Wednesday, November 6, 2024 – Another Ride to Broxton Bridge

Pix to come.

Hey Babe!
Another morning up with the alarm, chores and a few odds and ends, feeling tremendous relief at the election results, then saddled up Flash to check on the Red and White Trail. Today was just about GPSing distances, rather than trail cleanup, though there was a stalk or two I clipped along the way. Flash was in a considerably more sluggish mood today, and the predicted rain came in an hour early, so we ended up getting wet before we got back. Thank goodness for my slicker! There's more rain coming in, so tomorrow it's more likely to be a full rain suit and Wellies! So we did just over 10 miles, confirming the length, then I worked on my computer a bit doing some post-ride production. Then I figured I had better refill my water tanks before the camp got too crowded tomorrow, so I topped off my trailer and the horse buckets, then drove over to the stalls to refill it. While I was waiting, I decided to take a look at my radio, which had stopped working the other day. While I was fiddling with that, I checked the fuses, and there was one fuse that broke when I pulled it out. It was marked as Radio Amp, and I couldn't get it out without my needle-nose pliers, so I decided to wait until I drove back to the trailer. Then, after the tank was full, I went to start the truck and nothing. I mean, the lights came on, but the battery gave me nothing! I don't know if I shorted something out or what. Of course, that's when it started to spit with rain. I walked back and got my jump starter and little pliers and came back. I put the radio back in (which was now working) and replaced the fuse, and, using the jump starter, thankfully, it started! Whoo-hoo! I don't know what's going on with it, it might just be the batteries are due to be replaced, but I also think there's a power issue, considering my radio wasn't working. Oh, well, another think on my list to look at when I get back to Florida! Thank goodness for my BeatIt jump starter! Best $100 I ever spent! Was happy to get a great bump in my investments as a result of the election, and I have high hopes those will continue to grow (and maybe one of these days I'll actually starte spending some of it!), then finally settled down for the evening as more rain came pounding on the roof. Earplugs tonight, for sure! At least it's a warm rain. Anyway, time for shower and bed. Good night, my darlin'! Love you!

Tuesday, November 5, 2024 – Work Day to Broxton Bridge

Hiya Darlin'!
Whew, what busy, tiring day! Was up with the alarm at 7:30, got my chores and breakfast done just in time to head out with John on one of the side-by-sides, and we took a leisure, though wet trip around the trails they are evidently losing for the next ride in January, to see how much they have to make up. There was no windshield on the quad, so we ended up getting pretty wet in the 10 minutes it rained. Then got back to camp, saddled up Flash and headed out again, following John and Becky to a point on the Black and Gold trail where we separated. They were putting out some signs and clearing a section of trail, and sent me off to clear another section of trail. And what clearing it needed! Nothing heavy duty, just tons of some long-stemmed frilly thing that bends down into the middle of the trail, especially with the weight of the rain on it. I couldn't do much from Flash, so I ended up having to walk a good couple of miles (at least it felt that way!), trimming with my (well, Jo's) folding loppers. It was a much bigger job than I figured. When I finished the first section and it ended in an open field, I figured that was the end of it, but on the other side of the field, it started all over again! I was exhausted from walking and bending over and snapping my loppers and alternating between dragging Flash and keeping him from running into me or running off. At one point a critter scrambled in the bushed and Flash started to bolt, but thankfully there was a muddy creek he didn't want to go over again, so he stopped right away, thank goodness! Once we finally came to the end of it, I mounted up and let my patient horse pick his own speed, and he took off like a bat out of hell. We managed over 9 mph on the next mile, and over 8 on another one after that. He was ready to go! Made it back to camp and rinse him off, though I could barely make it to the host by the stalls, I was so tired. Finally got a chance to sit down and relax a bit, have some juice and grapes and gather myself, before going off to dinner with Becky and John and one of Cheryl's other volunteers to Hampton, where I had a great margarita and Mexican meal. Got back around 7:30, watched the pilot of a TV series, and a little election coverage, being that it's election day. Since I quit watching news after the last election, I won't be staying up late for this one, since it seems what happens overnight might change everything. Anyway, heading for desperately needed shower and bed! Good night, sweetheart! Love you!

Friday, November 1, 2024 – Fabulous 15.6 Mile Ride on Flash

Hiya Sweetie!
Another beautiful warm day here in the Manchester Forest. I delayed going out on my ride because I thought some folks I met at the last ride were coming out today, but we had a little miscommunication, they were talking about tomorrow. Though it was a big warmer starting later, it's always cooler in the woods, so I didn't mind starting my ride late. Flash and I got out about 1:45, and after a week off, he was raring to go! We averaged 5.9 mph, with a couple miles in the 8-9 mph range! We did the entire 15.6 mile ride is about 2:40 minutes. The trails here are nice a sandy, but not all flat, we had some really nice sections of the forest today, though there are a couple of sections that are really ugly, tree farm/clear cut/slash and burn ugly, but the nice sections made up for it. Gave him a nice rinse off when we got back, then settled down to a couple of DVR movies. Ready for shower and bed for sure! Good night, babe! Love you!

Wednesday, October 30, 2024 – Laundry and a Ride on Apollo

Hiya Darlin'!
No drizzle this morning, but it was quite foggy for awhile. It seemed like it was going to clear up, so I did a couple of loads of laundry and got them out hanging, and a bit of vacuuming while the generator was on, before I saddled up Apollo for a nice six mile ride. Apparently there are some trail restrictions during hunting season, but it didn't affect our ride today. Apollo was moving along much better than usual, I think he might finally be getting bored with hanging around on a highline, or maybe he was just feeling better today. We averaged over 3 mph, and Lola didn't run out ahead of us most of the time, she stayed right by or behind us, not lagging, just staying with us. It was a beautiful, cloudless day, a bit warm, but cooler in the woods, so very comfortable. We crossed a stream twice, the first time Lola couldn't get down to it, but the second time, she luxuriated in it to cool off. The trails here are nice, sandy but mostly firm, but I had to hang onto the saddle horn most of the ride, because Apollo was jumping and jiving at nothing that I could see, except for a dead possum on the edge of the trail not too far out of camp. He may be an old guy, but he sure can step sideways like a cutting horse! I managed to stay on every time, but I was being extra cautious, since this was unusual behavior for him. I can't believe it's been eleven years since the last time we were here, though it made all the trails seem new. I didn't have much of a memory of them, in any event. Anyway, it was a lovely ride, we did a nice six mile loop. After giving him a rinse and hanging him back on the highline, I got my dry laundry down and settled down for the evening. Watched another PVR movie, as my cell signal hasn't changed, The Mothman Prophesies, which I'm pretty sure I'd never seen before. Not much of a Richard Gere fan, but he did a nice job, and it was a compelling story. Well, that's all the news that fit to print! Good night, sweetheart! Love you!

Friday, October 25, 2024 – Another Long Ride on Flash

Pix to come.

Hiya Babe,
Another beautiful day, when most of the riders will be coming in. I wanted to do one last check of the entire red trail, as Patsy and I aren't in agreement with how long it really is. I've been doing it piecemeal and putting it together in post-production, but with such a discrepancy, I decided I needed to run the whole thing again in one go. First, though, I had to run into town for my package, which had FINALLY arrived, via Morriston to Jacksonville to Charleston to Columbia to Jacksonville to Charleston to Columbia, and FINALLY to Patrick, where the postmaster called and texted me to let me know it had arrived. Weirdly, they claimed it was held up by weather delays! Considering we've had cloudless days for two weeks now, I have no idea what kind of weather delay it was. I think that must be their catch-all phrase when priority mail is mishandled. Anyway, after I picked it up, I stopped at the Forest HQ to fill up my water tank, then back to camp. Got Flash saddled up and off we went around 11:30. This time we did the entire Red trail, no stopping. I was a bit concerned about the lack of water on the trail. There was a tiny brook about six miles out that is considered a water stop (I wouldn't have thought of it that way, it was so small), another water stop at a lake about ten miles out, where I tried twice to get close enough to the edge to drink, but the first was too slimy and muddy, and the second had a very steep drop off about a foot off the beach, and I was afraid Flash would end up swimming there, which meant the next water was at 13.5 miles out, which I thought was way too long. He drank his fill there, and at another creek about another mile later, and skipped the final water by the railroad tracks which were only about 2.5 miles from camp. Suffice to say, I had both GPS systems, cell and satellite with me, and they both indicated the length I had figured was correct, 18.5 miles, more than a mile less than what Patsy had figured. Too late to do anything about it this time, but good to know for the future. Got back and put Flash away, sat in my chair for a minute and was dozing for a couple of minutes. Headed back over for dinner and the ride meeting, which went on a bit longer than usual. Got back to the horses at 8:00, fed them, made myself some tea and settled down for a short evening. Ready for a break from all this riding!! I'm sure Flash feels the same! Off to shower and bed soon, so good night, darlin'! Love you!

Thursday, October 24, 2024 – A Ride on Flash

Pix to come.

Hey Darlin',
Had another beautiful cloudless day, but the package with my mail, which was sent out priority on Saturday, still hasn't arrived. I had planned on going to the Post office this morning and getting it, but by 11:00 I called, and confirmed it wasn't coming. Saddled up Flash and headed out to finish off the section of the Red Trail that I missed the other day, which was indeed quite squiggly, then Flash found his own way home when he took a hard right off a road we were on, and he was determined to take a trail instead, so I let him. He wasn't quite as anxious to move out as much, and I didn't push him to, so it wasn't as fast, but still a lovely ride sixteen mile ride. Ran into Patsy just as we got back to camp, and invited her over to dinner. She came over after 5:00 and brought the ride managed Julia with her, both brought there own food, so we just chatted. Settled down after they left after 6:00, fed the horses, watched a couple of episodes of Terra Nova, ready for bed shortly. Just another day in the life, living the dream! Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 – Another Fast Ride on Flash

Hey Babe,
Another beautiful day here at Sandhills, it's amazing how many days of cloudless sky we've had since I've been here! Got a late start getting on the trail today because I spent over an hour on the phone with Cigna trying to secure a new health insurance policy. At least I found one that actual reduces the amount Medicare is taking out of my monthly Social Security check! I didn't know about it until one of the agents told me about it, not sure why anyone wouldn't want to do that! Once I finished that lengthy call, I saddled up Flash and we headed off on the red trail, picking it up where Apollo and I left off yesterday. Flash was full of beans again today, not only gaiting for most of it, but cantering and galloping as well! There were several miles when we were doing better than eight mph! Unfortunately, I was following the markers and not my GPS (since that was kind of the point, making sure the markers were sufficient), but I didn't realize that the red trail Patsy uses here isn't exactly the red trail as marked. It turned off at one point, but the markers were still on the trail, so I ended up missing the whole east section. As a result, my anticipated 16 mile ride turned into a mere 10.8 mile ride, which, at the increased speed we were going, we finished in just 1:45!! Of course, I realized something was wrong when we got back to camp that quickly, but it wasn't until I downloaded my GPS data that I could figure out went wrong. Guess that just means I'll have to go out riding on another day to pick up the rest of that trail. I am so impressed with Flash, he just seems indefatigable these days. If I weren't so ticked off at the AERC, I'd be tempted to actually enter him in some of the upcoming rides! But no, their behavior regarding Jo and the Goethe Benefit is inexcusable, so they won't be getting anything from me. Anyway, got back to camp and settled down for the afternoon and evening, watched an interesting film called The Good Traitor, about the Danish ambassador during WWII. I've been reading a lot of WWII historical fiction lately, it was a remarkable time. I have lots to do tomorrow, so I'm heading to bed! Good night, my darlin'! Love you!

Monday, October 21, 2024 – Slow Ride on Apollo

Pix to come.

Hi Darlin',
Another good night sleep, late rising, did some planning on the computer, then took Apollo and Lola out for a ride. He was particularly sluggish today, topping out at barely 2.8 mph. Not sure if he's feeling bad, or was just not in the mood. We did around 5.5 miles, so it was about two hours. What a completely different ride than the breakneck ride we took of Flash the other day! Well, at least he got some exercise, and so did Lola, who was again, way out front. She wants to go faster, but I can't take her on a long ride on Flash, that's just too much for her. Oh, well, we'll do the best with what we have! Didn't do much else today, just a quiet afternoon after we got back, a quiet evening with a good movie, and undoubtedly, a quiet shower and bed! Good night, sweetheart! Love you!

Wednesday, October 16, 2024 – Ride Day with Comet Evening

Hiya Babe,
Another chilly morning, then saddled up Flash and headed over to day parking to meet with Patsy and some of her friends. You would think by now that I would know better than to try to ride with that many other people, though I didn't know they were all coming. Since I didn't know which trails we were taking, we couldn't be out front, so it wasn't long before Flash was all anxious about being behind other horses, and I was having to struggle to keep him reined in. We hadn't gone more than five miles before I just had to let him loose. I was told we were going to follow the red trail the rest of the way in, so I did that for awhile, until it seemed to be going in the wrong direction, so I pulled out my phone GPS and rerouted us on another route that was more direct, though not on any marked trails, at least not until we got near the end. I got back to camp about 1:40, completing about 15.4 miles, and had just made myself of cup of tea when Patsy texted to say they were almost back to the trailers. I drove over to pick up a package I had had sent to her house, a new hose for the back of the truck, which I put in as soon as I got back, and used it to fill up the trailer tank. Settled down for the rest of the day, then remembered about a comet that was coming around for the first time in 80,000 years, so I bundled up and walked down to the lake to get a look. It brought back memories of our first real date, standing in line at the planetarium in WPB, waiting to view Halley's comet through their telescope, then giving up on it when it started to cloud over. Today, the sky was perfectly clear, but a full moon was rising, so it kind of washed out the sky a bit, but I did manage to see the tail fairly clearly. Started a new series on Prime, since apparently Season Four of Farscape is by additional subscription only. I may catch up on it someday when I have a good signal and a couple of rainy days to binge-watch, but the signal is too spotty and there's nothing but clear skies on the forecast, and tonight is supposed to be the coldest night of all, so naturally, I blanketed the horses again. Lola was in the dog house for climbing into my bedroom, twice, knocking over both the trash can and the fan to get in. I really need to find a way to stop her from doing that, it's driving me nuts. Fortunately, I was planning on changing the sheets tonight anyway, putting on my flannel ones for a change, which will put off having to do laundry for awhile. I ran the fireplace to warm it up in here for awhile, but I have a feeling the furnace will be coming on tonight, even though it's only set in the low 50's! Brrr! And Lola, in an obvious effort to suck up and get me over me being mad at her, climbed into my lap and is sleeping soundly, though I'm going to have to move here soon to get my tea going. Anyway, it's been a day! Good night, darlin'! Love you!

Monday, October 14, 2024 – Busy Ride and Hay Day

Hiya Sweetie,
What a day! It started with a great night sleep, then after chores and breakfast, I did a little more research looking for hay. I thought I had some lined up, (his ad said he was baling last Friday), but he said he didn't have any ready until after this weekend, which is too late, I'm down to my last bale. Messaged someone close by, fingers crossed. I saddled up Flash and decided to take Lola. She's been doing so well, but it turned out to be a bad decision. Flash was in an exuberant mood today, back to his usual 4 mph walk and willingness to gait, and for the first couple of miles, Lola was in front. She tired after about five or six miles, and by mile seven, she was dragging so much we had to stop several times for her to rest. Finally, at about mile eight, we were about to make the 2nd road crossing, so I tied her to a tree, left her with water (there was no water on the trail, which may have contributed to the problem), and let Flash take off, which he had been wanting to do for some time. He raced off, and we averaged over nine mph the remaining 5.5 miles, getting back to camp in less than half an hour! I quickly put him away, then drove the truck out and rescued Lola, who seemed to have made a full recovery in the 40 minutes we were gone, thank goodness. I took my phone out of airplane mode and discovered I had a voicemail and message from the hay guy I reach out to this morning, so I called him and arranged to meet his family this afternoon, after I got fuel. After stopping for diesel (I managed to fill up an almost empty tank and was still under $100, yay!), I met his wife and son, who let me on a road that was little more than a utility easement to a barn where they had just put up some hay that was cut yesterday! It's back to coastal now, but this was really fresh and nice, and the bales were heavy for $8, so I stocked up with 15, which should be enough to last my stay here and still leave with a stall full of my usual eight bales. Once I got back to camp, I considered just covering it up and dealing with it in the morning, but I decided not to procrastinate (an object in motion tends to stay in motion, so I just kept moving!), and loaded to hay into the stud stall and under the gooseneck, putting up my skirting to keep it safe from wandering mouths. I finished my chores by filling the horses' water bucket with the last of the tank in the truck, and finally settled down for dinner and a couple of Farscapes. Whew! What a full day! Ready to get to bed early, for sure! Good night, babe! Love you!