Hiya Sweetie,
Despite the rain-free weather forecast that I went to bed on, it rained practically the entire night. Seriously? They couldn’t see this coming? Anyway, it was wet and chilly when I woke up and took care of the horses, and when my friends Bev and Maggie were finally ready to go, it was after 10:30. After breakfast, I just read and dozed until they called me, so as soon as I heard from them, I gathered up Flash and Apollo. Maggie’s friend Fred was going to ride Apollo, and I was happy that he was going to get some exercise. He does have one hoof that looks a bit odd that I’ll have to get looked at by a professional, but he seemed okay all day. We went on a ride about 8+ miles long, the green and yellow trail, and it was very nice. Maggie rides a Rocky Mountain that moves quickly like Flash, but we had to keep stopping and waiting for the rest of the quarter horses to catch up, even though they did a bit of jogging and cantering just to keep up. That’s how it works with stock vs. gaited horses! It was a good ride, though, everyone had a good time. Bev asked me to dinner but I begged off, it was too chilly to sit around outside to eat, so I’ll join them later in the week when it warms up a bit more. Settled down for the evening back at my trailer, now as we close in on 9:00, I’m ready for shower and bed! Good night, babe! Love you!

Hi Babe,
Another good night sleep, though I was up at a more reasonable 7:30 this morning. Did my usual morning chores and breakfast before saddling up Flash and heading out to do the Red Dot loop. It went quickly and easily, though it was more gravel road than I remember, so I’m going to take a look at alternatives to see if I can find some. Went out to dinner with Jo and her hubby Jeff at Shrimp Landing, a little restaurant in the tiny town of Ingles about 20 minutes away. All you can eat shrimp! Delicious. I confess, I pigged out. Got back to camp and sat around the campfire with my horse neighbors, did my Snowy River, and am now writing this with my generator on and my fireplace going, warming the place up enough to get through the night. Some chilly nights, and calling for temps in the upper 30’s by the weekend, brrrr! Looking forward to heading south again next week! Already showered before dinner, so I won’t be long out of bed. Love you, my darlin’! Good night!

Hey Darlin’,
Even though I went to bed by 8:30 last night, I slept until 8:45 this morning! Really catching up on my zzzzz’s! After breakfast and chores and a little organizing, I saddled up Flash and headed out to mark the short orange loop. It’s a lot easier this year, as we’re using the same trails as last year, and all the ribbons were nicely hooked onto cardboard at the end of last year, so it’s a piece of cake. Flash was well-behaved for the most part, and it took me a good part of the day to accomplish, but it got done! Chatted with my neighbors, surprisingly, there are other horse campers here, then settled down for the evening. Finished off the nice turkey soup Jeff gave me Saturday, watched a little TV, had my shower, and now it’s off the bed! Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Hey Babe,
A bit of confusion this morning about the start time, so it was a little rushed when it was unexpectedly moved up, but we managed to get packed, loaded and saddled just before the cows started heading our way. It was another short, slow ride today, with enough stops to settle Flash down whenever he started getting antsy. Left camp about 9:00 and arrived at the Silver Spur Practice Arena in Kenansville at just about noon, pretty much on schedule. A good number of friends and family was there. Jeff arrived about ten minutes after we rode our groups through the arena, and it didn’t take long to collect my luggage, load up Flash, get Lola settled in the truck and hit the road. Jeff even brought me a container of turkey soup! Very nice! I needed fuel, but the first two stations were a bust, the first one had all the pumps covered with plastic bags, and the second one, I couldn’t fit it where the diesel pump was. Finally found one and managed to fill up okay. Probably should have taken the turnpike, I’d forgotten how bad 192 was leading up to Disney World, it would have saved me an hour. Didn’t want to be driving after dark, and managed to arrive at Goethe just minutes after the dusk was completed, and a few clouds made it lighter for a few minutes more. Put the electric paddock up for Flash, figured that would be faster than a highline, started the generator, made a quick dinner, and once I had hot water, luxuriated in a nice hot shower, which was truly magnificent. Watched a little TV, got my Spanish lesson done, now I’m heading to bed. Good night, darling! Love you!

Hi Sweetie!
Today was a much more relaxed day, much appreciated after a lengthy and tiring week. I slept an hour later, and woke up ten minutes before my 6:00 alarm. Breakfast was at 8:00 and what a luxury it was to be able to pack up in the daylight! I even left the tent up and it got pretty dried out before I put it away. Today, the cows are a new heard that haven’t had the horns cut, so I was glad we weren’t working with them. Apparently they also had a meaner disposition, too, so double glad. Found out at breakfast that we wouldn’t be arriving in the arena tomorrow until between 1:00 and 2:00, so my plans to leave for Goethe has changed, no way I’m driving at night. We only rode 6.5 miles today, but it took almost five hours, very slow stop and start. Flash was better today, likely because we stopped so often and for so long, he was never able to get any steam up. Didn’t even stop for lunch. We arrived in camp around 2:00, secured a decent spot, started setting up before taking a break for lunch. Time do dry out and relax. Then they suddenly announced the Seminole presentation was starting, but I though that was after dinner. Nothing like having no schedule. Driving me a little crazy. Frankly, too tired to walk that far more than once tonight, though I really would have liked to see it. Got all set up and finally sat down and relaxed. Hear tomorrow will be a late start, too, so planning on sleeping a bit later, if possible. But that changed by after dinner, to breakfast at 7:00 and ride out at 830-9:00. Wandered over to the food tent around 5:00 to look at the silent auction items and socialize. Dinner was at 6:00, a beautiful prime rib. The Space Station flew over again just as it was being served. A program of Seminole storytelling, lots of thank you’s, the auction, a bonfire with Indian dancing, but I didn’t stay for either since I knew I’d be getting up early again after all. Still have my Spanish lesson to do, then hitting the hay. Good night, Babe! Love you!

Hey Babe!
Got up at 5:00 (late by previous standards!) and still managed to get everything done on time. Got an efficient routine going now! Rode with the herd again today, had to do some real work keeping them from scattering. Last time we used the same herd, so they were too tired by now to give us any trouble, but this time, we’re picking up and moving different herds, so they were pretty fresh and troublesome. Flash stared acting up again for some reason, and I had to move away from the herd eventually, but we were once again in wide open fields, so we ran for miles. A lot more work than I was hoping for today, but fun nevertheless! Rode through some beautiful hammocks, really nice. About 14 miles today, but we dropped off the cattle at lunch so the rest of the day was just a nice trail ride, though Flash insisted on being in front and I was too tired to argue, and I wanted to get into camp first anyway to pick a good spot. We’re calling it “the land rush” because so many of us race to find our flags and claim our camping spot. We got in about 2:30, so we actually had time to dry out a lot of stuff, very grateful for that! No rain, just everything wet with dew when we pack up. Once Lynda and I got settled in, we took the horses for a swim in a nearby stock pond, really enjoyed that! Then we saw a launch from Cape Canaveral, which was amazing, and later the Space Station flew over as well, so a really “spacey” day! Dinner was really late, and I was sorry I gave Flash my PB&J sandwich, which he seemed to enjoy. Who knew? Finally got settled in, later than usual, but satisfied with another adventurous day! Good night, my darlin’! Love you!

Hiya Darlin’!
Had a good night sleep, first time I didn’t keep waking up cold. Wool cap, socks, two blankets above and below, and my sleeping bag, that was all it took! Managed to get packed up and still had plenty of time, so I’m setting my alarm for just a bit later tomorrow. We had heard the ride was only about eight miles, so we figured we would be back in camp mid-afternoon at the latest, but it turned out to be much longer and slower. At one point the herd all but stampeded across a huge field, and it took over an hour just to round them up, settle them down, and get moving again. I heard later that, sorry to say, one of the dogs had been trampled and they had to bury it, which added to the time. Flash was much better today, so it was definitely the feed making him crazy. We were so late getting into camp the sun set before we got setup (so much for having a few hours to let stuff dry out!) and dark before we finished. Managed to wash my hair, the forest service guys were filling horse troughs and they let some of us do a quick shampoo under their hose. That did wonders for my attitude. Got my phone and charge on the generator so now I’m all charged up again. Didn’t stay for the historical program after dinner, but we could hear it on the PA system. Too darned tired! Heading to bed right now, and it’s not even 9:00! Love you, sweetie! Good night!

Hi Sweetie!
What an amazing and tough day. Amazing, because we helped move the cows today, and tough, because Flash, despite his brilliant behavior yesterday, was an absolute monster today. The droving today was about 12 miles, and there were many times when we were right up front and really moving the cows, blocking their way when they were headed in the wrong direction, it was a blast! But I was constantly stuck with doing some schooling on Flash, meaning he would, for no apparent reason, suddenly bunch up, canter in place, and generally completely become unglued, I had to run him out for what seemed like miles, and he would be better for a while, then again, for no apparent reason, do it all over again. I couldn’t figure out what the problem was, He didn’t seem bothered by the cows, in fact, he seemed to enjoy the job, and the fact he could be up front a lot, and when we were tasked to stay behind to block an outlet, we got to go fast to catch up afterward. I finally figured out that the only other that that had changed since yesterday was the feed. We’re obliged to use the feed they provide for us, and that’s the only thing I could think of, so when we got to camp, I checked the ingredients, and sure enough, alfalfa was one of the top ingredients, so no more of that for him! I loaded up on hay instead. We arrived in cap just after 3:30, so we had some time to dry stuff out before putting it all up, which was a blessing. Managed to snag a spot equidistant between the water trough, the port-potties, and the luggage trailer, because toward the end of the ride, I let Flash finally move out a little (in a controlled fashion) so got into camp a the very front of the pack an planted myself. Lynda followed me in and we got ourselves set up nicely. Dinner and the evening flew by, and we were bed by 9:00 once again. A great day, albeit exhausting! I just hope taking him off this feed will do the trick tomorrow! Good night, babe! Love you!

Hey Sweetie,
Sleep was fitful, not surprisingly, slept a few hours, woke up for a bit, repeat a couple of times. Since I was in bed by about 9:00, I was pretty wide awake at 4:30, so I decided to get up and start packing everything inside the tent. I knew it would take longer than I figured, and it did, so I was glad I started early! Reached the breakfast line by 6:30, and happy to see they had already started serving, so that helped. I was hoping the sun would come out long enough to dry my tent before packing, but that didn’t happen. Managed to get everything done and was sitting on Flash at the appointed hour of 7:45. Of course, we didn’t pull out until 8:00, which I figured, and off we went! We were the first group after the cowhunters today, but they were a lot more lax about staying with your group than last time, so folks were going back and forth. Ran into a lot of folks I have previously met and rode with particularly from the Cracker Ride, so it was a bit like old home week sometimes. Flash was very well-behaved for the most party, though a few horses got too close to his rear suddenly, and he kicked a little, as just about any horse would. He and Lynda’s horse Tonto have bonded, almost too much, so we took turns riding with other folks to make sure they didn’t start to misbehave. Rode with Augie from Miami and his Paso, he and Flash get along fine, and he actually slowed him down! This was the longest day, nearly 18 miles, though I forgot to start my FPS on time, so I’ll have to retrofit once I get it on my computer. Lots of pastures and open fields today. Not facilities of any kind, and this time, we picked up a lunch bag in the morning, last time lunch was catered on the spot. This was better. Finally arrived at the private rodeo grounds around 4:30, had just enough time to get set up before dark. Not as close to water or bathrooms, but it’ll do! Looking forward to dinner, a washcloth bath, and a good night sleep. We’ll start all over again tomorrow! Good night, darlin! Love you!

Hey Babe!
Another busy day here in camp! Got a few things organized in the morning, then saddled up Flash and went for a great conditioning ride. He was full of energy, and wanted to canter almost as soon as we got out of camp! We stayed on the road all the way down to the Fishing Pier, which is almost seven miles, and did a lot of it at pretty high speed, which didn’t seem to bother him in the least. Just as we got there, James called, so it was the perfect time to debrief about the weekend, while Lola and Flash rested for a bit. Then we headed back on the teal trail along the power line on the west side of the property, and went pretty quick along there as well. We covered almost thirteen miles, so it was a good workout for him. Rinsed him off and put him in the electric corral that I set up yesterday just to get him used to it again, gave him some hay, and fed him grain when dinner time rolled around, since he worked so hard today. Apollo whinnied for us a couple of times, but then seemed to settled down just fine. Did a lot more packing, including the newly waterproofed tent, a lot of clothes, and started fulfilling a long list of things I keep waking up in the night remembering, and adding to a list on my phone. Also checking it against the cattle drive website to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything. Not sure how we carried all this stuff last time, we must have had a big duffel bag or something, but I evidently don’t have it anymore, and I’m trying to stuff too much into too small a space. I may have to see what else I can find, though at the moment, I’m still trying to squeeze everything in! Finally settled down after 6:00, did some laundry of the clothes I want to take, planning on getting my shower and to bed early, tomorrow’s going to be another busy day!Good night, sweetie! Love you!