On The Move

The Equestrian Vagabond has moved…
http://theequestrianvagabond.blogspot.com/
or
http://blog.theequestrianvagabond.com/
or
www.endurance.net/merri

2009 Owyhee Tough Sucker

Saturday April 18 2009

Owyhee Tough Sucker

They don’t come to this spring ride for the frills: the showers aren’t working, there are no catered meals; ride awards are not donated by sponsors and are somewhat improvised. You might find that trail pie plates with arrows on them pinned to sagebrush have blown away, or half blown away so that the arrows are pointing the wrong way (so watch for the ribbons, and bring your map), and you might find ribbons pinned to cow pies instead of stakes in the ground. And if you show up a day or two early, expect to be recruited for chores: marking trails (use the rides to condition your horse! Or bring your dirt bike!), getting the lawn mower started (sometimes you get to mow the lawn too!), fixing an outhouse, putting out water troughs or setting up pens – just depends on timing and how lucky you are.

They do come here for the thrills: perfect weather (this year!); excellent trails; easy first ride at the start of the season (for most horses); a choice of 3 distances: 25 miles, 50 miles, 75 miles; and just the great company here in this part of the Pacific Northwest.

I was going to get to ride John T’s horse Rushcreek Mac in the 50, with Steph on Rhett, meaning we were going to go FAST! But Mac colicked on Thursday night (!). Mac was fine on Friday, but riding him was out of the question. So, I pulled Jose Viola off the bench and took him on the 25 mile ride. Jose hasn’t been ridden much since September, and by December he was already out of riding shape (like me). I knew he could handle the 25, but I didn’t want to push him, or let him go too fast like he’d want to on a 50… there’s always more endurance rides down the road.

When you do an endurance ride, do you choose to ride with somebody, or by yourself? There’s good and fun reasons for both. And I did both today. Jose and I (and the Raven) started off near the back of the pack with a group of 4 horses – I knew Jose would want to go faster than was good for him, and he’s better about rating with a group. I sure didn’t want him to get in any hot-shoe race with any fast horses up front. He’s such a good horse; he always listens, and even when he does get excited (which is not too often), he doesn’t pull.

The first 15-mile loop for all distances led onto the northeast flats, following the rim above Bates Creek canyon. What a perfect morning: 55* and a slight breeze, not a cloud in the sky, snow on the Owyhees to the southwest, an enchanting layer of green all over this desert, the occasional deep pink Indian paintbrush and the yellow arrow-leaf balsam root, and a couple of purple flower carpets along the way.

Jose and I hung with this group for a while, then moved on ahead with Tammy and Ali for a while, crossing Bates Creek road and trotting our way back up onto, and along, the southwest flats. Then we went on ahead by ourselves, me and Jose, moving along at his choice of pace and gait, until we got to the top of Pickett Creek Canyon. I got off and walked him down into the Canyon, and then I got back on and let him go the last 1 1/2 miles back to camp. He trotted big, he cantered, and I only slowed him down right before we came in to the vet check. I figured it would take him a while to pulse down, but as soon as Regina checked him, she said “Oh, he’s down!” Well – good for Jose! Maybe he wasn’t that out of shape after all.

We had a 30 minute hold, and just as we were going back out on our second loop of 10 miles, Rhett and Steph were coming in off their 3rd loop. Oh darn! Jose whinnied after his buddy for several miles as we went along the trail away from base camp. But nevertheless, Jose is always quite willing to do what you ask, so we kept moving along by ourselves, seemingly the only people out here in the desert, trotting slowly but steadily until we got to the little climb heading up onto the scenic Hart Creek Rim Trail. Jose had a bit of sweat going on under the breast collar, and though I knew we weren’t moving too fast for him at all, we slowed to a walk all the way up the hill.

Once up top, we saw a couple of horses ahead of us, and Jose decided they needed passing. We steadily caught up to and passed the first pair, and while we set aim on the next single horse, I swear Jose was enjoying the view off to our left of Hart Creek Canyon. He’s a looker and he likes to take in everything around him. He especially likes to stop on the tops of hills and gaze around. He’s a feeling soul, that horse, and I know he appreciates the scenery.

The trail took us back onto Spring Ranch road and Jose caught up with Carrie and A Little Jazzy, on their first endurance ride. After staying with them a while, Jose chose to move onward as we turned for home the last time, along the ridge above Pickett Creek. The cool wind blew my hair in the Owyhee sunshine, and Jose’s hooves clipped rhythmically and confidently along the dirt road. I thought of how lucky I was to be here today, with my buddy Jose, a strong and willing and sure-footed partner carrying me along the trail on a day like this.

I got off for the walk down into Pickett Creek Canyon again, and when I got back on Jose, I let him cruise home again. Jose is just the coolest horse! We cantered much of the mile-and-a-half back, never breaking a sweat, and his pulse was down as soon as Regina checked him at the finish. AND we’d come in 5th place, only 11 minutes behind the winner!

“Geez Jose, we coulda done the 50 today after all!” But there’s always more endurance rides.

You just didn’t hear too many complaints from people today – even from the 2 riders who got lost (Steph went out on the ATV to search for one) and were overtime. “I always count it a good ride if I came away with no bruises!” “It was a good ride because I didn’t fall off!” Those were words of wisdom from some experienced riders. Then there was an overdose of “It’s a beautiful day!” and “The people here are just great.”

It was a pretty easy ride for 58 Owyhee Tough Suckers – it really couldn’t have been any better.

The only thing I have to add is: the Raven and I love Jose. Thanks for the great ride (again).

All Kinds of Happy

Thursday April 16 2009

Driving home very late Tuesday night from the airport it happened again – the same thing that happened the last two times I came back home from a trip – you got it – snow! Flakes were swirling in the air on the drive home, and I woke up to an inch on the ground, and little flakes blowing in through the open window and landing on my face as I slept.

I was all kinds of excited, while the locals think I should be shot. “Enough already!” they say – of me and the snow. Cindy Bradley, who’s here from sunny Arizona with her husband Steve and two horses for the Tough Sucker ride on Saturday, said, “You’re just all kinds of happy aren’t you?” after she saw me do a snow dance.

It wasn’t just the snow I danced in; I had all sorts of welcome home gifts. My horse ran up to me nickering, when I got home at 2 AM, and he ran up to me again in the morning, nickering. : )))

During the day, the wind peeled away the layer of snow in Pickett Creek Canyon to reveal a green carpet of grass (and weeds), framed by the bright white Owyhee mountains in the southwest.

It’s been so long since I’ve been on a horse I was afraid I might have forgotten my balance or something, but today I had an awesome ride on Rushcreek Mac (he’s done GREAT with John down south this winter), and followed that up with a great ride on Rhett. Now, I’m watching my horse out the window, mowing the lawn grass.

The catch-up work never stops – there will be stories and photos from the Owyhee Tough Sucker endurance ride here this weekend, I have pages of emails to wade through, I still have many Al Andalus stories and pictures to catch up on, and there’s the next ride to get ready for here in May (the 3-day Owyhee Canyonlands), which means more horses to condition for that.

Oh, it’s good to be home again.

Git R Done

Saturday April 11 2009

Here it is, in its short-tirety, a pictographic essay of the Git R Done endurance ride in Inyokern, California, “The Sunshine Capital of America.” After Friday night and Saturday afternoon, I might petition the town elders to change that to “The Wind Capital of America.”

It was a 30, 50, 75, and 100-mile ride. I could have called ahead and found a horse to ride… but I just took photos, and reconnected with some wonderful friends I hadn’t seen in 2 or more years – this area including Ridgecrest is my old winter riding grounds.

More photos on endurance.net on the Git R Done page.

A story coming too, but I’m headed back to Owyhee today…

I get to kiss my horse tonight!

Full moon setting over the Sierras as the riders started on the trail at 6 AM Saturday in the 75 and 100-mile rides.

Such a ‘tablecloth’ hanging over the Sierra peaks here means only one thing for the day: WIND.

Riders on their first loop.

Oh dear -

– watch out for that Horse-Eating Tractor Tire!

Riders heading out on the second part of Loop 1.

Watch out for the fierce little attack Burrowing Owls! They like to run out of their burrows and hiss at the horses, and they sound like a rattlesnake. Apparently they are unaware of how tiny they are compared to a horse.

Heading toward the Sierras on Loop 2.

The most scenic picture spot of the day!

Wind is picking up down below.

Serious wind coming…

Wicked wind started again about noon and only died off a bit near sunset.

But the ride goes on – Jeremy Reynolds on Sir Smith leading the way after Loop 4. The two won this hundred mile ride in November of 2006 and 2008.

A long road, a long view over the Indian Wells valley, and part of the Slate Range in the distance.

These riders are done for the day.

This young rider is done for the day.

2009 Tierras de Al-Andalus Photos III

Monday April 6 2009

The VI Raid Kaliber Tierras De Al-Andalus concluded on Saturday (well, Sunday, if you count the awards dinner and party), with 5 Binomios (1 rider, 1 horse) completing all 8 days, and the overall winner, Eduardo Sanchez Hidalgo rode Hermes, a 16-year-old horse! Three equipos teams finished all 8 days.

The Raid is over but I still haven’t stopped going, more people and places to visit. More photos and stories to come later…

Meanwhile, here are a few photos from the last 3 days, and much more at

www.endurance.net .

Thursday April 2 2009

We’re in Cordoba now – on a day of rest! Of course, there really is no time to rest, as Cordoba is an old Roman city with the winding medieval streets and the old ‘mosque-cathedral’ – many things to see, many tapas to eat. There are of course the horses to tend to – walking, wrapping legs, hosing legs, lunging, massaging, and this afternoon the vetting in for tomorrow’s stage 6, and also a national ride (I believe tomorrow is a 1* ride).

And of course there’s some big gala dinner and party to go with the awards ceremony from yesterday, so it’s a good thing I had a good night’s sleep last night.

Here are some photos from days 4-6. Much mas at Endurance.net

No Mas Paella

Sunday March 22 2009

I will never eat another dish of paella again.

I got one of those invites from strangers for dinner: a Catalonian family, the brother of Nuria, who runs the Spanish Fisiocrem business for Paul, the New Zealander, whose El Moli I’m staying at.

Angels and Jordi and their two children welcomed me into their home, with Nuria, Marc and 1-year-old Aniol, and Paul, as if I were another old friend.

We found out we had more than just horses in common. There was also art, music, birds (owls in particular), and travel. Angels and Jordi have been to Iceland and that is my Mecca. And they were all, this evening, discussing their upcoming family trip to New Zealand (where I’ve been once, but want to return to actually sight-see, so I got jealous listening). And we had a common appreciation for good food.

You know how men do the barbecue thing in the US – Jordi was doing the paella pan thing over the wood-and-brush fire pit here – first artichokes simmering in the bubbling olive oil, then garlic and onions and rice and calamari and green peppers. And it was a huge pan.

Paella originated in Valencia – the Spanish Autonomous Community just south of Catalonia. I’ve had paella before, and it has not been my favorite, and I’m definitely not a seafood lover. So when I heard paella was being served, while I was a bit squeamish, I know how to be a good guest and be grateful just for being invited for a home-cooked meal, especially by some new Spanish friends.

Well. Maybe it was the wonderful place (Catalonia), maybe it was the old and new friends (treasured), maybe it was the talk, maybe it was the way we ate it – in the traditional way, all digging in with a spoon from the original pan. Or, maybe it was simply the BEST paella I have ever eaten. I ate, and ate, and I kept eating. We all did. Wiped the huge pan out.

Then came the champagne, and dessert, followed by coffee – more time to sit back, relax, enjoy the company of strangers who immediately make you feel like family, time to let the food and ambience and camaraderie soak in, while the sun slowly dipped behind the hills in the west. It was one of the best evenings ever.

Seriously, that was the last dish of paella I will ever have. I know it can never be as good again.

For me, no mas paella.

Cron Raid de Promoció

Sunday March 22 2009

I got a rather unanticipated treat of visiting the site of the CRON raid again – this time for the Raid de Promoció, a 20 km, 40 km, and 60 km ride day.

It was double the size of last week’s 120 km** Raid del Cron: 117 horses, of all ages and sizes, various states of fitness and experience. For many horses (and riders) this was the first outing of the season, and for some, the first raid experience ever.

Some of the horses just looked physically young; some of them were definitely mentally young, and got their first taste of ‘ridecamp’, the vetting ring, trotting out,

actual ‘competition’ with other horses, starting in a group, and going out on course a second or third time after the vet checks.

All the loops were under a control speed of not faster than 15 km/h, but not slower than 10 km/h, and pulse criteria was 56 bpm.

I happily ran into some old friends, met some more new ones, and generally soaked up the relaxed family atmosphere on another pleasant and picturesque spring day in Catalonia.

Walk Across Spain

Thursday March 19 2009

Walk Across Spain

Step outside in the morning on the balcony of El Moli (the Mill) outside of the small village of San Julia de Vilatorte in this corner of Catalonia, Spain, and breathe deeply of the crisp clean air under the bright early sunshine. it is bracing, fragrant with spring and a nuance of… pig doo.

This area produces a lot of pigs, and I dare say, a lot of pig fertilizer that is used on the ample farmland. It’s not enough to make you gag, but just enough to put a slight crinkle in your brow, or raise an eyebrow, or wrinkle your nose just a bit, depending on which way the wind blows.

But anyway…

Put on your hiking shoes, grab your backpack and your walking poles (or, in my case, the Raven), and head out across Spain. Or Europe, for that matter. How about destination: Poland, or Norway?

I started right outside El Moli, walking the Ruta dels Moulins trail along the creek, which soon joined up with the GR2 Footpath.

The GR Footpaths in France and Belgium (Grande Randonne’e), Holland (Grote Routepaden), Portugal (Grande Rota), and Spain (Gran Recorrido) are a network of long-distance hiking trails in Europe, that are connected with the European “extremely” long-distance footpaths, covering 60,000 km, that will take you in every conceivable direction over Europe: middle of Norway to the middle of Italy, tip of Greece to the bottom of Spain, Ireland, Great Britain, top of Finland to tip of Turkey, Portugal to Estonia or Poland.

Designed by the European Ramblers’ Association, founded in Germany in 1969, today it is composed of 50 ramblers’ organizations from 26 European states, with over 5 million individual members. The local ramblers’ organizations maintain the paths, markings, huts and campsites along their routes, some of which have been in existence for over 100 years; work on preserving rights of way; and promote the history and culture of the areas through which the trails pass.

The trails vary from forest trails to paths along fields, roads through villages, dirt roads between fields; past old Roman ruins, ancient walls, old mills, castles, farms. You can follow the silk routes of Europe, the Troubadour routes, the European parks and Garden route, the Wenceslav route, or the Hanseatic route.

Simple markings indicate the route, on tree trunks, rocks, walls, signposts, or on the ground, of (most often) red and white paint: white stripe over red stripe indicates the correct path; a red and white “X” indicates the wrong direction. They aren’t always easy to see, (for instance, sometimes a tree trunk is overgrown by vines), and sometimes you take a wrong fork in the trail or road a dozen yards before turning around to try another fork or two until you find the correct way.

The Raven and I followed our GR2 path skirting Sant Julia on side paved roads, then onto dirt roads and trails between planted fields. After we passed a private castle and some old pig farm sheds, the route began climbing, until we had a decent view of Sant Julia in the distance below us.

I don’t think horses are prohibited, although I didn’t see any signs of horses; though on another part of the GR2, Paul used to ride his New Zealand horses. That was a good long stretch, and good underfoot, though the area I walked had a lot of pavement, and plenty of stones on the trails. I met two other walkers today, and have seen bicycles on the trails also.

And the route went on – beckoning to just come around the next corner, just come over this next hill. And after that – just one more corner, just one more hill. And then the next one… Indeed, we could have just kept going. I think Norway would have been our ultimate destination. : )

Spain: Ruta dels Moulins

Wednesday March 18 2009

In the region east of Vic, Spain (an hour north of Barcelona), you can follow, for about 2 miles, the Ruta dels Moulins – the Route of the Mills – a series of old canals and mills that used the water flow from the spring-and-run-off-fed creek, to grind wheat and sharpen farm tools over the centuries. Many of the old mills have been restored and are now residences, having first been built between the 12th and 16th centuries. Some are crumbling and disingegrating ruins, half hidden under vines.

El Molí de la Calvaria, where I’m staying, has evidence that the old lock was built in the 11th century; the first document is from 1236 AD. The original mill is on the ground floor, and the house above was built in the 16th century. Above the door is carved in stone: IHSENMO TI CALVARI MORT DELS DE ASI TE RECORT, in probably a mix of some old Catalon and Latin, meaning, roughly, “The Dead here will think of you,” which I’m sure is meant to be some sort of blessing. (Or, if you try googling the translation: “…agony of death by now well pruned.” Hmmm…)The inscription is, you can still clearly see, from 1596. The mill is now a museum, and the owner still runs it on Sundays to show how it worked (and to feed the resident ducks with the seeds : ). A lock is opened in the retention pond, water is funneled under the mill to turn the two large wheels (and a smaller one outside, connected to a small circular stone, which was used to sharpen tools), which turn the millstones in the mill, which grind the wheat.

The millstones have grooves, or furrows, separating flat areas, or lands. The grooves furnish cutting edges and channel the ground flour out from the stones as the wheels turn. The furrows and lands are carved in repeating patterns, or harps. This millstone has 8 harps.

Outside the ground floor mill doors, there are still the ancient iron rings in the stone walls where you can tie up your horses while you visit. : )