January 29, 2013
I'm just jotting this note as you must make a posting every once in a while or lose your blog. I'm still feeling the disappointment of not making the complete trip. Will I try it again? Maybe.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Sunday, July 22, 2012
July 16 -- End of the Trail
Woke up feeling good this morning, but a little nauseated after breakfast. After a short reprieve back in the cot, broke camp and walked Hank down the road to the cattle guard we had checked out earlier. Had to disconnect (and reconnect) the three strand fencing. Used a big flat rock outcropping beside the road, after checking for rattle snakes, to mount. While clucking to Hank to move up a little, I could read his mind; unfortunately, not quick enough to get out of the way. He looked at that rock shelf like "OK, if you're sure you want me up there with you". Then up off both front legs he came and down on the rock on top of my foot----yeow that hurt. Shook it off, mounted and headed on.
Rode by a big bushy weed at one point and heard a cluster of higher pitched rattles. Hank sided away from the sound. I've heard rattle snake before. Assumed this was a batch of young ones by the sound; never saw them. It's amazing to realize Hank had never been in snake area before, yet his built in survival senses told him to steer clear.
Came to a ranch where we heard random booms, sounded like really big shot guns or cannons. Judy figured they were charges set off to scare birds or some critters away from crops. A ways beyond that came to a cattle guard where it was evident someone was trying to hide the gate with sage brush stacked in front of it. After passing through, used a side hill for height to get in the saddle again. This time the saddle slipped slightly. Kicking out of the stirrup, the soft ground gave way under me. I slid down and under Hank. In trying to get out of the way, Hank unintentionally stepped on my calf and my other foot. Not a good day for getting in the saddle. This episode hurt much worse than the first, but once in the saddle, only my foot burned a little.
It was a nice day and a nice ride. Couldn't figure out what people were thinking at the next cattle guard. No gate on the right, on the left was a corral and cattle shoot right against the guard. I could have gone through their corrals to a Forest Service gate, but the gate was padlocked. That meant load Hank to cross the guard, which I've already described that process. The frustration was we knew we were close to Lewiston, and that we would be trailering Hank across most of Idaho. We had already been discussing the fact that this had become more of a trailering trip than actually riding. That was not the dream, to trailer my horse to Wyoming, and that was not what people had donated money for me to do. So, with heavy heart, I said to Judy "That's it. I'm done." and made the call to head for home.
We weren't too far from Asotin, which is just across the Snake River from Lewiston, Idaho. Drove to Lewiston for a late lunch and discussed the decision. By then my feet and leg were feeling the trauma and I could hardly walk.
My limbs would heal, Hank could rest, it was all the trailering and knowing that much of the way ahead would also be trailering that pushed to my decision. It was not an easy decision, and filled with different emotions.....all the planning, all the hard work preparing, the dream, the support from friends and the community, including financial, all Norm's and Bob's work getting us set up, Judy and I both putting our lives on hold for this three month trek....just disappointed in the situation.
So, we headed home, camping one last night at the home of Jim and Carol Kessler (Kessler's Katering on Wagon Train) in Milton-Freewater, OR. For over an hour there was a very loud rhythmic boom that echoed back from the hills. Next morning Jim explained the cannon sound kept the hail off the apple orchards during a storm. Amazing.
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Stopped in Wasco to give Hank a little walk-about out of the trailer and had lunch and a nice visit with friends Sam and Carol Olmstead who used to be our neighbors at our old home in Redland.
Made it home Monday evening, July 16. Norm and Bob were glad we were home so they could stop worrying about us. My silly-Willie pup was happy to see me too.
Final thoughts: It was a GREAT adventure filled with beautiful landscapes, beautiful forests, wonderful, generous people we met along the way. I got to see my family in Walla Walla. I made new friends in Bob and Judy Keller and am so grateful to them both, and to my Norm, for making my dream come true, such as it was. Judy and I got along great and have talked about more adventures down the road. Thanks to all of you for your moral and financial support. It's good to be home.
Rode by a big bushy weed at one point and heard a cluster of higher pitched rattles. Hank sided away from the sound. I've heard rattle snake before. Assumed this was a batch of young ones by the sound; never saw them. It's amazing to realize Hank had never been in snake area before, yet his built in survival senses told him to steer clear.
Came to a ranch where we heard random booms, sounded like really big shot guns or cannons. Judy figured they were charges set off to scare birds or some critters away from crops. A ways beyond that came to a cattle guard where it was evident someone was trying to hide the gate with sage brush stacked in front of it. After passing through, used a side hill for height to get in the saddle again. This time the saddle slipped slightly. Kicking out of the stirrup, the soft ground gave way under me. I slid down and under Hank. In trying to get out of the way, Hank unintentionally stepped on my calf and my other foot. Not a good day for getting in the saddle. This episode hurt much worse than the first, but once in the saddle, only my foot burned a little.
It was a nice day and a nice ride. Couldn't figure out what people were thinking at the next cattle guard. No gate on the right, on the left was a corral and cattle shoot right against the guard. I could have gone through their corrals to a Forest Service gate, but the gate was padlocked. That meant load Hank to cross the guard, which I've already described that process. The frustration was we knew we were close to Lewiston, and that we would be trailering Hank across most of Idaho. We had already been discussing the fact that this had become more of a trailering trip than actually riding. That was not the dream, to trailer my horse to Wyoming, and that was not what people had donated money for me to do. So, with heavy heart, I said to Judy "That's it. I'm done." and made the call to head for home.
We weren't too far from Asotin, which is just across the Snake River from Lewiston, Idaho. Drove to Lewiston for a late lunch and discussed the decision. By then my feet and leg were feeling the trauma and I could hardly walk.
My limbs would heal, Hank could rest, it was all the trailering and knowing that much of the way ahead would also be trailering that pushed to my decision. It was not an easy decision, and filled with different emotions.....all the planning, all the hard work preparing, the dream, the support from friends and the community, including financial, all Norm's and Bob's work getting us set up, Judy and I both putting our lives on hold for this three month trek....just disappointed in the situation.
So, we headed home, camping one last night at the home of Jim and Carol Kessler (Kessler's Katering on Wagon Train) in Milton-Freewater, OR. For over an hour there was a very loud rhythmic boom that echoed back from the hills. Next morning Jim explained the cannon sound kept the hail off the apple orchards during a storm. Amazing.
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| Camping in Jim and Carol Kessler's back field, Milton-Freewater, OR |
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| Kessler's mules grazing in their pasture |
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| Packing up for the final ride home. |
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| Judy in front of some of Kessler's catering rigs. |
Stopped in Wasco to give Hank a little walk-about out of the trailer and had lunch and a nice visit with friends Sam and Carol Olmstead who used to be our neighbors at our old home in Redland.
Made it home Monday evening, July 16. Norm and Bob were glad we were home so they could stop worrying about us. My silly-Willie pup was happy to see me too.
Final thoughts: It was a GREAT adventure filled with beautiful landscapes, beautiful forests, wonderful, generous people we met along the way. I got to see my family in Walla Walla. I made new friends in Bob and Judy Keller and am so grateful to them both, and to my Norm, for making my dream come true, such as it was. Judy and I got along great and have talked about more adventures down the road. Thanks to all of you for your moral and financial support. It's good to be home.
Friday, July 20, 2012
July 13, The Forest East of Pomeroy -- Lovely
Arrived in Pomeroy at 1:30. Stopped at the Forest Service office & was helped by the very sweet front desk gal, Nikki. Also met the cutest older couple, Charlie & Bev Heebner, who have been volunteering at the guard station at the Oregon Butte Lookout for the last 8 years, and in the Tucannon area the previous 14 years! They gave us local trail information as well as for our Idaho crossing coming up, and Nikki showed us a shortcut to Lewiston.
We spent a good hour visiting. The plan was to drive up a 19 mile hill, camp and ride out in the morning. When we went out to leave, our rig wouldn't start! Battery was good, fuses good. Nikki, Charlie and Bev came out to help. A few minutes later, Dave Waldron, Nikki's Dad, came by at Nikki's request. He referred us to a local Chevy mechanic shop. Mechanics Bill Woods and Reed Herres came out to the Forest Service parking lot and determined we had a bad starter. The new starter they installed didn't work so they thought it was a lemon. Then Bill accidentally bumped a wire and the car started. Seems the wire from the battery was corroded where it attached to the starter. He asked if we wanted him to switch back to the old starter at $75 per hour. We opted to keep the new starter.....final bill, $328 -- ugh.
By now it's 4:30. Had been checking Hank in the trailer. While it was terribly hot and humid, the trailer was cool inside and with the back door open, Hank was comfortable. Dave suggested we stay at the fairgrounds since it was so late. The grounds were clean and well kept. We got Hank settled into a nice outdoor arena, fed and watered, and Judy and I headed back to town to split a hamburger at Donna's Cafe.
Back at the fairgrounds, got a nice shower and shampoo. Feels really good after the stress and heat of the day. Thunder and lightening storm again tonight, raining a little.
The sky is beautiful.
The next morning Judy and I ran to Pomeroy to gas up while Hank enjoyed his breakfast. Sas Waldron, Dave's wife, stopped her rig on the road in front of us and came back to introduce herself. Such nice folks. At the gas station, tried to re-tie the tarp again, which had torn up from the drive from Walla Walla. A nice young man offered to help.
Picked Hank up and headed out to Forest Service Rd. 40. Beautiful ride today....finally. Light gravel on dirt base. We scared up a big buck, which scared Hank. A little spinning, light on the front end, and backing up, but got him settled and on we went. A police officer driving around stopped to ask if I'd seen a specific car on the trail. Apparently they knew a guy had camped in the area the night before who had stolen a car in town today.
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Intersection of Rd. 42 was at a Ranger lookout. Although a pickup was there, didn't see anyone. About half a mile down, got through a cattle guard, but Judy and I working together could not get the gate closed. Ran up to the lookout for help, but the truck was gone. Called Nikki at the Forest Service office on the satellite phone to see if there was cattle up there hoping we could leave the gate open. Could not. Hank, who had not broken a sweat this whole trip except sometimes under saddle and cinch, was in a full body sweat stressing about being tied to a tree while we worked the gate. Get a grip. Finally a couple and their black Labs were driving by and stopped to help. It took three of us straining to get the gate closed.
Tried to be smart about picking a campsite as the evenings thunderstorm was looming. Made sure we were not the highest point and that Hank was not high-lined between the tallest trees. Ranger Austin Hess stopped to see if we needed help as we had the rig hood up. Told him we were just practicing getting the hood up as we had had trouble with that. Was comforting to know a Ranger makes the rounds occasionally.
A single cow showed up thinking he could share Hank's hay. No way. They had about an hour stare down. I gave Bessy a handful of hay and she finally left. Went to sleep to thunder and lightening again.
Rode out the next morning with black skies and thunder boomers. Earliest leave yet, 10:10. Saddled up ready to go and the skies let loose. A few minutes earlier, we thought the rain would miss us....NOPE. Should have put my rain gear and cozy toes (stirrup covers) on. Did have a rain jacket on. Hank moved out better today in the storm than ever. He doesn't mind all these storms, he's heard it all in La Pine. About a mile down the road, Judy caught up with me. I went in the trailer, changed my wet jeans, donned my rain pants, put on my cozy toes, and it didn't rain a drop after.
Today's ride was beautiful. Five cattle guards---two were open (yea), one was manageable, two were a piece of cake. My hazard of the day were three ranch horses free ranging. Hank is skittish when horses come up that are fenced in. These were not fenced in. I could just see them running off making Hank crazy. They just watched us pass, then followed about 100 ft. behind. I was sure they would run up or past us, so I turned and pulled in behind them. They trotted on ahead. Found out Hank does a very pretty parade jig. He was upset they were so far ahead, got a little squirrelly and came up off his front end a few times. They stopped at an open covered storage barn, thank goodness, and we went on.
Made camp along side Lick Creek about 3:30 today. Wanted to stop before Hank was showing fatigue. I have been conscientious about being aware of Hanks status. Earlier days he would squirrel around for about 15 seconds before heading out nicely. Recently he would make it hard to mount by stepping away from whatever mounting aid I was using (rock, trailer, etc.). One time took 40 minutes to get him to stand! Once I was on, he walked out nicely again. He was just being a brat, then seemed to enjoy the ride. It was about a 5 1/2 hr. day, a lot of down hill. I thought, good, we can get some rest with lots of time for journaling. It's 9:55 right now. I've been working steady except for a 15 minute Isagenix break (dinner, fruits and vegetable nutritional drink) and maybe 10 minutes looking at pictures Judy had downloaded on her computer. Put the aluminum corral up tonight, Hank's fly sheet and mask on, broke loose the bale of hay that has shifted off the hay rack but was held (for now) by the torn tarp. Got the hay down, got rid of the moldy portions, re-tied the bale in quarters so was manageable enough to haul on top of the trailer with a lead rope. Got the tarp secured with tie-downs around it like a belt, bungeed the rest, duct taped Hank's fly sheet which he had now torn badly. Judy had heard a cattle guard close by when a car went across it, so we walked down the road to check it out. The right side had a gate, but was fenced along the road on the other side with no way out that we could see, (the next day we did find a gate about 1/8 mile down the road.), so ended up taking the fence apart on the other side. Took a quick sponge bath. ZZZzzzzz
We spent a good hour visiting. The plan was to drive up a 19 mile hill, camp and ride out in the morning. When we went out to leave, our rig wouldn't start! Battery was good, fuses good. Nikki, Charlie and Bev came out to help. A few minutes later, Dave Waldron, Nikki's Dad, came by at Nikki's request. He referred us to a local Chevy mechanic shop. Mechanics Bill Woods and Reed Herres came out to the Forest Service parking lot and determined we had a bad starter. The new starter they installed didn't work so they thought it was a lemon. Then Bill accidentally bumped a wire and the car started. Seems the wire from the battery was corroded where it attached to the starter. He asked if we wanted him to switch back to the old starter at $75 per hour. We opted to keep the new starter.....final bill, $328 -- ugh.
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By now it's 4:30. Had been checking Hank in the trailer. While it was terribly hot and humid, the trailer was cool inside and with the back door open, Hank was comfortable. Dave suggested we stay at the fairgrounds since it was so late. The grounds were clean and well kept. We got Hank settled into a nice outdoor arena, fed and watered, and Judy and I headed back to town to split a hamburger at Donna's Cafe.
Back at the fairgrounds, got a nice shower and shampoo. Feels really good after the stress and heat of the day. Thunder and lightening storm again tonight, raining a little.
The sky is beautiful.
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| Beautiful sky before the thunder & lightening storm |
The next morning Judy and I ran to Pomeroy to gas up while Hank enjoyed his breakfast. Sas Waldron, Dave's wife, stopped her rig on the road in front of us and came back to introduce herself. Such nice folks. At the gas station, tried to re-tie the tarp again, which had torn up from the drive from Walla Walla. A nice young man offered to help.
Picked Hank up and headed out to Forest Service Rd. 40. Beautiful ride today....finally. Light gravel on dirt base. We scared up a big buck, which scared Hank. A little spinning, light on the front end, and backing up, but got him settled and on we went. A police officer driving around stopped to ask if I'd seen a specific car on the trail. Apparently they knew a guy had camped in the area the night before who had stolen a car in town today.
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| Pulled over on Forest Service Rd 40 getting ready to head out to FSRd 42 Jct. |
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Intersection of Rd. 42 was at a Ranger lookout. Although a pickup was there, didn't see anyone. About half a mile down, got through a cattle guard, but Judy and I working together could not get the gate closed. Ran up to the lookout for help, but the truck was gone. Called Nikki at the Forest Service office on the satellite phone to see if there was cattle up there hoping we could leave the gate open. Could not. Hank, who had not broken a sweat this whole trip except sometimes under saddle and cinch, was in a full body sweat stressing about being tied to a tree while we worked the gate. Get a grip. Finally a couple and their black Labs were driving by and stopped to help. It took three of us straining to get the gate closed.
Tried to be smart about picking a campsite as the evenings thunderstorm was looming. Made sure we were not the highest point and that Hank was not high-lined between the tallest trees. Ranger Austin Hess stopped to see if we needed help as we had the rig hood up. Told him we were just practicing getting the hood up as we had had trouble with that. Was comforting to know a Ranger makes the rounds occasionally.
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| Ranger Austin Hess checking on us during his rounds. |
A single cow showed up thinking he could share Hank's hay. No way. They had about an hour stare down. I gave Bessy a handful of hay and she finally left. Went to sleep to thunder and lightening again.
Rode out the next morning with black skies and thunder boomers. Earliest leave yet, 10:10. Saddled up ready to go and the skies let loose. A few minutes earlier, we thought the rain would miss us....NOPE. Should have put my rain gear and cozy toes (stirrup covers) on. Did have a rain jacket on. Hank moved out better today in the storm than ever. He doesn't mind all these storms, he's heard it all in La Pine. About a mile down the road, Judy caught up with me. I went in the trailer, changed my wet jeans, donned my rain pants, put on my cozy toes, and it didn't rain a drop after.
Today's ride was beautiful. Five cattle guards---two were open (yea), one was manageable, two were a piece of cake. My hazard of the day were three ranch horses free ranging. Hank is skittish when horses come up that are fenced in. These were not fenced in. I could just see them running off making Hank crazy. They just watched us pass, then followed about 100 ft. behind. I was sure they would run up or past us, so I turned and pulled in behind them. They trotted on ahead. Found out Hank does a very pretty parade jig. He was upset they were so far ahead, got a little squirrelly and came up off his front end a few times. They stopped at an open covered storage barn, thank goodness, and we went on.
Made camp along side Lick Creek about 3:30 today. Wanted to stop before Hank was showing fatigue. I have been conscientious about being aware of Hanks status. Earlier days he would squirrel around for about 15 seconds before heading out nicely. Recently he would make it hard to mount by stepping away from whatever mounting aid I was using (rock, trailer, etc.). One time took 40 minutes to get him to stand! Once I was on, he walked out nicely again. He was just being a brat, then seemed to enjoy the ride. It was about a 5 1/2 hr. day, a lot of down hill. I thought, good, we can get some rest with lots of time for journaling. It's 9:55 right now. I've been working steady except for a 15 minute Isagenix break (dinner, fruits and vegetable nutritional drink) and maybe 10 minutes looking at pictures Judy had downloaded on her computer. Put the aluminum corral up tonight, Hank's fly sheet and mask on, broke loose the bale of hay that has shifted off the hay rack but was held (for now) by the torn tarp. Got the hay down, got rid of the moldy portions, re-tied the bale in quarters so was manageable enough to haul on top of the trailer with a lead rope. Got the tarp secured with tie-downs around it like a belt, bungeed the rest, duct taped Hank's fly sheet which he had now torn badly. Judy had heard a cattle guard close by when a car went across it, so we walked down the road to check it out. The right side had a gate, but was fenced along the road on the other side with no way out that we could see, (the next day we did find a gate about 1/8 mile down the road.), so ended up taking the fence apart on the other side. Took a quick sponge bath. ZZZzzzzz
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Last Day in Walla Walla; on to Pomeroy
Judy worked all last evening, and did a beautiful job, on a slide presentation of the trek to date on her computer. We gave a 45 minute talk this morning, including her slide show projected on a big movie screen, to about 30 residents at the Odd Fellows Residence where Lucille lives. Only about 4 slept through it :) They asked questions and gave us rave reviews after.
Linda, Doug, and Adam just left for another baseball tournament in Seattle. We said our goodbyes and appreciations and got instructions from Linda how to head to Pomeroy. She made sure Judy was close at hand to hear the instructions....just because I got lost last night after dropping Lucille home and getting turned around pulling off the road to talk to Norm on the cell, she doesn't trust me. We will get our final laundry done, showers, hair wash tonight so we are fresh to head out trailering to Pomeroy in the morning. Hopefully, Forest Service reports of clear roads to Lewiston are correct.
There was one hay loading ad in the local paper today. Otis will be coming over around 6:00 to tie my new tarp over the hay on top of the horse trailer. The original tarp was old to begin with, and with all the wind storms here, had really taken a beating. Doug had tied it down better for us, but was a little small and very ragged. I climbed up this morning to change them out myself, but was feeling a bit uncertain about climbing over the tool box and water tank to secure it. Didn't want to ask Doug to help as I knew they were trying to get ready to head out. Turns out Otis doesn't live far so should be able to get it done quickly and won't cost me much
While Otis was working on the tarp, I was moving the pasture hose and sprinkler. I must have pulled too hard and broke the pvc pipe stand the faucet was attached to....snapped a 12" piece off 4" in the ground. As the water was gushing, I was frantically looking for a "well" circuit breaker to turn off. I called Linda on the road and they told me where to turn off the water. Luckily the turn off was for sprinkler system only and didn't affect the house. Can't believe I did that! Both Doug and Linda were so gracious and "No big deal" about it.
Linda, Doug, and Adam just left for another baseball tournament in Seattle. We said our goodbyes and appreciations and got instructions from Linda how to head to Pomeroy. She made sure Judy was close at hand to hear the instructions....just because I got lost last night after dropping Lucille home and getting turned around pulling off the road to talk to Norm on the cell, she doesn't trust me. We will get our final laundry done, showers, hair wash tonight so we are fresh to head out trailering to Pomeroy in the morning. Hopefully, Forest Service reports of clear roads to Lewiston are correct.
Cousins Linda, Adam, Doug Mathews
There was one hay loading ad in the local paper today. Otis will be coming over around 6:00 to tie my new tarp over the hay on top of the horse trailer. The original tarp was old to begin with, and with all the wind storms here, had really taken a beating. Doug had tied it down better for us, but was a little small and very ragged. I climbed up this morning to change them out myself, but was feeling a bit uncertain about climbing over the tool box and water tank to secure it. Didn't want to ask Doug to help as I knew they were trying to get ready to head out. Turns out Otis doesn't live far so should be able to get it done quickly and won't cost me much
While Otis was working on the tarp, I was moving the pasture hose and sprinkler. I must have pulled too hard and broke the pvc pipe stand the faucet was attached to....snapped a 12" piece off 4" in the ground. As the water was gushing, I was frantically looking for a "well" circuit breaker to turn off. I called Linda on the road and they told me where to turn off the water. Luckily the turn off was for sprinkler system only and didn't affect the house. Can't believe I did that! Both Doug and Linda were so gracious and "No big deal" about it.
Monday, July 9
Brought Lucille over to Linda's in time for the family's return from the baseball tournament---VICTORIOUS! Adam's team, the Spokane Dodgers White, won the Americal Legion Wood Bat Classic championship out of 40 teams. Way to go Adam! Way to go team!
Temperatures in the low 100s daily, with thunder and lightening storms. Beautiful sunsets. Doug was up on our trailer in a huge wind storm tightening down the tarp on the hay while I was securing the weather/privacy panel on the
back door.
Been keeping an eye on the forest fire reports in MT & WY. Hank was sweating just grazing the pasture until he found the sprinklers a welcome relief. Had to lead and hold him through the first spray, but then he figured it out and was a happy camper.
Ahhhh, cool relief
One day when Linda was bringing Lucille over for the evening, they saw a bale of hay sitting in the road. Lucille was giving Linda a bad time for not picking it up and bringing it home to me. When Linda got back from taking Lucille home, she said she had a present for me in the back of her car. It was funny.....guess you had to be there :)
Linda wrestled this into her car for her eternally grateful cousin, Sandy :)
Current report from WW Forest Service is road is clear of snow (that was quick considering 12 feet a couple days earlier). Linda, Judy and I decided to take a road trip in Linda's Expedition and check it out. Glad we did. Linda thought it would take a couple hours or so. Five hours later we made our way, 2 mph, up through Milk Shakes, past Table Rock, down the north side to Dayton. Horseback we would take a different route past Table Rock heading to Pomeroy. Only a couple spots of snow off the road, otherwise clear. The road was very narrow at one point, but the worst were the DEEP ruts in a long section that was hard to maneuver the car on much less a trailer with a 22" wider wheel base. We would be bottomed out and stuck in a heartbeat.
We moved a couple of downed trees out of our path and tossed rocks out of the road. At one point, we came across Derrick Knowles and friends from Spokane axe chopping a downed tree blocking the road. Derrick is clearing 1500 miles of hiking trails from Spokane to somewhere south, forget just where, in his spare time for Friends of the Inland Northwest Trail (http://www.inwtrail.org/). I think he said he started this organization. The project has been going on for several years.
Judy & I working on moving that double trunked tree out of the road.
Linda's taking the picture, but in actuallity, she was helping also,
with Judy calling "Heave, Heave, Heave"
Derrick & Friends
Scenery from the Table Rock area.
Made it home @ 6:00 for spaghetti dinner at Lucille's.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Hanging in Walla Walla
We’re hanging here, our third day, in Walla Walla at my 2nd cousin’s place waiting to talk to the Forest Service office in Pomeroy (NE of WW) tomorrow to make our new plan of attack.
To get back to earlier events, Judy and I were hot, tired, and dirty when we arrived in WW early eve on the 5th. My cousin, Lucille, came over with son Don and daughter-in-law Kay, and we had a great visit until about 8:30. I don’t get to see them often enough, so really enjoyed.
Had put Hank in separate confines from Linda’s horses earlier, watered and fed, but now had to pull the horse trailer into the pasture so our hay would be closer to him and I wouldn’t get hay debris in the yard and driveway. The problem, as I see it, was it was close to dark, I was tired, dirty, the driveway into the pasture is narrow with neighbor’s bushes on one side and the backyard fence on the other. As I’m watching going between a pick-up and a small car parked in this area and pulling into the pasture which continues as a narrow area, with Judy manning the gate from the far side (so she can’t see what’s going on), Linda’s horses, Misty and Chance, come to greet us. Misty moves on, but Chance is more curious and won’t budge. I inched in, honked at him, no response. Kept inching to maybe touch his chest to get him to move on, but, nope. I by chance (no pun intended) caught the view behind me in the rear view mirror and saw I was about 1” or less from the backyard fence. After a couple of attempts at maneuvering away, I figured my pride wasn’t going to get me in trouble with that fence. The rig was inside the pasture area so we could close the gate and the horses would be secure for the night. Went in and called neighbor Clark Hansen, whom I had talked to before regarding riders from his saddle club joining us, to see if he could give me a hand in the morning (sure is good to be an independent woman on a self-reliant trip). Judy and I finally got our showers and hair washed. Felt like a whole new woman.
8:30 the next morning, Clark was here and talked me through my tight squeeze. He may have been thinking “What an idiot”, but he never presented it that way. I had just been preoccupied watching those cars and the horses, and lost sight of the fence.
That done, I backed into the area I wanted and started to unhitch the trailer. Guess what -- when I had hit the dip on the forest service road, I also bent and broke the trailer jack wheel!
Next morning hauled the trailer over to trailer sales & service, had them check to make sure didn't damage anything else, replaced the wheel. Then headed to Walla Walla Ranger office to check next section of route. Twelve foot snow drifts in our path. Good excuse to get a couple more days visit with family. Dropped trailer at Linda's and headed over to Lucille's apartment.
Cousin Lucille feeding us old family specialty krautberok (cooked cabbage, sauer kraut, onion & ground beef in a dough pocket). Not so good for the diet, but very good for the soul.
Stopped by the Marcus Whitman Hotel as heard cousin Jeff Hill had done a mural there. He's a wonderful artist. Each painting is about 4' x 8' of the historical city of Walla Walla. Probably can't see the detail here very well, but I loved the facial expressions, seems very alive.
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FYI---Didn't know before, but if you single left click on any picture, a window with all the pics in that particular post comes up and you can slide show them to see larger view :)
To get back to earlier events, Judy and I were hot, tired, and dirty when we arrived in WW early eve on the 5th. My cousin, Lucille, came over with son Don and daughter-in-law Kay, and we had a great visit until about 8:30. I don’t get to see them often enough, so really enjoyed.
Had put Hank in separate confines from Linda’s horses earlier, watered and fed, but now had to pull the horse trailer into the pasture so our hay would be closer to him and I wouldn’t get hay debris in the yard and driveway. The problem, as I see it, was it was close to dark, I was tired, dirty, the driveway into the pasture is narrow with neighbor’s bushes on one side and the backyard fence on the other. As I’m watching going between a pick-up and a small car parked in this area and pulling into the pasture which continues as a narrow area, with Judy manning the gate from the far side (so she can’t see what’s going on), Linda’s horses, Misty and Chance, come to greet us. Misty moves on, but Chance is more curious and won’t budge. I inched in, honked at him, no response. Kept inching to maybe touch his chest to get him to move on, but, nope. I by chance (no pun intended) caught the view behind me in the rear view mirror and saw I was about 1” or less from the backyard fence. After a couple of attempts at maneuvering away, I figured my pride wasn’t going to get me in trouble with that fence. The rig was inside the pasture area so we could close the gate and the horses would be secure for the night. Went in and called neighbor Clark Hansen, whom I had talked to before regarding riders from his saddle club joining us, to see if he could give me a hand in the morning (sure is good to be an independent woman on a self-reliant trip). Judy and I finally got our showers and hair washed. Felt like a whole new woman.
8:30 the next morning, Clark was here and talked me through my tight squeeze. He may have been thinking “What an idiot”, but he never presented it that way. I had just been preoccupied watching those cars and the horses, and lost sight of the fence.
That done, I backed into the area I wanted and started to unhitch the trailer. Guess what -- when I had hit the dip on the forest service road, I also bent and broke the trailer jack wheel!
Next morning hauled the trailer over to trailer sales & service, had them check to make sure didn't damage anything else, replaced the wheel. Then headed to Walla Walla Ranger office to check next section of route. Twelve foot snow drifts in our path. Good excuse to get a couple more days visit with family. Dropped trailer at Linda's and headed over to Lucille's apartment.
Stopped by the Marcus Whitman Hotel as heard cousin Jeff Hill had done a mural there. He's a wonderful artist. Each painting is about 4' x 8' of the historical city of Walla Walla. Probably can't see the detail here very well, but I loved the facial expressions, seems very alive.
FYI---Didn't know before, but if you single left click on any picture, a window with all the pics in that particular post comes up and you can slide show them to see larger view :)
Monday, July 9, 2012
Left the Lake Heading to Walla Walla
Thursday, July 5 -- Things have to get better from here. Left the lake and headed to Kamela (more of a historic area then anything). Tried to push through the rock way off the roadside, but it's everywhere. After an hour or so, not willing to put Hank's feet or comfort in jeopardy, so loaded him up again and headed along the planned Forest Service route. Very slow going on the rocky road, but a fun and beautiful go. Saw a momma wild turkey with two chicks running along the road with us. Judy and I joked, she's writing a book "Sandy's Dream". I said she needs to re-title it "I Drempt I Rode My Horse from OR to WY, But I Actually Just Trailered Him There".
A ways out we met a pickup coming the opposite direction. He stopped and warned us a log truck was coming behind him. He said to just give him the finger and tell him to back up. I assured him I couldn't do that, not my M.O. Then he laughed and said it was just his cousin driving and the truck was empty. In the meantime the log truck came up, saw us talking, and backed out of the way on his own. We waved our thanks and headed on.
Another ways down the road we came across a guy running a big track tree limber. He was up the hillside a bit working a big pile of logs with a big boom out across the road. Of course he couldn't hear us honking to get his attention, so I walked up closer and waved my arms to get his attention. He politely swung the equipment off the road and let us pass.
Just before we got to Kamela, moving very slowly, hit a dip in the road that disconnected one of the trailer sway bars. I heard it and was happy I got it put back on easily.
Right after that we came to the home and shop of retired metal fabricator, Ron, and several adorable dogs. He confirmed that the whole way we had mapped out to
Walla Walla was rock, and no way around it. We opted
to hit I-84 and continue trailering. Ron was also kind
enough to grind our tack room/stall door pin to a taper
so we didn't have to fight getting it in so badly. Works
great now. Just before we were leaving Ron's, the tree limber stopped by in his pickup. He thanked Judy and I very much for getting his attention and not just trying to slip by him working.
A ways out we met a pickup coming the opposite direction. He stopped and warned us a log truck was coming behind him. He said to just give him the finger and tell him to back up. I assured him I couldn't do that, not my M.O. Then he laughed and said it was just his cousin driving and the truck was empty. In the meantime the log truck came up, saw us talking, and backed out of the way on his own. We waved our thanks and headed on.
Another ways down the road we came across a guy running a big track tree limber. He was up the hillside a bit working a big pile of logs with a big boom out across the road. Of course he couldn't hear us honking to get his attention, so I walked up closer and waved my arms to get his attention. He politely swung the equipment off the road and let us pass.
Just before we got to Kamela, moving very slowly, hit a dip in the road that disconnected one of the trailer sway bars. I heard it and was happy I got it put back on easily.
Right after that we came to the home and shop of retired metal fabricator, Ron, and several adorable dogs. He confirmed that the whole way we had mapped out to
Walla Walla was rock, and no way around it. We opted
to hit I-84 and continue trailering. Ron was also kind
enough to grind our tack room/stall door pin to a taper
so we didn't have to fight getting it in so badly. Works
great now. Just before we were leaving Ron's, the tree limber stopped by in his pickup. He thanked Judy and I very much for getting his attention and not just trying to slip by him working.
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