Hiya Babe!
Another pretty good night sleep, my usual morning routine, then saddled up Flash to do an inspection of the green trail. He was lovely and quiet for the first couple of miles, then the speed bug bit him and he was off to the races! Gaiting, cantering, and flat-out galloping was the order of the day for most of the rest of the ride! Loved it! It was another gorgeous morning, though the temps were getting cooler by the hour and rain came through later in the afternoon and evening, with temps in the mid-30's predicted overnight. Once we got back, we spent some time chatting with numerous riders that were coming and going out of the trailhead, then finally got Flash put away after rinsing him off. Not surprising, he had worked up a nice sweat. Went over to visit Margarita and George for the afternoon, tasked with helping them deplete their Turkey Day leftovers. Another friend of theirs, Bev, arrived, a delightful lady that had worked with George many years ago, and who travels a lot in her camper, and we all got along great. Fabulous conversation, delicious food, lots of lovely wine, a wonderful way to spend the afternoon! Left around 7:00, fed the horses and put on their winter blankets (after turning on my electric fireplace) and settled down for a short evening. Didn't even watch TV, I had some things to do on the computer. I expect that with the cold days coming up, I'll spend them doing some much needed and overdue housekeeping. Meanwhile, it's all about snuggling in bed! Good night, sweetheart! Love you!

Hi Sweetie,
Finally, a good night sleep! With no interruptions from Lola, and nothing else to wake me up, I finally managed to sleep pretty much straight through the night, thank goodness! Did my usual morning chores, with the addition of baking a frozen Dutch apple pie, I managed to saddle up Apollo and take him and Lola for a nice 4+ mile ride in perfect weather. A wonderful start to the holiday! Once we got back, we relaxed a bit in the afternoon until it was time to leave. I made a stop at Meg's house to pick up the end of my sewer hose which I had inadvertently left at her place in NJ (which finally made it down here this week), then on to Jo's for Thanksgiving dinner. Except I forgot the ice cream, so I had to run back home and get that! Had a lovely dinner, a nice visit, admired her new horse as it seem to have adjusted beautifully to it's new surrounding and Jo's other two horses, until it was time to come back to camp, arriving around 8:30. Watched a one hour show, and am ready for bed! Good night, my darlin'! Love you!

Hiya Babe!
Flash made it very clear yesterday that he was ready for a ride, by running circles around the paddock for 10 minutes, so I felt I had to take him for a ride. I was ready, too! In the morning, though, I spent some time putting some more of the truck stuff away, things I had taken out to clean and were now ready to be put back in or trashed. Did a quick clean of the bathrooms, then saddled up Flash and away we went! Was alarmed and disappointed when I saw a truck coming out of the orange trail, passing a very clearly marked sign that said no vehicle traffic was allowed on the trail. Grrr! I don't object to hunters in the forest, there's enough room for all of us, but I do object to them blatantly ignoring the rules and endangering people and horses. There were a lot of hunters I passed, but most of them were perfectly friendly. It was a beautiful day, and the ride was wonderful. We only found a few trees down that were blocking the trail that will need big chainsaws, but I'm going to check all the trails out here first, then arrange a day with Rick to clear them all on the same day, hopefully. Flash was, indeed, ready to rock and roll, and we never walked less than 4 mph and he did plenty of gaiting and cantering as well, so the less than 11 mile ride went by pretty quickly. Had a great time, a beautiful day, only marred by my still not finding out about the parts for the brakes on the trailer and UPS still refusing to deliver my packages. Got back, rinsed off Flash and put him away (though he promptly rolled, of course!) before settling down for the evening to a great movie (The Tailor of Panama) and a couple of episodes of my latest series, Newton's Law, an Aussie show that's good for filling in the gaps. since it gets dark so early, it seems like the evenings are so long now! Anyway, it was a lovely day, spent just how I like it. Love you, my darlin'! Good night!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!