Friday, August 15, 2025 – Another Exhausting Day, But Job Done!

Hiya Babe!
What a long and tiring day! Woke up early, Richard and I were on the trail before 9:30 to finish up marking the few trails in Horseshoe Bend park while waiting for the signs, which we finally got around 10:45. We went straight up to Frenchtown Preserve to finish marking, but the trails were difficult for the UTV to navigate, and there were a lot of trees that came down in the storm, so it was very slow going. We worked our butts off trying to get it all done, and managed to just finish up by suppertime at 6:00. We did the riders meeting at 6:45, and I finally got back to the trailer by about 7:30, totally exhausted. Barely have enough energy to write this post! Since I have to be back over there by about 6:15 a.m., I'm taking my shower and getting to bed very soon! Whew! What a day! Love you, darlin'! Good night!

Wednesday, August 13, 2025 – More Trails Ribboned, Bad Thunderstorm

Hiya Sweetie,
Had another busy day, finishing off putting out ribbons on the private properties we’re using. Flash was great, as usual! I also finished making the maps so that’s done. We had a terrible thunderstorm come in late in the afternoon, which I’m afraid has played havok with all the markers I put up since Monday, so I’m going to have to check on them all tomorrow. I’ve also been informed that we can put ribbons up in the state park tomorrow, which means the only thing left will be the preserve on the north end of the course. I had hoped to give Flash a day off, but doesn’t look like he’s going to get one after all! Hoping I’ll have for all of that tomorrow! Did a few odd jobs around the trailer, washed the black sheepskin saddle cover I’m going to take with me, and sewed an elastic band on my new saddle cover pad so that I can hook it around the horn, which will hopefully keep it from sliding around. Between those two items, plus my gel pad, I expect I’ll have a very comfortable seat no matter what kind of saddle they put me on in Yellowstone! I’m slowly collecting everything I need, I just hope I can remember to pack it all. That will be Sunday’s chore! I’m just chugging along, though it would be nice to have a day off, I’m thinking my flight on Monday may be my first chance to rest, but cross country travel is never that relaxing, even in first class! Anyway, my day is nearly done, heading to bed soon! Good night, baby! Love you!

Thursday, August 14, 2025 – Another Very Busy Day, Getting Worn Out!

Hi Darlin'!
Despite being tired last night, I had trouble falling asleep, so didn't feel as rested this morning as I had hoped. The day got off to a busy start, out on the trail by 10:30 with the intention of finishing up everything in the Horseshoe Bend Park and leaving only the Frenchtown Preserve to be done tomorrow, but that didn't quite work out. I got most of it done, but had to stop and remove several trees that had come down presumably because of the storm last night. Flash and I worked non-stop until nearly 3:30, and still have a couple of small trails to finish up. Then Richard called and asked for my help, and we ran out a load of woodchips to cover a section on the trail, and ran a small section of the trail, only discover more trees down, one that was totally impassable, so we had to clear all those up. It was nearly 6:00 by the time I got home, and we're going to have an even busier day tomorrow from the looks of it. We now have to run every trail looking for downed trees and any markers that may have come down (though from what I saw, remarkably, the ones I put up during the week seemed to all be still in place!), we have to put the signs out, but we're not going to get them before 10:00, so it will be a late start and a busy day. Off to bed early, with plans to take a Tylenol PM is I don't get to sleep right away, I can't afford another restless night! Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Tuesday, August 12, 2025 – Days Are Flying By!

Hey Babe!
Ribboned another four miles of trails this morning before heading off to town to do a major shopping, to get everything else I need for my trip to Yellowstone. Went to Lowe's first to get an "action hoe" (we used to have one for weeding which was brilliant, hoping to finish off her garden with it sometime soon!) and a shelf board. Then to Walmart for everything else, took several hours to work my way through, though there were quite a few things they didn't have, and one thing I completely forgot despite the fact it was at the top of my list, so the first thing I did after putting groceries away was to get on Amazon and order everything else I need. Hopefully I haven't forgotten anything, or won't forget to pack everything! Filled up with fuel so that's done for my trip to the airport (if Amanda wants to use it), and even managed to get a round bale of hay moved into the horses' pen so I won't have to worry about that anymore! Worked some more on the signs, but am SO READY for bed! Good night, my darlin'! Love you!

Monday, August 11, 2025 – LOPPERS FOUND! And Ten+ Miles of Trail Ribboned

Hiya Darlin'!
Busy, busy day! Flash and I headed out early to put ribbons up on several of the private properties that we're using, starting with the pink one that's the most southeast on the course. Got back after noon, and lo and behold, my loppers were sitting on the top step of my trailer!! Moments later, I received a text from Meg telling me that volunteer Al had found them! Amazing! I'm so happy they have been recovered! I took a short break, then grabbed blue and orange and did another seven miles of riding to do some other properties. It was 4:30 by the time I got back and put Flash away, tired but feeling very productive, and very happy about those loppers! Settled down for the evening, did some work on signs for the trails, watched a Haven, ready for shower and bed! Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Sunday, August 10, 2025 – More Trail Chores

Hi Sweetie,
I'm very mad at myself. Somewhere along the line yesterday, I lost the foldable loppers that I so depend on when I'm out clearing trails. It was deep in my saddle bags, so I wasn't too worried on the occasions when Flash and I cantered, but somehow, they've disappeared. I went out on Flash this morning, sure that I could find them, and ran the whole trail we took yesterday after the last time I used them, but there was no trace. I posted on the local FB groups, so I'm hoping that someone will find them and turn them in. Grrr!! So mad about that!! I'll be spending a lot more time on the trails this weekend, so who knows, maybe they'll turn up. Meanwhile, Annie and I went out in the side-by-side and finished doing the trim on the rest of the middle eastern section, while Meg did some work on the farm. Ready to start putting up markers tomorrow, at least on the private properties, which shouldn't be disturbed during the week. Need to pace myself, don't want to be exhausted when I leave for Yellowstone! Having trouble viewing TV now, think Verizon is seriously throttling down my usage, even though I upped my plan last month. Don't have time to mess with it now, so I'm doing a lot of reading instead. Did two loads of laundry today, so I'm ready for shower and bed soon! Good night, baby! Love you!

Saturday, August 9, 2025 – Busy Day Trail Clearing

Hi Babe!
Got lots done today! Rode Flash all around the southeast portion of the trails that we'll be using, doing a final trim on all but one section which has yet to be mowed. After that ride, Meg, Annie and I went out in the side-by-side and cleared almost all of the middle eastern section, until all of our equipment ran out of battery power. Not much left though. Got back after 4:30 having had a productive day! Settled down for the evening with some more episodes of Haven (I'm really hooked on that last few seasons), and once again planning for an early bedtime! Good night, darlin'! Love you!

Friday, August 8, 2025 – A Few Chores

Hiya Darlin',
Spent the day doing a few odds and ends. I worked on the trail map, determining where we need arrows and extra markers, then dragged down my pressure washer and cleaned out the tank in the truck. It had some growth in the bottom I wanted to get rid of. Pulled a few weeds, did a little research on my computer, then settled down early. Trying to pace myself, crunch time is coming soon! Made a plan for the next few days, it's going to be busy! Heading to bed soon. Love you, sweetie! Good night!

Thursday, August 7, 2025 – Beautiful “Trail Check” Ride

Hi Sweetie!
The focus today was to check some more of the trails, do a little clearing and planning for next week's Horseshoe Bend Boogie Endurance Ride. Really beautiful trails here, and it's great that the neighbors are so helpful and willing to let us use some of their fields in between the government properties! There are multiple tracts being used, which creates a lovely diversity on the trails. Flash did a great job, as usual, with only the occasional heavy sigh when I made him stop to do some trimming when he would have preferred to run, but he did make up some speed when we circled some of the fields. My go, go, go guy! Did nearly ten miles today, in about three hours with all the stop-starting. After we got back, I spent a little time gathering all the old forms and documents for the 2022 Ocean to Lake trail ride and sent them all off to the new committee members who are trying to organize the latest rendition of the ride. Then I relaxed a bit in the evening, and that was pretty much it for the day! Good night, babe! Love you!

Wednesday, August 6, 2025 – Chores Around the Farm

Hiya Babe,
Had a lot more variety in my day today, just doing some chores around the farm to earn my keep! Did my usual chores, then did some other stuff for Meg. Fixed her trundle bed, weeded her herb garden, got her electric push mower working and mowed her little raised bed garden, and generally kept busy most of the day. Then around 3:30 her friend Al came out with his tractor and the three of us went out to clear the trails around her hay fields, which we'll be using as trail during the upcoming Horseshoe Bend Boogie endurance ride. We were busy for a good three hours, getting back just in time for a Zoom meeting with the organizers of the revived Ocean to Lake (rebranded to the more accurate Lake to Ocean) greenway ride. Seems they're making good progress toward making it happen, which would be a good thing, it was always a great ride. That took over an hour, so by now, I'm just about ready for bed! Good night, my darlin'! Love you!