There’s really no such thing as a Triple Black Diamond trail in skiing. At least not according to my research. I searched desperately for such a graphic on Google Images, but no such thing showed up. Double Black Diamond did show up, but for the life of me, I could not pirate the image off the Net so I had to make my very own, which wasn’t so difficult, thanks to my friend, and yours, Bill Gates, who was nice enough to give us Auto-Shapes with our Microsoft software. So, there they are; Triple Black Diamonds, representing what Lori feels is the trail ride we went on on Sunday. I’m starting w/Sunday because it was pretty much the highlight of my weekend. Not because I love tormenting Lori or hearing her blame me for all things she swears she’ll later need a glass of wine to cure. But because it was just the better day out of the two. Read on and you’ll agree. Well, you don’t even have to agree. I just know it was the better day.
To start Sunday off, Leah and I met for breakfast at Silver Diner. Bob had Reserves and I do miss our breakfasts when he isn’t around for them, so it was nice to meet Leah. I always love catching up with Leah, and marveling at how old she is now (25). Which just means I’m getting ridiculously old too. But seriously, I cannot believe she is 25. Anyway, she brought this book I loaned her eons ago (don’t worry, I still have one of hers) and it was cool to thumb back through it. It is the 1985-1986 edition of L’Annee Hippique. It’s fun to look at all the pictures of many of the greats of that time like Conrad Homfeld, Joe Fargis, Melanie Smith, Anne Kursinski, the Leone brothers, Norman Dello Joio and there were even some pictures of George Morris on Brussells. I think she was one of the last horses he showed in the grands prix. And I remember her as being a tough mare who swished her tail over the fences.
Leah was in town for her mother’s birthday, so after our breakfast, I headed to Lori’s for our trail ride. For some odd reason, Lori was tacking Shadow up, and was going to leave me her horse, Bumby, to ride. Which I didn’t realize until I asked her if she was tacking up my horse for me (meaning Shadow). Later, I think I was to find out why she wanted me to ride Bumby. I am, after all, the crash test dummy.
So, just as I did back when I had little Justin over there, I headed down the trail to the first creek crossing. And since the horse I was on had hunted (to the best of my knowledge), I figured he’d be an old hand at trails and water. Not exactly. We get to the edge of the creek and there was no moving Shadow. Spurs and all. And, I did not bring a stick because I figured he was an old hand. I made Lori bring a stick, though. But we weren’t exactly in a position where she could get the stick to me. Eventually, I just got off and led across. Because the creek bed was so dry, I was able to step across various stones to get to the other side. Shadow walked along behind me, no problem. Grr….
Lori ended up having to do the same with Bumby and soon, we were back on our beasts, continuing down the trail. I’d not been on the trail since I parted with Justin and I actually really bummed me out to see how grown over it was and how it was clear that no one had been through there since we had been there. If they had, there was no evidence of it. So, if it is true, it was kind of neat at the same time to think that things had been left untouched since then. It just made picking through the trail a little difficult.
In some places, trees had fallen across the trail, branches were once again hanging low. Back in the day, I’d go through there with my folding saw and clippers and chop them all down. All the grass was so tall, you could barely see the trails and in many places, it had taken over the trail leaving not the slightest evidence of one once being there.
So, there we were, meandering along when suddenly, some commotion behind me attracts my attention. I turn just in time to see Bumby standing on his hind legs like a statue somewhere in Washington, DC. I was instantly horrified because just behind him was a short bank to the creek bed. I was suddenly both scared to death for Lori and glad as hell I was not on him. I’ve had my share of excitement lately. After a few spins this way and that and my walking back towards them, we got Bumby headed in the right direction, back feet following front feet.
At the next creek crossing, I wasn’t even about to bother wondering whether they’d go in or not. This crossing has a nifty rock formation that is almost like a natural sidewalk that leads diagonally from one bank to the other. I’d always wanted to cross there in the past but I remember there was a tree at the bottom of the bank leading into the water and the branches of a nearby tree hung a little low, so, back then, I’d walk a little farther down to cross. But on this day, the bed was so dry, this would be the most ideal spot to cross because farther down, I could see we’d not be able to dismount and walk across. So, off we went and led our crazies across. We walked up the hill to a log I knew I’d be able to remount from. I remembered how Justin would always step so carefully over it.
On and on the familiar trail went. Familiar but so different at the same time. And the more we went, the more I missed Justin. Eventually, we came to the cement bridge, which, because the creek was so dry, there was absolutely no water pushing over it. I figured this would be easy. Well, easier. Shadow firmly planted both feet right at the line where grass met cement and would not move. We’re not talking about a step up or a step down. Just pretty much pavement even with ground. I figured, knowing horses, it could cause some concern but didn’t think THIS much. With some encouragement from Lori’s stick, across we went, then back again to retrieve Bumby, and back we went again.
Next challenge, another creek crossing. I have pictures of Justin crossing this one. Pictures I took between his little ears. So, I thought of this instantly. Just like a champ, Shadow, seemingly possessed by Justin’s very spirit, went right into the fairly dry creek bed and walked along to the next crossing. Again, things had changed so much. At one time, I wrote about Justin having to step thru a downed tree. It was a HUGE tree that stretched across the creek. Where that tree went, I have no clue but I cannot imagine that the floods that came through did it. But maybe. Because I can’t imagine anyone chopping it down. There was no evidence of that. Who knows.
Walking along the bank led us to our next creek crossing and for this one, oddly, there was no hesitation from Shadow, which I just thought was odd, given that it was the most full section we’d encountered. But, again, maybe little Justin was helping him along. Once on the other side, we hit yet another hazard. Another tree had fallen and blocked our passage. If the horses were careful, they could step through the branches. And if we were careful, we’d not lose any knee caps. I went for it on Shadow and we came out unscathed. Lori and Bumby also prevailed.
Soon, we were walking out of the woods, grateful to have made it out alive. We were about to walk up the drive, back to her house. Suddenly, we hear a car HAULING over the gravel road, headed our way. After holding our hands up in the air and yelling, “WHOA!!!!” to the person approaching way too fast, the driver FINALLY slowed down and stopped. I seriously thought Lori was going to kill him. It was a neighbor’s son. I think I kinda diffused the situation by saying, “Sorry! She’s on a baby and he’s not very experienced with cars just yet.” But in reality, I wanted to shout an expletive at him. As soon as we got by, I said, “You better call his mother and tell her what happened!”
He’s gone and two seconds later, here comes a Lexus. We have to pull over to the shoulder for him to go by and next, a Jeep, pulling a trailer with brush! That neighbor has horses so he had sense enough to stop and let us pass him. But good LORD! This is a country road! Gravel at that! Such mayhem.
It was hotter than hell, I was dripping with sweat (which is not normal for me, but good because I think I finally learned to sweat). After giving Shadow a nice bath and saying my goodbyes, it was off to Stonegate. I rode two there. Basic stuff. Nothing exciting to tell. And here, I managed to survive another exciting horse-related weekend.
Thanks for lookin’ out for me, J-man.
