the farthest north we could go before the cliffs.  Making the turn to go back was a relief, putting our backs to the wind!  We all headed in for lunch - afterward I decided to head south & see how far we could get.

Jetty at the mouth of the inlet south

The tide was still going out, so we had plenty of beach to ride on!  It was cold too, with the non-stop, hard blowing wind!

Looking at the east end of the Jetty~

With dark storm clouds rolling around, we started back the way we'd come.

We did some running on the way back!

Even into the wind, hanging onto my helmet to keep from being choked to death & with the wet footing, it was a blast!  When I returned I asked Butch if we wore helmets when he & I used to race on the beach...  his answer?  "NO!"

GPS tracks

I was experimenting with my GPS, I wanted to save all the tracks from each day, each ride too, but this day I just used the "lap" setting.  The photo above shows our first ride to the north, then our second ride down the the jetty & back by way of beach~

All together we did just over 11-miles.  I had to look to find that sign-post to take us back to camp!  :-)  This day was a special one for us.  It was exactly two-years to the day from when we brought Farah home to the Homestead!  The time has flown by - both of us have changed - thinner, fitter & I hope I speak for Farah when I say happier too!  I did set a new goal out there on the sand - to still be riding Farah on my 80th birthday when she will be 25!   Fingers Crossed!