First Day of Fall - Almost!

Bracken Ferns turning color~

Farah & I headed out on our own today - I wanted to stretch out the area that I'm trying to memorize.  I'm still sad to have lost one of my favorite riding partners.  It was fun last Sunday, to be the first visitors to Joyce's new home & see where her trails will go! 

Heading down to Harvey Creek

 Bright sunshine, light breeze - a literally perfect first day of Fall...  The best riding weather imaginable & only a few trailers in the parking lot.  Farah was in a good mood today - the Stonewall is working so very well for us both, making me anxious to get mine!  I'm still playing with the rigging.  Jackie said to either have it on the pad or below the pad.  I like it on the pad, but when I raised it again - it puts it under my knee.  It really didn't seem to bother me - even there.

The usual breeze at the River~

I went ahead & ordered a pad from Stonewall, that will fit the saddle.  When it comes, I'm going to see where the rigging works best.  Of course adjusting it - makes a difference in the length of cinch too.  I'm using my 26" right now, but may yet order a shorter one.  The only problem I've had, if you can call it a problem - is the pad slipping out the back.  Today - with the rigging on the pad - it stayed in place better.

The beautiful white rock, under water in the north fork of the Stillaquamish!

If you check out my post from our last ride here, you'll see what this rock looks like & of course now we know why :-)  This spot is such a peaceful place, Farah & I enjoyed it.  She has it figured out now - first we're under the bridge, next we're up on it!

Over Tin Bridge

No yellow jackets this season - sweet relief!  We went on across, up to Cloverdale - no changes yet, just the spots where the survey crew has been checking to see where a straight rail bed needs to be re-established.  This is spite of a landowner who is unhappy with the trail going through.  Over the years - there have been a lot of those...

There are off-set survey marks~

The infamous "hole" is just to the left, in the trees - where the rail bed ballast was stolen.  We didn't go this way today...  I'm hopeful that it won't be too long until this section sees some work!

The rock ballast ~

I usually walk the half-mile of ballast that gets us to Cloverdale & let me say - it's No Fun.  It also goes on forever, which I found out when I rode to the Cicero Bridge.  There's just no way that the trail is going to be getting much use At All - until all this ballast is mitigated with a top dressing of fine rock or sand.
At our meeting last week, this was discussed & it is on the work schedule - but with everything else going on - no date has been set.  There's only four bridges left to deck - so hopeful those will get done before the year end - when the funds will dry up.  I also found out that currently there are No funds for the bridge grating that was supposed to be installed to prevent slipping.   Not sure yet how to tackle that obstacle.  Guess getting it all OPEN is the first priority - & that is now pushed back from the middle, to the end of next year...

Fire Mountain Obstacle Course

Parking meadow~

It was foggy, cold & damp when I went up to the barn to get Farah.  Janelle had planned a Saddle-Up get together at Fire Mountain Friesians & Trail Training.  By the time I was three miles up the road, the sun had broken through the fog!  We met at the Starbucks off Cook Rd. & headed up from there.  Ten miles from I-5 to the farm.

Just part of the obstacle course~

Since this was the first visit for several of us, we had the mandatory orientation class first.  The cost for this is $30. with a $10. haul in fee.  The benefit, is that once you have taken the orientation class - for any future visits all you pay is the haul in fee!  You can take your horse & practice as much as you like, any day of the week!

Janelle on Duke pony a friends horse - coming out of the water obstacle :-)

 Most of us started with our horses in-hand.  Marilyn gave us some really great direction & guidance - plus a good description of how to approach each obstacle.

Checking out the noisy barrel :-)

 Farah remembered her prior expericnce with obstacles, trying to avoid those she doesn't like & rushing the ones she was familiar with :-)  She even tossed in a buck for flourish upon leaving the teeter-totter :-)

Farah with the ball~

Once I was in the saddle though - she did great!  Stopping in the middle of the Cowboy Curtain when I asked her, backing out of it etc.  She really enjoyed the ball!  Figured it out right away & tried to bite it :-)  By early afternoon, I was ready for lunch - so we went back to our trailer.  Several were leaving, but I wanted to see what the trails looked like.

Heading up~

We followed the path around the course, then went under the power lines & soon found a logging road.  It ended & there was a trail.  The trail ended at another logging road.  We followed it up & up & up.  No views & I wanted to see a view!

Owl!

I'd stopped to adjust my saddle pad - when this guy flew out over us!  At first I thought he was a hawk, but as he turned to perch up here, I could see that he was a big owl!  Joyce always loves seeing owls & I instantly thought of her & wished she were with us!

This was as far up as we got before reaching a dead end

Soon, we came to a very large pile of gravel & the end of the road.  Zoomed in a little, we could see the top of the mountain.

View~

As we turned back, standing in my stirrups - we did get a view!  My Garmin stats said that we'd climbed to 1,083 feet.  On our way down Lynn called me, she was back from her ride with friends & saw that my rig was the only one left in the meadow!  Thanks for checking up on me Lynn!

At the back gate~

 We got back down, found the back gate & took a little off-shoot trail that went toward the river that we could hear.  I was really curious, since most of the creeks & little rivers are so dry this year, yet I heard rushing water.

Full of glacial silt

It was Beautiful!  Just beautiful to see so much running water, but I realized seeing the gray color of the water, that it was full of glacial silt...  This can't be a good thing...  I think it means that the glaciers on Mt. Baker are melting down to nothing...  There were piles of gray slit along the banks of the river...

Where we were~

Back at Fire Mountain, I zoomed in to see the same clear-cut that we'd spotted from the mountain.  I'd love to come back & do some more exploring to see if we could get to the top.  We were indeed the last rig there by the time we got back :-)

Our Route

 Super day, so fun to spend time with friends!

Last Day at Wrights~

Our camp spot :-)

With over two fenced acres to run, it had only taken Rascal five minutes to dig out at the gate & head down the road to visit the neighbors goat!  That little mistake put him on his cable for the weekend!  Nika, so loyal - when she isn't beating up on him - stayed close :-)  We woke to light rain, but the day soon cleared. 

Skyla & Josie in their playroom~

I had packed up all the toys that we've had in the house since Ben was a baby & they filled four boxes & a big bag!  The girls were thrilled with all the loot & it was so much fun to know that the toys we've played with for so long - will get a second life & be played with again!

Getting ready to leave~

We're so thankful that Joe has found a job where he's appreciated & has the opportunity to add to his small engine skills - now outboard motors too.  That - in a beautiful area, where they'll have plenty of new places to explore.

View from the back deck~

 I took my tea out & enjoyed the views from the back deck.  Beautiful, serene & a light breeze.  Perfect. 

A last performance :-)

It's always so hard to say good-by...  The girls danced on top of their camping trailer before we left :-)
At least now we know what a great place they've found & it's close enough that we can visit a few times a year.  Ben had taken the train down for the weekend, then rode home with us.

Going up onto the bridge~

We were back on the road by noon, the traffic found us at the river.

Back to Washington~

 From there, we were in heavy traffic.  Joyce & I had been texting as we'd driven past her exit off I-5 on the way down.  Joyce invited us to stop by on our way home & we couldn't pass up the opportunity to see where she'd settled.  It was 1-1/2 hours north from the Wright's - near Chehalis.  Another beautiful home in a rural farming area.  We would have loved to stay & enjoy the afternoon - but after too short a visit, we were back on the road, back into the traffic - that lasted all the way north.  So heavy - it was after six p.m. by the time we dropped Ben off in Everett & another half hour until we pulled in the drive.

Always good to go & always good to get home!

Visit to Wrights~

It was just after 6 p.m. when we left home to make the drive south to visit our youngest daughter's new home near Astoria.  Leaving late, we hoped to circumvent the worst of the southbound Friday traffic & we did!  We'd been on the road for just over four-hours when we made a turn off Hwy 30 & headed down a steep hill in the pitch black.  I'd tried to memorize the turns we'd need to take & we didn't miss a one.  Jentry was waiting out front - with a flashlight to show us where to park. 

Butch couldn't get us straight enough to make it in the pasture gate, (mailbox in the way) so since there was a nice wide, grassy shoulder - we parked there.  The stars were just amazing!  The kids live far enough out - that lights from town don't interfere.

Two little pixies greet us Sat. morning!

After a super breakfast, we packed up, all fit in the kids van & Joe took us on a tour of the beautiful  countryside that they now call home!  The waterways all lead from then return to the Columbia River.  There were some old fishing shacks & boat docks along the shoreline.

Waterways~

 From there, it was on to Fort Stevens!  It had been years since we'd visited these beaches.  As we were driving through the park, we spotted this herd of Elk, with the big Bull, so I had to get a photo!

Bull Elk & cows

It was just a short hike up the dunes to the beach~  Papa gave Josie a lift!

Papa & Josie

It's also a horse friendly beach, I might add - since we met a horsewoman heading down as we were going back up!  She said you can go at least six-miles & that there were dune trails further south.

Skyla & Ben in the surf~

It was a slightly hazy afternoon, warm though!  I was amazed at how warm the water was!  Almost tropical warm?  We played in the surf & played in the sand until the girls got cold :-)

Daddy warms Josie up & Skyla too :-)

From the beach, we drove on to Astoria.  Beautiful windows, interesting shops ~

Window shopping!

A literal plethora of Distilleries & Breweries too!

On almost every street!

Our taste trends towards the breweries of course :-)

Unique tank!

We decided to try the beer at the Fort George Brewery.  What a Great building!

Signage~

View from our table~

We enjoyed our beer, Ben & the girls - root beer!   Chips & salsa too - we were hungry after the beach!

Liberty Theater

Walking through town was fun - lots of shops, friendly shopkeepers - a place we'd always intended to visit & now had a reason to!  It was getting late, the girls were tired & we were ready to head back.  Jentry made fish & chips for dinner - how many ways can you say Yum?!  Fish is always fresher when you're on the coast!

The day ended with a big bonfire & s'mores!

Trees Down~!

Weaving our way through~

It was an Epic day!   Epic in that I took the plunge & drove the Bronco & horse trailer with Farah in it - down Linda's new driveway!  What the heck, once we were down, we'd get in a ride - whether I got back up would be the trick :-)

Far views~

I wanted to go out to where we'd been months ago, just as the logging was finished & the last of the logs were being loaded onto the trucks.  Taking one trail, we were blocked by a huge downed tree - taking another - we made it through!

Such a beautiful area~

I told Linda, with views like these, I hope we never see expensive homes taking over this landscape.  The trees planted here are a mix - with Cedars too, so hopefully the tree farm is taking the long view here.

Linda & Count~

We made a huge loop, coming around to Baby Bear trail.  Farah hit the hill at a gallop, then hit the brakes just as fast - as this is a known lunch break spot :-)  She's moving so well in the Stonewall now.   I think it's taken her a few rides to realize that she wasn't going to be pinched on the downhills.

It seemed like everywhere we went there were trees down, sad to see the huge ones on the ground, even it areas of what I'd call deep forest.  Strange how the wind can take one tree out of many & knock it down.

Cascades, Whitehorse - no snow~

We took trails up to the top~

Lake McMurrary

Finally ending up at the Monument, by mid-afternoon.

Final Views~

Dropping down the steep trail, another tree had dropped lower - we didn't have to dismount, but it too will be on the chainsaw list.

There's going to be a trail clearing party on September 18th at 10 a.m.  Check out the link for further information.  This time, just getting the trails back open will be the priority!  Come!  Bring a lunch & be prepared to work!  :-)

Finally, back at Linda's, I loaded Farah, put the Bronco in 4-wheel drive, second gear & chugged back up the hill to the road!  Yippee!