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.

Camping in Jim and Carol Kessler's back field, Milton-Freewater, OR

 

Add caption

Kessler's mules grazing in their pasture

Packing up for the final ride home.

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.

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. 
 
               


               

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. 
  

Pulled over on Forest Service Rd 40 getting ready to head out to FSRd 42 Jct.

 

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. 

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

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.

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

 Judy and I have spent the last three days trying to catch up on computer updates, me still fighting my way on the computer learning process.  Sounds like a horrible waste of time, but needs to be done.  Lana, a friend of Lucille, and her rescue dog, Sandy, came over to visit and meet Hank. 

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.

Hanging in Walla Walla

We’re hanging here, our third day, in Walla Walla at my 2^nd 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 5^th. 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.

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 :)

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. 

Sun June 24 via Fri July 6

Friday, July 6
Hi Everyone,
I'm so excited to finally have computer access.  We are in Walla Walla, WA, staying at cousin Linda, husband Doug, & at-home-son Adam's place.  Son Justin is grown and on his own.  A beautiful home, swimming pool, pasture for their two horses & Hank.  Linda and family are in Spokane for a baseball tournament Adam is playing in; depending on wins, may not be home until Saturday.  We actually arrived late yesterday afternoon, hot, dirty, and in desperate need of a shower.  I don't want to get ahead of myself, so I'm going to back up chronologically.  I hope this doesn't bore you.  I will probably put in a lot more detail then you care to read, but this is my only memoire of the trip.

Sunday, June 24 -- Norm and I, Eldy and Carol Swendsen following, on our way to Wagon Train:   After the water fiasco in Heppner.....I guess it's a sign of the times, economy wise.  We used to go anywhere and fill our 120 gallon horse trailer water tank for free.  Today, the gas station in Heppner sent us off to we're-not-sure-where for water as it would be too expensive for them to fill our tank.  Even after an offer to pay, they weren't interested.  So off we went and found water at the Museum Park.  It was a slow fill as the water flow as not very strong.  Those of you who know Norm won't be suprised--he took a wrench to the valve and increased the flow three fold.  (He did readjust it after our tanks were filled). 

We made it to first camp Wagon Train around 6:30 p.m.  Got settled in.  Put Hank on his new trailer high-line, the aluminum portable corral up, fed and watered, a beautiful night.  I was very pleased how calm and relaxed he was with the new surroundings, lots of rigs, new horse buddies high-lined beside him and all.

Hank checking out high-line and corral at Wagon Train second camp.

Note rock pile in lower right corner.

Met up with our friends from Redland (home before La Pine), Carl and Cindy Hemphill, and their friends Bob and Roberta.  Somehow conversation got around to trouble mounting our horses.  (I have to say I noticed several people, men included, climbing on logs, stumps, rocks and trailer fenders to get on their horses, so I'm not alone) Roberta is a pretty little short lady.  Her son bought her a portable mounting step.  It's only about 12" tall, a 6" round plastic plate on 3 aluminum folding legs.  You step into your stirrup on it, once seated, pull it up by it's sting, and attach it to your saddle horn for future use.  I'll try it tomorrow.  I actually think, if it were about 18" tall, it would work better for me. 

Reacquainted with veteran Wagon Train participant and veterinarian Linda ??? who drives a Haflinger team.  She was very excited about the step to help her get in her wagon. 

Monday, June 25 -- Train doesn't officially begin until dinner tonight.  More rigs showing up today, a total of 145 people expected.  Singles or groups of wagons going out to warm up their teams for first day out tomorrow.  Six of us (Norm and I, Eldy and Carol, their friends Joe and Diane Long) went out on about 1 1/2 hr ride.  Beautiful scenery.  Coming back into camp we saw a mule team wagon coming towards us.  We promptly dismounted and held the horses off to the side while the wagon passed.  You never want to be astride when your horse meets it's first covered wagon.  Hank watched and was fairly calm.  When it passed, Diane and I walked our horses to follow behind.  Although we couldn't keep up on foot, neither horse were concerned with the wagon at all.  Yea. 

Met with Jim Banks this morning and marked on our Forest Service map the route Judy and I will take out of last camp to Ukiah and on to the point the Walla Walla Ranger District  map begins. 

Met Sue Blackstock this afternoon.  She was only one of two who responded to postcards I sent out to past Wagon Train participants regarding joing the trek.  She, of course, was unable to go.  Enjoyed getting to know her, however.  Also met Bev ???.  Bev was a friend of Beryl Grilley, a very independent woman in her 90's when I met her on Train riding her buckskin.  She liked me because I also rode a buckskin (Easy).  Kept in touch through the years until she passed away around four years ago. 

Breakfast is at 6:30, and wagons roll at 8.  Our plan is to watch the wagons and the outriders leave, then head out the opposite direction for a casual ride.  We may meet the wagons the last 1/2 hr. or so coming in. 

Reluctantly, blanketed Hank tonight.  He's lives in La Pine, used to cold weather, but he has shelter and wind beak at home.  Out here he's more exposed to the elements.  So I put on his blanket and kissed him goodnight at 10:15 p.m.

Tuesday, June 26 -- Woke up to light rain and mud this morning.  Not too bad.  Only a handful of wagons went out, and 10 outriders.  I was not one of them.  Just didn't want to chance a cold before the Big Ride begins.  A very restful day.

Wednesday, June 27 --  Went out to feed Hank breakfast around 7:15 this morning.  Joe showed me one of our corral panels he had rescued Hank from.  Apparently 5 minutes earlier, even though he was high-lined to the trailer, Hank was able to get close enough to the panels to get into trouble.  He had been pawing at the fence because Joe's horses were being fed, slipped a leg through the top space weaving his foot back through the bottom space to the inside of the panel, wedging his shoulder to the panel.  He was thrashing, trying to free himself.  Thank God Joe was right there and managed to free him, threw him some hay, removed the bent and broken panel, and secured the remaining panels together.  No injuries, could have been horrible.  This all happened about 12 feet from the camper, but Norm and I hadn't heard a thing.

Today was camp moving day.  Beautiful weather.  I led Hank to the perimeter of the wagon staging area to watch.  He was such a good boy and just watched calmly as the wagons started rolling.  When the last one passed, we fell in behind, me walking, leading Hank for a few hundred feet.  Hank stayed calm---what a good boy.  Carol and Diane rode today. 

When we got our camps moved and set up, Eldy, Joe, Norm and I rode out to meet the wagons, again staying a ways in the woods as they passed.  All the horses were good at first.  Found Carol and Diane riding in.  Hank himself took us out on the road and fell in behind the two last outriders just behind the last wagon.  He just went along as sweet as could be.  Eventually taking him back up off the road, we all pulled ahead of the last couple wagons, then all our horses got jiggy.  Riding farther off road, we shortcut back to camp ahead of the train. 

Thursday, June 28 -- Gorgeous day again.  Joe and Diane, Carol and I rode out about 9:30 planning to catch up with the wagons at lunch and ride back with them to camp.  Unfortunately, although we had a map, we followed a road with hoof prints and wagon tracks, but because the terrain was hard with embedded rocks, we thought that was the reason the tracks no longer showed.  Long story short, we rode 7 hours on rocky terrain most of the time, never caught the wagons, so no lunch.  The 13 mile day turned into a 20 mile day for us, rocks and heavy gravel all the way.  I had put Hank's boots on before we left, the others put theirs on shortly thereafter.  Hank was ouchy on the rocks even with boots, but not lame.  When I put him in his corral, which is also rocky, he wouldn't even take a step.  Gave him Bute to ease the pain, and Carol, bless her heart, started tossing rocks out of Hank's corral, me joining her.  We'll see how he is in the morning.  May have a day off and I can get a good shower at the Wagon Train shower truck.
 
Bob and Judy Keller showed up at camp this evening, a day earlier then planned.  Was a great surprise to see them.  We hurried and cleaned out the horse trailer, moved the hay out and set up the cots for them. 

Camp fire was pretty entertaining for us tonight.  Think I'm not supposed to mention Norm's Honorable Mention by Wagon Train president, but since I'm not sure, I will  :)  Norm, riding Swendsen's rather round mare,Tenisha (sorry if the spelling is wrong), had a saddle slide episode right in front of the officers....Tenisha did an unexpected turn while Norm was adjusting the saddle from an earlier unexpected move....off he went.  They didn't see the second dump minutes later, but I brought it to their attention.  Eldy was laughing so hard I thought we'd have to take him to emergency to get his tickler removed.  Besides torn up fingers, a bruised back and possibly a bruised ego, Norm was fine.

Friday, June 29 --   Checked out Hank.  Much better today, but gave him the day off.  Judy and I drove to Ukiah to check our route and make sure gas and water would be available on Sunday.  We picked our camp spot, and through phone tag with the property owner, Karl Jensen, got permission to stay there the next night.

Last night at Train, camp breaks up after breakfast tomorrow.  Before dinner and last camp entertainment, friends joined us at our camp area. Eldy, played guitar and dedicated his version of "She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain" to me.  Never realized "She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain" could bring tears to your eyes.  Many well wishers for our trek at dinner. 

Eldy entertaining us at camp.

Tomorrow Norm and Bob are running to Pendleton to buy Judy and I certain GPS satellite units with walkie-talkies and you can see each others exact location in case one of us makes a wrong turn.

Last camp fire tonight, prime rib dinner, met the Pendleton Round-Up court and the Happy Canyon Days court, good entertainment of two brothers singing & playing guitars.  Got a good nights sleep.    

Saturday, June 30 --   Last morning of Wagon Train.  Bought 9 bales of left over certified weed free hay from Train.  Norm's fingers were so chewed up from his "special ride", Sam from Finley, WA, and Ty from Tri Cities, WA, helped load the hay on top of the trailer.  Norm and Bob then headed out to get our GPSs.  They ended up going not only to Pendleton, but to Hermiston and one other place with no luck.  The ones they wanted cost $500 each and would have to be ordered in.  So they did the next best thing, they went garage saleing.  In the meantime at camp, we had a thunder storm--no lightening but lots of rain--had to tarp the hay with hard rain and wind.  Got wet, but got the job done.  The guys brought food back and we just had a fun evening visiting and enjoying Norm's gourmet dinner of chili burgers. 

Sunday, July 1 --   The trek finally begins! ---although a late start.  Norm fixed us all a nice breakfast, and after final instructions, inspections, hugs and kisses, the guys headed home.

Judy and Bob Keller

I headed to water Hank at the pond at 11:20.  11:27 finally in the saddle.  Easy ride to first cattle guard.  Judy headed off in front across the guard and around the mountain.  This was no ordinary cattle guard!  They had not made a normal wire loop over a post, they wound, looped, and nailed that wire around the post in a horrible mess.  I had kept a pry bar with me just for this, but it was a pipe with no flat end to get under anything.  Judy was out of walkie-talkie range so couldn't call her to get a better tool.  I worked that thing, sweating and cussing as a sweet innocent woman would, for 30 minutes before trail angel Chris showed up in a pickup and helped.  On my way again with many thanks to Chris.  When I met up with Judy, put the hammer in my saddle bag also for a claw end pry. 

Three miles later hit Hwy 53 and headed to Ukiah.  Had put all four of Hank's boots on him this morning.  He walked out of one (as he had during the first ride) and bent the tensioner.  Couldn't get the back boots to fit the front feet, so had to take them all off.  Bad rocks, even off the side of the road.  Because of that, we didn't make it to planned camp spot.  5:30, camped just off the hwy. at FS Rd 5305, the entrance to Wolf Springs at the "6 miles to Ukiah" sign.  

Judy relaxing out of the sun outside of Ukiah

Old homestead corral and cattle shoot

Beautiful full moon

 Monday, July 2 --   Woke up to Elk calling off in the distance and wonderful wildflower/grasses fragrance stepping out of the trailer.  Gorgeous morning. 

Will shoe Hank tomorrow.  No farriers in Ukiah, so made some calls to Pendleton.  We're meeting Dan Baker in Pilot Rock, 38 miles N. of Ukiah, at 5:30 p.m. where he has some clients today.  Karl Jensen stopped by and we explained why we didn't make it to his field.  He was very nice and offered his lumber mill parking lot to camp in at Pilot Rock.  So, one day's ride and Hank (and I) have a riding day off already. 

This is all a learning experience---set up and break down.  When we load Hank, we move all the "loose stuff" (heater, potty, totes, lights, etc., etc.) into the tack room, flip my sleeping bag/blankets on top of Judy's cot, move my cot out, load Hank, flip my cot on top of Judy's, tie it all down, and off we go.  Let Hank smell that all that stuff was nothing alive or dangerous, and he loaded right up.  Good Boy. 

Gased up in Ukiah but decided to wait to get water in Pilot Rock.  No sense in hauling the extra weight until needed.  Had a salad at J & D Food Mart in Pilot Rock.  Owners Jerry and Denea (spelling ??) were very helpful getting us phone numbers of folks we could possibly stay with that night.  We really appreciated Karl's invitation, but hoped to find a softer place for Hank to rest. 

Got in touch with Paul Ellis from the Ellis Hunting Ranch just north of town.  They let us camp there and fill the water tank.  Paul Jr. is third generation at the homestead, Paul Sr. lives down the road. The ranch offers bird and game hunting with a large green lawn for many campers to set up.  We camped on the edge to keep the lawn clean from Hanks fertilizer donations and hay debris.  Pauls were working on remodeling an office area.  I picked up scrap lumber for them for thanks.  Paul Jr. is also finishing a big hanging cooler for game.  There's a steel post and boom with a winch to lift, clean game, and roll it into the cooler for cure and cut.  Very professional.  Norm would love the set up. 

Ellis Hunting Ranch

Notice Judy's floored sunshade for camp chairs.

Paul Jr's meat cooler/processing plant in progress.

Dan showed up right on time.  Very nice guy; nice of him to fit me in after a full day working in the hot sun.  Between him and the two Pauls, we gleaned more trail information confirming what we already had.

Tuesday, July 3 --   Hank kept me awake all night clanging the metal snap on the high line boom ring.  Judy thought it was her fault disturbing Hank by stirring so much with the horrible leg cramps she had all night.  Felt so bad for her. 

Got out of camp late again--11:20.  Had lots of clean up, trouble filling the water tank.  Hank walked right out, was a happy camper.  The wind was blowing incredibly hard this morning, but warm.  Not a day for a wide brimmed hat.  Even had to hold on to my baseball cap at times.  Thank goodness for stampede strings.  Nice ride outside of town, but through Pilot Rock had to coax Hank each step.  I've ridden him through neighborhoods with barking dogs, etc. before with no hesitation.  I think all these new sights and everything was just peeking his curiosity more than wanting to move out.  It was very tiring for me though.

Heading to Pilot Rock from the Ellis Ranch

Taking a little break in Pilot Rock

Heading out again to Indian Lake.

 

Found a host for the evening's camp about 5 1/2 miles out of town.  A very nice young man, Jeremy, who works for Corrections Dept. in Pendleton, and his sweet pup, P something (sorry Jeremy, can't remember).  Ran Jeremy's sun-warmed hose water into a little plastic tub we had before giving Hank the cooler water to drink.  The way we were parked, could stand on the far side of the trailer and take a sponge bath privately.  Felt VERY good.  Went to bed at 9:50 to the sound of coyotes cries....beautiful.

Jeremy's place

Wednesday, July 4 --   Happy Fourth!  Judy gave me a star spangled ties to wear today.  Will tie it on the saddle.
 
Had a good night's sleep last night---yea.  Slept in until 7:10.  Hank still rattled on his trailer high-line, but not as bad as night before.  Got camp pretty well packed up except the corral and my chair 8:30ish.  Judy headed 5 1/2 miles back to Pilot Rock to gas up and a couple of errands.  We were down less than 1/4 tank, but since so close to town, and with other errands, wanted to head out with a full tank. 

9:10---there went Judy.  Missed the driveway here.  9:20 here comes Judy.  Got the corral down, Hank saddled and headed on out Birch Creek Rd. towards Indian Lake around 10:40--a little earlier.  

Got less than a mile down the 2 lane road with hills on the left, alfalfa fields below us on the right, when a pick-up headed to Pilot Rock stopped to warn me a helicopter was landing in a field about 1/4 mile ahead.  I immediately dismounted, not wanting to get dumped by a spooked horse, and walked Hank forward to see what was happening.  I saw the tank truck in the field just off to our right so waited.  Here comes a helicopter low over the hill on our left coming towards us parallel to the road making his first pass just feet off the pavement spraying for weeds.  I gripped the lead line as tight as I could, but left a tiny bit of slack so Hank wouldn't feel my fear.  That heli flew low and passed us, came back and forth making his way up the hill, then cut up a gulley.  Hank never batted an eye.  Didn't pay a bit of attention---couldn't believe it.  So I just kept walking, leading him up the road.  The heli passed on our right also to land, re-load, and take off again.  We were far enough by at that point, got back on Hank. We could hear the heli behind us, but never saw it again.  Don't know if Hank's attitude would have been different had I been on him, but I was so amazed by him.  Another Good Boy.

Only rode about 4 miles or so before coming to sharp curves with no shoulder.  Scattered houses there with bushes growing out onto the road.  We would have to be out on the road on blind curves so found a field with an open gate next to a little red farm house.  Walkie-talkied Judy to come on up and pull in to load Hank for this bad stretch.  We hadn't yet learned the full routine of unloading the trailer portion.  We tied my cot on hers before we got the stall divider free.  So we untied, unloaded my cot, loaded Hank, closed the divider, reloaded my cot and got all tied down.  Once we got beyond the curves, we decided to keep driving while I ate my lunch.  By the time I finished, we were about at Indian Lake, so went ahead and pulled into camp and chatted with Camp Host "Uncle Mike" Reed and his sweet Rottweiller, Jennifer.  They host the camp and go home to outside of Meecham Monday & Tuesdays.  Jennifer was laying on her special rug which took about half of the top of the big picnic table.  Camping is $10/night, so asked if there were good spots on up the road out of camp.  He directed us to a nice spot 3 miles up, but then said we could stay at the lake, no charge.  He said he'd tell his bosses (Umatilla Indian Tribe) he gave a comp night.  It's so beautiful here -- NO BUGS!   People had complained to the tribe about bats in the area, so they asked Mike to get rid of them.  He said "OK, but they're what's keeping the mosquitos gone."  The tribe had him build three bat condos instead.  

Judy peeking around trailer at Indian Lake Camp.

Hank waiting for his highline to be set up.

                                                             Large beautiful lake

Hank had lots of company today.  We got camp set up about 3:00.  Judy and I set up the high-line (gopher goes down the hole, around the tree, back down the hole), but couldn't get the come-along line out.  I did push over the black thing and tried to flip the other thingy, but couldn't get it.  Walked over to a group day camping and asked if anyone knew how to release it.  A nice young man, Ryan, came over to help.  After a couple tries, he got it.  You really have to have strong fingers to do it.  So, finally got Hank settled on the high-line.  A little later, 12 year old Mary from Ryan's group came over with her Dad.  She loves horses and wanted to pet Hank.  Put Mary up bareback and Judy took her picture.  Judy said she'd e-mail it to her.  Judy went over to the group with Mary to show family the picture on her camera.  Then Mary brought 5 or 6 little cousins over to meet Hank.  Their Mother said they couldn't set him, just pet.  Judy took a group picture of that.  As all this was going on, Dad took our bucket to the faucet down the way and filled Hank's water tub (Thank you, Dad).  Mary explained to the cousins that Judy would e-mail them the pictures if they gave her addresses---so they all came back with addresses.  Very cute.  

Hey, Larry Pearce, I'm sitting here around 7 pm writing this at the lake and all these fish keep coming up for their dinner.  Uncle Mike said they're trout, catfish and red-sided suckers. 

Hank is very quiet and content on the high-line.  Judy and I should get better sleep with no clanging tonight.