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| cute at Cronan Ranch |
Happy 10th birthday to Miles! Isn't he so damn cute? This year he is acting like quite a grown-up pony, remembering
most of the time to behave, even when he has to go slower for friends. Though snatching grass while it is so lush and delicious is an ongoing battle…
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| aarrg! I'm a pirate! |
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| winter hike with snacks |
This winter and spring has been all over the place for riding. At first it was wet, very wet. We stayed on drier trails in Auburn and the lower lake trail at Folsom lake. We did have some nice breaks between storms for cool blue-sky riding days. But Miles is just a sweaty guy, so he got a little hair cut. Just a bib clip made a lot of difference, and he wasn't cold at all (which was my concern since I almost never blanket!)
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| a bit embarrassed by his haicut |
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| ready to go in Auburn, with buddy Asher in the background |
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| exploring out by Folsom lake |
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| our turnaround point at Oregon Bar |
Then came March. And it did not rain. AT ALL. Weirdest year here in Nor Cal that I can remember. I went beach camping on St. Patrick's day, when it should be 40 degrees, rainy and cold. So the weather was fantastic for riding! Not so much for snow and drought. The Spring/Easter pony visited our local forest, and hung 20 eggs with little trinkets for people to find. Only nine eggs were found! People need to take the road less traveled, because they were in plain sight (not hidden at all) but on some smaller trails. It was still fun and I'll save the leftovers for next year.
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| the Spring/Easter pony! |
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| forest egg surprises |
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| water level going up! |
With the lack of snow the water authorities rightly worried, and let the lake fill sooner than usual. So our most fun sandy, lower lake trail went under water before we could enjoy the lupine, so I've taken a few trails I usually avoid. One is Pioneer Express, AKA Rock Trail. After it was cleared last year by the park it is less stabby but now overgrown again, but with lovely views. And then I got to take it again to find a lost boot. Sigh…
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| a ride past Avery Pond |
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| Miles loves this cow. Cow is not so sure. |
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| doesn't everyone have a favorite rock? |
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| we're supposed to enjoy looking at the wildflowers, not eating them! |
Also a trip past Auburn with friend S and her guy Asher. S has worked through some things and Asher has become a fantastic trail horse. So we took them out on the Tevis trail to Francisco's vet check and the trail to Poverty Bar (ridden in the dark on Tevis night) and big climb out at Driver's Flat. I hadn't been out there in years and that was a lot of fun!
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| at the Tevis Francisco's vet check |
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| cliffside trail at Hidden Falls |
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| perfect clouds from the Vulture Rock lookout |
We're gotten a few unusual, late-season rains which made some trails pretty sloppy. The storms did not add much to the snow pack, so summer drought and fires are already a concern. But not much I can do about that but have my go-bag (human, cat and horse) packed and then go riding! We have at least three camping trips already planned, including one this upcoming weekend, and who knows what other adventures. I just know we're having a good time and Miles seems quite happy (insert treats at required intervals)…
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| just hurry up already, Mom! |
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| posing in pasture |
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| Wesley (15 pounds) and Geordi (9 pounds) sharing the shelf! |
