bright days

The month of January has seemed unusually gloomy and gray. There is typically more sun to dry out between the rain, but this year the overcast has prevailed. The slippery mud is avoidable but not much fun (plus my football team lost in the playoffs, another depressing thought).

But there are moments of bright, and I've tried to take advantage. A quick after-work ride stolen here and there, and one longer ride from home on local trails (which was more frustrating than fun with Major being a monster beast).

fern grotto

I needed a ride with some available long trots, so to the dam site we went. The trails there are well draining gravel roads and rocky trail, with a little sand thrown in. Just the footing we needed. How I tell how much we needed this type of ride: I took almost no photos in ten miles because we were flying along having too much fun!

pay attention here, the trail is tricky

can't get though (the access road/trail is literally 100 feet on the other side of this jagged rock pile)

a nice longish gravel stretch

Plus the sun was shining, I practically had the trails to myself, and we wandered and explored with no set plan. Down down to the river, then following the river on the sand and later rock trail. We headed back up the hill and Major was on fire, so I let him canter (he later regretted his life choices when he figured out it was hard and steep, too late buddy, keep going!).

I love the weird barrel trail

and we found the lower end of the barrels too!

We cut over and headed up the old asphalt road, mostly riding on the side. There we power-trotted up while fancy bikes in low gear struggled up. Horsepower for the win!

watching construction (yeah, I know you want to go back up Major, nice ears!)

Lots of trotting and elevation make for a happier horse and human. And looking forward to more bright days ahead.