keeping on

Well, July.

Yeah, there's been some riding. Hiking, Kayaking. Not much inspiration.

California is "winning" in Covid. Oh boy!

distracted skywriter? Not a heart, or a circle, huh?

How about some pretty pictures to distract us?

I did a longer ride at Hidden Falls, a regional park. The trails are incredible well marked, and clear from trees to duck around, but I find them oddly boring. When we arrived they were moving a huge herd of sheep across the access road to the area right behind our trailer, Major took a look but then realized his hay bag was full of alfalfa!

hordes of sheep, oh look, alfalfa!

red dirt, blue skies

Looking down from the Seven Pools lookout

Other than that my rides have stayed local. Soaring Covid cases make me completely reluctant to go anywhere with shared facilities. Luckily there are the lake and forest trails right out of the stable.

thought it would be cooler at the lake at 8:30am, I was wrong!

Major did not appreciate my need to take a photo of the little tree island

lake trail from above

evening forest rides are best

golden trails

But Major has been super itchy this year! The flies do not seem any worse, but overnight he itched his face raw. I think he just wanted to have more chrome (the silver wound spray). I tried different ointments and salves, finally found one, so he is healing better.

Adding Chrome doesn't work like that Major

Major and buddy Beau help each other out

On the home front there have been many books read (though I did read another end-of-the-world book, I need to stop it now because they are NOT helpful right now), some kayaking, and a bit of hiking (before I tweaked my ankle, now resting it). The next two weeks are 95 degrees plus, so went to Tractor Supply and got a water trough plunge pool (thanks to C for the fancier name!)

lupines when kayaking

awesome juvenile skink

Avery pond from the "no horses" side, never hiked there till now!

new fancy "plunge pool" ready for use

Hoping August brings me a bit less anxiety and more fun trail adventures, but even if I stay home with my book and iced tea, at least the cat is content!

Here, I've saved you a spot

warhorse

Back at the end of April life was just ramping up to the current level of crazy, and Major and I were able to ride local trails but not trailer out. It was a bit dull (though I was happy to be able to ride!).

I saw a post on Facebook about a virtual competition, Warhorse challenge. It was simply enter the "race" and pay the entry fee (much cheaper than an endurance ride!), ride 100 miles at whatever pace on your own schedule, get a medal. Sounded easy and fun, and it was! There have been some endurance ride challenges locally as well, but many of them needed you to ride X amount on a certain weekend, and I'm just not that motivated right now.

Look at my Major Award!

There are now more challenges that the organizer has created, some benefit organizations too, with a donation per entry. I have to say that this challenge was fun motivation, and the Facebook group posts are lovely pictures of people enjoying their horses, beautiful scenery, a nice bright spot in my day.

can you pose please Major?

something down here is more interesting

Some people are walking their green horses a mile a day, some hiking themselves, some finished in about three days on multiple horses. Whatever works! I think this is great challenge for folks who might need a little motivation, or even those who just want a spiffy medal! Warhorse challenge is currently full and finished, but there is Valkyrie 100, Ranger 100 and Pony Express (1900!) challenges available. (I'm not affiliated in any way with this, just thought it was a fun activity!)

Join a challenge! These are available now www.warhorseendurance.com

Major says he didn't really care and didn't need a medal, but I think I saw him showing off to his friends how cool it was… (I thought it was pretty cool and needed to show off to my friends too!)

alfalfa is a priority

monday moment: flowers

Hey Major, stop at that flower!
Why?
Because it is pretty and orange and we like orange.
You like orange.
Just stand here.
OK. Now what?
Just stop and smell the damn flower!
I think you are missing the point.
sigh…

blue hole adventure

"And I never saw blue like that before…" —Shawn Colvin

Never have I seen this color in nature. Glacial lakes came close, but is this blue? Green? Aquamarine? Turquoise? Whatever you name it, it was gorgeous!

where are we going today?

I first attempted to find this body of water, simply named "Blue Hole," with my friend C a few weeks ago. My GPS and maps failed me that time, so when we went back, I was armed with a newer (better) GPS app, laminated map and determination. These trails are very near where the Wild West endurance ride takes place, and Major loves this area.

heading out

almost there

We headed out, and I closely looked at my GPS, as there are multitudes of branching side trails, dirt roads, gravel roads, deer paths and just areas that look like they "might" be a path. I was following a track from a friend who had gone a few weeks before. First along a lovely, softly padded forest trail, then started down a gravel road, then down more on rutted 4-wheel drive only dirt road. It seems like we just went down and down, oak, pine, madrone and mazanita surrounding us. As we bottomed out there began evidence of old mining, then a side path brought the water into view.

Wow, we were awestruck. And a bit speechless while we wandered about. The horses didn't quite understand why we were just standing around taking pictures!

Blue Hole, complete with tiny island

not sure about this…

Yes, this is "just" a leftover from hydraulic mining, exposing the white rocks with no dirt left over. But the color! I read that the water is slightly acidic (I assume from rocks/minerals/mining) but people swim in it (when hot enough). Interestingly Major, who normally loves water, wasn't particularly interested in going in. Did it smell weird? I didn't care, just admired the view for quite a while.

ok, not a bad view!

read my ears: can we go now?

yeah, what's the big deal?

are they done already? photo by C

When it was time to go back…what goes down must go up (2,200 feet climbing)! And get lost a little bit…but I figured out my mistake and got back on the correct trail. There are views to forever across the Tahoe/El Dorado National forest, logging sections, very rural backyards and dirt bikes all interspersed with blooming sweet pea, blackberry, dappled sunlight, giant madrone trees and shady maples. It was great.

views forever (towards Tahoe)

sweet pea everywhere

love the leaves and shadows

at least the cut forest let us see the view!

shady and lovely

Back at the trailer the horses got a snack and we enjoyed lunch at the picnic table. I'll definitely be back, when I need another glimpse of whatever that color is.

one is deeper, one is wider, they're the same Major and Friday. And neither horse would eat their carrot greens…

june about

I've been riding but not blogging, with the world dumpster fire everything going on it was all a bit overwhelming. So here, instead of a nice per-ride post, is a photo dump of June!

In the beginning of June we went to Poverty Bar. This is where the Tevis riders cross the middle fork of the American river. It is about 11 miles from the finish, and not crossable except on that day (as they hold back the water to safer standards on Tevis day). We had not done that trail for awhile, and Major was happy with all the trotting and cantering available on the long smooth stretches, me too! He was strong and happy for the 22 miles, I was pretty amazed at his fitness (and disappointed in mine!)

a bit blurry due to Major's inability to stop trotting, but green pretty!

poverty bar crossing, Major being camera shy

yes, that way is home, but still 10.2 miles away Major!

We don't often ride the lonely river canyon between Auburn and Loomis, there is no cell service and mostly cliffs. But Major loves it, because the whole time is "going home"! And the previous ride we had come back through too many idiots people, and I was not in the mood. So I indulged him, though we took detours down the river the opposite direction to take a little edge off before heading home! We've been working on it, and he was mostly very good (with some speed reminders) the whole way.

dry, but I still find it beautiful

oh look, a sparkly! (line from a favorite kid movie, Secret of NIMH)

why are you off? Dragging me to my death on babyhead (a type of rock) trail

don't ignore the "steep" part (we came down this time)

refreshing water way below

almost thwarted! Too large (more than 12" for my trail saw) got off and climbed the stupidly steep hillside to get around the tree. Thank you surefooted Major!

surreal empty boatramp at Rattlesnake Bar

And there there is Cool. A study in opposites, some trail is hot and exposed and rocky and not very fun. Then there are shaded oak trails and secret creeks. Somehow (because I don't pay enough attention!) I end up on the yucky trails. But this time I looked at a map and my GPS and explored the trails I hadn't done for a few years, a great scenic rim trail. We had Major's friend Friday along, and me and C circled around and about a few times, and did a bit in the hot sun, but was otherwise a good trip, just before the stupid hot temperatures arrived!

anticipation

sorry Major, no horse access to this pond

fine, I'll play in mud then

cooling in Knickerbocker creek

no filters, red, hot dirt

In the first 15 days of June I rode almost 80 miles. I was trying to fit in regular work schedule, more riding (since I have more "free" time, hah!) and trying not to think about the state of the world all the time. It was too much, and I was pretty burned out. Luckily, a week long heat wave hit, and riding in 100 degrees is not my favorite. So Major and I rook almost the last half of June off, it was worth it. We took out a nervous re-rider, did one exploring the lake trail (mostly still underwater) ride and took it easy the rest of the month. (We did one last adventure in June, post to come, it was too pretty and needed a post of its own).

easy ride through flowery poppy field

I'm working on balance, like everyone else, and getting closer, one ride (or not ride) at a time.