the wait

We were on the trail at 5:30pm. The leaves are so dry they don’t rustle, they just crack and fall into pieces. A dust trail behind us shows our slow progress. But the sky was blue for the first time in ages…

Everything WAY too crunchy…

We headed down to the trail, and on the edge of the forest Major stopped. I swear it was just to take in the blue sky and the trail stretching away in front of us. We rode along the sandy lake trail where the dust stayed behind and we enjoyed the evening air. (So did way too many boats, but I was trying to be an optimist and ignore their loud engines and bad stereos). 

pausing for the view

final view of the lake

Drafts of cool air come off the lake, and the rocks and sand combine into something wonderful in the shadows. Coming back through the forest we went slowly, to clear old smoke from our lungs and savor the time. Our shadow raced ahead, we were in no hurry to catch up this time.

shadow winning

Last month we had just started back with some walking rides when the state caught fire again, and I gave up. Hazardous air for the horses and riding, worrying about family nearer the fires, (plus, Covid, politics, etc!!!), it was just too much. So I hid from the smoke, working and reading, and just waited, again. I feel like I lost a summer. No long rides, no horse camping, not much exploring. 

I usually hate fall, with colder days, darkness coming soon, all a harbinger of winter damp darkness. But I think this year I'll be enjoying our fall rides a bit more, as a good escape from the world, maybe taking a little more time to appreciate that golden glow of the lower sun light through trees, untainted air.

are you sure we can't go back out?