weather, enough

 

grass snacks are never boring

found this friend on my patio!

Atmospheric rivers. Snow. Flooding. Damaging wind storms. I'm supposed to write about riding but that hasn't been happening! What have we been doing?

I dig ditches to try and redirect torrents of water, in the pouring rain, while Miles watches from under his shelter. I try to scrape up some of the mud, between rainstorms, while I put Miles into the empty paddock to eat some grass. I take Miles for a walk to eat some more grass in (what seems like) the five minutes between storms, then we get caught in hail. It's been fun. 

I might be late for dinner

In the last month I got in one short forest ride that was terrible. He was so stupid about wanting to turn home, so we did! Back and forth, out and back, into the arena, back on the trail, repeat. If I could get any consistency I'm sure we'll improve. But not right now.

stu's trail

this, more please

I did do one more ride, and it turned out to be a good one! I sneaked out of work on a randomly gorgeous day during the week. No one else was about, the gravel roads were clear, and we had an enjoyable 10 miles along the river. After the ride I wanted to see if Miles would eat from the bucket on the trailer. He certainly will, and make a huge mess! Back to a mash pan on the floor!

hopefully we'll try the trails on the other side when it dries up

this was the only thing that spooked him all day, writing on the road

seriously?

There have been a couple of nice days with blue skies, where I'm trapped at work and only get out in the afternoon to take him for a walk. But I'm glad for those days (and being light later, yeah!) and I think Miles likes to get out as well. He always whinnies back at my whistle when I arrive at the stable.

a few minutes of gorgeous

so much shedding, I take a brush on every walk

just a flesh wound…

Oh, and to top it off Miles did manage to scrape his leg up against the wood floor frame of his shelter. It is not deep, but he won't keep a wrap on. Luckily it is still healing fine. This weekend was more moving sandbags and yesterday, during the wind storm, while I was checking on Miles, coming upon the gorgeous, huge oak at the ranch fallen over, crushing fences and cross-ties (luckily no horses or humans hurt).

not enjoying the rain, the oak tree that fell pictured behind

one last treat before you leave?

I am making no short-terms plans. I'll read some more books, wander some thrift stores, and plan for summer. But I'm hopeful that spring will surely arrive sometimes soon…after the next series of cold, wet storms coming next week…. Are we done yet?

thrift finds (that I did not buy): interesting clock, paint-by-number (I have a half-finished one at home already), pegasus fantasy book, huge play horse trailer!

Wesley, gone to the dark side (helping me make the bed)

new beginnings

Miles has some pretty big shoes to fill. First order: the actual shoes! He was due for a shoeing and I wanted to see how he’d do barefoot. My trimmer did a great job and said his feet were pretty good but needed some help before he could manage barefoot entirely. So he tried on big brothers boots. A bit loose, the next size down is too tight, so for now they will work. Bittersweet, all of it. 

Miles likes the eating hikes best

all dressed up and ready to go

he likes to be a bit close

We’ve been slowly adventuring. Needing to learn about each other and trust, so started off hiking. Worked on not grabbing for grass, but he follows very nicely, and is even learning the "stand on the manhole" trick that Major did. It helps that Miles is VERY food motivated and I have not found a treat he doesn't like!

his expressions crack me up

wondering what's over there

Then part hiking and riding. Been pretty steady so far, though he is not a fan of mud and water! We hike a bit, then I ride. No photos of the ride part yet. Not because he has been naughty, but because I don't quite trust myself or him with one hand on the reins!

a good trail to learn on: single track, bridges and water

Then I broke my new pony. Actually, just a scrape, and he did it to himself when the leaped after my stirrup scraped a rock and he landed next to another rock. Sigh. More desensitizing ahead! And I had the saddle fitter out and the best news: she was able to adjust the saddle flocking so my favorite saddle fits Miles quite well, yeah!

He is well settled in and pretty happy in pasture. I bought him a new hay ball that is a bit annoying to fill but he certainly likes it! I think my favorite part so far is that he whinnys as I walk up the hill and greets me at the gate. We're just spending time together, hopefully we have lots ahead, no need to rush.
 

detour: cooler mountains

Fleeing the week of 105+ degree weather, the mountains offered little respite. But 90 degrees at 6500 feet still sounded better, and camping, swimming, kayaking and hiking sounded like a great plan.

how much can you cram in/on a Subaru? A lot.

First things first: launch the kayak for the first time this season. The rivers have been running too fast and cold for casual kayaking, but now it's just right. There is something about water and granite and blue skies (and no cell service) to make you stop worrying about all those projects you left on your desk...

just breathe

old, cut tree with logging marks

tiny tree among granite

I didn't take any photos of our lovely camping spot, next to the creek, with a short walk to the lake. But I took full advantage of putting my feet in the creek, and a comfy chair, with a 800+ page new book, (the last in one of my favorite trilogies): now that's a great weekend.

a lovely start

meadow of mule's ear, not blooming quite yet!

But I guess I should put down the book for awhile (and it was way too heavy to put in my backpack) and hit the trails. For a short hike, no monsters this weekend. Except in the lake! I had really wanted to swim after our couple-mile excursion to the lake, but it was filled with catfish, swimming along the surface, intensely interested in whatever. I don't like fish that I can see. I got my feet wet and that was all.

perfect Salmon lake

too many catfish

But we continued, there were many lakes along the trail, and eventually there was a great one to take a lunch break, read my secondary (much more lighter-weight) book, and breathe the cool air.

granite trail

Sierra phlox

The trails are mostly granite, interspersed with giant boulders to climb around and over, and this year, still snow! The lakes were all full, there were fallen trees and a lot of debris on trail, but hidden flowers were everywhere.

pretty in pink, mountain heather

removing some jammed-up debris (and singing Toad's "Dam Would Break" for awhile after this...)

Sierra fawn lily

it wasn't that hot out, but I couldn't resist laying the snow/ice.

Back in the campsite, I hefted my book, ate marshmellows and looked up at the trees. And then back at my book, because honestly, what's going to happen next?

along our camp creek

spenceville

I find time to hike between riding, though often I am scouting places to go riding later! I know many people who have gone riding in Spenceville, but I never have, and it had been a few years since I'd hiked it. Out the curvy windy road, onto the rutted dirt road, over the tiny rickety bridge, in my Subaru it wasn't bad, it would take awhile in a horse trailer!

But the rolling green hills beckoned. As did the path less traveled. My SO and I began our wander on a faint path, and just meandered.

bucolic cows and babies

herd of cows, and horses

lovely skeleton tree

pond, looked like a beaver dam

Past the cows and babies! I am not sure how Major would do with these big creatures, I think I would get off and walk him through. There were two horses out there too, looking fat and sassy.

Spenceville view

I had faith in this faint path

The trail disappeared at times, but I could hear the creek below. At one point SO wanted to cut down the hill, but my instinct told me no, keep going. And we did. And ended up right at the waterfall, our final destination, just on the opposite side than the usual trail. But a great view.

dry creek falls

cool lichen

small river/creek gorge

poppies

An adventure, lunch, rocks, river, a good book, a great afternoon. One day I'll bring the horse and explore, but sometimes it is nice to use your own two feet and see the details that I miss when trotting the trail.

an actual road home

the road less traveled