Set the alarm for the earliest yet, 5:15!! Civil dawn was already breaking, we had a bowl of fruit for breakfast, packed up the horses and headed out to the Garden of the Gods. Arrived just before 7:00, found the parking area empty except for one fellow sitting in a chair apparently waiting for someone. We saddled up the horses and headed out, map in hand, across the road onto the River to River Trail (labeled 001) heading east. It was rocky, and we were glad we had put the horses’ boots on, but the trail followed under a ridge of rock formations that were truly spectacular. The trail was narrow and very interesting, and Apollo was immediately engaged, picking his way carefully up and down the terrain. Eventually we left the rockier areas and were surrounded by lovely woods. Par for the course these days, we made a wrong turn and got all the way to a road before realizing it, which unfortunately meant we had a steep descent and climb going both ways. Not sure why I don’t look at my GPS more, guess I just want to resist a LITTLE bit of technology. Oh well, it was only a couple of miles, so we got back on track, and the trails got even better, with lots less stone, mostly really good footing along the way, and beautiful trees, a very natural forest, no logging, thank goodness. We took the most outside perimeter loop to the west, including our favorite trail, I think it was number 652, that took us along some more gorgeous rock formations, which eventually led us back to 001. From there it was straight east back to the trailhead around 11:00, a fantastic ride, and done before the heat got too bad! Plus, it was cooler it the woods this time. A great way to finish off Illinois, the 31st state we’ve ridden in!! Headed back to camp, which we now found empty, as our two neighbors had already packed up and left, and we spent the afternoon getting ready for our departure tomorrow as well.
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