Hey Babe,
After another good night sleep, breakfast and chores (which once again included sewing up Lola’s bed, which she ripped all up again), I saddled up Apollo with the plan to finish off all the rest of the trails, which I figured would be about eight miles, most of which would be on the side trails. We managed to get it done, took us about four hours. I have to say, though, that the more I ride here the less I like it. Mostly that’s because of the fact they’ve marked the trails the way they have. I hadn’t realized just how ingrained my trail expectations are. Every time I saw a marker on the left I was expecting a left turn. Not only were there no left turns, there were many cases when there was a RIGHT turn, but they didn’t have any markings for the turn, no double marker, no arrow, nothing. I found myself in a constant state of frustration. Furthermore, some of the side trails just don’t take the terrain into consideration the way they should. This place is really hilly, and they had so many opportunities to create some fabulous switchbacks, but many of the trails go practically straight up and down. Several trails really went through some really rocky bits, too, not my favorite. Suffice it to say, I had the map or the GPS in my hand at all times, and never got to relax, at least not until we were on the main trail heading back to camp, which is the antithesis of why I ride. This place has so much potential, but they really need to revisit their trail design and their markers to at least meet minimum “industry standards,” which they are far from at the moment. Riding the carriage roads are about the only stress-free riding there is, and even that can be frustrating with all the letters and numbers and names that it takes just to get around using their map. Oh, well, I’ve done it now, and I’ll write them an analysis and leave it with them, they can do what they want with it. Meanwhile, it was 3:00 when we got back to camp, I put Apollo away and fixed the stirrup on my saddle. I lost the nut on the end of the carriage bolt while climbing a hill, but fortunately I found a spare and repaired it. Not long after I was joined by another camper, Wendy, who is here for the work day tomorrow, though I gather she intends to ride her horse out to her adopted trail to check it out. I fed the horses, made some noodles and settled down for the evening. At 6:00, I swear it felt closer to 9:00, these evenings are just dragging out in the dark! Well, I have a busy day tomorrow on the work crew, so early to bed would be a good idea anyway. Good night, babe! Love you!
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