Hey Sweetie,
Well, I got so involved with the new book I started reading last night that I have no idea what time it was when I finally fell asleep, but I do know it had to be pretty late. I slept until 10:00 this morning, which is just barely when the sun starts to reach this site of mine, and it got down to about 43 degrees during the night, I got a bit cold, even with my two blankets, so I broke down and climbed up on the roof to get my quilt out of the attic, since it’s supposed to be cold for a couple more nights before it warms up again. I still felt tired all day, though, so I only puttered a bit. I had to re-sew Lola’a bed again, she must have gotten into a scratching frenzy, ripping the entire seam on the opposite side of the zipper that I had previously repaired. At least she didn’t start chewing up the foam inside and spitting it out, which she has done in the past. Mixed up a few pesticides for later use but read most of the day, finishing off last night’s book by the end of breakfast, then starting another one, more of a geo-political-military type story, but I was still felt so tired I went back to bed in the afternoon and took a nap. Guess I’ve the last few days of activity wore me out more than I thought. Had a nice rest today, though, so hopefully, if I get to bed early, I’ll be more rested tomorrow. I’d like to take Apollo out for a ride tomorrow, but I have a bunch of work to do, and I’m going to have to drive my truck up toward the top of the hill to do it, since I have no signal down here. I did find a place where I can get 3 bars of 4G, so hopefully it won’t take me too terribly long to get done what I need to do. Anyway, I watched a movie from the PVR, then a Wagon Train, now I’m headed to shower and bed. Good night, babe! Love you!
Archives for September 2020
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020 – Second Ride at O’Bannon Woods
Hey Babe,
Got quite a bit colder last night than I thought it would, SO glad I decided to put the blankets on the horses last night! Just 47 degrees when I got up this morning, good thing I remembered to bring my heavy robe up to bed, happy I did that, too! First thing I did this morning was start a load of laundry, something I wouldn’t normally do on a Saturday because it’s usually the busiest day for the horse camp, but there’s still almost no one in the primitive camp, and I really needed to do some wash. By the time I fed the horses and did my few chores and got a line up, it was done, so I put it out to dry, even though the sun had barely topped the trees by 9:00. Got Flash saddled up and was just about ready to go when Trish and Janet arrived, so we took off shortly thereafter, heading out on the Idlewild Trail, out Fox Hollow, then out to Coles loop and back, A very nice ride, though sections of it were rocky. I started out with boots on Flash, but took them off since the rocks were mostly big enough not to cause him a problem, and there were quite a few bogs, and I didn’t want to worry about losing boots. We were out for over 3 hours, I did eleven miles, and got back to camp just after 1:30. Grabbed a quick sandwich, then drove into town again to try to solve my manure rake problem. Went to Tractor Supply again, looking for a different handle, even took the old handle and tines in to make sure, and also bought an assortment of jigsaw blades since I wore the other one out. Topped off with diesel and got back to camp around 4:30, and promptly discovered that the new handle didn’t fit either! It looked like it would in the store, but it had a lip on it that prevented it from going in, darn it! So Plan B was to get out my jigsaw again, and with the new metal blade I was able to quickly remove the metal shroud that was on the handle I bought yesterday, and it was still too big! A quick change of blade and I whittled down that handle until it FINALLY fit, drilled a hole through it and bolted it up, and AT LAST I have a working manure rake! At least I was finally able to get it right, and I can take back the latest handle. By now it was almost 5:00, so I headed up to the ladies’ camp for dinner again, and learned that they had decided to leave tonight. Trish’s horse Breezy was getting some bad chafing from her girth and she didn’t want to ride again tomorrow, and Janet agreed, so they headed out right after dinner. I got back to camp, finished putting away all my tools and stuff, then settled down for the evening. Just downloaded a new book, a courtroom drama, that I’m looking forward to getting into, after watching an old Mae West-WC Fields movie that we had on DVR for a long time. Probably going to take the day off tomorrow, could use a break. Anyway, it was a lovely day, perfect weather once it warmed up a bit, but it’s supposed to be even colder tonight, so blankets are back on the horses! Headed off for shower and bed now, so good night, my darlin’! Love you!
Friday, Sept. 18, 2020 – First Ride at O’Bannon Woods
Pix to follow.
Hi Sweetie,
Had a great night sleep, woke up to the alarm, since we had agreed I would meet them up at their campsite at around 10:00 and didn’t want to be late, so I fed everyone, including me, got ready, and was leaving camp on Flash by about 9:35. I found the trail Ginny told me about and it was almost exactly one mile up to them, so I made it just about on time. Of course, they weren’t ready, but it didn’t take them too long, and we were leaving camp by 10:35. We got on Trail 10 right next to the bathhouse, which interestingly, isn’t on any of the maps, new or old, so we were off-track right off the bat. We got completely turned around when we reached a trail that was closed, but in the long run, we didn’t get lost, and got right back to camp in just about three hours. What a beautiful ride! It took us right along the Ohio River, then the Blue River, which is a tributary, along gorgeous trails, some with tons of flowers, lots of great old trees, some gravel but mostly dirt trails with the occasional mud bog, but not enough to lost boots or get covered with mud. Really enjoyable! Unfortunately the gravel is big chunky gravel, but there wasn’t too terribly much of it, so we managed okay. A very pleasant ride! After I left the ladies at their campsite, I headed back to mine, made a quick sandwich, then headed up to pick them up, as we had agreed we would all go to town, me for propane and a couple of other things, Ginny for a new microwave, as the one in her trailer died, and Trish for a couple of things for her horse. It was too late to ride again by the time we got back, so I left them, primarily because I had broken the handle on my manure rake and had bought a replacement and wanted to get that fixed. Well, the best laid plans… Turns out the handle I bought wasn’t the right size, but it had a casing around it, which I though was rubbed, and I thought if I could get that off it might fit. Turns out it wasn’t rubber, it was metal, and I tried everything to get it off, but didn’t succeed. So now I either need to get new blades for my jigsaw or find another handle that might fit, though I hadn’t seen any yesterday, they were all for other implements. I was mad because this handle specifically said it should fit a manure rake, and I didn’t see anything else that might work, but I guess I can make a shovel handle work or something. Anyway, that’s a problem for tomorrow. I fed the horses and drove back up the their camp for dinner, and didn’t get back until nearly 8:00. Watched a Wagon Train, got caught up on the email I had downloaded while I was up there, made a new map for tomorrow, and now I’m headed to shower and bed! Good night, sweetheart! Love you!
Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020 – Travel Day to O’Bannon Woods State Park
Hi Babe,
Got up early and finished packing everything, had to do a bit of fancy maneuvering to get out of my campsite without running into a ditch, but managed to do so after two or three passes at it. I stopped in Paoli at the Tractor Supply only to discover this one doesn’t refill propane tanks, which was my main reason for going there, so I just got a bag of feed and headed to the Walmart. Didn’t need much but I did need some padded envelopes to mail my books in, which I had to have to get out a book order I got the other day. Once I finished there and packed up the book, I had to pretty much block half a lane to drop it off at the post office, but that only took a minute. The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful, and with the whole trip only being about 65 miles, it didn’t take long. When I got to Corydon, the nearest town to my destination, I stopped at the Tractor Supply there, saw they refilled propane there, dropped my tanks off by the gate before going in, only to discover they had completely run out of propane! Fortunately I still have one and a half tanks, so it wasn’t an issue, but it does mean a trip into town again tomorrow. Arrived at the campground, got all checked in, and made my way down to the primitive horse camp, which was almost empty except for a rather well-known couple Bob Brittian and Ginny were in the site right next to me, as I learned later in the day. They were out riding when I arrived, but I got all backed in with no problem, plenty of room, and mostly level. Put up a highline between a tree and a hitching post, and did a complete set up, including screen room and grill in less than 90 minutes. Got my water tanks filled and everything, then settled down for awhile. My neighbors arrived shortly afterward and we exchanged pleasantries, then Trish and Janet arrived on horseback, they’d settled into the electric camp which was about a mile away. Janet struck up a conversation with the neighbors and that’s when we learned all about them. Anyway, we all chatted, then the ladies went back to camp, I grabbed some Ramen noodles and fed the horses, and eventually wound up over at Bob’s camp, he was playing his guitar and singing some great cowboy songs. The ladies drove down and sat with us around the campfire for awhile, I got to do my Snowy River, and Bob told a sad tale about a cowboy with an obsession with a wild palomino filly. Then we all went our separate ways for the night, with plans arranged for the morning ride tomorrow. Ginny had let me take a picture of a handkerchief that had a map of the place on it, since they seem to be hard to come by unless you want to spend $10, which seems excessive to me. I used it as an overlay on Google Earth and still managed to make a GPS for tomorrow. Bad news is there is absolutely NO cell phone signal down here at the camp, though apparently they have one at the upper camp, so I can see I’m going to be driving to check my email. Anyway, time for shower and bed, it’s already too late. Good night, sweetie! Love you!
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020 – Final Ride at Shirley Creek
Pix to come.
Hey darlin’,
Last full day here. I had some computer work to do for a bit this morning after my usual chores, then eventually saddled up Apollo for a short ride. Yesterday on Flash the saddlebags got loose and I had something fall out, and I found it right away, but I thought maybe something came out earlier and I wanted to check on it. Problem is, I reorganized my saddlebags not long ago and I can’t remember everything I’m carrying these days, so I was pretty sure I hadn’t lost anything, and I never did find anything else on the trail today, so that was good. It was only a short ride, just over 5 miles, but I managed to get him to jog a bit more than usual, just trying to get him in shape. When I got back, I put him on an anchor and started packing up a few things in preparation for our departure tomorrow. I dawdled over that most of the rest of the day, reading a little, watching a little TV, you know, the usual. By 7:00 I had fed the horses and put everything else away that I could, so it shouldn’t be to bad getting out of here in the morning. I’ve planned a route that will take me through the nearest town where I can stop at Tractor Supply for propane, Walmart for just a few odds and ends, and a post office to ship out a book order I got last night, where I hope there will be enough street parking for me! It’s only about 65 miles, and that’s going a bit out of my way in order to get to a US highway, since the rest all look like pretty tiny roads and I don’t want to take any chances. One thing I forgot to do was send an email to your sister to wish her a Happy Birthday, but I’m sending one now so she’ll have a belated one in the morning. I’m hoping to Skype with her over the weekend, if I have a decent cell phone signal. I’ve run out of trails here and I’m ready to move on, though I did enjoy the place a lot. Anyway, time for my shower and bed! Good night, hon! Love you!
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020 – Another Ride at Shirley Creek
Pix to follow.
Hey Baby,
Another late start this morning, mostly because I wanted to finish the last few chapters of the series I’ve been reading, but then I got up for chores and breakfast. I spent over an hour on the phone with one company, then another 45 minutes on the phone with another company, then back on the phone with the first company for another half an hour, all trying to follow up on stuff I’ve been trying to accomplish for a long time and getting nowhere. Not sure I got anywhere today, either, but we’ll see. Very frustrating. I seem to remember that in the “old” days, keeping someone on hold for more than 5 minutes was considered terrible customer service, but it seems these days, it seems half an hour is the minimum! Twice I got hung up on, twice more my phone dropped the call, and one time I went through four different people, then waited for 20 minutes, only to learn I was still talking to the wrong department! Grrrrrr! Anyway, I finally got as far as I could go with it all, and needed some quiet time, so I saddled up Flash to do the rest of the trails I hadn’t done here yet. Again, it was a lovely ride, really easy and beautiful trails here, very enjoyable. Did just under eight miles, got back a bit after 4:00, put Flash away, got a beer and went to talk to the neighbors for a bit. Not a very stimulating conversation, so I didn’t stay long, and they were so worried I’d get a ticket from a forest service ranger (whom I haven’t seen any of since I’ve been here) about my fence, I decided to take it down and put the horses up on a high line that I strung between two hitching rails. I was hoping to have the place to myself at some point this week, but they’re still here, and so are the other group of non-horse campers, who dress like old-style gypsies. The next few weeks are going to be busy as I get ready for my trip to Vegas and the Grand Canyon, lots of prep work to do. Eventually settled down for the evening to an old Wagon Train from the PVR, but I’m planning on getting to bed early. So, signing off! Good night, sweetie! Love you!
Monday, Sept. 14, 2020 – Lazy Day at Shirley Creek
Hi Hon,
Couldn’t get to sleep last night, and I woke up woozy this morning, so I decided just to have a relaxing day today. Spent most of the day just reading, with the exception of finishing the filing of my complaint against the actors’ union. They’re still refusing to let me have a contract, and are still threatening to punish me if I work WITHOUT a contract. Not sure how they expect to accomplish anything with THAT attitude! I thought a union WANTED their members to work, not prevent them from working! Anyway, a very quiet day, but hopefully not so quiet that I can’t sleep again tonight! Finally had some sunshine today, so my solar panel managed to collect a bit, but I used a lot of power charging up my electronics, so I’m having to run the generator for a bit now. All I have left to do is feed Lola (after I make her some new satin balls), take a shower and head for bed, though I’ll probably watch a movie since my eyes are tired from reading. So I’m signing off early tonight, while I’ve still got an internet connection. Love you, darlin’! Good night!
Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020 – Second Ride at Shirley Creek
Pix to follow
Hey Sweetie,
Slept so late this morning, I couldn’t believe it! Didn’t crawl out of bed until nearly 10:00, surprised the horses didn’t wake me up, considering they’re right outside my window! Anyway, got up and did my chores, had breakfast, then saddled up Apollo and got on the trail about 1:00. Today’s goal was the “inner loop,” and it had a lot more gravel than the outer loop, but still all small stuff so it wasn’t much of a bother. This was a very easy trail, not even rising to moderate, in my opinion. It’s interesting, there are nice hills here, making for a varied terrain, but the trails are cut in such a way that the riding is really easy. The steepest hill has such a gentle series of switchbacks you hardly know you’re climbing. Really perfect of Apollo, we did over 6 miles and he did just fine, though when I put him back in the paddock, he didn’t move for quite a while, I don’t know if he just went to sleep in situ or what, but he was stiff as a board for a bit. I spent the rest of the day mostly reading, grilled myself a nice pork chop on the grill, then settled down to watch a movie on the Dish PVR. The night’s are starting to get a bit cooler, which I’m looking forward to, it’s been kind of hot here, but no where near as we had a few weeks ago. Been keeping my generator use down to about 30 minutes twice a day, so far that seems to be enough. We finally got a little sun today, been cloudy since I got here, but more sun is forecast, so that should help me conserve propane, since the solar panel is out and I’m in a clearing. We’ll see! I’ve had other days in the past when I only had to run the generator for 30 minutes once a day, hopefully that will be the case for the rest of the week. Anyway, I took my shower early, so I’m off to bed now. Love you, babe! Good night!
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 – First Ride at Shirley Creek
Pix to follow
Hiya Babe!
What a great ride today! Not the best night sleep but I woke up more rested than I was yesterday, and after breakfast and chores, I saddled up Flash and headed out on what I’m calling the “outer loop.” As you know, I always like to try to do a perimeter route on my first day so I can get a lay of the land, as it were, and today’s 10 mile ride fit that perfectly! I left camp, got about 100 yards and realized I’d forgotten to put Lola’s safety vest on, so I gaited back to camp to get it, then headed out again. What nice trails! These are the kind of trails I miss not going to National Forests, but they’re campgrounds are a bit dicey for a rig my size, so I’m not sure how many of them I’ll be able to go to. Even this one, I’m not sure if I can leave the campground and turn south, because it’s a narrow road with about a 340 degree turn, so I may have to go north and find a different way. Anyway, that’s a problem for another day! The trails are most dirt with some gravel, but it’s a nice small gravel that doesn’t bother anyone. Only a few mud patches, and they were mostly dried up since we haven’t had any rain in a long time here now. Beautiful deciduous woods, rolling hills, nothing too steep, nice switchbacks occasionally, a few pine forests wedged between, really nice! There was one section that went along a gravel road, but it wasn’t too bad either. I ran into a couple of groups on the trail, some folks seem to worry about me riding alone, which I can appreciate. Some see it as brave, others foolish, others stupid, but I just call it living! One thing that was always true about us, we never let our life be ruled by fear, and I don’t intend to start now! Got back to camp around 3:30, sponged Flash down, then proceed to try to get a cell phone signal good enough to internet, I’m just on the edge here. Managed to do a little work, but can’t upload pictures, so they’ll have to be added later. Meanwhile, I’m having my first glass of wine, I’ve put up the grill so I can have a nice burger in a bit, ready to settle down for the evening. Not much to add, you know what comes next, so I’ll upload this early while I’ve got a signal! Good night, sweetheart! Love you!
Friday, Sept. 11, 2020 – Errand and Rest Day
Hi Darlin’,
Had a good rest overnight, but was still feeling a bit tired today. I discovered I had a book order come in late last night, so I packed that up after chores, made a list of a couple of items I needed and headed into French Lick to the post office. I discovered this was quite an historic area, with lots of buildings from just after the turn of the last century, evidently there were springs here that claimed healing powers and people flocked here for the cures. I loved the old post office, one of those great old buildings with the super high ceilings and beautiful wood, from back when they really knew how to build grand buildings. I stopped at the tourist office to pick up some maps and brochures just to see what the history was about, pretty interesting. It gave me a chance to scope out my exit route, too, and it looks pretty good, except for the turn out of the campground! That looks the most harrowing, big ditch, driveway points the wrong way, I may need to find an alternate route just in case I can’t make it. I filled up with fuel while I was in town, best price I’ve seen for diesel in a while, just $2.29 a gallon. Since my next stop isn’t all that far, and I don’t anticipate going out again, I should be good for awhile. Also stopped at the Jay C grocery store for a couple of things (I forgot Total cereal for Lola’s satin balls the other day), and then I was back in camp. It was cloudy all day, so I only got a little boost from the solar panel, but even so, I didn’t need to turn the generator on until dinner time, and only for about 30 minutes. Hopefully it will be sunnier tomorrow, though they’re calling for rain in the afternoon. I didn’t feel like riding today, but I did make out three routes to cover all the trails, two for Flash and one for Apollo, so I’m ready to go. I’ll take Flash in the morning for a perimeter ride. I’m told the trails are rocky, so boots for him will be the order of the day. Read for most of the afternoon, watched a few old things on the Dish PVR, otherwise an uneventful and restful day. Heading for shower and bed now. Good night, sweetie! Love you!