Tuesday, October 21, 2025 – Red Trail Check Done!

Hey Darlin' ,
Had a nice and quiet night sleep out here in the middle of nowhere! It was a chilly morning, and I'm having problems getting my furnace to stay on, probably just needs a little cleaning, so that's on my list of things to do. Had a fabulous ride on Flash, checking the red trail and refreshing some markers, mostly turn arrows and the occasional splash of red paint. He was just about perfect today, climbing up berms, standing quietly beside trees while I use my marker, moving along at an excellent pace, and even doing a flying gallop the last couple of miles as we headed back to camp. I love this horse! I couldn't ask for a better critter, he's just the best! All these long, hard-packed sand trails and roads are just perfect for him, and me! Got back to camp just after 3:00, washed him down, then let him and Apollo just wander the grounds for the rest of the day, though often as not, I would discover them either inside or just outside the paddock eating out of the hay bags! Silly boys! Settled down for a quiet afternoon, was delighted when I managed to get a good enough signal to do a little work on my computer and live stream some TV. My usual evening routine, and soon to bed! Good night, babe! Love you!

Monday, October 20, 2025 – Travel Day to Sugarloaf Mountain at Sandhills, SC

Hiya Babe,
Woke up to a very chilly morning, in the low 40's, but since I only have about 100 miles to drive today, I let myself luxuriate and didn't get out of bed until about 9:00 when it finally warmed up into the 50's. Didn't take too long to get breakfast and finish packing, then I had a short chat with my new neighbors who also travel with a base north of Tampa. She needed directions for the various shortcuts to the trailhead here, which I was happy to give her. Finally got on the road about 11:30, had an uneventful drive, thank goodness, and arrived about 1:45, not even having any problems with the deep sand I was worried about. I got the trailer situated, the horses on their anchors, then decided to take a quick trip down to the ranger station. When I had checked my email earlier, I discovered a package that I wasn't expecting until Thursday was actually out for delivery today, and since I hadn't warned them it was coming, I figured I better get down there before they closed, which I just barely did. I topped off my water while I was there, and indeed my package had come (a ranger was just bringing in the mail!), so it all worked out. I was having a problem with not having cell service, which I thought I had last time I was here, and confirmed it by looking back at the last time I was here (thank goodness I keep this diary!), and discovered it was just a matter of putting my phone outside, though for some reason, that hadn't worked earlier. Of course, I rebooted it, I've learned that often makes a difference when I move to a new area. Anyway, after watching a movie on my PVR, I then managed to get a signal, so I watched an episode of MOTG, though the signal seemed to disappear after that for some reason. Heading to shower and bed soon! Good night, my sweet! Love you!

Sunday, October 19, 2025 – A Quiet Packing Day

Hi Sweetheart!
With rain in the forecast, I decided not to do laundry, but in the end, we only had a couple of sprinkles of rain until about 9:00 p.m. when it finally rained for all of five minutes. Regardless, I had a nice, quiet day of slow packing and reading, until I finally settled into my evening routine. It's supposed to get down into the mid-40's tonight, so I blanketed both horses, albeit after they got a bit wet. Otherwise, a pretty boring day! Good night, my darlin'! Love you!

Saturday, October 18, 2025 – A Slow Ride on Apollo with Lola

Hiya Darlin',
Had a little trouble getting to sleep last night, so I ended up sleeping late in the morning. After chores and breakfast, I saddled up Apollo, wanting to keep him moving and to give Lola some exercise. He was even slower than usual, making me wish I had given him some bute this morning, but I hate to do that before a ride, in case he tries to do too much. I did give him one when I got back though. Lola stayed way in front of us again, just too slow for her, even with her limp! We only went about 2.7 miles, and I even walked some of it, just to get him moving a bit faster. Yes, my walking was faster than his! He used to be such a fast walker, it's sad to see him slow down so much. Anyway, once we got back to camp and I put him away, I did some mending on the old sheepskin (I noticed one of the straps had torn off), and also the saddlebags, which are a constant repair job. I also tried to fix the leg on the solar panel. I've done it before and it's broken again, and I finally got tired of messing with it, so I've done it again, hopefully a better job this time. Did some research on the keto diet, as I've kind of hit a plateau on the lowfat, high carb diet I've been on, so I thought I would go in the opposite direction for a few days, see if it helps my downward trend get moving again. What can I say, I feel the need for meat! Relaxed in the evening, days are getting shorter in a hurry, nights will be getting cooler, too. Winter is on the way! But it's perfect weather at the moment, 70's during the day, 50's at night, my perfect balance! Love it here, but rules say I must move on Monday, so tomorrow is packing, and also is forecast to be rainy, so a good day to stay inside. No laundry likely tomorrow! Good night, babe! Love you!

Friday, October 17, 2025 – Another Fabulous Ride on Flash at Woods Ferry

Hi Darlin'!
Well, my new horse neighbors are running their generator 24/7, so I had to put my earplugs in around midnight last night. They also have a pack of dogs, and one of them never stops barking, so whatever peace I've been enjoying here has taken flight! Oh, well! Had a quiet morning, waiting for it to warm up (it was in the 40's last night, so I even put on Flash's blanket!), which it finally did around noon, so we saddled up and headed out for another fantastic ride. The trails here are truly wonderful, and even with a crowded campground, I never came across another rider. Today, we went up the yellow to the west fork, hitting blue, then turning east to pick up red, which is the second to last trail I haven't done yet this trip, taking that to orange and doing that back to camp, opposite what we did the other day. Of course, every trail looks completely different going in the opposite direction, doesn't it? It was a lovely nine+ miles, and while he was a bit more subdued in the beginning, not having another horse to compete with, he picked up his pace pretty well on the last few miles. Such a gorgeous day, not a cloud in the sky and in the los 70's, in the shade of the woods, it was just perfect! Exactly the kind of days I live for, and cherish! So grateful for this life! We got back around 3:00, put him away, then go on with my usual afternoon and evening routine, though I added a chore, swapping out my pretty worn out ivory sheepskin saddle cover with your barely used black one, making sure to secure the latest black cushion I bought for my Yellowstone ride, so now the saddle looks like new! Watched a few more episodes of MOTG, heading to shower and bed shortly. Good night, sweetheart! Love you!

Thursday, October 16, 2025 – Shopping and Hay Day

Hiya Sweetie,
Woke up a bit earlier, got a good start to the day. I decided on the hay side to get five bales of the coastal from the feed store, and another five bales from the nearby haymaker, figuring if I mix the two, there won't be enough endophytes to bother my horses, even if these bales have any. Plus, it seems the fungus thrives in damp, and these bales are really dry and well-kept, so I'm not worried. I was going to go to the haymaker first, but I made the mistake of putting in the address the wife gave me instead of the pindrop he sent me, and for some unknown reason, Google maps sent me to a completely place! It wasn't even on the same road! I got so turned around, I ended up just heading to town, texting him that I would come on the way back instead. It was a pretty roundabout way of getting into Union, but I eventually made it. I picked up the five bales of coastal at Bubba's Feed Store, then Tractor Supply to fill up one propane tank, then Walmart for a few essentials, then finally back to the haymaker. His bales are very light, so he gave me several extras, which was very kind of him. I got back to camp before 3:00, got everything put away and the hay sorted before settling down for my usual evening routine. Two large horse trailers came in and parked at the group site just up the road, so they'll be more horses on the trail than usual this weekend. Binged on some more Monarch of the Glens, be headed for bed soon! Good night, baby! Love you!

Wednesday, October 15, 2025 – Ride Day on Apollo with Lola

Hi Babe,
Had a decent night sleep, my usual morning, then saddled up Apollo for a short ride so that both he and Lola could get some exercise. He was a slug again today, averaging about 2.2 mph, so slow that Lola got way out in front of us despite her own mobility issues, but considering he's 29, I'm not going to push him. I'm just happy he's moving at all! It's probably my fault for not riding him for such a long time, he's out of shape (and getting fat standing around eating hay all day!), so I really need to try to remedy that. It was another gorgeous day here, we're having a wonderful week of weather, so no complaints there! Settled down as usual, for another routine evening! Good night, darlin'! Love you!

Tuesday, October 14, 2025 – A Quiet Laundry and Hay Day

Hiya Darlin',
Had a rough night and a late start in the morning, not for any particular reason. Did another load of laundry and hung that up, read most of the day until I went out to check out some hay nearby, some lovely small bales for $5, though I only bought two to see if the horses would eat it. It looked very nice, but apparently it's mixed grass with a lot of tall fescue and some weeds from a recently purchased property, so the new owner wasn't sure about whether it might have any endophytes in it. I did some research, and I don't think it will harm my geldings, considering it would only be about a two week supply at most, and it is mixed with other grasses. I may just pick up four bales of coastal and four bales of this and mix it together to further weaken any toxins. They're only about ten miles away, so it won't be any bother. Meanwhile, I relaxed the rest of the day, brought the laundry in, and settled down for the usual evening routine. Good night, my sweet! Love you!

Monday, October 13, 2025 – Another Lovely Ride with Friend

Hey Sweetie!
Another good night sleep, woke up to a beautiful morning, started the day off with a load of laundry so that I would have nice clean sheets tonight. Did my usual morning chores and breakfast, and Patsy arrived just after 10:00, so we saddled up and hit the trail forthwith. Another gorgeous ride! Flash was much more sedate for the first several miles, we took turns on the lead, and he actually didn't pull my arms out too much, at least at first. We started on the Blue Trail which parallels the river, one of my favorite trails up here, then took the big purple loop before taking the speedy yellow back to camp. While Flash was more sedate at the beginning, once we were warmed up and started moving faster, he did his best to make out like it was a race. He was slightly more under control today, though, possibly because I tightened up his snaffle bit a little yesterday, but it was still a thrilling ride! Once we got going, we trotted/gaited for many miles, though I was able to hold him back from his strong desire to canter most of the time. Not that I mind, he has a lovely canter, I just didn't want to leave Patsy and Atlas (her other horse today) in the dust! We did just under ten miles, and enjoyed every minute of it! Rinsed off their well-deserved sweat and put them away, then chatted for a bit with Patsy before she headed out. Another wonderful day on the road! Brought in my laundry, took Apollo and Lola for a walk around the camp, and brought out Lola's pool and filled it, as she's been panting like crazy lately, even though it hasn't really been that hot. It made a difference, though, she's been much more settled this evening. Last night she was very restless, took her an hour to settle down for the night. My usual routine, off to bed soon! Good night, baby! Love you!

Sunday, October 12, 2025 – Quiet Day in Camp

Hi Babe,
Had a good night sleep, and normally would do my laundry today, but the forecast looked so dire and it was quite cloudy and threatening, I decided to wait for a nicer day, though in the end, about six raindrops fell in the afternoon! Whatever, I had a nice relaxing day, a tiny bit of housework, mostly reading, took Apollo for a walk around the camp loop, etc., before settling down to binge-watching TV. Plans to get to bed early as Patsy is coming again tomorrow to ride, and I want to get up early enough to start my laundry beforehand. Good night, my darlin'! Love you!