Just'a Ride

   Juanita and I finished getting the lodge ready for guests early in the day.  And the sun was out.  And there was minimal wind.  And we had a couple hours before check in.

RIDE!

   We grabbed the boys and threw bareback pads on them to keep our jeans clean.  And off we went.

   This time, we weren't looking for trail damage, just riding for the joy of it.  And the horses seemed to be enjoying it, too.  We saw a group of hikers way off in the distance, walking their llamas.  That was the only people we saw.  But after coming over a small rise in the trail, we surprised a herd (flock?) of a dozen or so big horn sheep by the trail.  Actually, they didn't seem surprised at all, we were the startled ones.

They were content to just watch us sort of out of the corner of their eyes and keep eating.

Herd of Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep

I think the horses were more interested in the sheep than the sheep were in us.

It was an odd and peaceful couple minutes, with just a little sound from the breeze.

We finally rode off, and finished our ride.



By God, I love it up here.

Bill

It's Not As Good As It Sounds.

Today we had our lodge's hay-day.

Not to be confused with a heyday.

   Our hay supplier, a wonderful 70+ year old farmer, brought up six tons of hay at 4:30 am this morning from his farm in Nebraska.  After a short nap and a cup of coffee, he was ready to start unloading hay.

   This year, we bought 6 tons from him, because we only have 3 horses to feed, and a lead on some winter pasture we should be able to turn them loose on for 4 months or so.  Shouldn't need quite so much food so we didn't ask for the usual 7 1/2 tons.  And that's a darn good thing.  Because in years past, we've always managed to get two or three of our kids/in-laws/young friends up here to help unload and stack the stuff.

   Not this year.  This year all of our kids are employed (full time).  All of their spouses are employed (full time).  And the young friends, employed full time.

Damn.

   One would think we would be delighted that all of ours are gainfully and fully employed.  And usually we are VERY grateful.

   Unless, of course, we have tons of hay to take off a truck and have to do it on a weekday, 'cause we're busy on weekends with guests.  Then, a little unemployment seems like a good thing.

  Juanita, the 70+ year old hay farmer, and I worked at unloading the hay from the trailer and stacking it, in front of a VERY attentive audience.  Three starving horses, who spent their time muh-muh-muhing at us until Juanita raked up some of the loose stuff for them to snack on.  They still kept an eye on us, but it's hard to nicker with your mouth full.

They approved of this years crop.

  After an hour and a half, we broke for breakfast.  During breakfast we came up with a list of the world's problems and a set of perfect solutions for them.  Then we went back to work. and finished unloading and stacking the hay.  Sadly, all of the solutions to the world's problems were forgotten by the time we finished.

That happens sometimes.

  The weather was nice, so we have put off tarping the stuff that is not in a shed until tomorrow.  Hopefully there won't be as much wind as there was today.  Big tarps are...awkward in the wind.

  After the hay was unloaded, and the hay-guy drove away, I got to thinking.

Today is Veteran's Day.  Every one of those kids was probably off work.

Double damn.


Bill

(Happy Veterans Day, and my thanks to all who served.)





 

Deejo Has a Birthday!

Well, my little daredevil's birthday is today.  OK, so he's not so little any more; dare I say he is a thirty-something?  With a wife - and a couple of kids.  But he IS still my daredevil.  I am sure he has lost count of the times I threatened to lock him in a closet and not let him out until his next birthday - often on the afternoon of his birthday!  I think he was 13 then.

At that age he was a competitive gymnast - but he couldn't jump off a kitchen stool without getting his feet tangled in it, landing on his face ... and ending up in the ER.  The gymnastic competitions didn't always go so smoothly either.  He managed to survive some pretty fantastic spills...and earned some high ribbons.

Then there was the time he took a jump on his dirt bike at the impromptu dirt hills at a park being constructed behind our house.  We insisted the boys never go alone to those hills, just in case someone got hurt, they had to go together.  So one day, Bill and I had just gotten home from work when little brother comes screeching up the driveway hollering, "He's dead.  He's dead!"  Not what you want to hear at the end of your day.  Turns out Deejo had landed wrong on a front wheel, come down face first and managed to knock himself out, but fortunately they had listened and the messenger found his way home.  Another trip to the ER.

At one of his own birthday parties, he was showing off more bicycle skills.  You guessed it.  He caught the  jump a little wrong and catapulted himself into the front of the neighbor's car (okay, it was parked).  By this time, the family was used to his 'stunts', and just said, "He'll live."  No ER this time.

Let's see, we had an exacto knife through a finger one time.  When this one particular friend of his was visiting, you KNEW there was going to be excitement.  Ask me why I ever allowed this friend within the confines of our home.  There were scraped up bellies from climbing trees that were off limits, and I can guarantee there are a lot of things I have no knowledge of - yet.

It didn't end when he went to the Marines.  I'm pretty sure his DI could tell you some hair raisers!  Imagine my fear when he came in one day and said he had a  job working steel:  you know, climbing all over steel rafters hundreds of feet in the air - in the winter, when they are icy!  Good thing they wear harnesses, 'cause I'm pretty sure he tried his out.

Now he has added motors to his bikes and dirt races.  (And he tells me my horses are too dangerous!?)  When it comes right down to it, I am amazed he has gotten this OLD, and he was soooo cute when he was little!  Deejo, we all love you, even though you caused me my share of heart stoppages.

Love,
Mom

Got the Time?

It's been several days now, and he is STILL not happy.

Ranger the horse is not pleased by the games we people play with his feeding times.  Okay, he doesn't much mind the spring time change where he gets fed an hour early, but this fall crap is for the birds.

Jesse and Washoe are comparatively ambivalent about feeding times.  They are just very interested when it happens.  But Ranger gets p!$$ed off.  And he tells EVERYONE IN THE AREA about it.

As  a mustang, he was responsible for finding his own food.  All of the time.  And if the food supply got low, it was time to move on and find some more.  Now.  Right now.  Otherwise, one starves.  It's the way it works in the wild.  Even now, if we plan on adding an extra horse into his herd, we need to remember to over feed them all for a couple days beforehand, or he will try to chase the interloper out because there is BARELY ENOUGH FOOD FOR THE ONES HERE NOW.

As a wrangler told us several years ago, Ranger has now gone over the the dark side.  He pretty much excepts all of the junk that goes with being a domestic, but for that, he requires regular feedings.  Like clockwork.  No exceptions.  IT"S IN THE CONTRACT.

So, for the last couple days since we went off daylight savings time, he's been screaming bloody murder for an hour before the food shows up.

Not happy at all.

Sophie the lodge dog is none to thrilled, either.

Bill

A Fridgid Halloween

With the snow we have been having the last couple days, I started thinking of how the local kids costumes would look with heavy coats on over them.

Then I started thinking about how costumes would look in the arctic  regions.

I give you-

 Bond.  James Bond.

I vant to drink your blood.

A ten foot tall carnivore that weighs almost twice what my horse weighs don't need no stinking costume to be scarey.

Happy Halloween!

Bill

More Gulches ... a.k.a. Trails

I know I've been more than a bit of a blog slug lately, but we have spent many hours scouring our trails, so we have gotten a good deal of riding in.  I'm ashamed to say that although the riding has been wonderful, I still have been too depressed at the condition of our trails to want to write.  Bill and I have always believed we had some of the most beautiful trails in the U.S.  We still do ... but it's going to take some time to get them back in shape for novice riders.

"Compass" manages the Livery across the street and this is a real concern for her business, since probably a good 50% of her riders have never been on a horse before, so you want lots of good, safe trails.  If anyone wants a conditioning challenge for your horse - other than altitude - now is the time to come!!!  See?  It's all about attitude!  We love a challenge - so let's go for an adventure.

Meet Compass and her horse, Eli.  They, plus Beel and Ranger and Jesse and I will be your tour guides today.

Let's be realistic here.  We live in the high country ... and snow has come somewhat early this year.  This is what is left from a snowfall over a week ago, but north slopes sometimes don't get uncovered again until the following Spring.  This just adds to our challenge, so make sure your horse has seen snow before and isn't afraid to step in it.

Compass requested the willow trail today, so we have to head downhill to Rock Creek and the willows.  Meet Ingrid, her dog.  Ingrid will be an important measurement tool later in the ride.

It's a bit of a struggle getting through the willows with all your clothes still in place.  The flood waters seem to have tangled them even more than their norm.  Hope all your horses can be handled with one hand, because you really, really need the other as self-defense!

The shale ledge has gotten a bit narrower!  Thank goodness all these horses are barefoot; it keeps slippage to a minimum.

All I can say is "ummm".  Once there was trail here, so go for it Ranger.  Pick your way through.

This is the agility test - and yes, I let my horse pick and choose her own footing.  Jesse chose to stay on rock and go up-and-over.  Eli  went the lower way and sank ankle deep in silt.  I have a great trust in my steed; she has plowed through some tough stuff for me - and even more on today's trip.  Once we cross over this bit of shale, we will cross a lower spot and then head to the top of the cliff.

Ranger and Bill have made it, thanks to some scrambling.  Trail condition?  Gone.  However, the trail down the other side looks totally unaffected.  I'm sure any of you who have helped repair trails after storms have seen these anomalies before.  So we cross Rock Creek, which is swollen considerably more than during any Spring runoff, and try to locate the beaver ponds.

The ponds seem to be gone; all we can see from our vantage point is free running water; lots of it!

On closer inspection, we can see the broken dams; no sign of the beavers.  We hope they survived.

Riding next to the creek, we find GOOD trail, where we would expect it to be washed out.

However, that didn't last long.  We crest the hill and ... what trail?  It is now a deepening gulch, leading to a real wash-out.

The power of water is pretty amazing.  This was once a tiny, tiny stream; barely 18 inches across.  Yes, inches!  Now it is that many feet, plus some.

Bill and Ranger went 4-wheeling down the hillside and discovered ... a kayak/canoe (hard to say which)!

It doesn't took too sea-worthy.  It's kind of jumbled in among all those downed willows.

Nope!  Definitely not usable.  Anyone want a yard decoration?  Getting it out of here could be a chore.
Well, this ended this portion of our journey.  We back-tracked back over the hill, back along Rock Creek, crossed a precarious spot that didn't use to look like this.

There is a way across between those trees; the old trail is beside me, quite deep.  We will have to step down into it and then into a deep spot in the creek to cross.

Once upon a time, there was a small foot bridge for humans to cross on. It is piled up with the willows now.  Hikers, you have to get your feet wet; maybe knees, too, now that this little creek is nearly as big as the St. Vrain River.  After crossing the creek, we turn right and head down the trail to the grotto and waterfall.  Most of this trail is in remarkably good condition and we ooh and aaah over the size and speed of the water we are riding next to.

What's this?  I think we have just found the beavers' new location!  A new home in the making, but we're not sure it's such a good place for a dam.

Very shortly after that, we discover we have gone as far as we can go.  The trail was just none existent from that point on, so no grotto, no waterfall today.  We all commented on how appreciative we were to be on horses that would spin on a foot to get turned around, because there was zero maneuvering space!  Three foot dropoff on our right; rock and bramble on our left.  We considered re-crossing the creek here and working our way along the other side, but decided it could be too dangerous as the rocks are not settled into their new location.  It they shifted under us, we or one of our horses could end up with a broken leg.  That would not be a fun ending on such a beautiful day.  Again, we back-track.

Time to head back uphill, on a different trail.  This doesn't look good, but since we are each mounted on 'mountain goats', we go for it.

Nope.  Time to hill climb; there is no space next to the trail to get through safely.  The bull-dozer I am on takes the lead and heads straight up the hill to our right.  We try to stay within sight of the trail.

We stayed pretty clear of areas like this that had just 'fallen in on itself'.  In some places we had no choice but to navigate close.  Bill and Ranger were small enough to squeeze between the trees; Jesse decided to cross over but the bank fell in on us and we ended up in the bottom of that mess.  True to form, she calmly climbed out the uphill side, but when we got to the top of the hill, Compass pointed out that we had a broken breast collar.  Jesse pops more D-rings with her shoulders.  This time, the D-ring actually pulled through the leather, so I have to figure out how to fix that.  I climbed off and removed it completely, hoping we wouldn't have more need of it on the rest of the ride.  Again, I can't say enough about good, broke trail horses that will let you climb off and on from the 'wrong' side, on a steep slope, and handle all their tack.

Once I get settled in the saddle, we head off another shoot of the trail to the right, and find Ingrid standing next to a portion of that trail, taller than she is.

Compass was trying to convince her to get in the trail to show how deep it was.  Smart dog said, "no".

We topped out and found most of those trails like this; about a six inch stripe down the middle that was anywhere from six inches deep, to 18 inches deep.

The rest of the way, we put the cameras away and concentrated on just enjoying the ride, and the beautiful day.  We had focused enough on destruction and just needed the fresh air.  Compass even had some jumping practice, over a log, that Eli didn't think was high enough to 'jump'.  He kept cantering over it like it didn't exist and we all had a good laugh!  We will find a way to get the trails in good condition next year.  Mother Nature always seems to help heal these things; so be it.  Hope you enjoyed our adventure; come along any time.
Bionic Cowgirl

Tomorrow is My Anniversary

Tomorrow is my anniversary.  Juanita's, too.

Amazing coincidence,  and very convenient.  Only one date to remember.

When we were discussing what we could do to celebrate, Juanita said  "Say, we could go to the new Cabela's (World's Foremost Outfitter tm) that opened up in Denver a couple months ago."

Wacha' think boys?  Did I marry good or what!

Bill

(Although when I suggested  we go to Casa Bonita for dinner afterwards, she just rolled her eyes in that "Don't press your luck way...)

Scene-It

I have to start off with a very belated "Happy Birthday" to my favorite honey.

Don't even bother to count the candles; he's way over six, and still under 60, it was a surprise cake from his mother-in-law and HAD to have candles to blow out.  I've already caught heck because none of the kids were invited.  It was a busy work night for all of them - so we will do something a little more official later on.  Our four-hour travel times then were making get-togethers more than a little difficult.  And ... more to the point ....

Bill and I spent the last couple of days checking out 'new and improved' travel routes.  One we heard about and tried Sunday, didn't pan out so well, but later we got a call from a neighbor saying she had heard that CO SH 119 was officially opened to the public.  That is one that goes between Nederland and Boulder, down the Boulder Creek Canyon.  Today we went that direction and found it to be a beautiful drive - and it will shorten our drive time "to town" by about half.  We actually made it from the Lodge to the intersection of highways 34 and 287 in Loveland, in one hour and 42 minutes (a one hour drive before flood); a three hour drive post flood, using the Golden/SH 6 route; and a two and half hour drive post flood using the Golden Gate Canyon (SH46) route.  So, each route opening has been an improvement for us!

We took some pictures along the way for your enjoyment - because Colorado is such a contrast of seasons - and the drive might be a little longer, but it couldn't be much prettier!!!

Let's start with a little color on the aspens along the roadway.

I love scenes like this; little farms in the high country to remind us we live away from civilization.  Yes, those white spots under the green trees are snow; remnants of our first October snowfall on the 4th.

A little more of that contrast ... fall leaves with a touch of winter snow ....

and the snows to come.  The Indian Peaks and a glimpse of the kind of pasture land our horses will roam on this winter, still above eight thousand feet.

Another shot of the Indian Peaks ...

More color as we zoomed by ...

This was just a small slide area, not big enough to warrant any road work, but look at that blue sky!

Boulder Creek Reservoir - look at how high the water is on the dam at the left.  I bet there isn't three feet of extra space before the top.

Just one of the repairs on SH 119; the road had been undercut by the water.  Those gray rocks just beyond the barrier are part of all the rip-rap that was hauled in, then the roadway was repaved and the barrier added until they could finish the shoulder - but the road opened one week ahead of schedule.  The crews working up here have been phenomenal.  Thank you CDOT.

As you travel up here between Nederland and Ward, try spotting this entry to an old mine on the side of the road.

Some of our favorite mountains a little closer to home.  We hope you enjoyed the ride as much as we did.
Tomorrow, the horses get the exercise!
Bionic Cowgirl

Free Time Ain't Free

I seem to have a little extra free time lately.  Usually I post something on the blog when this happens.    I try to make the blogs "light and funny", with somewhat mixed results.

But I haven't been feeling overly funny lately.

The flood last month shut us down for nearly a week.  Roads washed out.  Rocky Mountain National Park closed.  Men at road blocks with fully automatic assault rifles turning non residents away (We gave them cookies.  You should be nice to people with machine guns...).

Now the federal government shutdown.  Park closed again.  So people that want to come stay with us have to drive extra far and even though there are no soldiers blocking the road, they just don't want to do it.  Even though it's a REALLY BEAUTIFUL DRIVE!  And even if they do make the drive, they can't go hiking in the Park.  'Cause it's closed.

Really?  They closed a forest?  Poor homeless elk and moose.  Now they are trespassing. 

Criminals.

It's really frustrating.  I mean, whom do you sue?  You can't sue anyone over the flood.  God may not have any lawyers up there, but he has the judge in his pocket.  And you can't sue the federal government because they have more lawyers than humans in DC. 

(I like picking on lawyers.  I have several friends that are lawyers.  Thinking on it, I also have several friends that have spent time in jail.  I suspect I have very poor taste in friends.)

The flood caught every one by surprise.  The government shut down, not so much.  Lots of people worked very hard to make that happen.

As a young adult, I found that my politics could be considered "moderate".  I was pleased.  I thought "Hey!  I can see BOTH SIDES of the issues!"  How very lucky for me!

In reality, it only means the both sides just P!$$ ME THE #ELL OFF.

So, here's what I'm thinking.  If I can't do anything about the weather, maybe it's time to become politicaly active again.

Introducing... THE ONE HUNDRED PERCENTERS!

AX 'EM ALL

One hundred percent of the folks holding a federal, elected office in Washington DC in September of 2013, should not be re-elected to office.  Period.  Even if you (or I) agree with there positions, if they are to inept to do their jobs or even figure out HOW to do their jobs, they are gone.

Pass it on.

It is a fine line between a moderate and an anarchist in a highly partisan political system.

Bill

Fludd

This is Ranger.  The horse.

In the long ago before peoples I lived with the horses.  In Nee-va-da.  That was a good place.  There were horses and no people and sun and warm and cool.  Only a little water fell from the sky on some of the days.

It was good.

The came the BIG-SCARY-NOISEY-SKY-MONSTERS that chased us into the cages and the peoples took us away.  To live in Call-a-rah-dough.

Not so good.

After some time I met Beel and he telled me many things.  Like he would tell me to not be afraid of the BIG-SCARY-NOISEY-SKY-MONSTERS.  He sayed they were "Hell-e-coppers" and he would give me some food when one went in the sky.

Food is good. So they are good.

In the before time we had water fall from the sky only on some of the days.  In the lately time we have had water fall from the sky all of the time.  All of the days.  Too much water.  Beel sayed it was "fludding".

Not good.

Some days so much water fell out of the sky that when Waneeta bringed food for eating I would only look out at her from the scarey shed.  She would have to talk very nice to me to make me come out to eat.

And when the water finally stopped falling the hell-e-coppers were ALL OVER the sky.  BIG ones.  LOUD ones.  So many of them came that Beel finally sayed "Buddy, you're gunna get fat." and he stopped bringing me food.  I was sad but not scared.

On these last days the water only falls from the sky sometimes and only a little.  The hell-e-coppers have goed away and not comed back.  The peoples are showing their teeth like mean horses but that means they are happy.  And the mud has goed away from the ground so I can roll.

Very good.

On this day we wented for a walk with the peoples and Beel telled me the fludd was over.

This is very good.  I do not like fludds.

But I like when the hell-e-coppers made food happen.

Ranger.  The horse.